A bit of a break from the Lounge for various reasons. This post is well overdue as I finished this book quite a while back now. It's the official biography of Robert Wyatt, a classic English eccentric character. A man not of these times.
Robert formed and played drums in Soft Machine, a jazz tinged, proggy art rock group in the mid 60's, most associated with the Canterbury scene. Soft Machine toured the States twice with Hendrix and gigged at the UFO Club in London with The Pink Floyd as they were known back then. Greatness seemed inevitable, but it was not to be. After being kicked out of his own band in the early 70's he briefly formed Matching Mole and then, after a life changing accident which left him a paraplegic, he settled into a brilliant solo career.
Robert's upbringing was anything but conventional, his mother was a journalist who raised him as a single parent for a time before she married Robert's stepfather who had defied the English class system by attending Oxford and Cambridge, despite his working class background. Robert wasn't terribly interested in school and his summers were often spent in Portugal or on the Greek islands staying with a family friends, one of whom was poet Robert Graves.
Robert struggled with being a band leader and became rather carried away with the rock and roll lifestyle, which included drinking bouts with that icon of moderation, Keith Moon. In 1973, while very drunk at a party he fell from an apartment balcony. The accident was a catalyst for Robert to reset his life and music and while in hospital he composed his 'first proper' solo record, Rocky Bottom, produced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd, as they were known by then. An album which usually features in greatest album of all time lists. Here's one of my favourite tracks from that record, the simply brilliant 'Little Red Riding Hood Hits the Road'.
For the next 40 years or so he recorded with the likes of Eno, Phil Manzanera, David Gilmour and later Bjork. Commercial success mostly stayed at a distance until 1980 when the Elvis Costello penned Shipbuilding single became a hit. After that he faded back out of sight to record the occasional and always acclaimed album. Always broke and fighting off depression and alcoholism he performed live only once after his accident; being crippled with anxiety when facing an audience.
After finally kicking the grog and getting treatment for depression he released some of his finest work in the early 2000's before retiring from music altogether after his final album Comicopera was released in 2007.
The Robert Wyatt story is actually a story of two people, Robert and his partner of 50 years Alfreda Benge who gave up a promising film career to be with and care for Robert. Alfie as she is known, managed the business side, painted the album art and eventually took over lyric writing duties. A true partnership.
Here's another great song. It's a cover of the Chic (yes them) song 'At Last I am Free'. Warning, it's not disco.
The book is a thoroughly enjoyable read with Robert and Alfie helpful subjects, as are his numerous collaborators over the years. As books go it's a conventional sort of read, but it's hard to tell the story of someone's life in anything other than a linear progression from birth. What shines through in this book is Robert' singular and unconventional artistic spirit. He is now considered something of a national treasure in England these days and seems to be enjoying his retirement.
Have a listen To Robert Wyatt if you haven't already. Until next time, peace and love.
