Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Robert Wyatt interview

In may, Robert Wyatt was interviewed by Simon Reynolds at the Hay Festival in Wales. You may buy the interview at "The Guardian Hay festival Archive". Pay at least 5 credit points (total £5), and download this interview for £1. You get 57 minutes with Robert Wyatt in good shape, talking about jazz, anti-rock, communism, Alfie, and some of the records. He claims his falsetto is inherited from Dionne Warwick, and namedrops several other female jazz vocalists too.
When Virgin wanted him to record a pop song, he'd rather have chosen Roxy Music's "Do the strand", than Neil Diamond's "I'm a believer". My God, world history would have looked totally different!
He mentions Billy Bragg, and claims he is a brave man, since he wants to change peoples minds. "I wouldn't dare to try to change people's minds, I just want to feel less lonely" (as I seem to remember it said).
Wyatt remembers lost friends John Peel and Ivor Cutler, and seems happy to be disturbed by a crying baby in the audience! Nice one.

No comments: