Editing Robert Calvert

{{Short description|English poet, writer, musician (1945–1988)}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Musicians -->
| name                = Robert Calvert
| image               = Robert Calvert.jpg
| caption             =
| image_size          =
| background          = solo_singer
| birth_name          = Robert Newton Calvert
| birth_date          = {{birth date|df=yes|1945|03|09}}
| birth_place         = [[Pretoria]], South Africa
| death_date          = {{death date and age|df=yes|1988|08|14|1945|03|09}}
| death_place         = [[Ramsgate]], England
| origin              =
| genre               = [[Space rock]]
| occupation          = {{hlist|Singer|writer|poet|musician}}
| years_active        =
| label               =
| past_member_of     = {{hlist|[[Hawkwind]]|[[Sonic Assassins]]|[[Hawklords]]}}
| website             =
}}

'''Robert Newton Calvert''' (9 March 1945 – 14 August 1988)<ref name="Dead">{{cite web |author=Doc Rock |url=http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/1980.html |title=The 1980s |publisher=The Dead Rock Stars Club |access-date=2014-07-18}}</ref> was a [[South Africa]]n-[[United Kingdom|British]] writer, poet, and musician. He is principally known for his role as lyricist, [[performance poet]] and lead vocalist of the [[space rock]] band [[Hawkwind]].<ref name="ankeny">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/robert-calvert-mn0000233637/biography |title= Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny |website=[[AllMusic]] |first=Jason |last=Ankeny |access-date=14 July 2019}}</ref>

==Early life==
Calvert was born in [[Pretoria]], South Africa, and moved with his parents to England when he was two.<ref name="LarkinGE">{{cite book|title=[[Encyclopedia of Popular Music|The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]|editor=[[Colin Larkin (writer)|Colin Larkin]]|publisher=[[Guinness Publishing]]|date=1992|edition=First|isbn=0-85112-939-0|page=396/7}}</ref> He attended school in London and [[Margate]], living in a flat in [[Arlington House, Margate|Arlington House]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Banks |first1=Joe |title=Hawkwind legend Robert Calvert is being given a special commemoration in his original hometown |date=26 August 2022 |url=https://www.loudersound.com/news/hawkwind-legend-robert-calvert-is-being-given-a-special-commemoration-in-his-original-hometown# |publisher=Louder |access-date=26 August 2022}}</ref> Having finished school he joined the [[Air Training Corps]], in which he became a corporal and played [[trumpet]] for the 438 Squadron band.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.spirit-of-metal.com/membre_groupe/membre_groupe-nom-Robert_Calvert-id-14818-l-en.html |title=Robert Calvert (Hawkwind)- Musician Profile |website=Spirit-of-metal.com |access-date=2014-07-18}}</ref> He then went on to college in [[Canterbury]]. After leaving college, and having been denied his childhood dream of becoming a [[fighter pilot]], he slowly acquainted himself with the UK's bohemian scene. Calvert began his career in earnest by writing poetry.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stoddart |first=Lee |date=2019-12-21 |title=Thanet Writers Spotlight Robert Calvert |url=https://thanetwriters.com/feature/spotlight/thanet-writers-spotlight-robert-calvert/ |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=thanetwriters.com |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Career==
In 1967 he formed the [[street theatre]] group  'Street Dada Nihilismus'.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Bailes|first=Kathy|date=2018-05-11|title=Hawkwind and why their Dreamland gig is a homecoming (of sorts)|url=https://theisleofthanetnews.com/2018/05/11/hawkwind-and-why-their-dreamland-gig-is-a-homecoming-of-sorts/|access-date=2021-11-29|website=The Isle Of Thanet News|language=en-GB}}</ref>

At the end of the 1960s, he returned to London and joined the city's flourishing [[psychedelic subculture]]. He soon became one of its most active members; joining, amongst other activities, ''[[Frendz]]'', one of the leading [[underground magazine]]s of the time. During that time he acquainted himself with [[New Wave science fiction]] writers and befriended author [[Michael Moorcock]]. Calvert's poems were published in ''New Worlds'' and other magazines. Although he was influenced by the New Wave, Calvert developed a distinct style of his own. His ability to change fluently between poetry, music and theatre allowed him to develop into a [[multimedia artist]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Banks|first=Joe|date=2021-08-13|title=Robert Calvert: the genius who played with fire|url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/robert-calvert-the-genius-who-played-with-fire|access-date=2021-11-29|website=loudersound|language=en}}</ref>

===Hawkwind===
A childhood friend of Hawkwind co-founder [[Nik Turner]], Calvert joined [[Hawkwind]] as a lyricist, performance poet and occasional lead vocalist in 1971.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Following a two-year absence, he rejoined as the band's principal lead vocalist in 1975 before leaving once again in 1979. Calvert co-wrote Hawkwind's hit single "[[Silver Machine]]", which reached No. 3 in the [[UK Singles Chart]].<ref name="LarkinGE"/> Although [[Lemmy]] sings on the single version, this is an overdub of a live recording taken at the Roundhouse in London with Calvert on vocals.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> "They tried everyone else singing it except me", Lemmy later said.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Saga of Hawkwind|first= Carol|last= Clerk|year= 2004|publisher= Omnibus Press| isbn=1-84449-101-3}}</ref> Calvert also directed the ''[[Space Ritual]]'' tour,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.loudersound.com/features/robert-calvert-the-genius-who-played-with-fire | title=Robert Calvert: The genius who played with fire | date=13 August 2021 }}</ref> which is widely perceived as the band's artistic zenith.

During periods away from Hawkwind duties, Calvert worked on his solo career; his solo creative output included albums, stage plays, poetry, and a novel. His first solo album, ''[[Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters]]'', was released in 1974.<ref name="LarkinGE"/> The record is a concept album, an amalgam of music and theatre focused around the [[Lockheed bribery scandals]]. In 1975, he won the [[Capital Radio]] poetry competition with his poem "Circle Line". In 1975, musician and producer [[Brian Eno]] produced and played on Calvert's second solo album, ''[[Lucky Leif and the Longships]]'',<ref name="LarkinGE"/> a [[concept album]] which looked at the history of the US and the [[Norse colonization of the Americas|Vikings, who crossed the Atlantic to reach America before Columbus]]. In 1977, Hawkwind performed "[[Quark, Strangeness and Charm]]" on [[Marc Bolan]]'s TV series, ''[[Marc (TV series)|Marc]]''.

As well as Michael Moorcock and Brian Eno, Calvert's collaborators included [[Arthur Brown (musician)|Arthur Brown]], [[Steve Peregrin Took]], [[Jim Capaldi]], [[Steve Pond]], [[Inner City Unit]], [[Vivian Stanshall]], [[Nektar]], [[John Greaves (musician)|John Greaves]], Adrian Wagner, [[Amon Düül II]] and, posthumously, [[Spirits Burning]], [[Dave Brock]], and Krankschaft.

Calvert suffered from [[bipolar disorder]], which often caused a fractious relationship with his fellow musicians. At one point he was [[sectioned]] under the [[Mental Health Act]].<ref name=":0" />

==Death==
Aged 43, Calvert died of a heart attack in 1988 in [[Ramsgate]], England, outside of the "Corner House" café. As he approached the street, he reached for a pay phone, but the nearest phone had been disconnected.<ref name="LarkinGE"/><ref name="Dead"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Robert Calvert - a biography |url=http://www.aural-innovations.com/robertcalvert/calvertbio/calvertbio.htm |publisher=Aural Innovations |access-date=31 May 2015}}</ref> He was buried in Minster Cemetery at [[Minster-in-Thanet]]. His gravestone is engraved with the line "Love's not Time's fool", from [[William Shakespeare]]'s [[sonnet 116]].

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
*''[[Captain Lockheed and the Starfighters]]'' (1974)
*''[[Lucky Leif and the Longships]]'' (1975)
*''[[Hype (album)|Hype]]'' (1981)
*''[[Freq (album)|Freq]]'' (1985)
*''[[Test-Tube Conceived]]'' (1986)

===Demo albums===
*''Blueprints from the Cellar'' (home-recorded demos)
*''Revenge'' (demos with Pete Pavli – recorded 1980s, released 1999)
*''[[Centigrade 232]]'' (Voiceprint, 2007). Spoken word. Released as book/CD (VP403CDMO) and CD (VP403CD 2007)

===Live albums===
*''At the Queen Elizabeth Hall'' (Clear Records 1989, live album recorded on 1 October 1986. Reissued in 1993 as BGOCD 187)
*''Robert Calvert and Maximum Effect Live at The Stars And Stripes, Carlisle '' (Stereo Records, 2009)
*''Radio Egypt'' (Voiceprint VP384, rehearsals recorded at S Nicholas Barn, 26 September 1987, released 2006)
*''The Right Stuff'' (Voiceprint VP385, recorded at Middlesbrough Polytechnic, 10 May 1986, released 2006)
*''In Vitro Breed'' (Voiceprint VP387, recorded at The International, Manchester, 25 October 1987, released 2006. Double CD)
*''Ship Of Fools'' (Voiceprint VP389, recorded at The Riverside, Newcastle, 2 November 1987, released 2006. Double CD)

===Singles===
*"Ejection" / "Catch a Falling Starfighter" (1973)
*"Cricket Star" (1979) (one-sided flexi single, 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)
*''[[25 Years On|Hawklords]]'' (1978) (also known as ''25 Years On'' and recorded using the band name Hawklords)
*''[[PXR5]]'' (1979)

===With Dave Brock===
*The Brock/Calvert Project - "The Brock/Calvert Project" (2007) (includes readings from ''[[Centigrade 232]]'')

===Guest appearances===
*Adrian Wagner – ''Distances Between Us'' (1974)
*[[Nektar]] – ''[[Down to Earth (Nektar album)|Down To Earth]]'' (1974)
*[[The Imperial Pompadours]] – ''Ersatz'' (1982)
*[[Amon Düül UK|Amon Düül]] – ''[[Die Lösung (album)|Die Lösung]]'' (recorded 1988, released 1989)
*[[Spirits Burning]] - "Reflections In A Radio Show" (2001) (Includes readings from ''[[Centigrade 232]]'')
*Krankschaft – ''The Flame Red Superstar'' (re-recordings 2010)

==Bibliography==
===Plays===
*''The Stars That Play With Laughing Sam's Dice'' (1976, about [[Jimi Hendrix]])
*''Mirror Mirror'' (1978, premiered at [[Pentameters Theatre]] with [[Eva Gray (actress)|Eva Gray]] in the role of Eleanor Bryant, reprised in 2013 and in April 2019)
*''The Kid From Silicon Gulch'' (1981)
*''Test-tube Baby of Mine'' (1986) directed by Paul Jerricho, with Chris Cresswell and Ghislaine Rump in the cast

===Poetry collections===
*''[[Centigrade 232]]'' (1977)
*''The Earth Ritual'' (1987)

===Novels===
*''Hype'' (New English Library, 1981)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Discogs artist|Robert Calvert}}
* {{Find a Grave|41536469|access-date=February 26, 2025}}

{{Robert Calvert}}
{{Hawkwind}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Calvert, Robert}}
[[Category:20th-century South African male singers]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:Hawkwind members]]
[[Category:Writers from Pretoria]]
[[Category:South African male poets]]
[[Category:Space rock musicians]]
[[Category:People with bipolar disorder]]
[[Category:1944 births]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century South African poets]]
[[Category:20th-century English male singers]]
[[Category:English-language singers from South Africa]]