Hats off to Roy Harper

[Guildedagain]

One of the greatest superunknowns.

Roy Harper (singer) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

This will make you feel better about yourself.

Harper is a terrific songwriter, but a bit crazy, like all the best people. The great problem for him was seeing all these people who'd nicked his licks doing so much better than he did. People like Jethro Tull, Led Zeppelin and, to some extent, Roger Waters.[21]

 

[Midnight Toker]

Being a big Zep collector, I've known about Harper since first delving into all things Zep in the late 70's/early 80's, and he has very strong connections w/ them, besides Page having played on a few of his albums and played with him live numerous times from the early 70's all the way to 2011! He and Page have remained close friends over the decades. Harper actually played a part in the formation of Zep as it was he who told Page to check out this new kid singer named Robert Plant who was playing w/ a past Harper associate Alexis Korner at the time. Harper also contributed several photos featured in the window frames of the Physical Graffiti album.

Harper also sang the lead on Pink Floyd's Have a Cigar. (Sitting in for a then sick Waters....and sounding so much like Waters that few ever noticed!)

As for any notion of hm being disgruntled at watching the success of others "that nicked" from him. Not sure I agree w/ that. The Zep's and Floyds of the industry pitched him a softball for commercial success, but he consciously opted for taking the less beaten path at every turn. His albums that Page and/or John Paul Jones collaborated on...Stormcock, Lifemask, Valentine, HQ, and What Ever Happened to Jugula probably outsold the rest of his discography 2 to 1 just by Zep fans alone! Then there's all the records David Gilmour played on that Floyd heads bought. Seems Harper's career has been somewhat floated by who else has been in the room, so he really can't complain without looking directly in the mirror.

 

[walrus]

Yup. I bought the albums for the Jimmy Page guitar work, too. I will admit Harper has written some interesting lyrics, though!

walrus

 

[walrus]

walrus

 

[Prince of Darkness]

Roy was involved in a notable incident with Ginger Baker at Glastonbury in 1981. From an article about the festival.

Friday night was possibly the best music wise, although Roy Harper's set was gate crashed by Ginger Baker . Roy Harper put it thus 'Later I'm playing the gig, going down quite well, building up to the finale. Then Ginger starts walking on with drums, setting up right in front of me, destroying everything. I couldn't believe it. So I left the microphone and said 'Hey, what you doing?' And he said, 'F--- off, you've been on here to f---ing long, you c---' and his band started bringing all their gear on.​

'So I started to seethe, nudged one of his drums with my left foot and he lunged at me. I just burst, turned round and gave him one right in the guts. Ginger goes, 'Urrgghh you c----.' Then we were fighting and the stage was full of people. I completely flipped my lid.' ' There we were at a festival dedicated to peace and love man and I hit someone. He may have been the thickest idiot at the festival but I'd actually hit him. After that I was filled with frantic remorse and basically just wanted to hit everyone, everything I could lay my bloody hands on.' 'So they got hold of my arms and carried me off, looking like I'm ripe for Broadmore, wearing this human straightjacket, screaming 'You f---ing bastards. 'I'd lost it altogether, I was fighting f---ing mad.'​ According to Harper the crowd then proceeded to bottle Ginger , one hitting him on the head , whereupon he was taken to hospital . Another source says that Ginger carried on playing .Yet another source says that Ginger threw a can at Harper and it hit him on the head. Strange how tales become distorted in all directions by memory . Whatever happened , it was a pretty silly scenario , these two seasoned musicians should have been able to sort out their differences in some other fashion. ​ Keith Emslie Mitchell added this. It was the most unforgettable thing i ever saw on a stage. Harper was doing fine... we were warmed up and enjoying the show; after a handful of numbers I recognised Baker onstage and a fist fight kicked off. I remember Roy H hitting out and people grappling and tumbling around. Harper got forced off-stage by people holding his arms as he struggled furiously. There were boos and bottles as Baker started up... They impressed us but rocks came at the band.. sharp chunks of granite or similar. A near fist sized chunk arked from a long distance and smacked Ginger on the forehead. It should've killed him surely but he didn't miss a beat. He continued with furious energy till the end of his set. Next day I saw Baker walking around the site with a thick black gash on his forehead, obviously in need of stitches. Baker was asking people if anyone knew who the bastard was who threw the rock.​ ​

 

[wileypickett]

Whatever happened , it was a pretty silly scenario , these two seasoned musicians should have been able to sort out their differences in some other fashion. ​

Having seen the Beware Mr. Baker documentary, it seems any "sorting out" of dfferences was nigh impossible whenever Ginger Baker was involved.

(Love his drumming though!)

 

[Rocky]

(Love his drumming though!)

He was a pretty good drummer. But nowhere near as good as he thought he was. Honestly, nobody was as good as he thought he was.

 

[Prince of Darkness]

Having seen the Beware Mr. Baker documentary, it seems any "sorting out" of dfferences was nigh impossible whenever Ginger Baker was involved.

(Love his drumming though!)

I remember seeing that, if I recall correctly. he broke the directors nose! A very volatile personality. He could be very kind and generous, or an extremely nasty individual

 

[Prince of Darkness]

He was a pretty good drummer. But nowhere near as good as he thought he was. Honestly, nobody was as good as he thought he was.

He was always very dismissive of rock drummers and did not like being described as one. Certainly seemed to think himself a cut above any of his contemporaries and only rated jazz drummers who were already established when he was starting out

 

[Midnight Toker]

Baker was a miserable codger. A complete swollen headed prick. Dismissive of anyone who surpassed his level of success. He actually had the cahones to say "John Bonham couldn't swing a bag of *%#ing hammers", when "swing" is exactly what set Bonham apart from the entire field of typical rock drummers. All the drummers that came after that attempted to emulate him fell short (and still do!) because they only studied Zep and failed to learn the basics from the likes of Krupa, Morello, Rich, Jabo, Stubblefield, Modeliste, etc. Bonham WAS a swing drummer in a heavy rock band. On the records he layed back and played what suited the song, but on stage he really shined.

 

[Midnight Toker]

Some newly unearthed footage of Harper and Page from 84.


Ahhh...that Ovation tin can sound.

 

[walrus]

Great video!

I laughed at the end when Page had to try to keep the Ovation from sliding off the chair!

walrus