#2: From whence cometh Groon?
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Press play on the old MOG player. Press pause. Let it buffer for a while. That might stop the music hiccups.
There have been a lot of great comments flowing around these parts here lately. Keep 'em coming, y'all! In my last post, our lovely Annie Ander asked where my online name, Groon, comes from. She posited it would be an interesting tale. Sadly, Annie, that is not the case. As it happens, "Groon" is one track off of the King Crimson album Earthbound. This 1973 recording captured KC during the tour in support of their 1972 album Islands, my least favorite KC album. By this time, King Crimson was already on their fourth lineup. Oh yeah--by album #3, the only remaining original member of the band was Robert Fripp! While Islands has some good moments, overall it's kind of dull, and the resulting live album is, too. The good news, though, is that after this tour Fripp would completely redesign the Red Monarch, and the next year would see the launch of the most storied KC lineup in history.
"Groon" is an improv piece. KC would always leave room in their live show for improvising in front of the audience. Sometimes with great success. Other times, not so much. Ironically, I don't really even care for this song too much. But I liked the name, and long before I found MOG had been using it as an online handle.
So, what about you? Some of you have answered posts like this before, but another heads up wouldn't be so bad, would it? And there's a lot of new blood around these parts, complete I'm sure with some great stories to tell.
(PS--the bass player for KC at this time was Boz Burrell, who went on to play bass in Bad Company. He was taught bass by Robert Fripp, who I guess didn't want to find somebody new at the time).
Comments (25)
I picked my name because I wanted to be mysterious. Mysterious and ambiguous.
As albums go this KC is not at the top of my list but unlike you I think this track smokes.
Very cool to hear this--while I don't really like "Islands" as an album either, this iteration of the band seemed to have a lot of potential, & most of the live cuts I've heard of that era really rock. Incidentally, do you have the b-side version of "Groon" from the "Cat Food" single?
Also, I'd heard Boz Burrell died a few years ago. Just checked his wiki page--had no idea that he was the singer The Who were planning on replacing Daltry with once after a falling out.
As for my name--I was looking for something to call my electronic music project. I think 'astronot' was something I had written in my notebook--while probably a little under the influence.
A-HA! And thus, another piece of the human puzzle you are falls into place :)
Me...well...I'm boring and unimaginative enough to use my own real name :)
Capndad might bring visions of a tyranical overlord of a father, but that's not what I meant it to be. It was simply me and my boys playing together and having fun. I was the Cap'n. We went on Safaris to the jungle next door. Played in the NHL in our basement. Stormed many a castle full of thieves and evil ogres. And lived to tell the tales.
Why am I not surprised that you would be named for a musical piece that is WAY over the 8 minute mark. Over 15 minutes Chuck....really?
Could you even dance around the house in your skivies for over 10 minutes?
I think not.
(thanks for clearing up the intrigue though, I can sleep soundly now.)
Oh, and I am called annieander because my real name Ishmael Buttersworth was already taken.
of course it had to come with a 15min. improv piece! i actually liked the drum work past the 7 minute mark and then the weird sounds and noises that brought the band back from the solo. chuck, have you heard of the band Maserati? very similar to the band you recommended, Turring Machine. i will consider making a short post with some music. my screen name comes from an ATDI song, at the time, it had a nice ring to it. that is until moggers began to realize i was full of it and not actually living anywhere near Spain, haha
Always appreciated Mr. Fripp's contributions, although I must admit the accessibility of KC tracks can vary.
Like Anna, my handle is name based, and only a thin disguise at that. But like Groon, I've used it long before Mog.
Chris, I've always thought "I Am" was such an unusual choice. It smack of a tongue-in-cheek sort of arrogance, which I think fits.
Anna, I wouldn't call your own name boring. As far as unimaginative, well, so far it's the only thing about you that even comes close to that.
John, Believe it or not I had a feeling that was where it came from. Although I pictured more of a boat setting.
Astronot, I've long thought you had one of the cooler names around. I just learned that very same Who-related fact about Boz last night! and no, I don't have that version of Groon. Just the Earthbound version, and I'm fairly certain my copy of that album is actually a very good bootleg.
Annie, when I saw the length of the song, I thought of you immediately. And yes, even though I could dance for 10 minutes if I wanted to (or, at least, used to could) that is not my primary reason for listening to songs like these, so that's really a non-issue. And Ishmael Buttersworth made me laugh very loud, just so you know.
madrid, yours is one of the ones I was most curious about, so I'm glad you chimed in here. for a long time I also thought you were in Spain.
redmiller1, agreed on KC's accessibility. Even among a die-hard like me there's just some stuff I can't get into.
Oh, Rob--I have heard a little Maserati, and they're pretty good stuff, too.
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I'm always curious about where people get their names from. Now I know!
My name was given to me by the university. I've used it for most online things since 2004, cause its simple. It is also really boring and uncreative. I've wished I had used something different for MOG since soon after joining.
Well, I'll be honest, I never would've guessed it was as mundane as you make it out to be. If that's any consolation to you.
actually that does make me feel better about it. thanks :)
Somehow I still feel the need to make up a fake story full of mystery and intrigue. :P
I almost suggested doing just that. I'm sure you could come up with a doozy! It'll be our little secret . . .
my name comes from two things, the first being the song punk rawk show by MXPX. The second has to do with the fact that I look young, and more than not people refer to me as kiddo. Put them together and you get rawkkiddo.
Kevin, that one I knew--I remember there was a post about a year or so ago on this very topic, and I remember your comment on it, for some reason. Funny, I new who you were way back then, but it took me killing you to bring us together. Aw . . .
yes, my blood is on your hands!
Damn! Anna beat me to the "A-HA!" by 16 hours. My own moniker? I guess I'll address that on me own page in a bit.
true, i had answered the question before, but thankfully (or not), i am schizophrenic enough to have countless other versions of the answer - instead of being beset by woe, i am beset by poe (which meant nothing at the start, but can now mean i am full of myself ... spooky).
btw, i have been revisiting Islands out of wanting to like it more.
yea, reminded me of you when i heard it, found this download on mega if you are interested in shamelessly swiping their hard work. rawkkiddoh, any mxpx reference is a good reference!
I was going to be plain Jonh but the Mog Masters intoned that I should be my full name. I have no idea what they were thinking of.
Ilay--if you're still checking this thread out--any luck with Islands? I really like the first two songs, and then it starts to fade for me. "Song of the Gulls" is nice, if not compeltely un King-Crimson, but the other three songs don't bite for me at all.
Rob, thanks for the link. I might have to swipe, at that.
Jonh, I have no idea as well. I wonder how Anna got away with it?
no luck so far. i have a similar reaction - after the first 2 songs, i drift away. or fall asleep, even. can't figure out what's wrong with it though. is it just weak songs? know what, i'll give it another spin over the weekend. will let you know if anything clicks.
The same reaction I have, too! I think the songs are weakm honestly. "Formenteral Lady" and "The Sailor's Tale" are great, but "Ladies of the Road" is a shoddy tune to me, with rather unfortunate lyrics (sorry, but I don't buy KC as a groupie-centric band), and "The Letter" and "Islands" are just boring. as I said before, though, the instrumental sandwiched in there, "Song of the Gulls" is a good one, too, but I rarely make it that far.
i love this comment of yours! coming from someone who loves KC, it's so real and non-euphemistic. you know, i think Ladies of the Road was the one i hated most (and critics have bashed that song, too, as i recall), and there was one that i thought stood out but i'll have to re-check which one it was. "boring", i think, sums it up. hope you can get back to this post mid-week, i'll have a newer opinion.
was your gig last night, or is it tonight? hope 'twas/is a blast!
"but I rarely make it that far" - LOL.