The Milkshakes

Billy Childish (real name William Charlie Hamper, or Steven John Hamper) (born December 1, 1959) is an artist, singer, and guitarist, hailing from Chatham in Kent, England.

He left secondary school at 16, an undiagnosed

Billy Childish (real name William Charlie Hamper, or Steven John Hamper) (born December 1, 1959) is an artist, singer, and guitarist, hailing from Chatham in Kent, England.

He left secondary school at 16, an undiagnosed dyslexic. Refused an interview at the local art school he entered the naval dockyard at Chatham as an apprentice stonemason. During the following six months (the artist’s only prolonged period of employment), he produced some 600 drawings in "the tea huts of hell". On the basis of this work he was accepted into St Martin’s School of Art to study painting. However, his acceptance was short-lived and before completing the course he was expelled in 1982. He then lived on the dole for 15 years.