Official Members of Fairport Convention

[Andy]

This is intended to be a definitive list of those who were officially a member of Fairport Convention. So, not one off guests at Cropredy or on recordings.

Have I missed anyone out?

Simon Nicol, Dave Pegg, Ric Sanders, Chris Leslie, Gerry Conway
Richard Thompson, Ashley Hutchings, Shaun Frater, Martin Lamble,
Judy Dyble, Iain Matthews, Sandy Denny, Dave Swarbrick,
Dave Mattacks, Roger Hill, Tom Farnell, David Rea,
Trevor Lucas, Jerry Donahue, Paul Warren, Bruce Rowland,
Dan Ar Braz, Bob Brady, Roger Burridge, Maartin Allcock

[RobertD]

That looks complete to me minus David Rea and perhaps Shaun Frater and Paul Warren as well. I thought by consensus that Rea was an experiment...that did not quite work out, while Warren just depped a handful of gigs. I know little about Frater other than that Martin Lamble apparently told the others that he could play better.

Hill, Farnell, Ar Braz, Brady, and Burridge fall somewhere in between. There are a few recordings and sessions, and they all played live, so I would count them as official, even though none of them were in the band for long or left any sort of influence. Unlike the others. Just my two cents, not trying to stir the pot.

[Jim]

It looks like a pretty complete list to me.
If Paul Warren gets a mention what about the likes of Vo Fletcher and Matt Pegg, both of whom have stood in for Dave Pegg in recent years, Fletcher for a few gigs and Matt for a tour and some recordings?

[Andy]

The list of stand-ins and guests would be eight times as long as the list above!

[DarrenWilliams]

It looks like a pretty complete list to me.
If Paul Warren gets a mention what about the likes of Vo Fletcher and Matt Pegg, both of whom have stood in for Dave Pegg in recent years, Fletcher for a few gigs and Matt for a tour and some recordings?

I don't think Paul Warren should be on there as he was a stand in same as Vo and Matt, and never expected to become a full-time member whereas Farnell, Rea, Hill and the line-up that contained Dan Ar Bras were. (happy to be corrected!). I'd have Shaun Frater on there by the same criteria.

[hendo (Dave)]

Noddy Holder sang backing vocals on WKWTTG .


alright he didn't.
Soz.

[Shane (Skirky)]

It looks like a pretty complete list to me.

Well if Wikipedia can't get it right, who can?  

[Andy]

I checked with Nigel Schofield who thought it complete.

[David W]

I know about the unreleased Manor Sessions but did Rea ever perform live with the band?

[DarrenWilliams]

Are the Manor Sessions available legitimately? Am I right in thinking that some tracks are available on the Fairport Unconventional box-set (it's been a few years since I've listened to that)?

[davidmjs]

I love the Manor Sessions.  An interesting diversion.  Always thought he was a member myself, but ultimately (no gigs, no released material at the time) I guess it's debatable.

[Adam]

Are the Manor Sessions available legitimately? Am I right in thinking that some tracks are available on the Fairport Unconventional box-set (it's been a few years since I've listened to that)?

you are right- a few tracks were on the unconventional box set. I think I read somewhere that they will get an official release later this year..

[GubGub (Al)]

Are the Manor Sessions available legitimately? Am I right in thinking that some tracks are available on the Fairport Unconventional box-set (it's been a few years since I've listened to that)?

you are right- a few tracks were on the unconventional box set. I think I read somewhere that they will get an official release later this year..

Peggy mentioned this in an interview somewhere, as part of a career overview box but given that Island have already put out a three disc set this year I am beginning to wonder if this will actually happen. I hope it is not another Free Reed job.

[Jules Gray]

I hope it is not another Free Reed job.

Are Free Reed still doing "Free Reed jobs"?

Jules

[Shane (Skirky)]

Peggy mentioned this in an interview somewhere, as part of a career overview box but given that Island have already put out a three disc set this year I am beginning to wonder if this will actually happen. I hope it is not another Free Reed job.

Has anyone at Universal approached you about doing one of those tombstone-sized Island-label box sets they seem keen on?

DAVE: They’re doing a box set coming out in July, but it won’t be tombstone-sized. It’s five or seven CDs. There isn’t enough material for a tombstone box set from Fairport. Well, there is, but not from stuff that Island own, so they’re doing five or seven CDs of the first 10 years, which includes some interesting stuff from the Manor Studios [in 1972] with David Rea and Tom Farnell playing drums, in fact. I’ve looked at the track-listing and it looks pretty good to me. I was worried because I thought, ‘There won’t be enough stuff’, and it’s a bit of a rip-off for Fairport fans if there isn’t. But there’s sufficient stuff to make it [worthwhile].

[GubGub (Al)]

Peggy mentioned this in an interview somewhere, as part of a career overview box but given that Island have already put out a three disc set this year I am beginning to wonder if this will actually happen. I hope it is not another Free Reed job.

Has anyone at Universal approached you about doing one of those tombstone-sized Island-label box sets they seem keen on?

DAVE: They’re doing a box set coming out in July, but it won’t be tombstone-sized. It’s five or seven CDs. There isn’t enough material for a tombstone box set from Fairport. Well, there is, but not from stuff that Island own, so they’re doing five or seven CDs of the first 10 years, which includes some interesting stuff from the Manor Studios [in 1972] with David Rea and Tom Farnell playing drums, in fact. I’ve looked at the track-listing and it looks pretty good to me. I was worried because I thought, ‘There won’t be enough stuff’, and it’s a bit of a rip-off for Fairport fans if there isn’t. But there’s sufficient stuff to make it [worthwhile].

Good job the earlier set was only a fiver!  

[RobertD]

As to Andy's original question, out of curiosity, what names were on and off that t shirt from a few years ago. Might that be who the band considers to be official?