Some good spot-on facts in that last post, but I think there's a little more. I believe the story goes something like this: Kevin Ayers didn't enjoy the US tour they did with Hendrix, and developed a habit of just lying on the floor in his hotel room and doing nothing. He did eat brown rice and this was all part of an illness avoidance strategy. The strains of touring led to Kevin's departure and a near break-up for the entire band.
References are made to so many of Kevin's songs, but I can't tell if Wyatt wrote this song affectionately or if he was having a dig. "Why is the trumpeter weeping?" seems to be asking what the hell Kevin's words actually meant, if anything. Whatever was in Wyatt's mind when he wrote these words, they continued to play on eachother's solo albums, so no long-lasting damage seems to have been done.
Some good spot-on facts in that last post, but I think there's a little more. I believe the story goes something like this: Kevin Ayers didn't enjoy the US tour they did with Hendrix, and developed a habit of just lying on the floor in his hotel room and doing nothing. He did eat brown rice and this was all part of an illness avoidance strategy. The strains of touring led to Kevin's departure and a near break-up for the entire band.
References are made to so many of Kevin's songs, but I can't tell if Wyatt wrote this song affectionately or if he was having a dig. "Why is the trumpeter weeping?" seems to be asking what the hell Kevin's words actually meant, if anything. Whatever was in Wyatt's mind when he wrote these words, they continued to play on eachother's solo albums, so no long-lasting damage seems to have been done.
The song itself kicks some arse though.