Mr. Fox - Biography
By Marcus Kagler
The quintessentially British experimental folk octet Mr. Fox may not have officially formed until 1970 but their the long roots trace back a decade earlier when core members Bob and Caroline Pegg began playing traditional folk music in their teens at the Nottingham Folk Workshop. Steeped in the American folk tradition of the times the duo later fell under the tutelage of Peggy Seeger and Ewan McColl who encouraged the two musicians to lean more toward traditional British influences, putting them in league with Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span. Although the group avoided the folk taboo of incorporating the electric guitar they embraced layers of multi-instrumentalism utilizing fiddles, dulcimer, banjo, and wind instruments.
While recording their debut self titled album, Mr. Fox (1970-Transatlantic) the duo took on Alun Evans (drums), Barry Lyons (bass/dulcimer), Andrew Massey (cello), Richie Bull (banjo), Nick Strutt (multi-instrumentalist) and John Myatt (winds) to round out their sound. Their self titled debut was far more experimental than the premiere British folk artists of time, using avant-garde electronic based ambience within their songs. The fusion of traditional acoustic British folk and experimental electronics ostracized the group from the traditionalist British folk scene although today Mr. Fox isn’t viewed as too far removed from their contemporaries. The following year the Pegg’s slimmed down their lineup considerably on their even more experimental album, The Gypsy (1971-Transatlantic) heavily incorporating multi-instrumentalist Nick Strutt to create epic avant-garde soundscapes as heard on the lead off track, “Mendle”. Mr. Fox quietly disbanded shortly thereafter. Bob and Carole Pegg made one final album together before releasing separate solo albums throughout the 70’s.
