Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A Full Overview Of Godspeed You! Black Emperor

By Mark Floyd

Godspeed You! Black Emperor is a post-rock group from Montreal, Canada. They are most widely known for their lengthy songs and extensive and visual live shows. Their recordings and performances generally consist of electric guitars and percussion instruments, however more obscure instruments such as French horns and glockenspiels have been known to make appearances.

The group got its name from an obscure Japanese documentary about a biker gang called the "Black Emperors". The number of members in the band is never clearly defined, ranging anywhere from nine to twenty at any given time. GYBE was on an extended hiatus for several years so its various members could work on other projects, but they are scheduled to appear together at an upcoming music festival.

All members of Godspeed consider the music to be greater than the group, which helps explain the band's ever changing line-up and lack of a front man. There's also a strict moratorium on group photos and personal interviews. This seemingly strange philosophy is a way for listeners to get closer to the music, rather than focus on trivial details.

In their rare interviews, several members of GYBE stress that big corporations are what is wrong with the American economy and the media in general. Many of their song and album notes refer to the trials and wrongdoings of corporate media. They even included an image onto the back insert of their latest album that depicts the military-industrial complex of America and major record labels as one.

Fans of the band say their live shows are exhilarating and random events. Since the group doesn't use singers they employ a heap of visual imageries in the concerts. These movies, which are often filmed and produced by one of the bands' main members, are used to wrap the songs and their message together for the listeners.

In the early 2000s, GYBE's band mates were mistaken for a band of criminals in a rural Oklahoma town. The group and their crew was caravaning through the mid-west on tour when, at a small gas station, an employee became convinced that they were terrorists. The authorities were called after the station attendant got another customer to call them.

When the Ardmore police arrived, they discovered anti-government documents in both of the group's two vans. These finds, coupled with the groups general scruffiness prompted the local officers to call in the FBI. The band members were immediately detained and personally questioned for some time before the authorities decided to let them go. And although GYBE made it to their next tour stop in time, the run-in no doubt only fueled their anarchist philosophies.

They have officially released three albums since their debut in the 1990s. Since then, Godspeed You! Black Emperor has also put out several releases and EPs. Several of their songs have even come out without being on an album since GYBE encourages their fans to record their concerts. The band has even lent songs to a handful of television and movie soundtracks as well, although it happens very rarely. - 40724

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