Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt: A Life in Music and Activism
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Robert Wyatt was born on January 22, 1945, in Bristol, England. He is also known as God due to his association with the avant-garde rock group Soft Machine.
Birth and Death Dates
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January 22, 1945 (born) - still active
Nationality and Profession(s)
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English musician, singer-songwriter, composer, and activist. Wyatt's work spans multiple genres, including jazz, rock, electronic music, and avant-garde.
Early Life and Background
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Wyatt grew up in a musical family. His father was a pianist and an engineer at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). He began taking piano lessons at age 5 and later attended Bristol Cathedral School. Wyatt's early exposure to jazz and classical music laid the foundation for his future career.
In 1962, Wyatt co-founded Soft Machine with Kevin Ayers and Mike Ratledge. The band gained recognition as part of the UK underground scene, characterized by experimental and psychedelic sounds. After leaving Soft Machine in 1971, Wyatt began a successful solo career, incorporating elements from jazz, rock, and classical music.
Major Accomplishments
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- Soft Machine: Contributed to several influential albums, including "The Soft Machine" (1968) and "Third" (1969)
- Solo Work: Released critically acclaimed albums like "Rock Bottom" (1974), "Rough Around the Edges" (1982), and "Shrinklmp3" (2005)
- Collaborations: Collaborated with artists such as Brian Eno, Peter Blegvad, and Alfreda Gerard
- Activism: Involved in various social causes, including anti-nuclear activism and supporting workers' rights
Notable Works or Actions
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Wyatt's music often explores themes of alienation, technology, and social critique. His 1974 album "Rock Bottom" is a prime example of his innovative approach to songwriting, featuring extended instrumental passages and unconventional vocal techniques.
In addition to his musical contributions, Wyatt has been an outspoken advocate for workers' rights and anti-nuclear activism. He co-founded the Industrial Workers of Great Britain (IWGB), which aimed to promote trade unionism among non-traditional workers.
Impact and Legacy
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Wyatt's influence can be seen in a range of artists who have followed in his footsteps, from Talking Heads to Radiohead. His innovative approach to music and commitment to social causes have cemented his status as a pioneering figure in the world of avant-garde rock.
Wyatt's impact extends beyond his own work; he has inspired generations of musicians and activists alike.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Robert Wyatt is widely recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to music, but also for his unwavering commitment to social causes. As a result, he remains an important figure in both the musical and activist communities.
Quotes by Robert Wyatt
Robert Wyatt's insights on:
There are people I would like to work with. It's a bit harder, because I live out in the sticks anyway, and plus being in a wheelchair means that I can't really circulate. So I tend to stick to my own thing.
What keeps me going is a constant sense of disappointment with what I've already done.
The cultural mix that’s happened in the United States is wonderful! Funny enough, one of the most wonderful things about it is that there is no American race.
Those nations of artists, finding their own individualism, and kind of standing against the world: to me that’s the ultimate nightmare. I want to get lost and diffused in the world.
Potentially, America is really the greatest, but it’s not yet, I don’t think. It’s too much like an old-fashioned empire, waving the stick and dropping too many bombs on too many people.
In theory, I’d like to work in a group. But the group I’d like to work in, all the musicians in them are long since dead.
We’ve all got to earn a living. And writing songs is what I do. But when I’ve done a record, it’s not that I think it’s better or worse than anyone else’s, but if I think that nobody else would have done it if I hadn’t, well then that’s ok.
I was a latecomer to politics. Maybe I’m just very slow. I got to everything when everyone else had left.
Anybody who thinks pop music’s easy should try to make a pop single and find out that it isn’t.