A Pleasant Shade of Gray former bassist Joe DiBiase, who departed the band in 1995; "A Pleasant Shade of Grey" was the first Fates Warning album without DiBiase. A Pleasant Shade of Gray A Pleasant Shade of Gray is a concept album by the progressive metal group Fates Warning, released in 1997. It contains one song divided into twelve parts and is noted for its darker mood and more progressive style. "A Pleasant Shade Of Gray" is a single song that is divided into twelve tracks. The album is notable for its darker mood and mixture of progressive rock and metal with hints of industrial,
A Whiter Shade of Pale phrase stuck in his mind. The original lyrics had four verses, of which only two are heard on the original recording. The third verse has been heard in live performances by Procol Harum, and more seldom also the fourth. Claes Johansen, in his book "Procol Harum: Beyond the Pale", suggests that the song "deals in metaphorical form with a male/female relationship which after some negotiation ends in a sexual act". This is supported by Tim de Lisle in "Lives of the Great Songs", who remarks that the lyrics concern a drunken seduction, which is described through references to sex as