Our Song of the Day is from the one and only Incredible String Band whose fans include Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant, KLF, Billy Connolly and probably thousands more. Our song of choice is ‘Painting Box’ and the video is from a performance they did with Julie Felix on her TV show in February 1968.
The ISB appeared on three Julie Felix shows so they obviously went down a treat. They made a number of TV appearances on other shows including one that Mike confessed to being a favourite in the magazine beGLAD when they got stoned before the interview and Robin couldn’t remember how many instruments he played.
One of the most praised documentaries on the ISB was by a director called James Archibald who featured their music in three movies. The best known was Rehearsal (excerpt below) a documentary which aimed to give an insight into four very different musical performances…the common factor between each was meant to be the ongoing practice and hard work.
He chose the ISB for the pop/folk element and captured them rehearsing and performing their epic Ithkos. It was filmed with a fly-on-the-wall approach which offered some revealing moments including a fed-up looking Robin at the lack of a variety who asks Mike during his unveiling to the band “Is this all intro?”. Also Mike get’s annoyed with Jack Ingram’s drumming…”It’s great apart from you man”. Due to the costs Ithkos was the only final live performance featured which was filmed at Colston Hall, Bristol in October 1973.
Read our Interview with Mike Heron & The Trembling Bells