Robert Wyatt has said if he wins this year's Mercury Music Prize it would be "a disgrace". The ex-Soft Machine drummer - who is nominated for his latest album 'Cuckooland' - has hit out the award which could land him the Ј20,000 prize.
The 59-year-old, who is currently a 12-1 outsider to win, said: "I think it would be a disgrace if anything came of it." In an interview with The Daily Telegraph, he added: "I'm just in it to keep the contest broad." Wyatt is up against a shortlist including Franz Ferdinand, Snow Patrol, and The Streets, but explained: "Others who have been shortlisted - Amy Winehouse, Basement Jaxx, Belle And Sebastian - are far more deserving."
The drummer has played with a host of legendary musicians over his career including
Jimi Hendrix and
Paul Weller, though made his name with
Soft Machine. He went solo in the 1970, concentrating on his songwriting, singing and drumming.
Wyatt has been wheelchair bound for 30 years since he broke his back after falling from a fourth floor window. He said: "People say this must have been a tragedy, but it moved me into an excellent period of my life. I married my wife and started to make my own music. It would have been more tragic being in a 1950s rock band."
Thanks to NME.com.
