From his early days helping form Fairport Convention as a teenager to his celebrated musical partnership with then-wife Linda and his enduring solo catalog, Richard Thompson remains a towering figure in British folk music. Now 77 years old, the acclaimed singer-songwriter and guitarist is preparing to release his latest project, an album titled Hippies, Thugs and Heroes, and will sit down to answer questions from the public.
Thompson's storied career began when he chose to write original material rather than rely strictly on traditional folk standards, helping albums like 1969's Liege and Lief become foundational pillars of the British folk canon. A subsequent shift led to a solo direction and a collaborative musical and marital partnership with Linda Thompson starting in 1972, producing acclaimed records such as I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight and Pour Down Like Silver.
Following a period of personal and spiritual exploration that included converting to Sufism and taking a brief hiatus from the industry, Thompson returned to music in the late 1970s. After his separation from Linda, he relocated to the United States and built a cosmopolitan body of work that blends global music traditions, rock influences, and virtuosic guitar playing. Over the decades, he has collaborated with diverse artists ranging from David Byrne and Werner Herzog to Harry Shearer, and even traced a millennium of musical history in his ambitious stage show 1000 Years of Popular Music.
His upcoming release marks his 20th solo studio album, featuring narrative-driven songs recorded largely in just a few takes. Ahead of the album's release on October 16, supporters are invited to submit questions regarding the new record or any aspect of his decades-long career. Submissions are open until 10 am BST on Monday, October 12, with the selected responses scheduled to appear online and in the following Friday edition of the Film and Music section.