Rose Simpson accidentally fell into one of the most iconic late sixties groups: The Incredible String Band. They have been unfairly forgotten in recent years but at the time The Beatles were big fans and Led Zeppelin cited them as a major influence. Whatever your opinion on their music, it is fair to say that no one has sounded like them before or since. They recorded everything during their key years at Sound Techniques, Chelsea under the keen Producer’s eye of Joe Boyd.
Rose is a self-confessed non-musician. She is very clear about this. Everything she played in the band was taught to her parrot fashion by band member and then partner Mike Heron. No one knew this at the time and even The Small Faces asked her to play bass on one of their albums (she politely refused!). Despite her lack of technical prowess this splendid interview conducted by The Parts You Don’t Hear contains some of the most astute descriptions of the times, the studio and the people involved. Rose looks back on those naive days philosophically but also with fondness and fierce intellect.
Many thanks Rose for her time and generosity. You can check out her new book titled Muse, Odalisque, Handmaiden here. The interview would not have taken place without the wonderful Adrian Whittaker who hosted the only ever public film screening of The Incredible String Band’s ‘U’ in May 2018 at Dalston’s Rio Cinema. It was a lovely, nostalgic event made all the lovelier for our Sunday hangout with Rose, Adrian and Deena. Thanks Deena for the interview room! Please also check out Adrian’s in-depth book An Incredible String Band Compendium.
