I've been doing a bit of languid research on a few artists lately, and it seems they are out and out card carrying kooks. I find this with several musicians, but it must happen in every field of endeavour.
I know everyone is their own little universe, but truly there are some astonishing people out there. Share your favourite oddball with us all.
I'll start with Percy Grainger. I have been listening to a lot of Grainger lately because I like his mix of 'lilting Warner Brothers melody meets orchestra being pushed down the stairs.' He was a Melbourne born piano virtuoso who loathed playing piano later in life, and joined the US military band on oboe. His father an alcoholic, and his (s)mother reminiscant of Principal Skinner's mum. He lived with her until he was 40.
He had far too much energy, and was said to run between towns on his concert tours of Europe. He was a cheerful white surpremecist, but maintained friendships with people of all races. He attempted purging Italian words from music, and experimented with elastic time signatures. He composed for theremin, and collaborated on a forerunner to the synthesiser.
As an ethnomusicologist, he collected thousands of folk songs from around the world.
Oh yes, he was also a sado-masochist and believed terry towelling should be used to make clothing.
