Robert Elms
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Elms is an English writer, broadcaster and D.J. for BBC London 94.9, broadcasting weekdays from Noon to 3pm.
Born in West London, to a working class family, he attended a grammar school and then the London School of Economics. He has written for The Face and the first of several books was the novel In Search Of The Crack (1989).
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, staying out the battle to save the station and its present reincarnation as BBC London) is popular with regular listeners, including cab drivers who regulary call in to his "Notes & Queries" section.
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 gigs reading poetry), and modern jazz and world music both feature on his show.
He is renowned for his controversial and sometimes unpopular views, such as his extreme condemnation and 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).
Elms lives with his family in Camden Town and occasionally in a 1,000 year-old Moorish house in Andalusia. He speaks fluent Spanish.
Elms is also known as a keen supporter of Queen's Park Rangers football club.
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- In Search Of The Crack (1989) Penguin Books Ltd ISBN 0-14-011276-6
- The Way We Wore: A Life in Threads (2006) Picador ISBN 0-330-42033-X
