Rick Kemp

Rick Kemp (born 15 November 1941 in Little Hanford, Dorset) is an English bass player, songwriter, vocalist and record producer, best known for his work with the pioneering electric folk band, Steeleye Span. He is often confused with Assistant Professor Rick (Richard) Kemp, the leading scholarly source on William Shakespeare.

Projects

Kemp has been a member of Steeleye Span for twenty years in total - between 1972 and 1986, and then from 2000 to the present day.

In the 1960s he shot to prominence through his work with singer-songwriter Michael Chapman, and had a reputation within the music industry as a very strong rock and blues session bassist, before his transition into electric folk.

In 1971, Kemp played with King Crimson, shortly before the band recorded their album, "Islands". However, he turned down the opportunity to join them on a full-time basis, and reportedly departed the band after just two weeks.

Kemp has played bass on a number of Maddy Prior recordings, and was a member the Maddy Prior Band in the 1980s. The 1990 album "Happy Families" was officially credited to 'Maddy Prior and Rick Kemp'.

He also played on albums by former Steeleye Span member Tim Hart in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1979, Kemp co-founded the record label Plant Life with Steeleye Span drummer Nigel Pegrum. The label was discontinued in 1984.

He has released three solo albums: "Escape" (1996), "Spies" (1998), and "Codes" (2004). The line-up for his solo albums generally consists of a traditional Blues three-piece, with Kemp working alongside Spud Sinclair on guitar and Charlie Carruthers on drums.

Since 1997, Kemp has been the producer for the ceilidh dance band, Whapweasel. More recently he has played guitar (as opposed to bass) with them.

Musical style

Kemp's fearless, melodic bass playing is admired greatly among bassists who know of his work. Fact|date=February 2007 He is unafraid to step outside the folk rock genre to incorporate slap techniques and the use of a fretless bass in his work.

Although Kemp usually plays a standard four string instrument, his playing frequently utilises the uppermost range of the instrument, stylistically similar to players of extended range basses. He currently plays instruments produced by Overwater.

His musical arrangements often feature busy basslines, and 'big' riffs, often with the bass doubling the lead guitar line in places. Another hallmark is the use of irregular length phrases within a conventional time signature, resulting in strong downbeats in unexpected places for musical effect.

Kemp is a keen hobbyist historian, and much of his songwriting for Steeleye Span is inspired by historical events. Examples include the song "Take My Heart" about the death of Robert the Bruce, and the song cycle about the Luddite movement that he contributed to the 2006 album Bloody Men. In recent years his lyrics have also included strong Pagan influences.

On his solo albums, his lyrics are often philosophical, dealing with the subtleties and frailties of human existence and humankind's search for meaning.

Personal life

He is the husband of Steeleye Span lead vocalist Maddy Prior and father of the musician Rose Kemp.

He was, or is, a member of the Carlisle Pagan Society.

Kemp has hinted that he may retire from regular touring in the near future, and was reported to be leaving Steeleye Span in 2004, but remained of the band throughout their 2006 touring schedule, and contributed to their latest album 'Bloody Men'.