Billy Childish (born
Steven John Hamper, 1 December 1959) is an
EnglishEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
artist, author,
poetA poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, photographer, film maker, singer and guitarist. He is known for his explicit and prolific work - he has detailed his love life and childhood sexual abuse, notably in his early poetry and the novels
My Fault (1996),
Notebooks of a Naked Youth (1997),
Sex Crimes of the Futcher (2004) -
The Idiocy of Idears (2007), and in several of his songs, notably in the instrumental Peodaphile, Clawfist Records (1992)
(featuring a photograph of the man who sexually abused him on the front cover, and Every Bit of Me, Damaged Goods Records, (1993). From 1981 till 1985 Childish had a relationship with artist
Tracey EminTracey Karima Emin RA is an English artist born to a Turkish Cypriot father and English mother, one of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
and has also been associated with another British artist
Stella VineStella Vine is an English artist, who lives and works in London. Her work is figurative painting with subject matter drawn from either her personal life of family, friends and school, or rock stars, royalty and celebrities.After a difficult relationship with her stepfather, she left home and in...
.
He is a consistent advocate for
amateurAn amateur is generally considered a person attached to a particular pursuit, study, or science, without formal training or pay. An amateur receives little or irregular income from their activities, and differs from a professional who makes a living from the pursuit and typically has some formal...
ism and free emotional expression and was a co-founder of the
StuckismStuckism is an international art movement that was founded in 1999 in Britain by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art. The Stuckists stated their opposition to the Charles Saatchi-patronised Young British Artists...
art group in 1999, which he left in 2001. Since then a new evaluation of Childish's standing in the art world has been underway, culminating with the publication of a critical study of Childish's working practice by the artist and writer Neal Brown, with an introduction by
Peter DoigPeter Doig is a Scottish painter.-Biography:Peter Doig was born in Edinburgh, and in 1962 moved with his family to Trinidad, where his father worked with a shipping and trading company, and then in 1966 to Canada...
, which describes Childish as "one of the most outstanding, and often misunderstood, figures on the British art scene."
Background
Billy Childish was born, lives and works in Chatham,
KentKent , originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent...
,
EnglandEngland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the North Sea to the east, with the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Although he had an early and extremely close association with many of the artists who became known as ‘YBA’ artists he has resolutely asserted his independent status. He was
sexually abusedChild sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent abuses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of CSA include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure of the genitals to a child, displaying pornography to a child, actual sexual...
when he was aged nine by a male family friend: "We were on holiday. I had to share a bed with him. It happened for several nights, then I refused to go near him. I didn't tell anyone." He left secondary school at 16, an undiagnosed
dyslexicDyslexia is a learning disorder that manifests itself primarily as a difficulty with reading and spelling. It is separate and distinct from reading difficulties resulting from other causes, such as a non-neurological deficiency with vision or hearing, or from poor or inadequate reading instruction....
. Refused an interview at the local art college, he entered
Chatham DockyardChatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
, Kent, as an apprentice stonemason. During the next six months (the artist’s only prolonged period of employment), he produced some 600 drawings in "the tea huts of hell". On the basis of this work he was accepted into
St Martin’s School of ArtCentral Saint Martins College of Art and Design is a constituent college of the University of the Arts London, and is widely regarded as a leading British art and design school.Best Design Schools in the World-Profile:Central Saint Martins College of Art and...
, where he was friends with the artist
Peter DoigPeter Doig is a Scottish painter.-Biography:Peter Doig was born in Edinburgh, and in 1962 moved with his family to Trinidad, where his father worked with a shipping and trading company, and then in 1966 to Canada...
, to study painting. However, his acceptance was short-lived and before completing the course he was expelled in 1982. He then lived on the dole for 15 years. In 2006 Childish turned down the offer to appear on Channel 4's Celebrity Big Brother UK. Childish has practiced
YogaYoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. In Hinduism, it also refers to one of the six orthodox schools of Hindu philosophy, and to the goal toward which that school directs...
and
meditationMeditation is used here as a broad term for practices done by a sole practitioner without much, if any, external aide, often for the purpose of self-transformation...
since the early nineties.
Painting
As a prospective student lacking the necessary entry qualifications Childish was accepted into art school four times on the strength of his paintings and drawings. Childish studied foundation at Medway College Design in 1977/78. And was then accepted onto the painting department of St Martins School of Art in 1978, before quitting a Month later. He was reaccepted at St Martins in 1980, but was expelled in 1982 for refusing to paint in the art school and other unruly behavior. At St Martins Childish became friends with
Peter DoigPeter Doig is a Scottish painter.-Biography:Peter Doig was born in Edinburgh, and in 1962 moved with his family to Trinidad, where his father worked with a shipping and trading company, and then in 1966 to Canada...
with whom he sheared an appreciation of
MunchMunch may refer to:* Edvard Munch , a Norwegian expressionist painter and printmaker best known for his work The Scream** Edvard Munch , 1973 biographical film written and directed by Peter Watkins...
, Van Gogh and blues music. Doig later co-curated Childish first London show at the Cubit Street Gallery. In the early/mid 80’s Childish was a “major influence” on the artist
Tracey EminTracey Karima Emin RA is an English artist born to a Turkish Cypriot father and English mother, one of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
, who he met after his expulsion from St Martins when she was a fashion student at Medway College of Design. Childish has been sited as the influence for Emin's later confessional art. Childish paints in a personal style, which parallels his passion for the elemental in both writing and music. He has exhibited extensively since the 1980s and was featured in the British Art Show in 2000. Since 2002 Childish has been represented by the Aquarium L-13 Gallery in London, along with
Jamie ReidJamie Reid is a British artist and anarchist with connections to the Situationists. His work, featuring letters cut from newspaper headlines in the style of a ransom note, came close to defining the image of punk rock, particularly in the UK...
and James Cauty (with whom sometimes collaborates). In 2008 Childish completed a series of paintings based on the life and death of the Swiss author
Robert WalserRobert Walser may refer to:* Robert Walser , Swiss modernist writer* Robert Walser , American musicologist, author and professor...
, whom Childish has cited as an influence on his prose work.
The British Art Resistance
In 2008 Childish formed the "non organization" The British Art Resistance, and held an exhibition under the title Hero of The British Art Resistance at The Aquarium L-13 gallery in London: A collection of paintings, books, records, pamphlets, poems, prints, letters, film, photographs made in 2008.
Music
Though most noted for pioneering a cross between punk and blues music, Childish has in fact made records of punk rock, blues, folk, classical/experimental, spoken word and nursery rhymes. In a letter to Childish the musician
Ivor CutlerIvor Cutler was a Scottish poet, songwriter and humorist. He became known for his regular performances on BBC radio, and in particular his numerous sessions recorded for John Peel's influential radio programme, and later for Andy Kershaw's programme...
said of Childish “You are perhaps to subtle and sophisticated for the mass market.” Childish's groups include TV21 AKA the Pop Rivets (1977-1980), sometimes spelled the Pop Rivits, with Bruce Brand, Romas Foord, Russell Wilkins and Russell Lax. He later formed Thee Milkshakes (1980-1984) with Micky Hampshire,
Thee Mighty CaesarsThee Mighty Caesars were a primitive garage punk group, formed by Billy Childish in 1985 after the demise of The Milkshakes. They influenced many American bands, especially The Mummies, and Sub Pop groups...
(1985-1989), The Del Monas then
Thee HeadcoatsThee Headcoats 1989 - 2000, was a band comprising Billy Childish, Bruce Brand, and Johnny Johnson. Childish was featured on guitar and vocals, Brand on drums and backing vocals, and Johnson on bass. The band was the most prolific of Childish's many musical projects, releasing fourteen full...
(1989-1999). In 2000 he formed Wild Billy Childish & The Friends of the Buff Medways Fanciers Association (2000-2006), named after a type of poultry bred in his home town. The Buffs, as they were sometimes affectionately known, split in 2006, and Wild Billy Childish & the Musicians of the British Empire were born, recording a song about one of Billy's heroes
George MalloryGeorge Herbert Leigh Mallory was an English mountaineer who took part in the first three British expeditions to Mount Everest in the early 1920s...
titled "Bottomless Pit." In early 2007, Billy formed The Vermin Poets with former
Fire DeptThe Fire Dept was a British punk rock group. The main core of the band over the years comprised Neil Palmer on guitar and vocals, Neale Richardson on bass and Robin Taylor on drums...
singer and guitarist Neil Palmer and A-Lines guitarist and singer Julie Hamper. Thee Headcoats began their monthly residency at the Wild Western Room in the St John's Tavern, north London in the early 1990s, and continued after moving to the Dirty Water Club in 1996. Billy's current group, the Musicians of the British Empire (MBEs), play at the venue more or less once a month to this day.
Childish has been namechecked by a number of famous musicians including
Kurt CobainKurt Donald Cobain was an American musician, best known as the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the rock band Nirvana....
,
The White StripesThe White Stripes is an American rock duo, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consists of songwriter Jack White and Meg White ....
(Jack White had Billy's name written in large letters on his arm for an early
Top of the PopsTop of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. It was traditionally shown every Thursday evening on BBC1, before being moved to Fridays in 1996, and then moved to Sundays on BBC...
appearance) and
Kylie MinogueKylie Ann Minogue, OBE is an Australian pop singer, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actor on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing her career as a recording artist in 1987...
who named the LP
Impossible PrincessImpossible Princess is the sixth album by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue. It was released by Deconstruction Records on 23 March 1998 in the United Kingdom to mixed reviews. The album was produced by Dave Ball, Ingo Vauk, and Brothers in Rhythm. Many critics complimented its maturity and...
after his book
Poems to Break the Harts of Impossible Princesses (sic).
On September 11, 2009, Damaged Goods Records - Childish's current label - issued a message to subscribers stating that Childish's wife Julie (aka Nurse Julie, bassist in the MBEs) was pregnant. The message went on to state that "as a result of this, the MBE's are on hold and the Buff Medways are back with original bassist Johnny Barker and drummer Wolf Howard."
Poetry
Childish is a confessional Poet and has published over 40 collections of his work. In 1979, Childish was a founder member of
The Medway PoetsThe Medway Poets were founded in Medway, North Kent in 1979. They were an English punk based poetry performance group and later formed the core of the first Stuckists Art Group. The members were Miriam Carney, Billy Childish, Rob Earl, Bill Lewis, Sexton Ming and Charles Thomson...
, a poetry performance group, who read at the Kent Literature Festival and the 1981 Cambridge International Poetry Festival. There were, however, personality clashes in the group, particularly between Childish and
Charles ThomsonCharles Thomson is an English artist, painter, poet, photographer. In the early 1980s he was a member of The Medway Poets. In 1999 he named and co-founded the Stuckists art movement with Billy Childish. He has curated Stuckist shows, organised demonstrations against the Turner Prize, run an art...
, who said: "There was friction between us, especially when he started heckling my poetry reading and I threatened to ban him from a forthcoming TV documentary." However, a TV South documentary on the group in 1982 brought them to a wider regional audience, though Childish's poetry was "deamed unbroadcastable."
According to Childish: "Me & Charles were at war from 1979 until 1999. He even threatened having bouncers on the doors of Medway Poets' readings to keep me out." Childish has twice won commendations in the National Poetry Prize.
Hangman Books
In 1981/82 Childish formed Hangman Books, publishing poetry and some fiction. (Associated projects are Hangman Films and Hangman Records.)
Hangman Books has published poetry books and pamphlets by Billy Childish,
Tracey EminTracey Karima Emin RA is an English artist born to a Turkish Cypriot father and English mother, one of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
,
Bill LewisWilliam "Bill" Lewis is an English artist, story-teller, poet and mythographer. He was a founder-member of The Medway Poets and of the Stuckists art group.-Life and career:...
, Vic Templer, Joe Corkwell,
Sexton MingSexton Ming is a British artist, poet and musician who was a founding member of The Medway Poets and the Stuckists art group .-Life and career:...
,
Philip AbsolonPhilip Absolon is an British artist and a founder member of the Stuckists art group, exhibiting in the group shows, including The Stuckists Punk Victorian at the Walker Art Gallery in 2004, and taking part in Stuckist demonstrations against the Turner Prize...
, Chris Broderick, Mark Lowe, Neil Sparks,
Louis-Ferdinand CelineLouis-Ferdinand Céline was the pen name of French writer and doctor Louis-Ferdinand Destouches . The name "Céline" was chosen after his grandmother's first name. Céline is considered one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, developing a new style of writing that modernized both...
, Dan Melchior, Dan Belton, Alfie Howard, Simon Robson, Steve Prince, Joe Machine,
Wolf HowardWolf Howard is an English artist, poet and filmmaker living in Chatham, Kent and was a founder member of the Stuckists art group...
and Amanda Collier, among others.
1982–87 the daily running of the press was carried out by Traci Emin (later Tracey Emin). 1988–99 it was managed by Kyra De Coninck (one of Thee Headcoatees band). Since 2000 Julie Hamper, Childish's wife, has been overseeing it.
From 1986 Hangman Records, also run by Childish, released over 50 LP Records, including spoken word, experimental works and punk rock. Many local Medway groups and artists had their first releases on Hangman.
Hangman Books and Hangman Records are both independent, non profit making and do not receive outside funding.
Tracey Emin
During the 1980s, Childish was an influence on the artist
Tracey EminTracey Karima Emin RA is an English artist born to a Turkish Cypriot father and English mother, one of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
, whom he met in 1982, after his expulsion from the Painting department at St Martin's School of Art. Emin was a fashion student at
Medway College of DesignThe Kent Institute of Art & Design was an art school based across three campuses in the county of Kent, in the United Kingdom. It was formed by the amalgamation of three independent colleges: Canterbury College of Art, Maidstone College of Art and Rochester College of Art...
. Emin and Childish were a couple until 1986-7, Emin selling his poetry books for his small press
Hangman booksHangman Books is a British independent small press founded in 1981 by Billy Childish, who remains its owner and editor. It publishes poetry and some fiction...
. In 1995 she was interviewed in the
Minky Manky show catalogue by
Carl FreedmanCarl Freedman is the founder of Carl Freedman Gallery . He previously worked as a writer and a curator, initially with Damien Hirst, to help pioneer the Britart phenomenon.-Life and work:...
, who asked her, "Which person do you think has had the greatest influence on your life?" She replied:
- Uhmm... It's not a person really. It was more a time, going to Maidstone College of Art, hanging around with Billy Childish, living by the River Medway.
Her famous "tent"
Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963–1995 (1995) was first exhibited in the show, and Childish's name was displayed prominently in it. The tent was destroyed in a fire at the
MomartMomart is a British company specialising in the storage, transportation, and installation of works of art. A major proportion of their business is maintaining artworks in a secure, climate-controlled environment. The company maintains two warehouse facilities adapted for this task...
warehouse, in Leyton, east London, in 2004.
Childish has said "My relationship with Tracey Emin finished in 1987 – 21 years ago, to be exact. Whilst I like and respect Tracey, and wish her well, the relationship is not significant in respect of my current life, and therefore I choose not to discuss it."
The Stuckists
In 1999 Childish and Thomson co-founded the
StuckistStuckism is an international art movement that was founded in 1999 in Britain by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art. The Stuckists stated their opposition to the Charles Saatchi-patronised Young British Artists...
art movementAn art movement is a tendency or style in art with a specific common philosophy or goal, followed by a group of artists during a restricted period of time, or, at least, with the heyday of the movement defined within usually a number of years.-The concept:...
. Thomson coined the group name from Childish's
Poem for a Pissed Off Wife (
Big Hart and Balls 1994), where he had recorded Emin's remark to him:
- Your paintings are stuck, you are stuck! — Stuck! Stuck! Stuck!"
The group was strongly pro-figurative painting and anti-conceptual art. Childish wrote a number of manifestos with Thomson, the first of which contained the statement:
- Artists who don't paint aren't artists.
The Stuckists soon achieved considerable press coverage, fuelled by Emin's nomination for the
Turner PrizeThe Turner Prize, named after the painter J. M. W. Turner, is an annual prize presented to a British visual artist under the age of 50. Awarding the prize is organised by the Tate gallery and staged at Tate Britain. Since its beginnings in 1984 it has become the United Kingdom's most publicised...
. They then announced the inauguration of a cultural period of
RemodernismRemodernism is a 21st century art movement that revives aspects of modernism, particularly in its early form, and follows postmodernism, which it is in contrast to...
to bring back spiritual values into art, culture and society. The formation of The Stuckists directly led to Emin severing her 14-year friendship with Childish in 1999.
Childish has said "The Stuckist art group was formed in 1999 at the instigation of Charles Thomson, the title of the group being taken from a poem of mine written and published in 1994. I disagreed with the way Charles presented the group, particularly in the media. For these reasons I left the Stuckists in 2001. I never attended any Stuckist demonstrations and my work was not shown in the large Stuckist exhibition held in the Walker Art Gallery in 2004."
British artist
Stella VineStella Vine is an English artist, who lives and works in London. Her work is figurative painting with subject matter drawn from either her personal life of family, friends and school, or rock stars, royalty and celebrities.After a difficult relationship with her stepfather, she left home and in...
, who was a member of the Stuckists for a short time in 2001, first joined the group having developed a "crush" on Billy Childish whilst attending his music events. In June 2000, Vine went to a talk given by Childish and fellow Stuckist co-founder
Charles ThomsonCharles Thomson is an English artist, painter, poet, photographer. In the early 1980s he was a member of The Medway Poets. In 1999 he named and co-founded the Stuckists art movement with Billy Childish. He has curated Stuckist shows, organised demonstrations against the Turner Prize, run an art...
on Stuckism and
RemodernismRemodernism is a 21st century art movement that revives aspects of modernism, particularly in its early form, and follows postmodernism, which it is in contrast to...
, promoted by the Institute of Ideas at the Salon des Arts, Kensington. Vine formed The Unstuckists one month after joining, and has since said she did not agree with Stuckism's principles, and described them as bullies.
Conceptual art
As a young man, Childish was highly influenced by Dada, and the work of
Kurt SchwittersKurt Hermann Eduard Karl Julius Schwitters was a German painter who was born in Hanover, Germany. Schwitters worked in several genres and media, including Dada, Constructivism, Surrealism, poetry, sound, painting, sculpture, graphic design, typography and what came to be known as...
in particular. Childish has a Kurt Schwitters poem tatooed on his left buttock and made a short film on Schwitters' life, titled The Man with Wheels, (1980, directed by Eugean Doyan). In his poetry, Childish mentions that he once had a bank account under the name of Kurt Schwitters.
As to what is now termed conceptual art, Childish has said "I respect the right of detractors and champions alike as we live in a democracy."
The Chatham Super 8 Cinema
In 2002, along with
Wolf HowardWolf Howard is an English artist, poet and filmmaker living in Chatham, Kent and was a founder member of the Stuckists art group...
, Simon Williams and Julie Hamper, Childish formed The Chatham Super 8 Cinema. The group makes super 8 films on a 2nd hand camera Wolf Howard bought at a local flea market. In 2004 Childish released a 30 min doc titled Brass Monkey, about a march undertaken in period Great War uniform commemorating the 90th anniversary of the British retreat from Mons in 1914.
Discography (LPs Only. 45's not listed)
- Greatest Hits (1979) The Pop Rivets
- Empty Sounds from Anarchy Ranch (1979) The Pop Rivets
- Talking 'Bout... Milkshakes (1981) The Milkshakes
- 14 Rhythm and Beat Greats (1982) The Milkshakes
- After School Sessions (1983) The Milkshakes
- The Milkshakes IV-The Men with Golden Guitars (1983) The Milkshakes
- Sing and Play 20 Rock & Roll Hits of the 50's & 60's (1984) The Milkshakes
- The Milkshakes in Germany (1984) The Milkshakes
- Nothing Can Stop These Men (1984) The Milkshakes
- Showcase (1984) The Milkshakes
- They Came They Saw They Conquered (1984) Thee Milkshakes
- Thee Knights of Trashe (1984) Thee Milkshakes
- Thee Mighty Caesars (1985) Thee Mighty Caesars
- Dangerous Charms (1985) The Del Monas
- Beware the Ideas of the March (1985) Thee Mighty Caesars
- The Delmonas 5 (1986) The Del Monas
- Thee Caesars of Trash (1986) Thee Mighty Caesars
- Acropolis Now (1986) Thee Mighty Caesars
- 107 Tapes (1986) (Early demos/Live) The Milkshakes
- Live in Rome (1986) Thee Mighty Caesars
- Wiseblood (1987) The Mighty Caesars
- The Milkshakes Revenge -The Legendary Missing 9th Album (1987) The Milkshakes
- Fun in the U.K (1987) (Compilation) The Pop Rivets
- I've Got Everything Indeed (1987) Wild Billy Childish
- Don't Give Any Dinner to Henry Chinaski (1987) Thee Mighty Caesars
- Which Dead Donkey Daddy? (1987) Billy Childish & Sexton Ming
- Punk Rock Showcase (1987) Thee Mighty Caesars
- Laughing Gravy (1987) Wild Billy Childish & Big Russ Wilkins
- Plump Prizes & Little Gems (1987) Billy Childish & Sexton Ming
- The 1982 Cassettes (1988) Wild Billy Childish
- Live in Chatham (1988) Thee Milkshakes
- YPRES 1917 Overture (Verdun Ossuary) (1988) Billy Childish & Sexton Ming
- ...i remember (1988) Wild Billy Childish
- Poems of Laughter and Violence (1988) Billy Childish
- Brimful of Hate (1988) Jack Ketch & the Crowmen
- Play: Capt'n Calypso's Hoodoo Party (1988) Wild Billy Childish & the Blackhands
- Do the Uncle Willy (1988) The Del Monas
- English Punk Rock Explosion (1988) (Compilation) Thee Mighty Caesars
- The Delmonas (1989) The Delmonas
- John Lennon's Corpse Revisited (1989) Thee Mighty Caesars
- Headcoats Down! (1989) Thee Headcoats
- Long Legged Baby (1989) Wild Billy Childish & the Natural Born Lovers
- Surely They Were the Sons of God (1989) (Compilation) Thee Mighty Caesars
- 19th Nervous Shakedown (1990) (Compilation) The Milkshakes
- The Kids Are Square-This is Hip! (1990) Thee Headcoats
- The Earls of Suavedom (1990) Thee Headcoats
- Beach Bums Must Die (1990) Thee Headcoats
- Live in Germany '79 (1990) The Pop Rivets
- Heavens to Murgatroyd, Even! It’s Thee Headcoats! (Already) (1990) Thee Headcoats
- 50 Albums Great (1991) Wild Billy Childish
- Girlsville (1991) Thee Headcoatees
- W.O.A.H! Bo in Thee Garage (1991) Thee Headcoats
- Headcoatitude (1991) Thee Headcoats
- I Am the Billy Childish (1991) (Compilation) Various
- The Sudden Fart of Laughter (1992) Billy Childish
- Der Henkermann-Kitchen Recordings (1992) Billy Childish
- The Original Chatham Jack (1992) Billy Childish & the Blackhands
- Have Love Will Travel (1992) Thee Headcoatees
- Caesars Remains (1992) (Compilation) Thee Mighty Caesars
- The Wurst is Yet to Come (1993) Thee Headcoats
- The Good Times Are Killing Me (1993) Thee Headcoats
- Cavern by the Sea (1993) Thee Headcoats
- Torments Nest (1993) Billy Childish
- Live in the Netherlands (1993) Wild Billy Childish & the Blackhands
- Native American Sampler — A History 1983-1993 (1993) (Compilation) Various
- At the Bridge (1993) Billy Childish featuring The Singing Loins
- Hunger at the Moon (1993) Billy Childish
- Caesars Pleasure (1994) (Compilation) Thee Mighty Caesars
- Live at the Wild Western Room (1994) Thee Headcoats
- Connundrum (1994) Thee Headcoats
- Ballad of Insolent Pup (1994) Thee Headcoatees
- The Sound of the Baskervilles (1995) Thee Headcoats featuring Thee Headcoatees
- In Tweed We Trust (1996) Thee Headcoats
- Deerstalking Men (1996) Thee Headcoats Sect
- Knights of the Baskervilles (1996) Thee Headcoats
- Made With a Passion — Kitchen Demo's (1996) Billy Childish
- Bostik Haze (1997) Thee Headcoatees
- Chathams Burning - Live 77 & 78 Demo's (1997) The Pop Rivets
- Punk Girls (1997) Thee Headcoatees
- The Jimmy Reid Experience (1997) (Thee Headcoats)
- Devil in the Flesh (1998) Billy Childish/Dan Melchior
Dan Melchior is a singer/songwriter/guitarist who grew up in Shepperton, Surrey, , England and is often labeled a 'garage rock' musician....
- The Messerschmits Pilots Severed Hand (1998) Thee Headcoats
- Sherlock Holmes Meets the Punkenstien Monster (1998) (Japanese Compilation) Thee Headcoats
- Brother is Dead…but fly is gone! (1998) Thee Headcoats
- 17% Hendrix Was Not the Only Musician (1998) Billy Childish & His Famous Headcoats
- Taylor Meets Thee Headcoatees (1998) Thee Headcoatees
- Crimes Against Music-Blues Recordings 1986-1999 (1999) (Compilation) Wild Billy Childish
- The Cheeky Cheese (1999) Billy Childish & Sexton Ming
- English Gentlemen of Rock‘N’Roll/the Best Vol.2 (1999) (Japanese Compilation) Thee Headcoats
- Here Comes the Cessation (1999) Thee Headcoatees
- The Sisters of Suave (1999) (compilation) Thee Headcoatees
- In Blood (1999) Billy Childish & Holly Golightly
Holly Golightly is a British singer-songwriter.She is a former member of the all-girl garage band Thee Headcoatees, the female incarnation of the Billy Childish group Thee Headcoats. For her solo career, she draws from rhythm and blues, rockabilly, and sounds of the 1960s or earlier...
- Ready Sect Go! (2000) Thee Headcoats Sect
- I Am the Object of Your Desire (2000) Thee Headcoats
- Elementary Headcoats - Thee Singles 1990-1999 (2000) (compilation) Thee Headcoats
- Live at the Dirty Water Club (2001) Thee Headcoats
- This is This (2001) The Buff Medways
- Steady the Buffs (2002) Wild Billy Childish & The Buff Medways
- 25 Years of Being Childish (2002) (compilation) Various
- Here Come the Fleece Geese (2002) Billy Childish & Sexton Ming
- 1914 (2003) Wild Billy Childish & The Buff Medways
- Medway Wheelers (2005) Wild Billy Childish & The Buff Medways
- Heavens Journey (2005) Wild Billy Childish & The Chatham Singers
- My First Billy Childish Album (2006) Various (compilation)
- Punk Rock at the British Legion Hall (2007) Wild Billy Childish & The Musicians of the British Empire
- The XFM Sessions (2007) The Buff Medways
- Christmas 1979 (2007) Wild Billy Childish & the Musicians of the British Empire
- Thatcher's Children (2008) Wild Billy Childish & the MBE's
- Juju Claudius (2009) The Chatham Singers
- Archive From 1959 - The Billy Childish Story (2009) Three LP Compilation
Various artist compilations
- Time's Up Live
Time's Up Live is a live DVD by Psychic TV including additional material by other artists. Recorded live at Royal Festival Hall, London on May 01, 1999.Performers: Genesis P-Orridge, Alex Fergusson, Larry Thrasher, Terry Gilmore, Matthew Best....
(2001)
- The Smoking Dog Presents An Evening Of Medway Blues (2005) (contributes three a cappella
A cappella music is vocal music or singing without instrumental accompaniment, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato style...
tracks "The Bitter Cup", "Black Girl" and "Out On The Western Plains")
- Children of Nuggets (2005) (2 songs included by Mickey and the Milkshakes "It's You" and "Please Don't Tell My Baby")
Selected Fanzines / early written works
- Chathams Burning (1977)
- Bostik Haze (1978)
- Fab 69 (1978)
- The Kray Twins Summer Special (1978)
- The Arts and General Interest (1978)
- Hack Hack (1978)
- Goat Gruff (1979)
- Book of Nursary Rhimes (1979)
- Kinda Garten (1980)
- The Cuckoo's Cukoo (1980)
- Mertz in Chatham (1980)
- Shed Country (1980)
- The Cheesy Bug Gazet - with Sexton Ming (1980)
- Bo-Pug - The Six Tails - with Sexton Ming (1980)
- Mussel Horse in Holland - with Sexton Ming (1980)
- Dog Jaw Woman(1981)
Poetry
- Back on Red Lite rd (1981)
- 2 Minits walk from 10am (1981)
- The First Creacher is Jellosey (1981)
- Black Things Hidden in Dust (1982)
- You Me Blud N Knuckle (1982)
- Big Cunt (1982)
- Prity Thing (1982)
- 7 by Childish (1982)
- Will the Circle be Unbroken (1983)
- 10 No Good Poems of Slavery, Buggery, Boredom and Disrespect (1983)
- Noting Can Stop This Man (1983)
- The Unknown Stuff (1983)
- Poems from the Barrier Block (1984)
- Tear Life to Pieces (1985)
- Poems Without Rhyme, Without Reason, Without Spelling, Without Words, Without Nothing (1985)
- Monks Without God (1986)
- Companions in a Death Boat (1987)
- To the Quick (1988)
- The Girl in the Tree (1988)
- Maverick Verse (1988)
- Admissions to Strangers (1989)
- En Carne Viva (1989) Spanish/English
- Death of a Wood (1989)
- The Deathly Flight of Angels (1990)
- Like a God i Love all Things (1991)
- The Hart Rises (1992)
- Trembling of Life (1993)
- Poems of Laughter and Violence -Selected Poems 1981-1986 (1993)
- Hunger at the Moon (1993)
- Days with a Hart Like a Dog (1994)
- Poems to Break the Harts of Impossible Princesses (1994)
- Big Hart and Balls (1995)
- This Puerile Thing (1996)
- In 5 Minits You’ll Know Me -Selected Poems 1985-1995 (1996)
- A Terrible Hunger for Love (1997) Unpublished poems 1982-84
- “I’d Rather You Lied” Selected Poems 1980-1998 (1999)
- Chatham Town Welcomes Desperate Men (2000)
- Evidence Against Myself (2003)
- The Boss of All English Riters (2003)
- Calling Things by Their Proper Names (2003)
- Knite of the Sad Face (2004) Chap Book
- The 1st Green Horse God has Ever Made (2004)
- The Man with Gallows Eyes - Selected Poetry 1980-2005 (2005)
- The River be My Blud: Medway Poems (1980-05)
- This is My Shit and it Smells Good to Me (2008)
- Old 4 Legs (2008)
- Where the Tiger Prowls Stripped and Unseen (2008)
- Gods Fantasic Colours (2008) - Hand stamped covers. Note: some copies appear with different titles and
different author and publisher: 'Art War, Man Taken from Guts' and 'Insolunce in the Face of Art' being examples.
Fiction
- Conversations with Dr X (1987)
- Cannon-fodder, by Louis-Ferdinand Céline
Louis-Ferdinand Céline was the pen name of French writer and doctor Louis-Ferdinand Destouches . The name "Céline" was chosen after his grandmother's first name. Céline is considered one of the most influential writers of the twentieth century, developing a new style of writing that modernized both...
. Trans. K. De Coninck and Billy Childish (1988)
- The Silence of Words (1989)
- 9 STORIES OF THE RIVER MEDWAY RECOUNTED IN THE LANGUAGE OF IDIOTS FOR PEOPLE OF LITTLE DISCERNMENT' (2005)
Novels
- My Fault (1996)
- Notebooks of a Naked Youth (1997)
- Sex Crimes of the Futcher (2004)
- the idiocy of idears (2007)
Art
- Hendrix was Not the Only Musician (1998)
- Paintings of a Backwater Visonary (2005)
- Thoughts of a Hangman - Woodcuts (2006)
- Field Trip Krakow/Auschwitz (2008) - under Guy Hamper (2008)
- Field Trip High Atlas/Marrakech (2008) - under Guy Hamper (2008)
Photography
- Photo Booth (2003)
- Dark Chamber- Pinhole Photography from the IGPP - contributor- (2007)
- Dark Chamber 2 - Pinhole Photography from the IGPP- contributor- (2008)
Selected films
- The Man With Wheels (1980)
- Quite Lives (1983)
- Cheated (1993)
- The Flying Mustache (2002)
- Shooting at the Moon (2003), music by
- Brass Monkey (2004)
See also
- Thee Headcoats
Thee Headcoats 1989 - 2000, was a band comprising Billy Childish, Bruce Brand, and Johnny Johnson. Childish was featured on guitar and vocals, Brand on drums and backing vocals, and Johnson on bass. The band was the most prolific of Childish's many musical projects, releasing fourteen full...
- Stuckism
Stuckism is an international art movement that was founded in 1999 in Britain by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art. The Stuckists stated their opposition to the Charles Saatchi-patronised Young British Artists...
- The Medway Poets
The Medway Poets were founded in Medway, North Kent in 1979. They were an English punk based poetry performance group and later formed the core of the first Stuckists Art Group. The members were Miriam Carney, Billy Childish, Rob Earl, Bill Lewis, Sexton Ming and Charles Thomson...
- Medway groups
Medway scene is a term denoting bands and related cultural activities in the Medway Towns, north Kent, England.-History:Of the Medway groups, the best-known musician is Billy Childish who started with the band The Pop Rivets in the late 1970s. The music draws heavily on the tradition of...
- Wolf Howard
Wolf Howard is an English artist, poet and filmmaker living in Chatham, Kent and was a founder member of the Stuckists art group...
- Tracey Emin
Tracey Karima Emin RA is an English artist born to a Turkish Cypriot father and English mother, one of the group known as Britartists or YBAs ....
- Shooting at the Moon
- Punk literature
Punk literature emerged from the punk subculture. The attitude and ideology of punk gave rise to distinctive characteristics in the literature it manifested. It has generated a considerable amount of poetry and prose, as varied as the subculture itself...
- Collective
Collective was an "interactive culture magazine" hosted by the BBC's website, bbc.co.uk. Collective was launched in May 2002, becoming interactive in September of the same year. Collective editors included Rowan Kerek, Jonathan Carter, Alastair Lee, James Cowdery and Matt Walton who had the...
, a BBC website Childish contributes to.
External links