Hunter Muskett is an English folk-rock band, that first existed between 1968 and 1974, and reformed in 2010.

Beginnings

The group was formed at

Avery Hill College The University of Greenwich is a public university located in London and Kent, United Kingdom. Previous names include Woolwich Polytechnic and Thames Polytechnic. The university's main campus is at the Old Royal Naval College, which along wit ...

in South London, when Terry Hiscock and Chris George were joined by fellow student Doug Morter. The band's name was taken from an anecdote about an eccentric Cornishman. Hunter Muskett began by playing in London folk-clubs and colleges mixing original songs with acoustic folk and blues. Unusually for the time they used a pa system and some electric instruments in folk clubs.

Recording and touring

The band signed to Decca Nova after being spotted playing at The Troubadour in London's Earls Court. On the resulting album, ‘Every Time You Move’ (1970), produced by Kim Margolis, the trio's acoustic sound was augmented by

Danny Thompson Daniel Henry Edward Thompson (born 4 April 1939) is an English multi-instrumentalist best known as a double bassist. He has had a long musical career playing with a large variety of other musicians, particularly Richard Thompson and John Ma ...

(uncredited) on double bass and orchestration arranged by Richard Hewson. Bass-player Rog Trevitt joined shortly after the album's release. The Decca Nova label lasted less than a year. From 1971 to 1974 the band toured the UK and on the continent, also making one trip to Morocco. Although mainly working the folk/college/ circuit, they also played festivals (Cambridge, St Albans, Laycock, Norwich) and major venues, notably as support to Dutch singer-songwriter Lenny Kuhr (Holland and Belgium in 1972),

Ralph McTell Ralph McTell (born Ralph May; 3 December 1944) is an English singer-songwriter and guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk music scene since the 1960s. McTell is best known for his song " Streets of London" (1969), which ...

(UK Spring Tour 1973) and Amon Düül (Belgium and Northern France in autumn 1973). Radio appearances included Radio Hilversum, and the BBC's: Country Meets Folk,

Pete Drummond Peter Drummond-Hay (born 29 July 1943), known professionally as Pete Drummond, is a British voice artist and former BBC and pirate radio disc jockey and announcer. Biography Early years and pirate radio He was born in Bangor, Wales. His par ...

’s Night Ride and Sounds on Sunday. In 1973 managers Mike Hutson and

George Fenton George Richard Ian Howe Fenton (born 19 October 1949), known professionally as George Fenton, is an English composer. Best known for his work writing film scores and music for television, he has received five Academy Award nominations, several ...

(then working as George Howe) signed the band to Derek Johns at Bradley's Records where they became one of three acts (alongside

Paul Brett Paul Brett (20 June 1947 – 31 January 2024) was an English classic rock guitarist. He played lead guitar with Strawbs (although he was never actually a member), The Overlanders, The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, T ...

and Kala ) in a label launch involving considerable promotional expenditure. The album ‘Hunter Muskett’ (1973) produced by

Keith Relf William Keith Relf (22 March 194312 May 1976) was an English musician, best known as the lead vocalist and harmonica player for rock band the Yardbirds. He then formed the band Renaissance with his sister Jane Relf, the Yardbirds ex-drummer ...

also featured Michael Giles on drums,

Jim McCarty James Stanley McCarty (born 25 July 1943) is an English musician, best known as the drummer for the Yardbirds and Renaissance. Following Chris Dreja's departure from the Yardbirds in 2013, McCarty became the only founding member to still tou ...

on percussion, Ken Freeman and John ‘Rabbit’ Bundrick (uncredited) on synthesiser. Plans to add a permanent drummer were never realised although Andrew Steele played at the Royal Festival Hall (May 1973) and worked on demos for a projected second Bradley's album, whilst

Roger Swallow Roger Swallow (born 23 February 1946 in Northampton, England) is an English producer, musician and songwriter. He was a member of The Albion Band and worked with many artistes in the late 1960s/early 1970s as a session and touring drummer/percuss ...

came in for Pete Drummond's Night Ride (autumn 1973).

Break-up and re-form

In 1974, a change of musical policy at Bradleys (now under ex-Mojo Stuart Slater) resulted in the label parting with all three of its original acts in a quest for hit singles. With no record label and finding the economics of keeping on the road increasingly difficult the band decided to split. Of the four members only Doug Morter continued to work as a professional musician combining a solo career with band and duo work. Now based in Denmark his credits include:

Richard Digance Richard Digance (pronounced DYE-jance; born 24 February 1949) is an English comedian and folk singer. Early life Digance was born in Plaistow, East London. After his family moved to nearby East Ham, he attended Vicarage Lane Primary School ...

Magna Carta (Medieval Latin for "Great Charter"), sometimes spelled Magna Charta, is a royal charter of rights agreed to by King John of England at Runnymede, near Windsor, on 15 June 1215. First drafted by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Cardin ...

The Albion Band The Albion Band, also known as The Albion Country Band, The Albion Dance Band, and The Albion Christmas Band, is a British folk rock band, originally brought together and led by musician Ashley Hutchings. An important grouping in the genre, ...

, Maddy Prior Band, Then Came The Wheel,

Jerry Donahue Jerry Donahue (born September 24, 1946, Manhattan, New York City) is an American guitarist and producer primarily known for his work in the British folk rock scene as a member of Fotheringay and Fairport Convention as well as being a member of ...

, The Backroom Boys and The Gathering Britannia. Chris George, who had built instruments for Hunter Muskett, is a highly regarded luthier. Following the official re-release of ‘Everytime You Move' in 2010 Hunter Muskett reformed for a reunion performance. The band now tours again and in 2013 released a CD of new material, 'That Was Then This Is Now', produced by John Ellis and

Bill Leader Bill Leader (born 26 December 1929) is an English recording engineer and record producer. He is particularly associated with the British folk music revival of the 1960s and 1970s, producing records by Paddy Tunney, Davey Graham, Bert Jansch, ...

. Two further CDs have followed: 'Unafraid and Sober', featuring contributions from

Jacqui McShee Jacqueline McShee (born 25 December 1943) is an English singer. Since 1966, she has performed with Pentangle, a jazz-influenced folk rock band. Biography McShee was born in Catford, South London. Her musical career began as a soloist in Bri ...

and

, released in 2016 and 'Roll On', including the last knownSleeve notes 'Roll On' CD recorded work by US guitarist

, in 2024.

Discography

Hunter Muskett songs recorded by other artists

Silver Coin (Terry Hiscock) appears on the following: *''Thank You For (1972), Dandelion Albums and BBC Collection (2015)'' -

Bridget St John Bridget St John (born Bridget Anne Hobbs; 4 October 1946 in East Molesey, Surrey, England) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for the three albums she recorded between 1969 and 1972 for John Peel's Dandelion record label ...

*''Sunsets I've Galloped Into (1995), Windward Away (2008)'' -

Archie Fisher Archie Macdonald Fisher (born 23 October 1939) is a Scottish folk singer and songwriter. He has released several solo albums since his first, eponymous album, in 1968. Fisher composed the song "The Final Trawl", recorded on the album ''Windwa ...

*''All Those Songs (1997)'' - Derek Brimstone *''Hand Pict (1998)'' - Ken Campbell Leave It With Mine (Terry Hiscock) appears on the following: *''The Best Of All Times (2019)'' -

and

Garnet Rogers Garnet Rogers (born May 1955) is a Canadian folk musician, singer, songwriter and composer. He was born in Hamilton, Ontario with Maritime roots. Early life Rogers was born in Hamilton, Ontario to Nathan Allison Rogers and Valerie (née Bushell) ...

References

External links

Hunter Muskett – Official websiteTerry Hiscock - Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunter Muskett English folk rock groups Musical groups established in 1968 Musical groups disestablished in 1974 Musical groups reestablished in 2010 1968 establishments in England