Robert Brown (musician)
Robert Brown | |
---|---|
![]() "Captain" Robert Brown | |
Background information | |
Origin | Seattle, United States |
Genres | Steampunk, Industrial, Folk |
Years active | 1997–present |
Website | http://robert-from-ap.livejournal.com |
Robert Brown (AKA "Captain Robert") is an American multi-instrumentalist. He is best known as the lead vocalist and principal songwriter of the steampunk band Abney Park. Brown was born on May 27, 1970 in Walla Walla, Washington.
A large part of Brown's childhood was spent traveling in South East Asia with his mother Carolyn Brown Heinz, who is a well known cultural anthropologist.[1] Brown spent time in India, China, Thailand, and Polynesia, assisting his mother in her research.
Brown briefly attended the University of London and lived near Abney Park Cemetery. After leaving the University of London, Brown relocated to Seattle at the height of the Grunge movement, where he started the dark electronica band "October 27th", and later formed "the EaTen" with guitarist Robert Hazelton (now with the "Deadly Nightshade Botanical Society"). Soon after, they changed the band's name from the EaTen to Abney Park, after the London cemetery.
Brown is the principal songwriter in Abney Park. In addition to this, he is the band's lead singer, and plays darbuka, diatonic button accordion (melodeon), and harmonica. Brown's lyrical and musical style is noted for having a unique blend of many musical nationalities and eras. Brown is also responsible for making most of the band's exotic steampunk instruments.
In 2011, Brown authored a novel, "The Wrath of Fate", which explored Abney Park's backstory in greater detail, as well as helped in the development of Airship Pirates, an RPG based on the works of Robert Brown.
Brown has made appearances on MTV,[2] G4tV,[3] King 5 Evening Magazine, and has been interviewed in many genre websites,[4] magazines and newspapers including The Guardian,[5] The New York Times[6] and the Los Angeles Times.
Robert is married to fellow band member Kristina Erickson, and has two children, Isabella and Chloe.[7]
References
- ^ "Faculty: Carolyn Heinz". CSU Chino. Archived from the original on 2009-12-27. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "MTV News video: 'It's Airships, Pirates And Goggles'". MTV. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
- ^ "Abney Park - Steampunk Culture Video". YouTube. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
- ^ Interviews with Robert Brown:
- Tome Wilson (September 24, 2009). "INTERVIEW - Captain Robert of Abney Park". Dieselpunks.org. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
- Rebecca Firth (2008-08-27). "Dread Captain Robert and Abney Park Sailing the Metaphorical High Seas in the Name of Steampunk". WooEB. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
- Kaitlyn Dougon (28 April 2009). "Hanging With Abney Park". Spartan Youth Radio. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-16.
{{cite web}}
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- ^ Caroline Sullivan (17 October 2008). "Tonight I'm gonna party like it's 1899". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
- ^ Ruth La Ferla (May 8, 2008). "Steampunk Moves Between 2 Worlds". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-12-14.
- ^ Captain Robert (13 November 2011). "Captain Robert's Livejournal". Livejournal.com. Retrieved 2009-11-14.