Betcha Thought We Couldn’t Do It!
It was the moment that Gentle Giant fans thought would never happen: in July, the surviving bandmembers reunited for the first time in 40 years for a virtual recording of Proclamation. Prog catches up with filmmaker Noah Shulman to find out how he managed to get his dad’s band back together with the help of their fans.
Words: Dom Lawson Images: Noah Shulman
There are many splendid things about the new version of Gentle Giant epic Proclamation that the band posted online on July 15. But the biggest and best is surely the sight of all seven surviving members of the classic line-ups bellowing ‘Hail!’ onscreen together (albeit remotely, as is the way in 2020).
Conceived and organised by Noah Shulman, filmmaker, Sony Music creative and son of Gentle Giant frontman Derek, the video is an absolute joy. Primarily performed by fans from all over the world, but featuring cameos from Jakko Jakszyk, Billy Sherwood and ARW/Steve Hackett bassist Lee Pomeroy, its chief selling point is the unexpected sight of Derek, Ray and Phil Shulman, Kerry Minnear, Gary Green, John Weathers and Malcolm Mortimore all performing together for the first time in four decades. Given the band’s notorious reluctance to even contemplate a full-blown reunion, Noah deserves a huge pat on the back for pulling off the seemingly impossible.