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'''Robert Elms''' (born June 12 1959) is an [[England|English]] writer, broadcaster and disc jockey. Elms was a writer for ''[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]'' magazine in the 1980s, and has a self-confessed love of clothes and fashion. His book ''The Way We Wore'', charts the changing fashions of his own youth, linking them with the social history of the times.<ref>Pauli, Michelle. "[http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/culturevultureblog/2005/jun/02/robertelmsthe Robert Elms: The Way We Bore]", ''The Guardian'', 2 June 2005. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gMxdELPW archived] 28 April 2009.</ref><ref>Taylor, Laurie. "[http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/the-way-we-wore-by-robert-elms-748675.html The Way We Wore, by Robert Elms]", ''The Independent'', 15 April 2009. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gMxnhBfn archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> |
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'''Robert Elms''' (born June 12 1959) is an [[England|English]] writer, broadcaster and D.J. for [[BBC London 94.9]], broadcasting weekdays from noon to 3pm. |
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==Biography== |
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Born in [[West London]], he attended [[Mill Hill County High School|Orange Hill grammar school]] in [[Burnt Oak]] [[North London]] and then the [[London School of Economics]], where he studied modern history and political thought. He is a former editor of ''[[The Face (magazine)|The Face]]'' and has contributed regularly to magazines such as US ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'', ''[[Elle]]'' and ''[[Arena (magazine)|Arena]]''. His first book, the novel ''In Search Of The Crack'', was published in 1989. |
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Elms was born in Hendon, 1959 and educated at Orange Hill Grammar School after passing the eleven plus.<ref name="CC">Meades, Jonathon (1984). "[http://www.clivejames.com/jonathan-meades/robert-elms Carving a Career in Style: Robert Elms]", ''CliveJames.com''. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN0QmMAK archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> From there Elms studied at the [[London School of Economics]], and became immersed in the club scene which was coalescing in London suburbs.<ref name="CC"/> He became a columnist for both ''The Face'' and ''[[NME]]'', writing on both music and fashion.<ref name="PM"/> He championed the band [[Spandau Ballet]], having suggested their name, and used to introduce the group at early concerts, performing poetry readings.<ref name="PM">"[http://www.panmacmillan.com/Authors%20Illustrators/displayPage.asp?PageTitle=Individual%20Contributor&ContributorID=70961 Robert Elms]" ''Panmacmillan.com''. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN2BR5kM archived] 28 April 2009.</ref><ref>White, Jim. "Review", ''The Independent'', Jan 8, 1996, p. 20.</ref> Elms also worked as a DJ at clubs including [[Palladium (music venue)|Palladium]] in New York.<ref>Todd, Bella. "[http://www.timeout.com/london/music/features/5518/Norman_Jay_on_Robert_Elms.html Norman Jay on Robert Elms]", ''Time Out'', August 20, 2008. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN0kvirq archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> Elms was a chronicler of the New Romantic movement of the early 1980s,<ref name="CC"/> which saw him become a popular interview choice for the broadcast media. Elms then developed a broadcasting career of his own, working in both radio and television. He appeared as part of "[[Loose Ends (radio)|Loose Ends]]" and presented the [[Channel 4]] travel series "Travelog" during the 1990s.<ref>"[http://www.channel4.com/life/microsites/0-9/4travel/perfect-getaway/robert-elms-biog.html Robert Elms Biography]" ''Channel 4". Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN2NTdyq archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> In 1989 his first novel was published, ''In Search Of The Crack'' by Penguin Books. Elms moved to Camden around the same time, an area of London he champions,<ref>Dowling, Stephen. "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/nolpda/ifs_news/hi/newsid_7238000/7238820.stm Camden - Britain's musical Mecca?]", ''BBC'', 11 Feb 2008. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN2YWrIc archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> and along with his wife he has renovated a Georgian house within the borough.<ref>Canessa, Joey. "[http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/house-and-home/property/my-home-robert-elms-468030.html My Home: Robert Elms]" ''The Independent'', 1 March 2006. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN3LT1Ms archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> Elms broadcasts a radio show on [[BBC London 94.9]] (formerly GLR), in 1999 being referred to as "its top presenter".<ref>Robinson, Michael. "[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/its-a-london-thing-but-sadly-for-glr-londoners-are-not-listening-738889.html 'Its a London thing', but sadly for GLR, Londoners are not listening]", ''The Independent'', 12 October 1999. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN0EFgkg archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> Elms served as a patron for the [[Arts Council]]'s Architecture Week until the demise of the event in 2007.<ref>"[http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/pressnews/press_detail.php?browse=recent&id=450 Tom Bloxham MBE appointed as Architecture Week Patron]", 11 May 2005, Arts Council press release. Accessed 28 April 2009, [http://www.webcitation.org/5gN345TPj archived] 28 April 2009.</ref> |
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His radio show features aspects of 'hidden London' histories, as revealed in its buildings, places, and its subterranean world. The show, dating back to the 1990s (Elms survived the loss of [[GLR]], or Greater London Radio, staying out the battle to save the station and its present reincarnation as BBC London) is popular with regular listeners, including [[Hackney Carriage|cab drivers]] who regularly call in to his Wednesday "Notes & Queries" broadcast. |
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In his youth, Elms was a London [[clubber]], ''[[fashionista]]'', and a member of the [[New Romantics]] set. He remains a big fan of [[Spandau Ballet]] - Elms used to open for the group at their early [[Concert|gigs]] reading [[poetry]] and the band and Elms himself have claimed that he gave the group their name, though this claim appears to be questionable. [[Modern jazz]] and [[world music]] both feature on his show. |
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Between 1991 and 2000 Robert Elms worked as head of Quality Control for Durex Contraception in Birmingham. He was Quality Assurance Foreman on the Gossamar light range of Contraception and felt that the change, " .. complemented my life at the time. I did get to try a few on for size, but honestly found that the normal size where too big for me. And the Featherlight variety affected my sensitivity. I soon returned to my first love of being a Fashionista. Though to be fair, I should have stayed at Durex as this was the apex of my working life.". |
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He is renowned for his dislike of [[The Beatles]], and of [[John Lennon]] in particular (he has called "[[Imagine]]" the "worst record ever made"), to the point where he refuses to play any of their music on his show (although he has played solo records by [[George Harrison]], who he argues is the "least objectionable" of the group). One of Elms' main objections to Lennon is what he perceives to have been his [[socialist]] hypocrisy, though ironically Elms (who was known as 'Red Robert' in his youth) has often been accused of being a socialist hypocrite and "[[champagne socialist]]" himself. In addition, Elms has also opined that the 1960s were an overrated decade in terms of popular music and that the 1980s were the golden age of pop. He has also expressed considerable dislike of [[Radiohead]] - Elms claims that his taste in music consists of what he likes to call "music for grown-ups" (such as Spandau Ballet) and that Radiohead do not belong to this category. |
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Elms is best known outside of London for a notorious incident which occurred when he appeared on ''[[The Tube]]'' TV show in the early 1980s. Elms appeared live in the studio in [[Newcastle upon Tyne|Newcastle]] and told interviewer [[Muriel Gray]] that Northerners, unlike Londoners, did not not know how to dress properly. Elms instructed the cameraman to zoom in on his socks so he could show viewers "what socks to wear and how to wear them". Elms then criticised members of the studio audience for the choice of [[jeans]] they were wearing. When Gray asked Elms what was different about his jeans, he responded that his pair had an all-important red lining inside. When Gray pointed out that the red lining was actually not visible when the jeans were worn and that the audience's jeans were therefore essential identical, Elms responded: "You can't expect me to dress like Northern scum". The [[Geordie]] audience reacted furiously and some tried to climb over the studio couch to attack him. An apparently petrified Elms had to be rushed from the studio while protected by security and taken back to London under police escort. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2005/04/24/boelm24.xml] |
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[http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2002/jun/22/britishidentity.comment] |
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Elms lives with his family in [[Camden Town]] and occasionally in a 1,000 year-old [[Moorish]] house in [[Andalusia]]. He speaks fluent [[Spanish language|Spanish]]. He is a big fan of West London [[Association football|football]] team [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]. |
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==Bibliography== |
==Bibliography== |
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* ''In Search Of The Crack'' (1989) Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0-14-011276-6 |
* ''In Search Of The Crack'' (1989) Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0-14-011276-6 |
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* ''Spain - A Portrait After The General'' (1992) William Heinemann Ltd ISBN 0434228249 |
* ''Spain - A Portrait After The General'' (1992) William Heinemann Ltd ISBN 0434228249 |
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* ''The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads'' (2006) Picador ISBN 0-330-42033-X |
* ''The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads'' (2006) Picador ISBN 0-330-42033-X |
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== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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*Elms is referenced by name in 1997's satirical spoof-news comedy ''[[Brass Eye]]''. [[Chris Morris (satirist)|Chris Morris]] plays a condescending presenter who announces his guest ([[Darcus Howe]]) with a highly derogatory introduction, only to realise he has mistakenly read the introduction of Elms. |
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The Interview with Darcus Howe: |
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''CM: “I’m sitting opposite a man, he knows nothing, he talks all the time, the result is he’s a trenchant buffoon, he has no idea how to present television shows, he looks ridiculous in that fashion wear. He swans around all the time hoping that people will recognise him, when in fact nobody’s even remotely interested. He’s taken up enough time on this show already and he hasn’t even opened his mouth. God knows why he’s here, I’ve nothing to ask the guy. And for all I know he may be a coco shunter too. Darcus Howe. |
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''DH: “What’s a coco shunter?”'' |
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''CM: “Coco Shunter? That’s just what I’ve got, er, oh, sorry, that’s the introduction to Robert Elms. Sorry. Do you know Robert Elms? I’ve just read out the introduction to Robert Elms."'''' |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/robert_elms_listeners/ Robert Elms Listeners] at Yahoo |
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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/biographies/biogs/london/robertelms.shtml BBC Press Office] |
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* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2004/08/10/presenters_robertelms_feature.shtml BBC Radio London page] |
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/london/content/articles/2004/08/10/presenters_robertelms_feature.shtml BBC Radio London page] |
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* [http://www.thebookplace.com/bookends/be_interviews_elms.asp?TAG=&CID=ADD511 Bookends] |
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* [http://www.mycamden.co.uk/camden/community-elms.htm My Camden interview] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Elms, Robert}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elms, Robert}} |
Revision as of 11:45, 28 April 2009
Robert Elms (born June 12 1959) is an English writer, broadcaster and disc jockey. Elms was a writer for The Face magazine in the 1980s, and has a self-confessed love of clothes and fashion. His book The Way We Wore, charts the changing fashions of his own youth, linking them with the social history of the times.[1][2]
Biography
Elms was born in Hendon, 1959 and educated at Orange Hill Grammar School after passing the eleven plus.[3] From there Elms studied at the London School of Economics, and became immersed in the club scene which was coalescing in London suburbs.[3] He became a columnist for both The Face and NME, writing on both music and fashion.[4] He championed the band Spandau Ballet, having suggested their name, and used to introduce the group at early concerts, performing poetry readings.[4][5] Elms also worked as a DJ at clubs including Palladium in New York.[6] Elms was a chronicler of the New Romantic movement of the early 1980s,[3] which saw him become a popular interview choice for the broadcast media. Elms then developed a broadcasting career of his own, working in both radio and television. He appeared as part of "Loose Ends" and presented the Channel 4 travel series "Travelog" during the 1990s.[7] In 1989 his first novel was published, In Search Of The Crack by Penguin Books. Elms moved to Camden around the same time, an area of London he champions,[8] and along with his wife he has renovated a Georgian house within the borough.[9] Elms broadcasts a radio show on BBC London 94.9 (formerly GLR), in 1999 being referred to as "its top presenter".[10] Elms served as a patron for the Arts Council's Architecture Week until the demise of the event in 2007.[11]
Bibliography
- In Search Of The Crack (1989) Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0-14-011276-6
- Spain - A Portrait After The General (1992) William Heinemann Ltd ISBN 0434228249
- The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads (2006) Picador ISBN 0-330-42033-X
References
- ^ Pauli, Michelle. "Robert Elms: The Way We Bore", The Guardian, 2 June 2005. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ Taylor, Laurie. "The Way We Wore, by Robert Elms", The Independent, 15 April 2009. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ a b c Meades, Jonathon (1984). "Carving a Career in Style: Robert Elms", CliveJames.com. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ a b "Robert Elms" Panmacmillan.com. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ White, Jim. "Review", The Independent, Jan 8, 1996, p. 20.
- ^ Todd, Bella. "Norman Jay on Robert Elms", Time Out, August 20, 2008. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ "Robert Elms Biography" Channel 4". Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ Dowling, Stephen. "Camden - Britain's musical Mecca?", BBC, 11 Feb 2008. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ Canessa, Joey. "My Home: Robert Elms" The Independent, 1 March 2006. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ Robinson, Michael. "'Its a London thing', but sadly for GLR, Londoners are not listening", The Independent, 12 October 1999. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.
- ^ "Tom Bloxham MBE appointed as Architecture Week Patron", 11 May 2005, Arts Council press release. Accessed 28 April 2009, archived 28 April 2009.