Traurigster Klang Der Welt

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Traurigster Klang Der Welt Kultur Rollstuhlfahrer Wyatt Unbeugsamer Außenseiter des Pop „Als Kind träumte ich immer wieder, dass ich im Bus mit meiner Mutter unterwegs bin, sie mich anschaut und nicht mehr er- kennt. Ich hatte immer Verlustängste.“ Der in der britischen Hafenstadt Bristol geborene Wyatt wurde in der zweiten Hälf- te der sechziger Jahre als singender Schlag- zeuger der Band Soft Machine bekannt. Neben Gruppen wie Pink Floyd prägten diese Briten damals eine neue, experi- mentierfreudige und der Improvisations- lust des Jazz verbundene Art der Rock- musik. Ihren erstklassigen Ruf konnten Soft Machine aber nie in nennenswerten kommerziellen Erfolg umsetzen. Nach in- ternem Zank wurde Wyatt Anfang der Siebziger gefeuert, was ihn so verletzte, dass er bis heute kaum darüber spricht. Irgendwann damals hat ihn dann Keith FOTO: GETTY IMAGES GETTY IMAGES FOTO: Moon, Schlagzeuger bei The Who und berüchtigter Lebemann, zu prominenten Kollegen als wüstem Alkoholkonsum POP unbeugsamer Außenseiter verführt. Auf einer Londo- des Pop-Betriebs verehrt ner Party 1973 fiel Wyatt be- Traurigster Klang wird. Zu seinen Fans und rauscht aus einem Fenster gelegentlichen Mitmusikern im vierten Stock. Monate- zählen neben Björk so un- lang lag er im Krankenhaus, der Welt terschiedliche Größen wie seitdem ist er von der Hüfte Elvis Costello, Brian Eno, abwärts gelähmt. Er hat dar- Mit dem neuen Album „Comicopera“ Ryuichi Sakamoto, Mike über öffentlich nie gejam- Oldfield, Paul Weller, Franz mert, im Gegenteil, immer ist dem britischen Rock- Ferdinand und die Gentle- wieder trockene Witze über Avantgardisten Robert Wyatt wieder men von Pink Floyd. Einen seine Behinderung gerissen, ein großer Wurf gelungen. seiner seltenen Konzert- Artrockband Soft Machine* zum Beispiel den, dass die- auftritte absolvierte Wyatt Erstklassiger Ruf ser Sturz ja ein prima Kar- or drei Jahren, im Frühling, reiste vor einem Jahr als Gast bei riereschritt gewesen sei. die Isländerin Björk in die tiefe eng- einer Londoner Soloshow von Pink-Floyd- Fest steht, dass die Soloplatten, die er seit- Vlische Provinz, um ihren Kollegen Chef David Gilmour. dem in unregelmäßigen Abständen ablie- Robert Wyatt zu besuchen. Auch auf Wyatts neuem Album haben ferte, fast alle fabelhaft gelungen sind – ge- Sie war eigens aus New York gekom- seine Kumpane Weller und Eno wieder feierte Kunstwerke darunter wie sein Album men, weil sie Wyatts außergewöhnliche mitgewirkt. Dabei ist ein außergewöhnli- „Rock Bottom“ und kleine Hits wie seine Stimme aufnehmen wollte. Der 62-jährige ches Werk entstanden. Himmlisch schön, Version von Elvis Costellos „Shipbuilding“, Rauschebartträger sitzt im Rollstuhl und aber eben auch gepflegt vertrackt sind einem Protestlied gegen den Falkland-Krieg. verlässt nur selten sein Haus auf dem Land. seine Lieder – und Lichtjahre entfernt vom Damals in den achtziger Jahren mit Marga- Wyatt fühlte sich geehrt, bat aber die radiofreundlichen Rock und Pop. ret Thatcher fühlte sich Wyatt in England so von ihm geschätzte Björk, während der Aber das, was alle Wyatt-Werke über unglücklich, dass er aus Protest in die Kom- Aufnahmen in seinem Wohnzimmer das die Masse erhebt, ist die Stimme, die der munistische Partei eintrat. Er musste sich Haus zu verlassen, er könne es nicht er- japanische Superstar Ryuichi Sakamoto selbst von Bekannten als Landesverräter be- tragen, beim Singen beobachtet zu wer- mal zu Recht den „traurigsten Klang der schimpfen lassen und fühlte sich sehr allein den. „Ich schickte sie einige Stunden spa- Welt“ nannte. Sie sei „auch nur so ein In- in der Welt. Ausgetreten sei er aber nie, zieren, sie hat es tapfer ertragen“, erinnert strument“, wiegelt Wyatt ab und erklärt, sagt er trotzig – „aber irgendwie hat sich sich Wyatt an einem Herbstnachmittag dass er eigentlich nichts wirklich gut kön- dann leider die Partei in Luft aufgelöst“. in Paris. ne, kein Instrument gelernt, ja nicht mal Dieser Tage ist Wyatt mit seinen Dämo- Der Brite ist als freundlicher Kauz be- eine einzige Stunde Gesangsunterricht ge- nen überwiegend im Reinen. Nur etwas kannt, als Geschichtenerzähler populär nommen habe. „Technisch betrachtet habe mehr Einkommen wäre nicht schlecht, fin- und als Musiker in Liebhaberkreisen legen- ich von nichts eine Ahnung“, verkündet det er. Platten mache er überhaupt nur där. Er hat eine seiner seltenen Auslands- er, „ich bin kein Musiker, eher ein Zu- noch, weil er das Geld brauche. Macht ihn reisen unternommen, um für sein neues fallsarbeiter, der Platten macht.“ der Reichtum von Musikerfreunden wie Album „Comicopera“ zu werben. Einerseits genießt Wyatt es, sich als Brian Eno und David Gilmour neidisch? Den Rummel muss er auch als „zurück- Außenseiter und Amateur der Pop-Welt Nein, das sei auch nur Stress, behauptet er. haltendste Legende des Rock“, wie ihn das darzustellen, andererseits sind da auch eine „Mit etwas mehr Geld würde ich mei- britische Fachblatt „Mojo“ nannte, immer tiefe Melancholie und Unsicherheit zu ne Tage entspannt mit gutem Wein und noch über sich ergehen lassen, denn im Be- spüren, die ihn sein Leben lang beglei- Mingus-Platten verbringen. Und meiner wusstsein normaler Musikkonsumenten ist tet haben. Alpträume plagen ihn bis heute: Frau beim Flamenco-Tanzen zusehen“, sagt Robert Wyatt nie angekommen. Da nützt es Wyatt, und dann zündet er sich eine fran- auch wenig, dass er von erstaunlich vielen * Mit Sänger und Schlagzeuger Robert Wyatt (2.v. r.), 1967. zösische Zigarette an. Christoph Dallach 178 der spiegel 45/2007.
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