Book event for the release of Robyn's memoir '1967: How I Got There and Why I Never Left'
In conversation with Barney Hoskyns.

Thought I would write a review of last night: Robyn's 'In conversation' and book signing at Rough Trade Records, East London, UK

Robyn talked to the English music critic (ex NME and Melody Maker writer) Barney Hoskins about his new book '1967 Why I Ever Got There and Never Left'. I felt Hoskins did an excellent job, as an obvious fan, who asked Robyn some interesting questions.
The venue was the brilliant Rough Trade East record shop. Rough Trade seem to have a musical arbiter of great taste hidden somewhere behind the scenes. I've discovered many great new underground bands via their store and website recommendations. I attended a lot of live events here from around 2010. At that time the venue's ticketing policy was liberal. So I began a tactic of visiting the store when a random live event was on (there were usually about two a week). I'd arrive without buying a ticket, forty-five minutes before the event started. Fans with tickets would arrive sometime afterwards to queue outside for albums or books, which the artists would later sign. Meanwhile, inside, I'd gaze at the records and the books and buy a beer. Before I knew it, the live event had started with no ticket needed. Many people happily browsing the shop seemed oblivious that a live event would be on! Something changed in 2017 when people without tickets were rounded up and asked to leave the venue, so I stopped going to Rough Trade all together. Robyn's event was the first time I've been back since, after buying my first ticket!

The venue was very dark inside but made somewhat hypotonic by dazzling light from several mirror balls. The usual crowd featuring lots of grey haired men in jazzy shirts were in attendance. I also spotted so called 'comedian' and The Go-Betweens aficionado Stewart Lee.
Robyn revealed that he is releasing a new album entitled '1967 Vacations in the Past' which is a companion piece to his book. The album will comprise cover versions. He then played some songs off the album solo acoustic:

'Waterloo Sunset' (The Kinks) which he seemlesly segued into 'See Emily Play' (Pink Floyd).
This was followed by 'Visions of Johanna' (Bob Dylan).

The guitar Robyn used is short scale with a black body and maple fretboard with black block inlays. I'd be interested if anyone knew the maker's name.
Hoskins revealed that Robyn had flown into England from his home in Nashville a few days ago. Robyn began the event by reading a long passage from his book, which is primarily set in 1967 when Robyn was fourteen years of age, and a pupil at the English Public School Winchester College. The central characters in 14 year old Robyn's school life are 'groovers' for which he has an affinity, or very different acquaintances who he describes as 'meatheads'. One of the main characters introduced by Robyn is a young person five years older than himself: Brian Eno who attended the nearby Winchester School of Arts. At the end of the evening Robyn stood towards the front of the venue to sign copies of the book. I look forward to reading my copy.

Here are a few quotes from Robyn which I found particularly interesting:
'I could never do the noodly and bendsy stuff like Eric Clapton. I didn't have the noodle or the bend'.
'Bob Dylan showed me what I wanted to be, and Syd Barrett what I could be'.
'Having spent one hundred years writing songs, nothing beats the Fabs, The Beatles'.
Hoskins asked Robyn 'How does an introvert go onto forming The Soft Boys and being a solo artist'
Robyn replied 'I'm not alone as Hendrix was introverted, and he didn't go around being the life and soul of the party like Keith Moon. Bob Dylan was the same.'
'The first gig I saw was Traffic playing Hyde Park'.
'I have had three or four catastrophies with marriages and divorces. You could say it has created some good songs, but is it worth it'.
On his relationship with the USA:
I've been able to work in the US every year since 1985 and I'm very grateful for it. I feel so English that I now live in America. I am mythologically English, so I think I do well overseas'.

Matt E