I am guessing that blogging about progressive rock in a DIY audio class is going to seem like trying to pick up a hooker outside of Saint Paul's Cathedral to some. This can only be sacrilege of the highest order - worthy of the death penalty or a really nasty stomach flu. Yes, I am bound to make at least one enemy today (Please don't fail me) but as bizarre as it seems circuit bending as a long and strong tradition in the progressive rock world.
The first Moogs were rolling out just about the time progressive bands started to hit it big. Progressive rock bands were known for their musical experimentation and it seemed every would be Wakeman or Emerson got his greedy hands on a Moog as fast as possible. What they failed to see however is that the Moog is not played - it is defeated in mortal combat. The true virtuosos were forced to create their own sounds through complex networks of cables that crossed, shorted out, or elongated the various audio ports on the front. When that no longer survived to create the sound the musician often went to the back of the instrument itself and with a licked finger or a tight grip bent, broke and modified circuits by any means necessary. After all, all was slave to the song. There are a few great videos listed below and, for the sake of the sanity of some, I have listed the time the circuit bending begins to save viewing time.
Keith Emerson playing a Moog with an insane amount of cables patched in it. Watch as he modifies the sound on the fly by changing the network of the cables. (1:40)
Keith Emerson (again) directly messing with the circuits on the back of his synth. (6:05)
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