Roy Harper, an English folk singer who performed with Pink Floyd and even influenced Led Zeppelin, has been charged with sexually abusing a young girl.
The BBC reports that the 72-year-old Harper will be charged with nine counts of sexual assault against a 12-year-old girl. West Mercia Police said that the abuse allegedly happened between 1975 and 1977 and only involves the one victim.
A summons for Harper was issued on Oct. 16 following a voluntary interview with police at Heathrow Airport in February. He’ll appear in court on Monday.
“The summons relates to two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a girl under 13, three counts of indecent assault on a girl under 14 and four counts of gross indecency with a girl under 14,” police said, reports The Daily Mail.
Harper’s name should sound familiar to classic rock fans. As Rolling Stone notes, he collaborated with Pink Floyd, singing “Have A Cigar” on 1975’s Wish You Were Here. Led Zeppelin paid tribute to him on their third album with the song “Hats Off to (Roy) Harper.” Jethro Tull and Fleet Foxes have also noted him as an influence.
He cut his first album in 1966 and has recorded 20 studio albums. He received the 2005 MOJO Hero Award and performed a solo tour just last month. Harper currently lives in Ireland.
image: Wikimedia Commons
