Gentle Giant celebrate chart success

By Scott Munro
( Prog )
published

Mainman Derek Shulman calls Octopus reissue’s popularity “a pleasant surprise” as it enters rock listings at no.34

Gentle Giant are celebrating after their reissue of 1972 album Octopus entered the BBC Rock Chart at no.34.

The band’s fourth album was remixed by Steven Wilson and released in late October with bonus material and new sketches by artist Roger Dean who created the original cover art.

Singer Derek Shulman says: “Everyone in the band is delighted to hear that the music that we created in 1972 seems to be even more popular in 2015. To see Octopus in the top 40 is such a pleasant surprise.

“Steven Wilson remixed the music in 5.1 with his usual respect and care. All the Gentle Giant team especially want to thank the old and new fans for keeping the music we created years ago still vital today.”

Octopus is available to purchase on CD, Blu-ray and digitally.

Last month, the band’s Kerry Minnear confirmed that drummer John ‘Pugwash’ Weathers is battling cancer.

Scott Munro
Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent 35 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott keeps Louder’s buyer’s guides up to date, writes about the best deals for music fans, keeps on top of the latest tech releases and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 10 years, Scott has written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald newspapers, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.