Peter Hammill British rock musician Date of Birth: 05.11.1948 Country: Great Britain

1. Early Life and Influences
2. Van der Graaf Generator
3. Solo Career Begins
4. Van der Graaf Generator Reunion
5. Parallel Solo Projects
6. Van der Graaf Generator's Second Break-up
7. Second Van der Graaf Generator Reunion
8. Hiatus and Legacy
9. Personal Life
10. Accolades

Early Life and Influences

Peter Joseph Andrew Hammill was born on November 5, 1948, in Ealing, West London, England. In 1960, his family relocated to Derby. He attended Beaumont College in Old Windsor and later enrolled in the Faculty of Science at the University of Manchester.

Van der Graaf Generator

Manchester was a hub for emerging rock acts, and it was there in 1967 that Hammill co-founded the progressive rock band Van der Graaf Generator. The original lineup included Hammill on vocals, Chris "Judge" Smith on drums, and Nick Pearn on organ. The band released only one single before disbanding in 1969 due to financial difficulties.

Solo Career Begins

After the band's dissolution, Hammill embarked on a solo career. He signed with Mercury Records and released "The Aerosol Grey Machine" (1969) under the Van der Graaf Generator name. The album's unconventional sound and Hammill's enigmatic lyrics garnered critical acclaim.

Van der Graaf Generator Reunion

In the summer of 1969, Hammill performed weekly solo concerts at The Luceum Theatre. He later reassembled Van der Graaf Generator and recorded four albums between 1969 and 1972.

Parallel Solo Projects

While in Van der Graaf Generator, Hammill also pursued solo work, releasing his debut solo album, "Fool's Mate," in 1971. His solo material explored more personal and introspective themes, contrasting with the band's broader social commentary.

Van der Graaf Generator's Second Break-up

The band dissolved again in 1972 as members pursued individual projects. Hammill continued his prolific solo output, injecting his own experiences into his lyrics.

Second Van der Graaf Generator Reunion

In 1975, Hammill once again reconvened Van der Graaf Generator, featuring Hugh Banton on keyboards, Guy Evans on drums, and David Jackson on saxophone. The band recorded four studio albums and a double live album until 1978.

Hiatus and Legacy

Van der Graaf Generator disbanded once more in 1978. It wasn't until late 2004 that Hammill reunited the band, which recorded two albums by 2009.

Personal Life

Hammill has been married to Hilary since 1978. They have three daughters, Holly, Beatrice, and Phoebe. The elder daughters have contributed vocals to Van der Graaf Generator's recordings.

Accolades

In 2004, Hammill received the Italian Tenco Prize for his songwriting contributions.