Billy Childish

Few figures in the history of British rock have created a body of work as bold and unique as Billy Childish, and practically none have been as prolific. Between his many projects, Childish has released over 150 albums and even more singles since 1977, all dominated by the passionate, reedy bark of his vocals, the dirty, Link Wray-inspired roar of his guitar work, and a lyrical perspective that's a crazy quilt of deeply personal self-expression, pastiches of pop culture, pointed observations on the world around him, and tunes about good (and bad) times with the opposite sex. His tireless output as a musician is even more remarkable given that he also has thriving careers as a poet, novelist, and visual artist, and is a devotee of both yoga and meditation. He's built an international following despite stubbornly avoiding major record labels and following his own path.