Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Hitchcock (born
March 3,
1953) is a
rock and roll singer-songwriter,
psych folk artist, and occasional actor.
Born in
London,
England, he began his recording career in
1976 with the
Cambridge-based
punk/
New Wave band
The Soft Boys. After this group broke up in 1981, Hitchcock began recording both as a solo artist, as well as under the band name Robyn Hitchcock 'n' The Egyptians (with Roger Jackson and two former members of The Soft Boys, Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor). It is with this band that Hitchcock achieved some success via college radio in the later half of the 1980's.
Hitchcock's musical and lyrical styles have drawn influence from his appreciation of
Bob Dylan,
John Lennon and
Syd Barrett. His tendency for irreverent-sounding delivery has led to some critics misunderstanding him as a purely novelty/comic lyricist, but many of the sentiments within his writing are actually quite serious in themselves, framed in an unpretentious, whimsical manner.
Hitchcock's 2002 album
Robyn Sings is an album of
cover versions of Bob Dylan songs, including a live recording of his recreation of Dylan's
Live at the Royal Albert Hall 1966 concert.
Also in 2002, Hitchcock re-united with
Kimberley Rew, bassist Matthew Seligman, and Morris Windsor for The Soft Boys release of
Nextdoorland.
Hitchcock has collaborated with film director
Jonathan Demme on two projects: the live concert film
Storefront Hitchcock (1998) and the 2004 remake of
The Manchurian Candidate, in which Hitchcock portrayed double-agent Laurent Tokar.
Additionally, Hitchcock has a keen interest in abstract art and literature. He writes short stories, paints, and draws (often in a whimsical cartoon style). Many of Hitchcock's album covers bear his paintings or drawings, and his albums' liner notes occasionally include a printed short story. His live concerts usually include a considerable amount of story-telling and conjecture in his lyrical style.
Robyn is the son of
science fiction novelist
Raymond Hitchcock and is not related to
Alfred Hitchcock.
Black Snake Diamond Role, 1981
Groovy Decay, 1982
I Often Dream Of Trains, 1984
Fegmania!, 1985
Gotta Let This Hen Out!, 1985
Groovy Decoy, 1985
Element of Light, 1986
Invisible Hitchcock, 1986
Globe of Frogs, 1988
Queen Elvis, 1989
Eye (album), 1990
Perspex Island, 1991
Live Death, 1992
Respect (album), 1993
The Kershaw Sessions, 1994
You & Oblivion, 1995
Gravy Deco, 1995
Moss Elixir, 1996
Mossy Liquor, 1996
Greatest Hits, 1996
Uncorrected Personality Traits, 1997
Live at the Cambridge Folk Festival, 1998
Storefront Hitchcock, 1998
Storefront Hitchcock L.P., 1998
Jewels for Sophia, 1999
A Star for Bram, 2000
Robyn Sings, 2002
Luxor, 2003
Spooked, 2004
Obliteration Pie, 2005
This is the BBC (live recordings), 2006
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |US Hot 100| US Modern Rock | US Mainstream Rock | UK |
| 1989 | "Madonna of the Wasps" | - | #2 | - | - | Queen Elvis |
| 1991 | "Oceanside" | - | #29 | - | - | Perspex Island |
| 1991 | "So You Think You're in Love" | - | #1 | - | - | Perspex Island |
| 1992 | "Ultra Unbelievable Love" | - | #23 | - | - | Perspex Island |
| 1993 | "Driving Aloud (Radio Storm)" | - | #19 | - | - | Respect |
*
The Museum of Robyn Hitchcock (official site)*
The Glass Hotel*
fegMANIA! (the first Robyn Hitchcock site on the Web)*
Robyn Hitchcock Is God, Okay?
