Ted Milton, 82, is a man on the move, still touring with his band Blurt and releasing new music despite a life marked by reckless abandon. A saxophonist, poet, countercultural survivor, and former avant-garde puppeteer, he's been a fixture in British post-punk culture for decades.
The spark that ignited Milton's creative fire was a Dansette record player, Elvis, Carl Perkins, Little Richard – music that set him free. Art studies in Cambridge and the city's jazz scene followed, but it wasn't until he stumbled upon the London bohemian set that his true path began to unfold. Encouraged by Pete Brown, Milton's poetry gained traction, even landing in The Paris Review in 1963.
Milton's rebellious streak led him down various rabbit holes – a stint at a puppet theatre in Wolverhampton, glove shows, and eventually, performance animation. His work with Tony Wilson's So It Goes TV show brought post-punk audiences to his doorstep, solidifying Blurt as a fixture on the Factory Records circuit.
The Last Puppet Show is now exploring Milton's complex legacy through the lens of his own family. George Milton, his son, has crafted a film that confronts the man behind the myth – one driven by chaos and creativity but also fraught with difficult relationships.
"I don't suppose I made any attempt to make any concessions to anybody anywhere along the line," Milton admits when reflecting on his past. Age may have toned down some of his rougher edges, but his passion for performance remains unchanged.
As he navigates this final chapter in his life, Milton is finding new ways to channel his charisma – it's a form of psychosis that can be both captivating and exhausting. Though the intensity has somewhat diminished with age, there's still an undeniable aura about him, one that commands attention even now.
The spark that ignited Milton's creative fire was a Dansette record player, Elvis, Carl Perkins, Little Richard – music that set him free. Art studies in Cambridge and the city's jazz scene followed, but it wasn't until he stumbled upon the London bohemian set that his true path began to unfold. Encouraged by Pete Brown, Milton's poetry gained traction, even landing in The Paris Review in 1963.
Milton's rebellious streak led him down various rabbit holes – a stint at a puppet theatre in Wolverhampton, glove shows, and eventually, performance animation. His work with Tony Wilson's So It Goes TV show brought post-punk audiences to his doorstep, solidifying Blurt as a fixture on the Factory Records circuit.
The Last Puppet Show is now exploring Milton's complex legacy through the lens of his own family. George Milton, his son, has crafted a film that confronts the man behind the myth – one driven by chaos and creativity but also fraught with difficult relationships.
"I don't suppose I made any attempt to make any concessions to anybody anywhere along the line," Milton admits when reflecting on his past. Age may have toned down some of his rougher edges, but his passion for performance remains unchanged.
As he navigates this final chapter in his life, Milton is finding new ways to channel his charisma – it's a form of psychosis that can be both captivating and exhausting. Though the intensity has somewhat diminished with age, there's still an undeniable aura about him, one that commands attention even now.