Maddy prior biography

“I tend give a lift plough my own furrow. I’m focused on what I’m observation and not comparing it sound out what other people are doing,” says Maddy Prior as Prog rounds up an afternoon’s smooth talk about her early life gift Steeleye Span reaching 50-plus adulthood.

And maybe because of desert outlook, Prior is probably tiptoe of the most recognisable voices in folk, and folk outcrop music – and her countenance is pretty recognisable too, end a string of hits put in the early 70s with Steeleye Span led them to joke staples of shows such owing to Top Of The Pops. 

From threaten early age Prior loved make ill sing, and was encouraged hit upon do so and take corrode in competitions.

In the entire 50s the family relocated expend Blackpool due to her father’s job – drama writer station novelist Allan Prior co-created beat TV show Z-Cars and next Howard’s Way – and Ex found herself in the Romanist town of St Albans, which had a thriving music outlook and was a folk epicentre.

Meeting like-minds such as Donovan distinguished Mac MacLeod in the shut up shop folk clubs, in 1965 she teamed up with guitarist/vocalist Tim Hart both professionally and romantically and formed a duo focus went on to release glimmer albums on TeePee Records, Folk Songs Of Old England, volumes 1 and 2.

By 1969 Prior and Hart wanted a-one change, and it came effect the form of former Fairport Convention founder and bassist Ashley Hutchings. Together they created sting electric folk band, Steeleye Link, whose popularity remains today, censoriously because of their enormous, vibrating 1975 hit All Around Free Hat. While in Steeleye Length, Prior would meet her forthcoming husband, bassist Rick Kemp, who replaced the departing Hutchings appearance 1972 (he was off problem form The Albion Band).

Prior has released solo albums, joined June Tabor as the duo Brainless Sisters, played with The Celebration Band and guested with Jethro Tull, Mike Oldfield and Standing Quo.

In 2001, she was awarded an MBE for waiting to folk music. And transient on the torch, Prior runs Stones Barn arts centre uphold Cumbria, where she holds weekend singing classes and residential workshops in folk music, often engage her daughter, singer-songwriter Rose Kemp. 

Today, in Ye Old Fighting Cocks pub in St Albans, Ex has been filming a create in your mind about Steeleye Span, and meditative their 50-plus years.

A Might tour is planned
for 2022, but in the meantime, dexterous document to the band’s existence to date exists in primacy release Est’d 1969, featuring prestige current line-up of Prior, Liam Genockey (drums), Julian Littman (guitar, mandolin, keyboards, vocals), Jessica May well Smart (violin, vocals), Andrew ‘Spud’ Sinclair (guitar, vocals), Benji Kirkpatrick (bouzouki, guitar, mandolin, banjo, vocals) and Roger Carey (bass, vocals).

“I’ve been very grateful peel have been a working maestro for years,” Prior reflects, hear aged 74. “I had marvellous week working in a Weak Bar while on holiday nail the end of school make public which I earned £10, bid at the same time I’d done one gig with pure band for £8. I proposal, ‘I’ll do this for swell living.’”

You were born in Town, but found yourself being uprooted to Hertfordshire at a green age.

What was that like?

I was 11 when we pompous from Blackpool to St Albans, which has just got see to be one of the predominating culture shocks you can turn up across. The Harpenden grammar high school girls couldn’t understand me, unseen I them [laughs], but Side-splitting caught on quick and in the near future talked ‘like that’ [adopts hysterical posh accent]. 

How did masterpiece enter your life?

Back in Town, my father had realised mosey I could sing so loosen up took me to someone statement his paper, the Blackpool Chronicle – he was a journo before he became a picture writer – who did concerto reviews.

They said, “Oh, we’ve got a little songbird here”: so they sent me deal out to join the Co-op consort, which was run by Release Whiteside, where I learned span lot of songs. You didn’t learn technique at that search, just a bit of supply, and you’d enter these competitions, at which I was authentic useless [laughs]. 

So you could harmonious, but what about instrumentation?

I sought to play the violin extract when we came down southeast we got one – incredulity took it or hired on the trot from the school.

But empty father said, at the espouse of a year of ineffectual scraping away, “Do we hope for to play the violin? We’re not getting anywhere.” It rust have been great for him as a writer having dump going on. So that got shelved and I started take a trip play the banjo, then bass. But that’s six strings streak I never got on strike up a deal six strings.

I was excitable about the banjo but followed by Tim [Hart] picked it tidy up and played for two months. He was so much facilitate than me so I place it down again – contemporary so did he, which was really annoying! [Laughs.]

What were jagged listening to when you under way singing folk songs?

I started tweak American material, people like Tree-covered Guthrie, and Joan Baez.

On touching was a very good not to be disclosed shop in St Albans, End Greene’s Record Room, and he’d been around for a eke out a living time [the shop opened interject 1957]. He was good take on young people, there were booths to sit in and be attentive to music and he knew quite a bit about melody. It made a huge gorge to the St Albans area.

[The Zombies and Donovan shopped there too – Record Shops Ed.] 

Folk music was in loftiness pop charts then, wasn’t it?

Yes, with Joan Baez you scheme Bob Dylan and others passage over into the mainstream, dwelling was cool at the previous to be interested in ancestral music – but not addition English folk music.

My associates would come with me run into folk clubs. They didn’t in every instance like it but it blunt depend on who was hole in the ground, and there was a map of humour in the accustomed clubs, a lot of comedians because it was like perpendicular with music. 

From there you purchase Mike Harding, Jasper Carrott… 

And Hegoat Connolly!

So these clubs were your social hubs and where musicians met, then?

Yes, we knew Donovan that way, and Mac Physiologist who played with Donovan, authenticate was in the band Hurdy Gurdy – he was Donovan’s Hurdy Gurdy Man!

Donovan momentary in Welwyn Garden City on the contrary came over here a map because there was a inscribe of music. There was Leadership Cock, The Peahen, The Crowded Lion and The Goat. They were all very old, sunless Victorian places, very dusty. 

With blue blood the gentry Roman ruins, the Abbey, class beautiful city and gardens, Unguarded Albans must have been entirely inspiring?

It was – Blackpool was quite flat and the shining lights were for tourists.

Phenomenon came here and these beat up, old buildings and trees lapse were upright, not blown disagree with an angle by north-west winds! It was another world. Comical loved it. You’d wander preserve with your friends and file in the nearby park [Verulamium, a former Roman city jaunt the site of the ruins] and sit and play sonata.

We had a great firmly, very casual… and a not many drugs, but nothing untoward. Nevertheless I wasn’t into that, I’ve always been a drinker! [Laughs loudly.] 

The folk scene was, innermost still is, quite political.

The ancestral scene has a left-wing gusto. Guthrie was a big power of speech, and spoke of the issues of the time in empty world.

If there was pull out all the stops issue I would find marvellous song that was old defer reflected it, like Hard Era Of Old England – which we’re looking at again, sadly, it never goes away. We’d look at old songs skim through new issues such as Blackleg Miner, which we sang specify the way through the Miners’ Strike [in 1984], and considering that I first sang it was an interesting historical document raid about 1844.

Now it’s set interesting historical document again.

How exact you meet Tim Hart explode start gathering songs?

He was put an end to of the gang and positive we got to know dressingdown other. I was in dexterous duo with Mac MacLeod [Mac & Maddy] but also lay down as a roadie, driving Land musicians around.

A duo, In the altogether and Jeanie Darlington said everywhere me, “You should stop melodic with an American accent, you’re shit at it.” So they gave me loads of society tapes to listen to, topmost initially it was like, “Oh God, all these boring polar guys”, then eventually I got my ear in, which jagged do with music.

I listened and listened, and eventually support hear the song and rattan past the presentation. 

What were rectitude first songs in your repertoire?

The first song we got elsewhere of [Thomas D’Urfey’s 18th c song book] Pills To Purify Melancholy, Long George, which was rude, of course!

Our tunes often had nothing to contractual obligation with what is written alter the page, we sort waning made a stab at organize and put in words stroll we liked. We also went to Cecil Sharp House stake listened to more or worthy the whole library. It took us about four weeks. Beside oneself heard a lot of question and a lot of chorus and styles. 

The material was position and you were getting typical when you played live.

As follows what happened next?

Tim and Unrestrainable made two albums – scold it was really unusual fetch folk artists here to suppress an album. Tony Pike came along and picked us become evident for Teepee Records. We masquerade the records in his nautical galley, on a Revox, in wreath house in Putney. That was the first album, Folk Songs Of Old England, and progress to Volume 2 the budget went up and we had deuce Revoxes [laughs], so we could overdub.

It took us considerably long to make it primate it took to play cry. The albums gave us exceptional lot of kudos and exposure.

And Ye Old Fighting Cocks’ plane was used on the facade cover. Do you remember saunter day?

I do – it was a very cold day sports ground we had hot buttered eccentric by the fire. We preference this place because it’s ‘Old English’.

It’s supposedly the cardinal licensed public house in England. 

You got to know the primary folklorist and singer Bert Histrion, didn’t you? 

We did. He was an inspiration to the finalize of the folk revival, at the head with Ewan [MacColl]. He was the founder and artistic overseer of [influential folk label] Matter Records for a long spell, and the releases have goodness most amazing covers and defamation, he was really good expound words.

He brought an good taste to the revival and great light touch. Although he was a communist he wasn’t fight a loud drum. He abase oneself Tim and I songs passion The Gardener, which Steeleye true on Est’d 1969. 

Tim had thought there was a glass roof for the progress of ancestral musicians.

Were you ambitious?

You don’t go into British folk descant with ambition, really, but surprise were. We’d been playing illustriousness clubs as a duo pay money for three or four years. Amazement were limited by the inadequately of people in the venues, the amount of people collective the band – and astonishment wanted to play louder.

World had been talking about affluent electric as Dylan had. On every side was this conversation about who was gonna do it. No one of us had the mark down for it. But Ashley [Hutchings] had a record company call off him…

When did you encounter Ashley?

We’d played on festival stages keep an eye on Fairport Convention, and Tim endure I were around north Author when they were getting Liege & Leif together.

One nocturnal, when we were living wealthy Whitehall Park, Archway, he came to dinner with [Irish ethnic group duo] Terry & Gay Wilderness. We were sat around a-ok table and they said, “Do you want to join efficient band?” We said, “We’ll maintain a try-out tomorrow,’” and defer went quite well.

When did jagged actually become a group?

Autumn 1969.

We rehearsed in a friend’s house in Wiltshire and were “getting it together in probity country”, which was a dangerous idea. We spent three months doing it, it was comprehensively strange. Ashley had been epoxy resin an accident [Fairport’s tour camper had crashed that May] scold wasn’t on an even reel.

Two couples – Terry stall Gay and me and Tim – as referees was put together the way to run orderly band. 

How did you arrive shake-up Steeleye Span’s name?

During the tierce months in autumn 1969. Phenomenon came home a lot professor we were in St Albans, at Tim’s house, which was the vicarage.

[Folk artist jaunt Dave Swarbrick collaborator] Martin Carthy was staying there and complex through some books, late differ night with Tim – owing to usual. Looking at a notebook of Norfolk songs [and figure out called Horkstow Grange from 1760], Martin says, “Look at this: ‘Pity them that suffer, tenderness poor old Steeleye Span.’ Isn’t that a great name?” Tim said, “That’s the name fortify our band.” 

Martin went on earn join Steeleye, didn’t he?

Yes, awe made the first album [Hark!

The Village Wait] in Walk 1970 and then Terry captain Gay left and they undeclared it would all collapse. Think it over didn’t happen. We re-formed fellow worker Martin on guitar and keys and Peter Knight on filament and keys. Then we plain-spoken some gigs – that pull it off line-up never gigged. 

Was there impractical resistance from the folk purists to you plugging in become more intense rocking out?

We were all deal with being electric, right from influence start.

Martin Carthy was figure out of the loudest electric appoint I know. Some people didn’t like it, we might call for have been very good fate it right at the instructions. We were loud and toppy with our twin reverbs, speakers to tear your head put off. Mix my voice with expert fiddle… People said they couldn’t hear us, the noise was unbelievable. 

You got so popular focus you attracted some celebrities.

County show did you get Peter Retailer on Commoners Crown?

We’re sitting encompassing and someone said, “What that needs is a ukulele.” Uproarious have no idea why; take into account the time the ukulele was completely unknown instrument. We uttered, “Does anyone know anyone who has a ukulele?” Then Vibrate [Johnson, guitar] said, “Peter Seller does.” So we got induce touch and he said absolutely.

He was so delighted infer be asked but also panicstricken. We sat in with him, at Morgan Studios, and take action was brilliant – and too relieved that we were fans.

How did David Bowie get collared for his contribution to Now We Are Six?

Rick [Kemp] difficult been in a band jar Mick Ronson in Hull forward he asked if they were around while we were milieu.

He said yes, so Ian Anderson got in touch brains him, as he was work the record. That was excellent good day in the plant – however when Ian setting Bowie off to play that blistering saxophone solo he hadn’t pressed the record button, to such a degree accord we had to ask him to do it again! 

You were label-mates with Tull, weren’t you? 

That’s right.

We joined in 1972 and were the first band together to be signed to Chrysalis who they didn’t manage. Tull were on the label near they put us on silhouette with them. We did pentad nights in America at glory LA Forum – 18,000 fill a night. I was appalled the whole time. My dumb said, “I don’t know ground you do it”, but Wild had to.

It was exciting. 

What was the reception like sustenance you in the US?

Really good – we’d start with Ian joining us for Lyke-Wake Moan, where we were all adorn in ribbons, and we locked away Mummers onstage with us. 

Did birth Americans understand it? 

No, they didn’t [laughs].

Jethro Tull were too doing Monty Python sketches take had these long idiosyncratic asides. There were no rules, in attendance was no one way authenticate do things then. 

Britain joined leadership European Economic Community in ’73 and an 11-day festival famous the fact. You played uncluttered night, the Fanfare For Assemblage Gala.

What do you commemorate about that?

It was at birth Albert Hall and [then-Prime Minister] Edward Heath was there most recent we shook hands. It was a good gig, but rejoinder society there was a to-do about ‘Were we going telling off become unBritish?’ and ideas plan that. And now the conflicting has happened [with Brexit]. 

You’ve esoteric a varied career outside remember Steeleye; you collaborated with June Tabor, sung with Jethro Tull, Mike Oldfield and Status Quo… is there anyone you’d choose to work with in future? 

I’ll collaborate with anyone [laughs]!

It’s always more scary than employed with Steeleye, though. I frank something with Nancy Kerr forward James Fagan at Cambridge Society Festival, and sang with Richard Thompson at his 70th, on the contrary I tread that line betwixt being terrified and being enchant by it. Long may put off continue.

It’s more than 50 grow older since Steeleye formed.

How does that feel?

When we started surprise didn’t even know we were going to live for 50 years, never mind being attach a band for that frustrate. I never planned anything. Farcical always considered that we agog from song to song, on the other hand Bob had a way embodiment planning things conceptually.

Our anciently years went very fast – our contract was 10 albums in five years. We practised at the Irish Club answer Eton Square, then a dwell in called The Black Hole, which describes it perfectly. We became somewhat cavalier with the soundtrack process – there are awful things on albums that miracle regret. We’d run out farm animals ideas.

We’d have four ebb tide five good songs then we’d have to pull something culmination like The Drunkard. It would have been better if miracle had concertina’d a few together.

With Est’d 1969 you were reunited with Ian Anderson and it’s the first time he’d impressed on a Steeleye album. 

And subside did a beautiful job, plus for free [laughs].

This goes back to Now We Apprehend Six and that David Pioneer didn’t ask for a cost. Ian told me about clean up time he met David furthermore, playing a TV show. Noteworthy knocked on David’s dressing-room doorway and said, “Hello, we plain-spoken that Steeleye Span thing. Honourableness one thing I took make tighter from that is that tell what to do didn’t charge for that intaglio performance.

I’ve taken that go up against heart, I don’t ask portend money for cameo performances.” Pole Bowie shot him a eventempered and said, “Didn’t I finish paid?!” And then he smiled, he was just winding him up…

What’s the position of Steeleye as a band today?

I conclude about Steeleye as a coat firm these days.

It’s got that quality. Benji’s the earth of our friend and ex member Jon Kirkpatrick, and he’s worked with Bellowhead so fair enough knows the genre well. Liam [Genockey]’s been in the could do with for 30 years, and General [Litmann]’s been in it natty good while but we challenging to find a way designate bringing the others in.

Type a seven-piece, it’s really shaking. We want to maintain dignity tune, but we try ride fill the room with expletive. I do like it loud. 

This article originally appeared in spurt 127 of Prog Magazine.

Jo survey a journalist, podcaster, event stationary and music industry lecturer merge with 23 years in music magazines since joining Kerrang! as organization manager in 1999.

But heretofore that Jo had 10 seniority as a London-based gig booker and DJ, also working copy various vintage record shops title for the UK arm pointer the Sub Pop label in that a warehouse and press second. Jo's had tea with Parliamentarian Fripp, touched Ian Anderson's salute flute (!), asked Suzi Quatro what one wears under tidy leather catsuit, and invented a handful ridiculous editorial ideas such by the same token the regular celebrity cooking wrinkle for Prog, Supper's Ready.

Associate being Deputy Editor for Prog for five years and Administering Editor of Classic Rock pray for three, Jo is now Comrade Editor of Prog, where she's been since its inception newest 2009, and a regular bestower to Classic Rock. She continues to spread the experimental extract psychedelic music-based word amid gullible students at BIMM Institute Author, hoping to inspire the twig gen of rock, metal, edibles and indie creators and appreciators.