Roy Harper on horseback on the cover of a 1975 Melody Maker magazine
Roy Harper (born 12 June 1941) is an English rock / folk singer-songwriter / guitarist who has been a professional musician since the mid 1960s. Harper has described American blues musician Leadbelly and folk singer Woody Guthrie as his biggest musical influences when he was growing up. As a musician, Harper is known for his distinctive fingerstyle playing and lengthy, complex compositions. He has released a large catalogue of albums as an artist, most of which are available on his own record label Science Friction.
His influence has been acknowledged by many musicians including Jimmy Page and Robert Plant of Led Zeppelin, Pete Townshend of The Who, Kate Bush, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull and Pink Floyd, as well as more recently by Californian harpist Joanna Newsom. Harper also sang guest lead vocals on Pink Floyd's song "Have a Cigar", and inspired the title of the Led Zeppelin song "Hats Off to (Roy) Harper".
Bibliography[]
- 2003 - The Passions Of Great Fortune - The Songs Explored, a book of lyrics and photographs
Fanzine: Hors d'Oeuvres 1983-2009[]
Hors D'Oeuvres, a Roy Harper fanzine was sold mail order and at gigs from 1983 onwards. It was started by Pete Cunliffe and later taken on by Dave Carlin and Darren Crisp.
Magazine articles[]
- 1969 December 27 issue of Melody Maker features a 'Pop Think In’ with Harper
- 1970 January 28 issue of International Times (it) features the interview 'Getting rid of the Bentley'
- 1970 April issue (#11) of ZigZag features an article
- 1973 January issue (#20) of Cream features an article
- 1974 November issue (#47) of ZigZag features an article
- 1975 July 12th issue of Melody Maker has a cover story
- 1976 August/September issue (#15) of Trouser Press features an article
- 1976 October issue of Sounds features the article 'Roy Harper - Der einsame Barbar'
- 1977 May issue (#69) of ZigZag features the 3 page article There'll Always be an England
- 2007 December issue (#169) of MOJO features an article