There is now a new biography of Wendy Carlos. For such a serious and important musician, it is quite right we have a biography. But it’s a slim tome. And from the very start, it says that the author tried to contact Carlos for an interview or any kind of contribution or comment, but… silence.
So Carlos has recently updated her site. There’s a message that says the book is all fiction, I never contributed to it, it’s lies, wrong, rubbish…
The book paints a portrait of Carlos as someone who is unhappy with the world and has been for some time. It’s put together from old interviews, sleeve notes and etc, but, if Carlos thinks she has been misrepresented in the past, this would have been an opportunity to tell it the way she wanted. I don’t know the author, but am sure she would have loved Carlos to contribute.
The picture we get in the last chapter or so is of a somewhat disillusioned person who, with her partner, spends much of her time pursuing people to protect her work, taking them to court or whatever. I hope she won’t go after me. I am just reporting on the impression that the book gives. I have never met Ms Carlos and have no idea what she is like.
I know whe is 80 now, and probably still tinkers with her electronics, if she still has it all. I know she loves her pets.
It’s time this important and pioneering musician was recognised. Re-releasing her catalogue to a new audience might help.