Effigy [Release date: 18.11.24]

‘God Walking By’ takes its title from Man member Deke Leonard’s description of the band’s music.

He calls it “Impressive”, and the description could equally be applied to this thoroughly researched ‘not for prophet’ labour of love.

The 5 DVD box set spans 9 hours worth of audio visual material about South Wales’s finest psychedelic rock band Man.

As the accompanying press release tells us: “It may well be the longest documentary ever made about a rock band. With the first interviews being filmed in 2005 and the final ones in 2024 it might also be the longest production period for a music documentary.”

The result is an exhaustive, but fascinating account of a unique band in a changing era, filled with camaraderie, the polar opposite tensions of band politics, but always with the pay off of great music.

Most of the salient band members contribute, though sadly not Will Youatt who was apparently willing, but it couldn’t organised in time.

Long term member Micky Jones was interviewed in 2005 when his health problems precluded him from offering little more than a few endearing smiles, nods and perfunctory answers to routine questions. Happily the documentary let his guitar playing do the talking!

The movers and shakers include the management team of Barrie Marshall (MBE) & Jenny Marshall, and the genial United Artists A&R man Andrew Lauder.

The 9 hours fly by quickly as the meticulous and well edited interviews are illustrated by a combination of rare film footage from a pre-video era, scrapbook photos, musical snippets and of course the band’s ever evolving music.

One reason for the continuing creativity was the bewildering number of line-up changes, involving statistics that became a buttress of the 80’s reformed band line-up’s PR.

You can still feel the sense of frustration in the Marshall management team at the band’s decision.

The whole project was started 20 years ago when producer Gav Crumpton, Tony Smith and the late Nick Ring set about filming a live DVD of the band. This led to 2008’s ‘God Walking Past’ Vol.1 (1968-71).

Ironically (or typically perhaps), a subsequent acrimonious split seemed to signal the end of both the band and  project.

15 years elapsed before the original film was revisited, and given the passing of several band members the interviews have gathered more credence

The documentary provides the backdrop to 2 seismic shifts in music, as firstly the original Bystanders (a pop harmony band) became the psychedelic band Man, and later when the band split for good (albeit they came back 7 years later), with the rise of punk and the corporate music business.

Put simply, aside from the minutiae of Man’s music and their albums, this documentary holds more than a general interest to rock fans in general.

Original members Clive John and Deke Leonard offer perceptive and humorous incites into the shenanigans of the time.

In fact, Deke looks back on everything with a benign detachment, or perhaps Deja Vu, as a lot of his memories ended up in his books.

Phil Ryan offers a revealing view of the politics of an overworked band on the road, and also his own frustration of the fact the arrangements and album mixes could have been better.

Martin Ace’s presence is two fold, firstly that of a humorous interviewee, and secondly as the fulcrum of several band member’s anecdotes.

As mentioned Mick’s contribution is sparse, but his son George Jones admirably fills the void as both a narrator and an interviewee. He offers plenty of thoughtful analysis of the band, their albums and music.

Tweke Lewis is a besotted fan who became a band member when Man were arguably at their creative peak. He’s on camera with an acoustic to help illustrate the seminal licks and moments of musical development within the band’s characteristic ‘nod and wink’ improvisational moments.

Terry Williams appears to have a diaristic memory of events, but with the humour and diplomacy to go with it, while from the late great John McKenzie much like Tweke was a fan turned band member, and offers memories of both the American tour and fellow band members.

Talking heads also include Dave Charles, the former Help Yourself and Iceberg drummer and Rockfield engineer.

Fellow Helps and later Man bass player Ken Whaley also who gives us an insight into the madness of touring the States (he left mid-tour).

In addition former Help Yourself manager and Hope & Anchor owner John Eichler recalls the ‘All Good Clean Fun’ tour and the art work to go with the ‘Rhinos’ album.

Former Country Joe & The Fish band member Barry Melton (who played with members of Man) and American DJ and Man fan Ron Sanchez offer a West Coast American perspective.

There’s also journo and Deke’s publisher Michael Heatley and yours truly talking about the albums, leaving George Jones to offer further insights into his dad Micky’s playing style, and its significance to the band’s music.

Further anecdotes come from contemporaries like Hawkwind’s Nick Turner and Dave Brock, Edgar Broughton and Wreckless Eric.

Better still, Nektar band members memories of living and gigging with Man in Germany warrant a film of their own, but sadly no film footage has yet come to light.

Ultimately, Man never quite eschwed a flinty South Wales provincialism, but it did provide the common bond of wanting to leave, live the dream and make great music.

When that aim seemed to be compromised by the prevailing times the band quit for the last time, or so it seemed.

An essential purchase. ****

Review by Pete Feenstra

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Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 20 October 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 22 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)

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