Robert Elms
Encyclopedia
Robert Elms is an English
writer and broadcaster. Elms was a writer for The Face
magazine in the 1980s, and has a self-confessed love of clothes and fashion. His book The Way We Wore, charts the changing fashions of his own youth, linking them with the social history of the times.
and educated at Orange Hill Grammar School after passing the eleven plus. From there Elms studied at the London School of Economics
, and became immersed in the club scene which was coalescing in London suburbs. He became a columnist for both The Face and NME
, writing on both music and fashion. He championed the band Spandau Ballet
, having suggested their name, and used to introduce the group at early concerts, performing poetry readings. Elms also worked as a DJ at clubs including Palladium
in New York
. Elms was a chronicler of the New Romantic movement of the early 1980s, which saw him become a popular interview choice for the broadcast media. Elms then developed a broadcasting career of his own, working in both radio and television. He was a contributor to Loose Ends
(BBC Radio 4) and presented the Channel 4
travel series Travelog during the 1990s. In 1989 his first novel was published, In Search Of The Crack by Penguin Books.
Elms served as a patron for the Arts Council
's Architecture Week until the demise of the event in 2007.
(formerly GLR), in 1999 being referred to as "its top presenter". The show features reports, discussions, and call-ins about Greater London
, the history, architecture, geography, city planning, language of London, in short, the minutiae of London. Guests who are acknowledged experts in their fields of study appear on a regular basis. An extract of the shows is published as a podcast every week.
in Tottenham. In around 1996, Elms moved to Camden
, an area of London he promotes, and where he has renovated a Georgian house. He lives there with his wife Christina, who is British-born Chinese, and their children Alice, Alfie and Maude. Elms is a Queens Park Rangers F.C
fan.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
writer and broadcaster. Elms was a writer for The Face
The Face (magazine)
The Face was a British music, fashion and culture monthly magazine started in May 1980 by Nick Logan.-1980s:Logan had previously created the teen pop magazine Smash Hits, and had been an editor at the New Musical Express in the 1970s before launching The Face in 1980.The magazine was influential in...
magazine in the 1980s, and has a self-confessed love of clothes and fashion. His book The Way We Wore, charts the changing fashions of his own youth, linking them with the social history of the times.
Biography
Elms was born in HendonHendon
Hendon is a London suburb situated northwest of Charing Cross.-History:Hendon was historically a civil parish in the county of Middlesex. The manor is described in Domesday , but the name, 'Hendun' meaning 'at the highest hill', is earlier...
and educated at Orange Hill Grammar School after passing the eleven plus. From there Elms studied at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
, and became immersed in the club scene which was coalescing in London suburbs. He became a columnist for both The Face and NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
, writing on both music and fashion. He championed the band Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
, having suggested their name, and used to introduce the group at early concerts, performing poetry readings. Elms also worked as a DJ at clubs including Palladium
Palladium (music venue)
The Palladium was a concert hall and later a nightclub in New York City. It was located on the south side of East 14th Street, between Irving Place and 3rd Avenue....
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Elms was a chronicler of the New Romantic movement of the early 1980s, which saw him become a popular interview choice for the broadcast media. Elms then developed a broadcasting career of his own, working in both radio and television. He was a contributor to Loose Ends
Loose Ends (radio)
Loose Ends is a British radio programme originally broadcast on Saturday mornings, and then transmitted early Saturday evenings from 1998 by BBC Radio 4. It was hosted by Ned Sherrin until he became ill in late 2006 with a reported throat infection, and later throat cancer...
(BBC Radio 4) and presented the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
travel series Travelog during the 1990s. In 1989 his first novel was published, In Search Of The Crack by Penguin Books.
Elms served as a patron for the Arts Council
Arts council
An arts council is a government or private, non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the arts mainly by funding local artists, awarding prizes, and organizing events at home and abroad...
's Architecture Week until the demise of the event in 2007.
Current activities
Elms, as of August 2010, broadcasts a long running radio show on BBC London 94.9BBC London 94.9
BBC London 94.9 is London's BBC Local Radio station, and part of BBC London. Broadcasting across Greater London and beyond on 94.9 FM, DAB, Virgin Media Channel 930, Sky Channel 0152 and also online...
(formerly GLR), in 1999 being referred to as "its top presenter". The show features reports, discussions, and call-ins about Greater London
Greater London
Greater London is the top-level administrative division of England covering London. It was created in 1965 and spans the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and the 32 London boroughs. This territory is coterminate with the London Government Office Region and the London...
, the history, architecture, geography, city planning, language of London, in short, the minutiae of London. Guests who are acknowledged experts in their fields of study appear on a regular basis. An extract of the shows is published as a podcast every week.
Personal life
In the 1980s he squatted with Sade AduSade Adu
Helen Folasade Adu OBE , is a British singer-songwriter, composer, and record producer. She first achieved success in the 1980s as the frontwoman and lead vocalist of the Brit and Grammy Award winning English group Sade.-Biography:Sade was born in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria...
in Tottenham. In around 1996, Elms moved to Camden
London Borough of Camden
In 1801, the civil parishes that form the modern borough were already developed and had a total population of 96,795. This continued to rise swiftly throughout the 19th century, as the district became built up; reaching 270,197 in the middle of the century...
, an area of London he promotes, and where he has renovated a Georgian house. He lives there with his wife Christina, who is British-born Chinese, and their children Alice, Alfie and Maude. Elms is a Queens Park Rangers F.C
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
fan.