ALTHOUGH THEY weren’t the group to fuse traditional folk music and rock – Fairport Convention’s Liege and Lief is widely regarded as the key breakthrough album in that regard – Steeleye Span were by far the most successful.
By focussing on rhythm, the production values of pop, and the more theatrical aspects of folk music, such as Mummers plays – colourful mini-dramas that date back to medieval times – the band was able to embark on successful stadium tours of the United States, supporting the likes of Jethro Tull, while also enjoying chart success at home.
They were able to persuade both Peter Sellers and David Bowie to guest on was produced by Tull’s Ian Anderson.
