Roy Harper back in the Second div.

Press, 27 February 1986, Page 10

Roy Harper back in the Second div.

By

NEVIN TOPP

Roy Harper, the British guitarist, sees himself as being back in the second division of his country’s music, having once reached the bottom of the first division before being relegated again. The singer/songwriter, who has been making “commercial” records since 1969, is considering trying again for the first division, although he is under no illusions about how tough it is going to be.

On the morning of leaving Britain for New Zealand he re-signed with EMI Records, having left the label about five years ago. “I decided it was in the interest of both parties to tie up with them again, because they have most of my life’s work.” And, he says, he is seriously considering “going on the road” for two or three years to see how such touring works out, although he admits it is a hard life.

Although he describes himself as a “strange loner,” he has played with bands, but in each instance, he says, no tour came out without losing less than £6OOO (SNZI6.BOO). But touring would be a way of introducing more people to his big collection of songs. Harper does not believe his main themes in his songs have changed on things like people’s rights and stripping the veneer

off personalities. At the same time he has retained his determination not to write pop love songs, although he says that would be easy enough to do. Also, he says, he has moved away from any political party, some of his ideas coming from the Right and some from the extreme Left.

“I just use commonsense these days when I think of writing a song,but they do not come but violently on one side or the other. Not necessarily political either, it could be some different facet of the human personality.” When coming on tour to New Zealand, he asked that some smaller places be included so that he could have a chance to view the country. Organisers say that places like Westport and Nelson are enthusiastic about the Harper tour, places that Harper says “people have run to, to get away from the holocaust of civilisation.” The British musician holds his second New Zealand concert at the James Hay Theatre, in the Christchurch Town Hall, this evening. His other shows include Regent Theatre, Greymouth, on March 4; DB Motor Hotel, Westport, March.s; Globe Hotel, Takaka, March 7; Brook Festival, Nelson, March 9; and Suter Gallery, in the same city, on March 12.