My first Roy Harper gig
It was 1967 and I had been told by my friend Bob that I ought to check out this singer that he’d seen. He told me that he sounded like me. He talked about the same stuff. And that I’d love him. Bob was cool with his white plastic mac and black tousled hair. If he thought that then it was worth checking out.
I put it to the back of my mind.
I had recently been getting into Jackson C Frank, Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. I had a motorbike and the means to get into London. The Sixties Underground was opening up to me. I was immersed in the Blues, West Coast Acid Rock and the Psychedelic/Progressive scene. It was all happening.
Les Cousins seemed to have it all when it came to the singer songwriter and what passed as ‘Comtemporary Folk’.
I headed up to catch a gig by Bert Jansch and John Renbourn. It set me back a cool 20p.
Les Cousins was a basement club , down these stairs into the cellar laid out with tables and chairs and a stage. It was cosy.
Bert and John did individual sets and sandwiched in between was this fair-haired troubadour with a contagious chuckle and wicked mind. I didn’t twig straight away that this was the guy Bob had told me about. I was captivated by the patter. He only played three songs. I remember one was Blackpool. None of them were his epics. He hadn’t written those yet. But what he had to say and the power of him came straight across to me. I was smitten.
Roy Harper rocked my mind with the force of a tsunami. He was articulating the thoughts inside my head and putting them into words.
I knew I had to see him again soon, and quick, if for no other reason than to find out what I was thinking!
Not unalike. Strange how face growth is back again for young me.
I’ve always had a beard. I grew my first one at fourteen but was ordered to shave it off by school. That led to a few battles.
It seems to be back in as a fashion.
Yes and so many look so handsome too.
Ah yes – but with me it served to hide my face!
That is not true, don’t say that.
I think it probably is. Though as a young man I had my moments when I was passably attractive. I’m under no delusions.
Stop right there, I have just been looking at your picture gallery back in the 60s. Fantastic hair how did you dry it when you washed it, I did not have hair as long as you and your Wife but I did have long hair, never used a hair dryer.
Never used a hair dryer. Just let it dry in the air.
Me too, still do It is the best way to dry hair, that is probably why we still have good hair, right?
My hairs beginning to get a bit thin. But then who wants fat hair?
I have my “friend” coming tomorrow afternoon she is a professional hairdresser has been for the last 46yrs, she cuts restyles my hair, I tell her what I want usually get what she wants, you think I talk Opher, even my dog “Daisy” ends up with a headache. (unkind of me)
I can believe it. But talking is good.
Yes but not when you get a headache. When David starts work of an evening (America etc come on then) I say something to him and no answer, so I ask is he listening to me “No, well at least I am being honest” that’s what I get. I used to tell my Father I was going to become a Nun (like hell) and Daddy would tell me ” do you know what girlie you would go in and they would all leave” he was right, I will stop.
I can imagine you taking that vow of silence – not!
I think I might become a nun. But then I suppose it would get into a habit.
You have a great sense of humour.
It certainly made the kids groan.
I doubt that very much. My husband as they grew did not bother with his Sons, seemed to turn against Jonathan as he grew older, Jonathan looks and is too much like me.
Well they certainly groan a lot.
At least you spent time with them and did not spend ours out with someone else and come home and lie.
Well that’s true. But that was his loss. Time with family is precious. They grow up so fast.
Yes, how true when Jonathan started school the years just flew and David did not seem to be a baby for long.Yes, it was David’s loss and I don’t even know if he really cared or not,
Whether he cared or not he missed out.
Just saw the date, above 52 years ago Jack Kennedy was Assassinated does it seem that long?
Life goes by in a flash. I can’t believe I’m this age!
Neither can I believe how old I am, never used to worry me until this year and now, well say no more.
No point in worrying. Just make the most of what you’ve got and let the future take care of itself. The art is to change what you can, do your best and forget about the rest. I’m not brilliant at that yet.
David is down to start work, so I will sign off, I have not yet mastered how to work the keyboard on the tablet. So until tomorrow “Sleep Warm”.
And you.
Reblogged this on Opher's World and commented:
I often think about this gig – A milestone!