Different Every Time: The Authorized Biography of Robert Wyatt

"Of those that remain, many of Wyatt's contemporaries have either turned into rock dinosaurs or made embarrassing attempts to remain hip. Robert has done neither."This is an insightful, informative, sometimes harrowing, and interesting authorized biography of Robert Wyatt. The author, Marcus O'Dair, goes deep into Wyatt's lives--both personal and musical. It's high time that a proper book on someone who is so important to so many music fans has finally been written. O'Dair, through interviews with family and friends, has pieced together Wyatt's life from a seemingly idyllic boyhood up to the present, as life becomes harder with age. Something that seems typical of Wyatt, the book is divided into two parts--Side One and Side Two--like a vinyl album. There's also many b&w photos throughout the book, a Discography, Notes and Sources, and an Index. Plus there's a short Introduction by Jonathan Coe which sets up the book itself.O'Dair doesn't shy away from the dark patches in Wyatt's life. It 's all here, from Wyatt's early self-doubt and suicide attempt as a teenager, to his second suicide attempt from trying to face a new life outside of Soft Machine in his early twenties. Plus his on-going battle with alcohol and his subsequent paralyzing injury from falling gout of a window--wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. Wyatt's continuing battle with depression, which kept him away from music for long stretches at a time is laid out in the bright light of O'Dair's researches on Wyatt.But O'Dair balances all this with Wyatt's music--from his days as an inventive and exciting drummer, to his solo work with several fine albums to his credit as a singer/composer, to his work with contemporary artists. Adding many details of Wyatt's life in music--from the early days of pop/rock/jazz with Soft Machine, and later Matching Mole, to his move into more esoteric musical styles, with albums like "Rock Bottom", "Nothing Can Stop Us", and "Shleep", among others--you get an inside look at not only Wyatt the musician, but music in Britain during these periods. Wyatt's observations and insight into the music world (with O'Dair's help) give readers a look into various periods of British music that few (if any) of us would otherwise see.Also here (and important for a deeper look at Wyatt) is his deeply felt political convictions that seemed to deepen with the many changes in Britain over the decades. His sometimes radical thinking and stances add much to an understanding of this unique person and musician. Wyatt's personal life as it relates to his son and Wyatt's difficulties at being a proper father, to his one constant companion, Alfreda "Alfie" Benge, helps round out Wyatt's life.Wyatt's own kind of humor--sometimes dark--runs all through the events of his life. And at times it's difficult to tell if his humor is genuine or a way of coping (or not coping) with his many on-going struggles. But in the end, this great book on a true individual, gets added to my already sagging library shelves. This is a unique and deep look at a unique and deep person and musician. There's only one Robert Wyatt. And this book will tell you why.

I’ve been listening to Robert Wyatt’s work for several years now, and have become a big fan, so the release of his authorized biography is very timely for me. After just having finished it, I can strongly recommend it to anyone with an appreciation for this truly unique artist. For anyone interested in learning more about his work, this book also includes a highly comprehensive listing of all the recordings, videos, and print releases in his 50 plus year career.From a biographical standpoint, he certainly has not had a boring life, from his bohemian upbringing, to pioneering work in psychedelic & progressive rock, touring the US with Hendrix, to the various collaborations, and of course his life-changing fall in 1973 that left him paraplegic and the challenges he overcame as a result, turning difficulties into opportunities.The book does a good job in illuminating Wyatt as a highly complex, and often troubled, but ultimately highly likeable personality. Repeatedly he comes across as an extremely intelligent, socially conscious, empathetic and generous spirit. The book does a very good job at detailing how this empathy and generosity influenced his work. It’s a cliché, but in his case it is really true that he beats his own path forward. The book does not shy away from dealing with some of his darker moments of depression and abusive drinking, and how it affected his wife Alfie. Key to his story is the equally strong and creative character of Alfreda “Alfie” Benge, his wife, supporter and collaborator for over 40 years.Last year, at age 70, Robert Wyatt announced his retirement from music. Fans like me hope of course that he changes his mind, but in any event he has left an amazing body of work. There is an accompanying double CD compilation of the same name. The first CD is a compilation of his releases with Soft Machine, Matching Mole, and his solo albums. The second CD is a collection of collaborative efforts, some quite rare. This collection would seem like a good place to jump into his work. I don’t have the CD, but it looks great. Two thumbs up for the book, however!

As a lifelong fan of Robert Wyatt (as well as a friend), I must say I was often surprised by this wonderful biography by Marcus O'Dair. I thought I knew everything about the musician (he is so much more than that), but obviously I didn't. O'Dair covers everything, from the very early years in post-war England to his beginnings as a drummer and vocalist with the Wilde Flowers and then, later, Soft Machine. But all that stuff is well documented elsewhere; it was the stuff post-accident in 1973 that was often a mystery to me (from 73 onward, he lived his life as a paraplegic in a wheelchair). For example, I never knew Wyatt had broken his legs *several* times by falling out of his wheelchair over the decades that followed. His "silent years" in the 80s and 90s--infrequently broken by the occasional recording--is also fleshed out in the book, so we now know what he and Alfie (his wife) were up to during those long periods of "what's Robert doing now?" And speaking of Alfie, I knew she was an instrumental and important figure behind Wyatt as his sometime lyricist; but she's also a frikkin' *saint* as Robert's caretaker, manager, and all-around *fighter*--this is well-illustrated by O'Dair. Bravo! The biography is an unflinching look at one of rock and jazz's most important figures. It's a shame that here in the USA his name is not as well known as it is in the UK and in Europe. Hopefully this book (and accompanying retrospective double-CD, available separately) will correct that. A must-read for musicians and anyone interested in jazz, progressive rock, left-wing politics, and the trappings of being human.

I read this over a couple of days, devouring the early part, with its tales of legends from the Canterbury Scene, Hendrix and others, and reminded of Wyatt's close familial relationship to the actor Julian Glover. Just how much of a toll the business of making sweet music took on Wyatt had escaped me for years - I always saw him as an essentially sunny artiste - but clearly someone who went to the lengths he did to destroy himself needed the support he eventually found in Alfie Benge. She comes out of the book as a heroine, albeit ine with a realistically limited patience. I was intrigued by the account of Wyatt's later recordings, having not heard much beyond Dondestan, and was inspired to catch up with these albums by the obvious relish shown for them by the author. A bit of a slog towards the end, as Wyatt's life becomes one of routine sobriety - ain't that always the way though? ;)

Bought as a gift for my father,a big Robert wyatt fan ,I had a brief flicker through it and it seems a fairly comprehensive biography, probably a thing for the true fan as a lot of people may not have heard of him ,I would reccomend listening to Robert wyatt, the man is a genius and has been for over 40 years

Mr Wyatt is a fascinating, hugely talented and most eloquent gentleman of rock. This biography captures that perfectly and tells his story in a nicely down-played tone. After reading this I'd definitely like to spend a few hours over a pint or two discussing life the universe and everything with him. Just make sure you've got the entire back catalogue on hand because you will just have to listen to it as you go. The discography is very thorough too, I spotted a couple of albums that had passed me by.

This is a friendly, warm, warts an all look at a true maverick. What a life. And what a well written book that captures it. Be warned though, if you only knew a little bit about, or had only heard some Soft Machine / Robert Wyatt, this book makes such vivid and compelling cases for the music, it will cost you a fortune buying the back catalogue. Luckily it's a case of brilliant book and brilliant music, and once discovered, you won't ever forget the man or the music.

Very good read. Very interesting. I recommend this to anyone who likes Robert Wyatt.