Born on June 1st: Tom Robinson, tireless campaigner of British rock

He was born in Cambrige in 1950 and, after a career spanning almost half a century, has retained his eternal kindness and... rebellious spirit.

At the Quaker school he attended, he got his start in music by playing guitar in a trio. As teenagers have a vivid imagination, they chose The Inquisition as their band name!

At the age of 13, he realized that he had feelings for other boys. At the time, homosexuality was still considered a punishable offence in the UK. It was only partially legalized in 1967. So it's no coincidence that one of his hits with his Tom Robinson Band is entitled "Glad To Be Gay". Originally written for a London gay pride party in 1976, it featured prominently on a 4-track EP released in early 78. While it became an anthem of resistance for gay communities across Europe, it was also censored on the BBC. Only John Peel, the venerable company's talent scout, refused to carry out the censorship orders.

Subsequently, Tom Robinson explored many musical genres, but always retained the same activism. He founded the Rock Against Racism movement back in '76, and continues to support Amnesty International to this day. Speaking to The Guardian newspaper, he declared: "Music saved me. And activism gave me a reason to get up in the morning".

Long perceived as an exclusively homosexual figure, he revealed that he was in a relationship with a woman in the 1990s, thus affirming his bisexual identity. He then became a fervent defender of the diversity of sexual identities.

Until recently, he was a presenter on BBC 6 Music, where in a way he took over from John Peel. now in his 70s - he also continues to perform on stage, sometimes alone with his guitar, sometimes accompanied by a band put together for the occasion. And the delightful stories he tells are just as worth the trip as the choruses, such as "Atmospherics Listen To The Radio" and "Spain", the magnificent "War Baby" or "2.4.6.8 Motorway", which lurk somewhere in the recesses of your memory. Of course, when I offered him the photo that illustrates this article a few years ago, he obviously pulled out an anecdote from his memory. "I remember perfectly that concert with TRB at the Werchter festival for one good and simple reason: it was our last one together before the band split up. You never forget that!

Photo: Tom Robinson with TRB on stage at the Werchter Festival (Belgium) in July 1979.