Tom Robinson Biography

Moved to a therapeutic communiy, Finchden Manor, in Kent, Robinson was inspired by ex-alumnus, Alexis Korner, to take up music.

Forming the acoustic trio, Café Society, with two friends in London in the early 1970s, Ray Davies of the Kinks produced their debut album, though it sold only 600 copies.

Having discovered London's emerging gay scene and happily in love, he fervently embraced pro-gay and left-wing causes.

Forming the Sex-Pistols-inspired Tom Robinson Band in 1977, he had a huge hit that year with the stomped '2-4-6-8 Motorway', followed by a live EP. The BBC banned his next track, the anthemic and controversial 'Glad to Be Gay'.

Politically confrontational and vociferous in his hatred of Prime Minister Thatcher, the music press adored him. Robinson appeared on Melody Maker’s cover eight times in a single year. The band’s debut album, 'Power In The Darkness', soon went gold.

However, the band quickly lost the public mood with the follow-up 'TRB Two' and split within a year. In the early 1980s Robinson put his faith in new band, Sector 27. Supporting The Police at Madison Square Gardens, they took New York by storm, and made a much lauded album with Steve Lillywhite.

However, they too split, and Robinson faced bankruptcy. So he headed for Berlin, returning with 1983’s 'War Baby', which was a top-10 comeback. He also performed some fringe and cabaret shows at the Edinburgh festival.

In 1984, Robinson became a presenter on BBC’s World Service music shows, also appearing on Radio One and Radio Four, winning awards for the corporation that had banned ‘Glad to be Gay’ so many years before.

Now happily, and heterosexually, married, Robinson still occasionally performs and presents.