In an era where ego has become a celebrated virtue in music, Ted Milton stands out as a refreshing anomaly - a man who still defies convention and thrives on doing things his own way. At 82 years old, the veteran musician, poet, and countercultural figure is back on the road with his long-running band Blurt, as well as releasing new material with his duo the Odes.
Born into a fragile relationship with parents who relocated to West Africa when he was just an 11-year-old boy, Milton's early years instilled in him a sense of independence and rebelliousness. As he grew older, this free-spirited nature only intensified, leading him to develop a passion for music, poetry, and performance.
Milton's journey as a performer began in the 1960s, when he started out on the London bohemian scene. He soon found himself rubbing shoulders with notable figures such as William S Burroughs and Eric Clapton, who described Milton's performances as having "utterly fabulous" energy. The saxophonist also gained recognition for his work in avant-garde puppetry, which eventually led to collaborations with artists like Terry Gilliam.
Fast forward to the 1980s, when Milton formed Blurt, a bass-less trio that showcased his unique blend of jazz and raw energy. This band's chaotic live performances earned them a cult following, with Wire frontman Graham Lewis stating that they were "totally captivating." Even years later, Milton's music continues to generate buzz, as seen in the unlikely popularity of an early solo track, Love Is Like a Violence, at Glasgow's Optimo club night.
Despite his wild past and eccentric artistic pursuits, Milton has recently found himself confronting an unexpected challenge - dealing with family. His children have created a film, The Last Puppet Show, which explores his tumultuous relationships and rebellious upbringing. Although the experience has forced him to confront some painful truths, Milton remains open to new perspectives and is embracing this later stage of his life.
At the heart of his enduring creativity lies an intriguing paradox: charisma and psychosis. According to Milton, charisma stems from a fundamental instability - a willingness to disrupt norms and push boundaries. In other words, it's a form of self-reinvention that requires surrendering one's true self for the sake of performance.
As he navigates this later chapter in his life, Milton is embracing a more relaxed attitude, recognizing that some of the intense self-consciousness that once drove him has dissipated with age. However, he still retains a spark of mischief and remains devoted to pushing artistic boundaries - as evidenced by his latest musical releases and Blurt's continued touring.
In an era where ego and image have become increasingly prioritized in music, Ted Milton stands out as a breath of fresh air - a true original who continues to challenge norms and inspire those around him.
Born into a fragile relationship with parents who relocated to West Africa when he was just an 11-year-old boy, Milton's early years instilled in him a sense of independence and rebelliousness. As he grew older, this free-spirited nature only intensified, leading him to develop a passion for music, poetry, and performance.
Milton's journey as a performer began in the 1960s, when he started out on the London bohemian scene. He soon found himself rubbing shoulders with notable figures such as William S Burroughs and Eric Clapton, who described Milton's performances as having "utterly fabulous" energy. The saxophonist also gained recognition for his work in avant-garde puppetry, which eventually led to collaborations with artists like Terry Gilliam.
Fast forward to the 1980s, when Milton formed Blurt, a bass-less trio that showcased his unique blend of jazz and raw energy. This band's chaotic live performances earned them a cult following, with Wire frontman Graham Lewis stating that they were "totally captivating." Even years later, Milton's music continues to generate buzz, as seen in the unlikely popularity of an early solo track, Love Is Like a Violence, at Glasgow's Optimo club night.
Despite his wild past and eccentric artistic pursuits, Milton has recently found himself confronting an unexpected challenge - dealing with family. His children have created a film, The Last Puppet Show, which explores his tumultuous relationships and rebellious upbringing. Although the experience has forced him to confront some painful truths, Milton remains open to new perspectives and is embracing this later stage of his life.
At the heart of his enduring creativity lies an intriguing paradox: charisma and psychosis. According to Milton, charisma stems from a fundamental instability - a willingness to disrupt norms and push boundaries. In other words, it's a form of self-reinvention that requires surrendering one's true self for the sake of performance.
As he navigates this later chapter in his life, Milton is embracing a more relaxed attitude, recognizing that some of the intense self-consciousness that once drove him has dissipated with age. However, he still retains a spark of mischief and remains devoted to pushing artistic boundaries - as evidenced by his latest musical releases and Blurt's continued touring.
In an era where ego and image have become increasingly prioritized in music, Ted Milton stands out as a breath of fresh air - a true original who continues to challenge norms and inspire those around him.
82 and still killin it with his band Blurt & new music tho. He's like the anti-ego man, you feel? Born in west africa as a kid and he already had that rebel vibe goin on. Collaborated with eric clapton & terry gilliam too! 
latest project is a movie about his family drama but still pushin boundaries w/ music. Love how he's embracing his age now, not as much self-consciousness but still that spark of mischief 
I love how he still does things his own way at 82! His early years were super rough with his parents moving away when he was just 11, but it's awesome that they instilled in him independence and rebelliousness 
. And can you believe he rubbed shoulders with William S Burroughs and Eric Clapton back in the day? 
His music is still getting attention even years later! It's so refreshing to see someone embracing their quirks and not trying to conform to what's "cool" right now 
.
I think its really cool that Ted Milton is still pushing boundaries at 82 
. It's awesome that he's embracing his later years and not letting ego get in the way of his creativity 
. His music has always been all about self-expression and experimentation, and I think thats something we can all learn from 
.
. But hey, at least he's open to new perspectives and isn't afraid to confront his demons 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see Ted Milton perform live? He's like a rockstar of old school 
!
so i'm reading about ted milton and he's like 82 but still rocking out 
but at the same time, it's also about dealing with family stuff and confronting your past, which is really hard to do. anyway, ted milton seems like an interesting guy and his music is definitely worth checking out 
I mean, can you believe he's still rocking at 82?! 
I'm also really inspired by his story of how he found his passion through his rebellious upbringing. Like, who knew that being a bit crazy could be so cool?! 
.
.
. He's proof that you can stay true to yourself and your art even when life gets messy, and that's something we could all learn from 
.
.
! I mean, 82 years old and still rocking out with Blurt? That's dedication 
! And his story is so inspiring - going from a nomadic childhood to becoming a countercultural icon 
. Ted Milton is the real deal, folks 
As a result, his art feels so authentic and raw - it's like you're getting a glimpse into someone who's truly living life on their own terms.
he's like the ultimate counter-culture hero, always pushing boundaries and living life on his own terms. its crazy to think hes still touring at 82 and still dropping new music - what an inspiration to all us creatives out there! i think whats really cool is how hes embracing this later stage of his life and using it as a chance to learn and grow, rather than letting age hold him back. the fact that his kids are making a film about him too is just another level of proof that he's still got a lot to say 