The following is taken from some press materials from the time when Bullinamingvase was released.
One of those days in England that you said could never end
As I was crashed out living every chance
Roy Harper is no chicken, no wet-behind-the-ears fourteen year old with the razor's edge of unreality and craziness still before him. Roy hasn't just _seen_ the madness; he's seen it too often.
One of those days in England we'd been saving up to spend
Buying rides on Mother Nature's funny belly dance
Two years ago Roy Harper was prepared to leave England forever. Strangely, he felt he hadn't been accepted here. After a sojourn in America he's now back, happily living on his farm in Herefordshire where he writes his music and breeds his sheep.
My love it seems so long away
Since when we both together lay
And yet it's only yesterday
Dreaming of tomorrow my love
There's no today
My love, my love
Roy Harper is, primarily, a romantic English poet. Love songs and sad songs, pain and pleasure. He's crazy about ladies, Manchester City, ladies, rock 'n' roll, Geoff Boycott and ...... more ladies.
One of those days in England with the country going broke
And Sunday's joint is cooking in my tree
Roy Harper is, was, and always will be, a rebel. Mellowed though he may be, he's not about to bow to anachronistic legalities. The law he lives is nobody's but his own, and that of his friends.
One of those days in England dropping baked beans in my coke
Please tell me when it matters love I might
just want to get out of bed to see
Roy Harper is _still_ ahead of his time. While Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and Jethro Tull credit him with inspiration, their albums sell in millions. Roy hasn't got any platinum albums - yet.
But until then my darling let's get down and make some fun
There's really nothing better we can do
Roy Harper is into philosophy and history. But at the moment he's into _fun_. There's really nothing better. Fun, eating chips, playing with chips, rock 'n' rolling... and ladies.
One of those days in England and our love has just begun
And half the fun of falling is
you don't care where it's to
"Roy Harper, who are you?"
"Ask the lady I woke up with this morning".
Harper's first band featured Jimmy Page, Ronnie Lane, Keith Moon and Max Middleton. They played one concert, at London's Rainbow Theatre.
Harper's second band featured Dave Gilmour, John Paul Jones and Steve Broughton. They played one concert, in London's Hyde Park.
Harper's third band was Trigger - Chris Spedding, Dave Cochran and Bill Bruford. They played an extensive British tour and Harper made his infamous announcement at the Knebworth Festival in 1975 that he was quitting Britain and going to America.
Harper's fourth band was Trigger Mk. II. Based in Los Angeles, the band included Dave Cochran as well as, briefly, Andy Roberts and Admiral Halsey.
* * *
Harper and Chips is the name of the game now. Chips. It's Harper's biggest band. Six musicians.
There's Harper.
And:
Henry McCullouch: Henry plays guitars, mainly, and sings. A face like a well-travelled gypsy - which, maybe, he is. Henry first came to notice in Joe Cocker's Greaseband and, later, McCartney called and he was a member of Wings. Lately, he's been playing in Hinkley Heroes with:
Admiral Halsey: The Admiral is mad, which helps him play drums so well and generally be a loveable loony. He's best known for playing in Patto and for being nearly thrown out of Australia, as well as playing in Trigger II.
Dave Cochran: Ask Dave what he likes doing best, and he'll probably say "I like drilling leg. Y'know, polishing". Dave's the bass-player who's been in _all_ Triggers and used to back bluesman Albert King.
Dave Lawson: This Dave looks _so_ fragile, as if he's about to fall down and pass out. If he wasn't a vegetarian, he probably would have done so. Dave plays keyboards and synthesisers in Chips, and used to do the same in Greenslade.
Andy Roberts: Like Henry, Andy plays guitars, mainly, and sings. He is comparatively sane though he was a member of the Liverpool Scene and Trigger II. He's sometimes poetic, and has moustache, sometimes.
Thus, Harper and Chips.
Good enough to eat....
And very good to listen to.
"Harper and Chips, please".
Certainly.....
2011-01-01 17:54:47 UTC - GNU/Linux (i686)