old rockers never die they just release a new album

Who'd have thought that 2013 would be a year when the 60's rockers would find a second wind, or 3rd or 4th depending on how you see their contribution. Either way this year Macca, Bowie, Elton John, Black Sabbath, Roy Harper and the list goes on, released albums that brought some attention if not from a young audience then certainly with the media.
Which ever one first caught the bug to take to the studio "one more time" the virus sure spread fast and one set the rest off in not being left out of the old act. Just like the 60's, when one band rushed to beat the other to the No.1 slot in the album charts. Of course those days are long gone now and their succession of releases landed without a thud onto the web rather than major labels beloved record stores which are virtually all gone.
Nowadays the big labels just pump there old catalogue through to Spotify and hardly anyone earns a nickel from the machine, which Thom Yorke will tell you all about over and over again.
Those who didn't get the bug to release full on albums did a respectable job with a new track or two and went back on the road, which was The Stones route. And don't bet on them not showing up next year to start it up again, again.
The Who also took the Stones way minus the single, and went walk about too promoting their anniversary bumper mega buck box set of the forthcoming 'Tommy' reissue. Which was slightly less ambitiuos given that Townshed hasn't written a new song in years, well maybe he has but he ain't telling. But what has surfaced amongst the reissue is previously unheard material in the form of 20 demos from Townshend’s archive one of which is this.. “Amazing Journey". It's obviously a more raw version than on the original album but from about 3 minutes in you hear the Pete Townshend guitar take off like a large firework and you have to think why the hell haven't we heard that more recently on something new. After all PT if that other lot can do it...

VIA HENNEMUSIC.COM

roy harper track revealed

At last we get to hear a track from Roy Harper's much anticipated new album 'Man And Myth', his first for 13 years.. It's the first one he's allowed to be previewed from what the critics are describing as a 5 star release.
Back a year ago their had been an idea to performing some of the songs when they had recorded in the States but that was shut down.
Harper explained when he spoke in an interview with Folk Radio UK around that time.

"Whatever you do nowadays, it’ll be on YouTube the next day, we're under-rehearsed, we haven’t seen each other for months, and we’re not going to present something that’s half-cocked for people to see on YouTube. I hate seeing something on YouTube I’ve done the next day, something that’s not quite right. I can’t blame them, they’re fans, but those like us who like to get things right are horrified! So the short answer is no. But that was the plan…"

Anyway that's a year ago, now the track being let go for us is "Time is Temporary". A melancholy lament that reminds a little of Leonard Cohen's delivery but with Roy you always get a musical twist with careful punctuation and an unexpected chord sequence, and of course the guitar playing is in top form. Folk fans will approve the master.
There's just a few select gigs this autumn for those in the UK.
Tue 22 October – LONDON – Royal Festival Hall
Fri 25 October – MANCHESTER – Bridgewater Hall
Sun 27 October – BRISTOL – Colston Hall

Anybody else think that widget picture looks like Willie Nelson?

roy harper in from the cold

That 60's generation of musicians are just not quitting. Roy Harpers return with a new album after 13 years is being hailed all round, "a magnificent rejuvenation". (Uncut Magazine)
One of the original folk troubadours in the UK, Harper back then always had a loyal almost fanatical following with rarely a student room or flat without a copy of one of the early albums by this enigmatic and quiet man. In the late 60's his music had become inspirational to many including Jimmy Page who named a track after him for a Zeppelin album, and has more recently joined him on stage for one off appearances. On the new 'Myth & Man' album produced by the contemporary talent of Jonathan Wilson who also supports on banjo and mandolin, Harper is also joined by his old mate Pete Townshend.
For a man who rarely had the spotlight held on his music for more than brief appearances on the early 70's rock TV show The Old Grey Whistle Test, and then dropped out of sight for the best part of 20 years from the late 70's and mainly only resurfacing for the odd live performance and the occasional album, it's a tribute to Harper and his music that he's since found a whole new generation who've been influenced by his work and that has finally prompted his return to recording after 13 years.
Roy Harper, the perpetual outsider, is now at last in from the cold.
For the time being there are no preview tracks from 'Man & Myth available to stream (released September)... but there will be.
In the mean time here is a rare and excellent appearance, probably on Australian TV in 1986 with his track "One Man Rock 'n' Roll Band" from his classic 1971 album 'Stormcock'.

roy harper

Very good to see Roy Harper is headlining one of the UK's summer folk festival's this year (Moseley Folk Festival, 31st Aug, 1st & 2nd Sept).
After 4 decades of touring and recording he's obtained the genuine respect for never compromising in his song writing. His fans of course have always known this but in the last few years there's been more new comers to his music then ever before thanks to the video exposure of his music, YouTube etc.
These days Roy hand picks his gigs so you won't get many chances to catch this folk legend on tour but if his Albert Hall performance in 2011 is anything to go by you'll still get a performance of one of his most recognised and evocative songs 'The Same Old Rock' which he originally recorded with Jimmy Page. Page has been a long time mate even dedicating one of Led Zeppelins tracks to him.
Whether you know his 1970 'Stormcock' album or not there's never a wrong time to hear this song. Listen out for the duel riff guitars of Page and Harper at about 9.54. You don't often get to hear a 12 string played this well.