Roy Harper

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Roy Harper (born 12 June 1941) is an English folk / rock singer-songwriter and guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s. He has released a large catalogue of albums as an artist (22 studio albums and 12 live albums) and his influence has been acknowledged by many musicians including Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin (who named the song “Hats Off to (Roy) Harper” after him), Pink Floyd (who invited him to sing guest lead vocals on their song “Have a Cigar”), and Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, who is on record as saying that Harper has been his “primary influence as an acoustic guitarist and songwriter”.

Few survivors from the golden age of British folk-rock have kept their reputations intact. Of the generation of troubadours who came of age in the folk clubs of London in the mid-1960s, some have passed away, others have surrendered to the regurgitation of the blandest form of acoustic folk music. But among the survivors, there is one figure whose body of work, comprising 23 studio LPs and almost as many live and compilation releases, has come to stand for a particularly single-minded form of integrity. That man is Roy Harper.

Now officially ‘retired’, and living in a secluded corner of Ireland, Harper has recently been hailed as a key influence by a much younger generation of devoted starsailors who instinctively recognise his innovations, his refusal to compromise and his visionary world view. It is rumoured that Joanna Newsom insisted she’d only play her recent UK shows if he would support her. The likes of Fleet Foxes and Jim O’Rourke are avowed fans; and in previous decades he has enjoyed public endorsements and tributes from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Kate Bush, Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour and many more.
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  • stupidstuff

    ::publicly stones mindgarden::

    14 days ago

  • arglactable

    So... You listened to his compilation of love songs (which is, undoubtedly, very good) and then moved on to one of his most complex and thought-provoking albums? I'm really not sure what to recommend to you. Stormcock is a masterpiece.

    15 days ago

  • RussellChap

    Quote "...everyone seems to rate 'Stormcock' so highly, I made that my next port of call...but found it to be overly portentous..." Umm...That sounds like a recommendation to me. It's an album full of looming portents & omens, it's not a light hearted listen, although it has breaks in the clouds. Try 'Sophisticated Beggar' next...it's not portentous ;-D

    20 days ago

  • mindgarden

    I bought - and was blown away by - the 'Songs of Love and Loss' compilation. SInce everyone seems to rate 'Stormcock' so highly, I made that my next port of call...but found it to be overly portentous and, ultimately, a bit of a disappointment. I am sure that this assessment will earn me a public stoning, but instead I would like to hear anyone's recommendation of what would be a good Roy album for me to try next? Thanks, folks.

    21 days ago

  • mrmiley

    Seen Roy more times than I can count (including being lucky enough to see him at his 70th birthday bash at the South Bank). A most underrated man who has written some of THE most beautiful songs and whose live guitar playing is outstanding (especially when he's playing with his son

    last month

  • Mahglazzies

    Better yet, to see Roy Harper and Joanna Newsom perform together would probably be the biggest highlight of my life.

    March 2012

  • Mahglazzies

    I still can't believe how little his music has permeated the masses since he entered the scene. This beautiful man has been pumping out quality music in huge volumes since the mid-60's and still people don't even recognize his name, let alone his music and the profound influence this folk juggernaut has had on so many famous (and obscure) artists. His guitar work is nothing short of masterful and his carefully crafted, thoughtful lyrics should have long captivated a broad audience, but alas, it is not so. It is a shame that there is a good chance that I will never see him perform live before he dies. Roy Harper is getting old and although he is as sharp as ever, time will take its toll and the world won't even notice when he's gone. An absolute shame. Here is to hoping he decides to tour around Canada, or here's to hoping I eventually make enough money to be able to afford a flight to the UK just to experience this man's genius in person. That would be an a joy. Hats off to Harper.

    March 2012

  • RussellChap

    Unfairly Ignored...

    February 2012
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