Hi one and all
We are very sad to report that our dear friend and co-conspirator Chris George has died after a lengthy illness. For those who have known and followed Hunter Muskett down the years this will come as a cruel blow but at least we were able to say our farewells sitting at his bedside singing old favourites.
Chris began playing with Doug and me at Avery Hill College way back in 1968. Bert Jansch was everyone’s hero and Chris decided to build himself a guitar using an instruction book by John Bailey, Jansch’s luthier. A sign of things to come.
When a deal with Decca arrived, the name Hunter Muskett was adopted and the trio found themselves playing alongside Pentangle bassist Danny Thompson. Time for Chris to build a fretless bass guitar.
Chris’s next project was a little left-field for a Jansch fanatic. He decided to incorporate electric guitar into the sound - a George build, naturally. This was passed back and forth between himself and Doug depending on the song. Together with the PA Chris had already built, this proved something of a departure for 1970s folk clubs, but his next move - the ‘Cecil Sharp Distortion Booster’ (the first pedal board we had ever seen) - was his coup de grace.
While I contributed most of the songs and Doug bent the riffs, Chris’ inventive guitar lines and tricky low harmonies were central to the sound. Meanwhile his practical skills got us on the road. He provided the van, painted it and kept it running. There is a memory of us stranded on the M1 and Chris vanishing into the night to return hours later with the vital component. We missed the gig, but got home.
In a band where there was always humour, Chris became master of the pithy one-liner - sometimes perfectly judged! He was up for a bit of honesty too - memorably launching his electric guitar at a wall in Bedford College and later offering a deft ‘V’ sign to two thousand punters at Manchester Free Trade Hall during the McTell tour. On the same tour he saved the day at a sold-out Festival Hall when he was the only one to realise the PA was’t turned on - an unscheduled ice-breaker.
Chris was player, luthier, innovator and problem-solver extraordinaire - once even forging the carnet for a European tour with a John Bull printing kit from Woolworths…but even he couldn’t solve the world oil crisis in 1974. We couldn’t believe it was over. How astonishing that we were all still around 36 years later to have another go. Again it was Chris who provided the wherewithal - the PA, the practice rooms, and the hospitality (with admittedly a little help from his wife, Mu’).
Of course, the band was just a corner of Chris’ life, but a corner he cared about deeply. It’s hard to believe we are writing this. Rest well old friend -‘see you By and By.’
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Meanwhile, Hunter Muskett managed to complete their customary Spring tour without getting lost, forgetting the set lists or breaking strings. We covered many, many miles but the weather was forgiving for once and we're on first name terms with every barista on the M1 and M6.
In 1970 or thereabouts we fondly recall playing the Dog & Partridge Folk Club in Clitheroe, remembered chiefly because the organisers were initially aghast at the sight of an electric guitar in their midst. They were eventually persuaded that all would be well and we returned many times. So imagine our surprise and delight when members of the audience on that night turned out to see us when we played again in Clitheroe last week. None of us looked any older ....
You might also have a look to see if any of my upcoming solo gigs are within striking distance - it's always a lovely surprise to recognise people in the audience whom I've met before on a different occasion.
On the recording front, the band's last album Roll On is continuing to get great reviews, Radio 2 plays and is selling well at venues and on line - added to that Doug Morter, known to all, has now released a long overdue solo CD called Mama's Boy which we'll have with us at gigs in the Autumn.
Meanwhile, my own follow up to the solo CD Falling More Slowly is now available. It's called In Sunlight and in Shadow and effectively doubles my solo CD collection to two – the last being released six years ago and now sold out.
This latest recording features original songs as well as a couple of traditional tunes and covers - thirteen in all, and like the first CD each song is preceded by a short instrumental tune, this time drawn from the National Song Book of 1908. Also included is a 24 page booklet containing the lyrics and background notes to each song as well as information and photos; another advantage of CDs over streaming.
Have a listen to one or two sample tracks on the songs page and if you’d like me to send you over a copy then just get in touch to confirm and I’ll put a CD in the post straight away.
Finally, do have a look at the gig schedule for next year - again I shall be all over the UK so whether I'm on my own or with the band, do drop by to say hello.
And in the meantime, all the very best to everyone for the rest of the year ahead and thanks again for continuing to take an interest in my dear old songs - it really is appreciated.
Take care
Terry
