Soft Machine first appeared in the mid-60s as part of the Canterbury scene along with bands such as Caravan, Gong, Egg and Henry Cow. Initially, they were seen as part of the psychedelic movement and contemporaries of Pink Floyd, often appearing at London’s infamous UFO Club and other progressive underground hotspots including The Speakeasy and Middle Earth. They even supported Jimi Hendrix on his North American tour in 1968. The band has seen a few guitarists pass through in its lifetime, including art rockers Daevid Allen and Kevin Ayers, but most notably fusion guitarists supreme, Allan Holdsworth and the man joining us today, John Etheridge, who first joined Soft Machine in the mid-70s.
The Softs officially came to an end in 1984, but rose again in 2004 under the name Soft Machine Legacy; but with their latest album, last year’s Hidden Details, they’re back to being known simply as Soft Machine. We’ll be the first to admit that all this sounds as confusing as the average Olde English family tree and so we’ll leave it to Mr Etheridge to clear matters up for you.
“We’ve been going since 2004,” he tells us. “So, in a sense it’s the same band that made Live Adventures in 2009 and Burden Of Proof in 2013, which came out as Soft Machine Legacy. People kept saying, ‘Why don’t you drop the ‘Legacy’?’ It was like, ‘Hmm…’ so we finally went, ‘Okay, let’s call it Soft Machine.’ Because it is Soft Machine.” Everyone clear?
Speaking of the latest album John continues: “So, technically, it’s the 50th anniversary of the first Soft Machine album, which came out in 1968…”
How do you view the legacy of Soft Machine, 50 years or so down the line?
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE MOODY BLUES
This month Stuart Ryan delves into the picking style of this British prog legend whose acoustic guitar has powered many a Moody Blues song.
WAYNE KRANTZ
This issue Nick Mellor provides an insight into this brilliant jazz stylist, focusing on his approach to improvising over static chords.
OPEN G TUNING
Open tunings are great fun and can help create exciting new ideas. Simon Barnard shows how to incorporate open G tuning into your playing.
RODRIGO GOUVEIA
Last month we featured Mateus Asato, and mentioned the importance of the neo-soul style in his playing. Here we turn to his fellow Brazilian, the master of neo-soul fusion.
MARK KNOPFLER
Our topic this month is a master craftsman as both guitar player and songwriter. His style is unique and his influence spreads far and wide.
U2
Martin Cooper checks out the chiming pedal delay tones of this stadium-filling band from Dublin, Ireland, and guitarist The Edge.
LUTHER ALLISON
It’s blues with a touch of soul this month, as David Gerrish explores the dynamic, expressive style of an often overlooked Chicago bluesman.
JOHANN KASPAR MERTZ Capriccio
This month Declan Zapala explores the music of Austria at the turn of the Romantic period with a fiery caprice to level up your fingers and unlock your inner virtuoso.
THE CROSSROADS Michael Landau
John Wheatcroft explores the playing of a session ace _ and blazing blues-rock maestro who graces the top-flight m band of singer-songwriting legend, James Taylor.
VIDEO MASTERCLASS Troy Redfern
This month GT welcomes this slide guitar virtuoso. If you've been wanting to take your slide playing to the next level then this is one's for you. With Jon Bishop.
