Abstract

Folk singer and folk music collector, writer, painter, journalist, art critic, whalerman, sheep station roustabout, Marxist, and much more - this is the story of A. L. (Bert) Lloyd's extraordinary life.

A. L. Lloyd played a key part in the folk music revival of the 1950s and 60s, but that is only part of his story. Dave Arthur documents how Lloyd became a member of the Communist Party, forceful antifascist, trade unionist and an important part of left-wing culture from the early 1930s to his death in 1982. Following his return from Australia as a 21-year-old, self-educated agricultural labourer, he was at the heart of the most important left-wing movements and highly respected for his knowledge in various fields.

Dave Arthur recounts the life of a creative, passionate and life-loving Marxist, and in so doing provides a social history of a turbulent twentieth century.
'When everyone else was listening to Cream, I was listening to A. L. Lloyd'
Frank Zappa
'A. L. Lloyd was a catalyst, a man who made things happen, divided opinion, enthused, annoyed, embraced and attracted immense loyalty. This book will please and astonish those who read it'
Malcolm Taylor OBE, Library Director, English Folk Dance and Song Society
'I'm old enough and have been close enough to many of the events recounted in this thoroughly but sympathetically researched book to recognise the ring of truth when I hear it'
Bill Leader, legendary record producer
'As broadcaster, scholar, collector and singer, Bert Lloyd was one of the truly inspirational characters of Britain's 20th century music history. Dave Arthur's biography captures his complexity and energy with affection and unflinching honesty'
David Toop, author of Ocean of Sound (2001) and Sinister Resonance (2010).