Ben Harper on being the opening act, 1999

That’s been exciting--to be able to bring acoustic-based music to large audiences that aren’t necessarily there to see you. I’ll never forget opening up for P.J. Harvey-—she invited us to tour with her. I’d sit down with an acoustic Weissenborn in front of 12-year-old girls with black eyeliner packed in the front row, looking up at me going, “What in the hell is he playing?” But by the third or fourth song, the heads would start to nod, and then it would be on, you know.

From the book Rock Troubadours

For info on Harper's new double CD, Both Sides of the Gun, click here.