Richard Thompson
Discussion List FAQRichard Thompson
Who is Richard Thompson?
Where can I find out about current tours?
What kind of guitars does RT currently play?
What are these "Doom and Gloom from the Net" t-shirts all about?
What is the connection with Amnesty International?
Some facts gleaned from various radio and print interviews:
Richard John Thompson was born on April 3, 1949, in London, England. He grew up in a family with widely varied musical tastes. His Scottish father, a policeman, played dance band guitar, and his great-uncles performed in a Scottish country and jazz dance band.
RT has mentioned childhood memories of hearing his father's records of Les Paul, Django Reinhardt, and other guitar virtuosos.
He had a guitar by the age of 10. After a few years of classical guitar lessons, he started playing in a series of "cover" bands.
RT has mentioned his sister, five years his elder, as an important musical influence. Specifically, he mentions hearing rock and roll music (Buddy Holly and Gene Vincent, among others) played at home from her record collection, as well as the opportunities he had to learn guitar chords from her boyfriends while they waited for her to get ready for dates.
While in the cover bands, RT played guitar-heavy songs by the likes of The Shadows, The Ventures, Chuck Berry, and Duane Eddy.
RT has stated that he wrote his first song at about the age of 16, at a time when Bob Dylan and Phil Ochs were strong musical influences.
RT briefly apprenticed in a graphic design school, studying stained-glass window design. By the age of 17, he was playing in Fairport Convention. They had recorded by 1968, and during the following three years FC would become one of the most important and influential musical groups in the genre of folk-rock.
RT left FC in early 1971 and soon after began work as a session musician and solo artist. He married Linda Peters in 1972, and R< went on to record six albums together and tour extensively. Their final tour, and their only US tour, occurred in 1982 in support of the recording Shoot Out The Lights. They divorced soon after the completion of this tour and have both since remarried.
The last decade has seen RT perform hundreds of concerts both as a solo artist and as the leader of various bands. Major band tours occurred in 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1994 and 1996. He also continues to record both as a much sought-after session musician and as an original artist and splits his non-touring time between homes in England and California.
A biography can also be found on Richard's site.
Where can I find out about current tours?
The Richard Thompson web site lists confirmed tour dates.
Pollstar also has a Richard Thompson tour schedule.
What kind of guitars does RT currently play?
Currently, RT's main recording and performance guitars are a Lowden L-32 acoustic (medium-sized body with cutaway), a few Ferrington solid-body electrics, and Fender Stratocasters. He has said this of his main Strat: "It's a fifty-something, '57 or '58, with a '55 neck, pretty much stock, but with a modified tone circuit."
Further information can be found at Richard Kendrick's site.
What are these "Doom and Gloom from the Net" t-shirts all about?
These are the official t-shirts of the RT Discussion List. They were designed and created by Dee Gennarelli deeg1225@fastq.com with all proceeds going to charity. The quote that appears on the back of the shirt comes directly from RT. The quote, now proudly worn around the world, is "They're worse than real critics, they're amateur critics!" RT said this to list member Steve Kilpatrick at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI, on April 18, 1994.
Dee presented RT and Danny Thompson with list t-shirts on August 3, 1994, at the Chautauqua Park Auditorium in Boulder, CO.
At this point, hundreds of t-shirts have been purchased by RT Discussion List members, and they are a common sight at RT concerts and outdoor music festivals around the world. The t's are now sold out. But, you may want to occasionally check back on Dee's site.
Quick Breaking News: dee tee's are now on auction. Check out dee's site!
What is the connection with Amnesty International?
RT was asked to choose a charity to receive funds remaining after t-shirt production/mailing costs, and his choice was Amnesty International.
In addition to the t-shirt sales, Dee has held, and continues to hold, regular charity auctions of RT memorabilia and rare recordings on behalf of the RT Discussion List. Items sold through these auctions are donated free by members of the RT Discussion List or friends of the list and all proceeds are donated to Amnesty International. To date, December 2002, the Discussion list and members have collected over $25,000!
The "Doom And Gloom From The Net" t-shirt project, and the charity auctions, have been, and continue to be, a smashing success. The work of Dee Gennarelli and the rest of the RT Discussion List is making a difference in our world!