Three Friends
ARTIST: Gentle Giant
RELEASE: 1982
INTERVIEWEE: Derek Shulman
Some artists come out of the gate ready to create ambitious works; others grow into the role. In the case of a British band featuring three brothers, their group progressed from pop to more musically and lyrically adventurous works in a short time. But the Shulman brothers went through a couple of bands -- or at least band names -- on their way to launching Gentle Giant and making a concept album that explored friendship, 1972's Three Friends.
Derek Shulman remains aware that his old group was sometimes tagged with the "pretentious" epithet. He takes issue with that label, and uses Three Friends as a case to make his point. "It's not pretentious to tell a story lyrically and musically that everyone can relate to," he says.