This was the Orchestral Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, with arrangement by David Bedford, Hillage was the touring guitarist, so was Andy Summers for a while.
We call it shredding, but it’s pure progressive jazz derived. That’s what makes this style of guitarists unique. Shredding is fast and skilful, but it’s alphabeti spaghetti soup.
I think it's pretty worthless to talk in terms of "the best", "better than", "not as good as", etc, etc. You see too much of that in these comment sections. It's all subjective anyway. I've always loved Steve Hillage. Great guitar player & always a good vibe from all of his music. "The Glorious Om Riff" sounds even better in 2020 (-:
@@steelyman08 Yup, I agree. Also it depends on where you're coming from. As a listener you're unlikely to say 'best' for a guitarist who's music you dislike & as another musician you're view would be different again.
Steve is immense ... This solo will always remain among my absolute favorites ... I have been watching this video for a year now and every time the Emotions are more and more intense ... Steve makes me dream in this solo. .. After all this time I had to comment ... Indeed to tell the truth I was convinced that I had already commented for some time. Thanks so much.👍 Speaking of this Steve performance ... I've been looking for this full version concert for a long time ... I hope someone can post it. Rock On! 👍😎🎸❤️🔥
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I was the tv director and I have to tell you that I'm sorry, but that's all there is - and it was recorded by accident! I was there to record Orchestral Hergest Ridge (on youtube in 3 parts) and so only snippets of the Orchestral Tubular Bells were recorded at that concert. It is a lovely moment, and I'm pleased that the young director stayed with the lovely shot of guitarist + bassist for the whole solo. It is a little bit of prog rock history! With best wishes from Tony Staveacre (now aged 79)
so cool! i love the look on the guy's face behind him LOL! . steve at his most cozmik ....serving the punters a psychedelic platter of dazzling dexterity.
It looks more like they're sharing a snobbish high brow in joke at Hillage's expense because all he is doing is running up and down one scale and they being classical 'musicians' would never stoop to such mundane lack of culture expressions.
Funny looks from the Bassist & the one guy behind Steve strains to see what he's playing LOL.. Always interesting when you mix Progressive guitar playing with highbrow orchestra guys . If they are snickering they aren't as good as they think they are. Steve just lets it fly & his smile tells the real tale . Hillage is way to nice of a guy to be as petty as the orchestra guys seem to be. Sorry guys but he's got more feel in those six strings than your whole orchestra does with all your instruments.
Saw him in Glasgow with the S.N.O. playing tubular bells incredible half the audience in tails other half a bunch of hippies saw him earlier with Gong as well one of my inspiration s on guitar
Thanks for posting. I've been looking for this on CZcams for years since I remembered being amazed by it when I first saw it. Pleased it's come to light at last.
@@mikewright3614 he has said it was his favorite, I assume for the combination of production quality, guitar playing and awesome lyrics. I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite.
Thanks for this video. And, as I'm not a native speaker of English, it also helped me set the pronunciation of «Hillage» and «Philharmonic», so thanks for this too :)
The Bassist in picture looks to me to be Chris Laurence, who is an esteemed jazz player, session musician and long term member of the classical scene. I'm sure he would have appreciated such fluent guitar improvising.
Brilliant guitar player, innovative, can be fast but without showing off, great tone. Saw him play with Gong several years ago and he did the support spot a swell - awesome.But not sure the orchestra appreciate him judging by the looks.
I was just gonna say the same thing lol guys behind him look like they are laughing at him silently. I'll be the first to say that doing that kind of thing disgusts me as a musician. I would never laugh at somebody who is passionately playing their instrument. I make funny faces when I solo lol or just when I play anything really, and if you want to laugh at that kind of thing, that's different. But these guys look like snobs.
@@CortexZero I thought that too.. And let's face it.. Nobody is typing "that bloke in the orchestra" into the search bar. They came here for Steve Hillage.End of. 👍
... Не-ведал большего Дракон полёта ... А выше некуда , поверь ... Вселенной всей ! , Стив распахнул здесь дверь ... За три минуты - абсолютного - улёта ! ...
YES, there is Orchestral Tubular Bells and also Orchestral Hergest Ridge. Although I directed this event, I cannot remember where this solo came from! Maybe it was an encore? Glad itn is being enjoyed 55 years on...! Tony Staveacre
guau, better than blackmore in his thing...., he dont do it in his records....., is minor armonic most of the times...., he ussually dont do it in his records..., of course, a lot of licks here yes....., fuck is 74....., amazing, pre yngwie, contemporany of uli jonh....., love his scales....., in the record of khan also he play a really beautifull scales......, also palm trees from green is incredible, really mothernd for his time...., first guitar synths in...., love his wear here too...., jajajaja....., really impressed, he plays here so tasty....
It is basically a backing 'drone' over which Hillage improvises a solo. But I don't think Hillage is repeating himself - it is an original and inventive solo, over the same chord progression.
No, sadly, it isn't. It's an improvisation, and the orchestral TB follows part 1 of the original TB quite closely. I cannot remember where this solo featured in the orchestral concert. It was a long time ago! Tony Staveacre (tv director of both versions)
@@tonystaveacre6079 Thank you for your answer (and for sharing all these treasures). I had this doubt because Steve's solo is from the second part of Tubular Bells, near the end of it. But you said only the first part was recorded, so it surprised me. Mike Oldfield recorded this part on spanish guitar, at Worcester Cathedral, late 74, and that was added to the recorded concert from Albert Hall.
acidhead1001 yeah. His effects rigs were always intensely complex, even for the electrical engineers who built them. He probably had a stripped down version of his normal live guitar rig (hopefully for the orchestras sake lol). It really was very massive, there are forums that talk about it. Anyway, basically the concept is to have a wah pedal before and after the preamp of the amplifier (or wherever your distortion is coming from). This allows you to make the standard wah sounds with the one before the dirt, and then modulate those sounds in a way you aren’t expecting with the second wah.
acidhead1001 you’re welcome (: if you hang around Steve hillage videos on CZcams, you’ll see I’ve got a lot to say about the music he’s made and I’m always happy to clarify.
Fascinating, had no idea this had occured. Hillage, unfortunately, overplays his hand, too many notes, too little effect, a touch of the Ritchie Blackmore's if truth be told, and never quite reaching the tasteful restraint Mike achieved on the original Orchestral Tubular Bells.
It does sound a bit ordinary for someone who is usually quite extraordinary. He wasn't using his usual effects and seemed to be playing it safe. Maybe it just wasn't the time or place for him to be himself. It'd be cool if Steve Hillage saw this footage and added a few memories. I'm just taking wild guesses about the situation ha ha.
He is not out of tune. The choice of note for that hammer-on around the 0:13 mark was either a mistake or just a bad choice of note (in my opinion) but that's just a couple of seconds out of the entire piece. Edit: And the last note he landed on in that phrase around 0:16 wasn't the best. That 5 second or so phrase was a bit iffy and he was probably just using the wrong mode for a few seconds - he is a very modal player as he's stated in interviews. I agree in that bit the bass player wondered what was going on.
Ah I don't think its fair to say Steve Hillage was better then Rory Gallagher....both brilliant and unique in their own way. I'd say they'd both have a blast if they could perform together...which can't unfortunately happen now but don't compare one against the other...they're both at the top of what they do/did.
One of those most excellent guitar players not many know of
So underated!! One of Britain's finest!!
This was the Orchestral Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield, with arrangement by David Bedford, Hillage was the touring guitarist, so was Andy Summers for a while.
My favourite guitarist. No one else sounds like mr Hillage.
For 70's style shredding this is like pure gold
We call it shredding, but it’s pure progressive jazz derived. That’s what makes this style of guitarists unique. Shredding is fast and skilful, but it’s alphabeti spaghetti soup.
Saw him live several times during the 70s. Always thought he was a very underated guitarist. This is a beautiful example of his stuff. Thanks Steve.
Genius, as good as Howe, I was a little young but the 70s ruled
I can't remember if I saw him in the 70s. I can't remember the 70s!
I think it's pretty worthless to talk in terms of "the best", "better than", "not as good as", etc, etc. You see too much of that in these comment sections. It's all subjective anyway. I've always loved Steve Hillage. Great guitar player & always a good vibe from all of his music. "The Glorious Om Riff" sounds even better in 2020 (-:
@@valveamp6346 Unless you're of a different opinion.
@@steelyman08 Yup, I agree. Also it depends on where you're coming from. As a listener you're unlikely to say 'best' for a guitarist who's music you dislike & as another musician you're view would be different again.
I remember seeing this at the time as a teenager and being completely blown away.Still am.
Absolutely breathtaking,I'm astounded.🤩
I first heard Steve hillage when I was at fort Polk. It was his album L. It totally floored me
L is a masterpiece
Perfect technique. And so emotional!!!
Steve is immense ... This solo will always remain among my absolute favorites ... I have been watching this video for a year now and every time the Emotions are more and more intense ... Steve makes me dream in this solo. .. After all this time I had to comment ... Indeed to tell the truth I was convinced that I had already commented for some time. Thanks so much.👍
Speaking of this Steve performance ... I've been looking for this full version concert for a long time ... I hope someone can post it. Rock On! 👍😎🎸❤️🔥
I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I was the tv director and I have to tell you that I'm sorry, but that's all there is - and it was recorded by accident! I was there to record Orchestral Hergest Ridge (on youtube in 3 parts) and so only snippets of the Orchestral Tubular Bells were recorded at that concert. It is a lovely moment, and I'm pleased that the young director stayed with the lovely shot of guitarist + bassist for the whole solo. It is a little bit of prog rock history!
With best wishes from Tony Staveacre (now aged 79)
so cool! i love the look on the guy's face behind him LOL! . steve at his most cozmik ....serving the punters a psychedelic platter of dazzling dexterity.
Yeah.. fascinating seeing him watching, listening and actually really seeming to get what it was all about. Lovely. x
We tend to forget just how good SH is. Thanks for the upload.
Oh I must have good memory: never forgot how smashing, bloody good he is!
The Bass player thinking; I wonder how I can get into this rock n roll thing.
It looks more like they're sharing a snobbish high brow in joke at Hillage's expense because all he is doing is running up and down one scale and they being classical 'musicians' would never stoop to such mundane lack of culture expressions.
@@ZalMoxis ha ha ,
plus maybe there thinking,
(Bloudy long haired hippy) 😁😁
But seriously I love Steve Hillige.
@@jjohn341 so do I....😂
Funny looks from the Bassist & the one guy behind Steve strains to see what he's playing LOL.. Always interesting when you mix Progressive guitar playing with highbrow orchestra guys . If they are snickering they aren't as good as they think they are. Steve just lets it fly & his smile tells the real tale . Hillage is way to nice of a guy to be as petty as the orchestra guys seem to be. Sorry guys but he's got more feel in those six strings than your whole orchestra does with all your instruments.
A great guitarist and sadly underrated
Saw him in Glasgow with the S.N.O. playing tubular bells incredible half the audience in tails other half a bunch of hippies saw him earlier with Gong as well one of my inspiration s on guitar
Many thanks for posting this excellent footage of the maestro Steve Hillage. Brilliant to watch and listen to.
Amazing! so underrated, one of a kind indeed!
damn this men is goood
Saw him and M G in Edinburgh and was an amazing experience. I can't remember when tho'..
He played Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield
Which is exactly what this made me think of. Not sure which track.
This is from the orchestral Tubular Bells. It's the last section before the Sailors Hornpipe.
To be exact, he played in the Orchestral TB (this video) and some live performances, not in the original recording.
@@jdmresearch Yeah, all guitars in TB was Oldfield. And pretty much every other instrument too.
The video of him playing Tubular Bells live is on YT.
Thanks for posting. I've been looking for this on CZcams for years since I remembered being amazed by it when I first saw it. Pleased it's come to light at last.
My goodness, Steve! I hope those tuxedo'ed gents weren't thinking :Oh my fucking gawd...this hippie can actually play...
To hear Hillage at his best, check out either 'Fish Rising' (his 1975 solo album), or the previous year's 'You' album with Gong.
Motivation radio indeed also has some of the most intense guitar playing of his career.
Uh Hello! Green is miraculously good and so is Open/Studio Herald... L. All great and unique.
@@graxjpg My 2nd favorite of his for sure!
@@mikewright3614 he has said it was his favorite, I assume for the combination of production quality, guitar playing and awesome lyrics. I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite.
Thx for posting , great memory of his scintillating guitar work
agrees! TS (who directed the BBC studio performance of TB, as well as this Orchestral version at the Albert Hall. That was 50 years ago!)
He is a GONG member means superb!!!!
Thanks for this video. And, as I'm not a native speaker of English, it also helped me set the pronunciation of «Hillage» and «Philharmonic», so thanks for this too :)
That's just beautiful - thanks for posting it.
Joyful, inspired, and top notch playing!
Amazing feel and technique 💚🎶
Look on you tube for his 'before the Storm'
Amazing and underrated guitarist! I came here from a Blood Incantation interview!
Grande chitarrista dei gong, mitico pezzo before the storm
A musicians musician.. Excellent. 🎸 ♥
incredible, he is unic
Amazing!! And thankyou!
Steve Hillage Rocks!!!
UNDERRATED
The Bassist in picture looks to me to be Chris Laurence, who is an esteemed jazz player, session musician and long term member of the classical scene. I'm sure he would have appreciated such fluent guitar improvising.
Mr. Hillage shreds while being subtle.
Brilliant guitar player, innovative, can be fast but without showing off, great tone. Saw him play with Gong several years ago and he did the support spot a swell - awesome.But not sure the orchestra appreciate him judging by the looks.
this guy is possibly the most underrated guitar player ever.most think he was just a hippie,never noticed how technically brilliant his playing is.
I was just gonna say the same thing lol guys behind him look like they are laughing at him silently. I'll be the first to say that doing that kind of thing disgusts me as a musician. I would never laugh at somebody who is passionately playing their instrument. I make funny faces when I solo lol or just when I play anything really, and if you want to laugh at that kind of thing, that's different. But these guys look like snobs.
@@CortexZero I thought that too.. And let's face it.. Nobody is typing "that bloke in the orchestra" into the search bar. They came here for Steve Hillage.End of. 👍
The cellos guy maybe just smirking: "Why this trendy double bass guy got his guitar solo but I can't have mine?"
They were paid to play behind him , when they pay the bills they can have an attitude
King of the fishes.....
fabulous
Awesome
He just drops the theme of IAO chant into the opening phrases like it’s nothing
Это самое ВЕЛИКОЕ ,(не побоюсь этого слова) , гитарное соло , сыгранное на нашей с вами - Грешной ❤
До небес , до самых-самых !
How good is Thatttt!!!!!
Baffling and delighting, and probably a little bit of standoffishness toward the masterful and elegantly attired Steve Hillage.
Impressive playing.
the pro scoffing at the genius tho 🤯
a straight g no doubt 😍🤟🏾✨💐🌈
Grande chitarrista dei gong. Molto bella la sua before the storm
... Не-ведал большего Дракон полёта ... А выше некуда , поверь ... Вселенной всей ! , Стив распахнул здесь дверь ... За три минуты - абсолютного - улёта ! ...
Vu à Limoges...eh oui, il y a quelques années (1977 où 1978, peut importe), trop fort le type
Remember when Melvyn was young!
Captain Capricorn on double bass...
Captain Capricorn was Daevid Allen ((Gong))
Good one, this ol chap couldn’t tell a bungalow from a bugle.
Hillage is the submarine captain!
i would NEVER underestimate Steve. Tubular Bells lead guitar is a pretty good qualification imho. :)
🌌 🙌
Man this is so bloody cool. Hillage shreds! Does any more of this concert exist on video?
YES, there is Orchestral Tubular Bells and also Orchestral Hergest Ridge. Although I directed this event, I cannot remember where this solo came from! Maybe it was an encore? Glad itn is being enjoyed 55 years on...! Tony Staveacre
Thanks to my friend Jeff Howard for turning me on to this cat back in high school
guau, better than blackmore in his thing...., he dont do it in his records....., is minor armonic most of the times...., he ussually dont do it in his records..., of course, a lot of licks here yes....., fuck is 74....., amazing, pre yngwie, contemporany of uli jonh....., love his scales....., in the record of khan also he play a really beautifull scales......, also palm trees from green is incredible, really mothernd for his time...., first guitar synths in...., love his wear here too...., jajajaja....., really impressed, he plays here so tasty....
LOVE Gong and love hillage 💜
Is it the same thing just over and over again or is it just me?
It is basically a backing 'drone' over which Hillage improvises a solo. But I don't think Hillage is repeating himself - it is an original and inventive solo, over the same chord progression.
...I was wearing socks when I started this video
I was wearing clothes!
Zeo zai zo mai mo dai do no
Is this solo included in any of the other 3 videos of the Orchestral TB?
No, sadly, it isn't. It's an improvisation, and the orchestral TB follows part 1 of the original TB quite closely. I cannot remember where this solo featured in the orchestral concert. It was a long time ago!
Tony Staveacre (tv director of both versions)
@@tonystaveacre6079 Thank you for your answer (and for sharing all these treasures). I had this doubt because Steve's solo is from the second part of Tubular Bells, near the end of it. But you said only the first part was recorded, so it surprised me. Mike Oldfield recorded this part on spanish guitar, at Worcester Cathedral, late 74, and that was added to the recorded concert from Albert Hall.
My man was sooo high on acid for sure like i bet he was flying through space and time haha. Good stuff tho
Good old spaghetti fingers!
What is the name of the Mike Oldfield work being performed here ?
Tubular Bells LOL.
@@wirralnomad i'm familiar with tubular bells, but not tubular bells lol.
Wish I could see his rig for this performance. But I'm guessing it was invisible and magic.
snarzola891 definitely a solid state amp with a wah as kind of attenuator and another one for filter sweeps. That’s his style
@@graxjpg what you mean? 2 wah's?
acidhead1001 yeah. His effects rigs were always intensely complex, even for the electrical engineers who built them. He probably had a stripped down version of his normal live guitar rig (hopefully for the orchestras sake lol). It really was very massive, there are forums that talk about it. Anyway, basically the concept is to have a wah pedal before and after the preamp of the amplifier (or wherever your distortion is coming from). This allows you to make the standard wah sounds with the one before the dirt, and then modulate those sounds in a way you aren’t expecting with the second wah.
@@graxjpg thanks man for the info! :-)
acidhead1001 you’re welcome (: if you hang around Steve hillage videos on CZcams, you’ll see I’ve got a lot to say about the music he’s made and I’m always happy to clarify.
pisces fish aquarius rising wo oh here come the water bearer..
Gong live
...
Ste looks like the kinda feller who can Turn water into Weed ..
Shite in his own words and he is right.
...would you like a cup of tea...🐝🌈
0:35 WTF? face jajajj
cool, but without Miquette, he's not yet whole
They were already in Gong together by now I'm pretty sure.
I love him. But for this he's still not Mike.
Fascinating, had no idea this had occured. Hillage, unfortunately,
overplays his hand, too many notes, too little effect, a touch of the Ritchie Blackmore's if truth be told, and never quite reaching the tasteful restraint Mike achieved on the original Orchestral Tubular Bells.
He was being Steve Hillage, which is exactly what I want to see in 2020
no way man - this rocks!
Hey I am quite the HiIlage fan, have much of the old vinyl, but I do feel critical of this performance.
What a snob is behind Steve :)) he must think, classical is the only music that exist and i'm part of this.
That's the worst solo I've ever seen Steve play, it just sounds like someone playing scales
That's what I thought.
Just because it doesn't have enough boomer bends 😏😂 wait a min doesn't that describe every guitar solo ever? 😂😂😂
It does sound a bit ordinary for someone who is usually quite extraordinary. He wasn't using his usual effects and seemed to be playing it safe. Maybe it just wasn't the time or place for him to be himself. It'd be cool if Steve Hillage saw this footage and added a few memories. I'm just taking wild guesses about the situation ha ha.
Nearly as good as Isle of Everywhere but not quite IMHO.
hillage is playing out of tune and key - its unlistenable. that will be why the bass guy has a look on his face.
If he were out of tune I couldn't but notice it, since I've got perfect pitch, but I didn't.
He is not out of tune. The choice of note for that hammer-on around the 0:13 mark was either a mistake or just a bad choice of note (in my opinion) but that's just a couple of seconds out of the entire piece. Edit: And the last note he landed on in that phrase around 0:16 wasn't the best. That 5 second or so phrase was a bit iffy and he was probably just using the wrong mode for a few seconds - he is a very modal player as he's stated in interviews. I agree in that bit the bass player wondered what was going on.
Rory Gallagher was NEVER this good
Ah I don't think its fair to say Steve Hillage was better then Rory Gallagher....both brilliant and unique in their own way. I'd say they'd both have a blast if they could perform together...which can't unfortunately happen now but don't compare one against the other...they're both at the top of what they do/did.