Robert Calvert facts for kids

Robert Newton Calvert (born March 9, 1945 – died August 14, 1988) was a talented writer, poet, and musician from South Africa. He is best known for writing lyrics, performing poetry, and singing for the famous space rock band Hawkwind.

Robert Calvert's Early Life

Robert Calvert was born in Pretoria, South Africa. When he was two years old, he moved to England with his parents. He went to school in London and Margate. After school, he joined the Air Training Corps, where he became a corporal and played the trumpet in the band. He then went to college in Canterbury. Robert had always dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot, but this dream did not come true. Instead, he started to explore the artistic and free-spirited scene in the UK. He began his career by writing poetry.

Starting His Creative Journey

In 1967, Robert Calvert started a street theatre group called 'Street Dada Nihilismus'. This group performed plays and art in public spaces.

By the end of the 1960s, he moved back to London. There, he joined the city's growing artistic and counter-culture scene. He became very active, even joining Frendz, which was a popular underground magazine at the time. During this period, he met many New Wave science fiction writers. One important friend he made was Michael Moorcock, a famous author who won many science fiction awards. Michael Moorcock also published the important New Worlds magazine. Robert Calvert's poems were published in New Worlds and other magazines. Even though he was influenced by the New Wave style, Robert developed his own unique way of writing. He was able to switch easily between poetry, music, and theatre. This made him a true multimedia artist, someone who uses many different art forms.

Joining Hawkwind

In 1971, Robert Calvert met Dave Brock and joined Hawkwind. He wrote lyrics for the band, performed his poetry during their shows, and sometimes sang lead vocals. After being away for two years, he rejoined Hawkwind in 1975 as their main lead singer. He left the band again in 1979.

Robert Calvert helped write Hawkwind's hit song "Silver Machine". This song reached number 3 on the UK music charts. Even though Lemmy sings on the single version, it was actually a live recording with Robert Calvert singing, and Lemmy's voice was added later. Robert also directed the Space Ritual tour. Many people believe this tour was the band's most artistic and successful period.

Solo Work and Collaborations

When Robert Calvert was not working with Hawkwind, he focused on his own music career. He created solo albums, wrote stage plays, published poetry, and even wrote a novel. His first solo album, Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters, came out in 1974. This album was a "concept album," meaning all the songs and stories were connected by a single idea. It combined music and theatre to tell a story about the Lockheed airplane scandal.

In 1975, he won a poetry competition with his poem "Circle Line". In the same year, musician and producer Brian Eno helped produce and played on Robert's second solo album, Lucky Leif and the Longships. This was another concept album. It explored the history of the United States and the Vikings, who sailed across the Atlantic to reach America long before Columbus. In 1977, Hawkwind performed their song 'Quark, Strangeness and Charm' on Marc Bolan's TV show 'Marc (TV series)'.

Robert Calvert worked with many other talented artists. These included Michael Moorcock, Brian Eno, Arthur Brown, Steve Peregrin Took, Jim Capaldi, Steve Pond, Inner City Unit, Vivian Stanshall, Nektar, John Greaves, Adrian Wagner, and Amon Düül II. Even after he passed away, his work was used by bands like Spirits Burning, Dave Brock, and Krankschaft.

Robert Calvert had a condition called bipolar disorder. This sometimes made his relationships with other musicians difficult. Despite his health challenges, he remained a very creative, determined, and multi-talented artist.

His Life and Legacy

In 1966, Robert Calvert married Paulyn J. Morrell in Thanet.

Robert Calvert passed away from a heart attack in 1988 in Ramsgate, England, at the age of 43. He was buried in Minster Cemetery at Minster-in-Thanet. His gravestone has a line from William Shakespeare's Sonnet 116: "Love's not Time's fool." One of his three children, Daren (1967–85), is buried with him. His gravestone describes Daren as an "Adventurer."

Music and Albums

Studio Albums

• Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters (1974)
• Lucky Leif and the Longships (1975)
• Hype (1981)
• Freq (1985)
• Test-Tube Conceived (1986)

Singles

• "Ejection" / "Catch a Falling Starfighter" (1973)
• "Cricket Star" (1979) (released as Robert Calvert and the 1st XI)
• "Lord of the Hornets" / "The Greenfly and the Rose" (1980)

With Hawkwind

• "Silver Machine" / "Seven by Seven" (1972)
• Space Ritual (1973)
• "Urban Guerrilla" / "Brainbox Pollution" (1973)
• Astounding Sounds, Amazing Music (1976)
• "Back on the Streets" / "The Dream of Isis" (1976)
• Quark, Strangeness and Charm (1977)
• Hawklords (1978) (also known as 25 Years On)
• PXR5 (1979)

Other Music Projects

• With Dave Brock: The Brock/Calvert Project - "The Brock/Calvert Project" (2007)
• Guest appearances on albums by:
  • Adrian Wagner – Distances Between Us (1974)
  • Nektar – Down To Earth (1974)
  • The Imperial Pompadours – Ersatz (1982)
  • Amon Düül – Die Lösung (recorded 1988, released 1989)
  • Spirits Burning - "Reflections In A Radio Show" (2001)
  • Krankschaft – The Flame Red Superstar (2010)

See also

In Spanish: Robert Calvert para niños