Released: 05/07/24
A compilation celebrating To Ease My Troubled Mind: The Authorised Unauthorised History of Billy Childish by Ted Kessler, curated by Childish himself to sum up his 47 years of music. Born William Ivy Loveday in Medway, Kent, Billy formed numerous bands since the late ’70s, inspired by punk, rock ’n’ roll, blues, and underground culture. Despite setbacks like being expelled from art school and living on the dole, he stayed fiercely independent, embracing homemade music and art over fame. This collection reflects his raw, unfashionable sound and DIY ethos, shaped by a lifelong passion for instinctual creativity rather than commercial success.