Hugh Hopper
HIDDEN ERROR: Usage of "spouse" is not recognizedHIDDEN ERROR: Usage of "children" is not recognized
Hugh Colin Hopper (29 April 1945 – 7 June 2009) was a British progressive rock and jazz fusion bass guitarist. He was a prominent member of the Canterbury scene, as a member of Soft Machine and various other related bands.
Biography
Early career
Starting in 1963 as bassist with The Daevid Allen Trio, alongside drummer Robert Wyatt, he alternated between free jazz and rhythm and blues. In 1964 with Brian Hopper (his brother), Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers and Richard Sinclair he formed The Wilde Flowers, a pop music group. Although they never released any records during their existence (a compilation was released 30 years later), The Wilde Flowers are acknowledged as the founders of the Canterbury scene and spawned its two most important groups, Soft Machine and Caravan.
With Soft Machine (1968–73)
Hopper's role with Soft Machine was initially as the group's road manager, but he already composed for their first album The Soft Machine and played bass on one of its tracks. In 1969 he was recruited to be the group's bassist for their second album, Volume Two and, with Mike Ratledge and Robert Wyatt, he took part in a recording session for a solo album of Syd Barrett's (formerly of Pink Floyd, with whom the early Soft Machine had regularly gigged). Hopper continued with Soft Machine, playing bass and contributing numerous compositions until 1973. During his tenure the group evolved from a psychedelic pop group to an instrumental jazz-rock fusion band. In 1972, shortly before leaving Soft Machine, he recorded the first record under his own name, 1984 (named after George Orwell's novel Nineteen Eighty-Four). This was a decidedly non-commercial record featuring lengthy solo pieces using tape loops as well as shorter pieces with a group.
Podcasts:
Hugh Hopper
ALBUMS
- 1984 released: 2013
- Clear Frame released: 2008
- Jazzloops released: 2002
- Huge released: 1996
- A Remark Hugh Made released: 1994
- Two Rainbows Daily released: 1980
- Cruel But Fair released: 1977
- Hopper Tunity Box released: 1977
- Somewhere in France released:
- Mercy Dash released:
- Alive released:
Born: 1945-04-29
Died: 2009-06-07
-
by Manilla Road
-
by Peter Cincotti
-
by Katy B
-
by David Casper
Witches' Brew
by: Manilla RoadIntroduction
Inside the maze of fire
Kindled with desire
Boiling the cauldron true
Filled with witches' brew.
Three Norns stand at the gates,
Masters of the Fates
Who keep the ancient runes,
Howl at the silver moon.
1st verse
Would you drink the witches' brew,
Blood of wisdom shed for you?
Watch the dead rise from the grave
And turn the monsters into slaves.
Father of Tiw
Long dead warriors rise for you.
We drink the brew.
2nd verse
Fire and water, earth and sky,
Feast of torches lights the night;
Hounds of Yeth bay at the moon;
The blood of life is Witches' brew.
Father of Tiw
Einhereir doth rise for you.
We drink the brew,