1. Born on May 17th 1866, Eric Alfred Leslie Satie, famous today as Erik Satie, would be a composer, pianist and eccentric, colourful and rebelious figure, who made his mark on later art movements ranging from minimalism and Dadaism to Surrealism and experimental music. A huge influence especially after his passing, he was in his time either loved by those who were passionate about his style or violently rejected by the more conservative ones. 2. Shockingly, Satie was a terrible student at the famed Conservatoire - he was even expelled at one time, managing to graduate in 1885 - and most of his teachers described him as lazy, easily bored, lacking motivation and never seeming to improve. Even a tiny beat. It's ironic that today his piano compositions are so highly regarded.
3. Drafted into military service in 1886, at a time when he simply wanted to enjoy his youth, he suposedly contracted bronchitis on purpose. He was released and went back to his music and favourite cafes.
4. Satie liked to take a daily walk through the streets of Paris, never missing his favourite cafes, and every single day he walked for ten miles.
5. He was a close personal friend with Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel, who were impressed not only by his unusual compositions, but especially by his eccentric jokes, trikster nature and the easiness with which he simply rebelled againts anything and everything he didn't fancy.
6. Between 1888-1891 you could find him playing the piano at the famous Chat Noir, and although he often reffered to this as a demeaning and tiresome job, it was a major source of inspiration. No wonder there were some who called him the father or master of cabaret music.
7. After spending some time close to the occultist Josephin Peladan, during which Satie was even the composer for the Mystical Order of the Rose Cross of the Temple and Grail (quite a mouthful) the musician broke all ties with him. And in 1893-1895 he was the founder and sole member of the Eglise Metropolitaine d'Art de Jesus Conducteur. He didn't like any official religion, so he made one for himself.
8. He was a heavy drinker, carried a hammer for protection, wore only grey suits, and his diet consisted in his later years of only white foods, ranging from cheese and fat to fish and coconuts. He prefered to boil his wine and then drink it cold.
9. His only known relationship was with Suzanne Valadon, famous at that time as an artists' model (she also was the mother of Maurice Utrillo). It is said that Satie was obsessed with her, proposed after just one night and composed several works as a tribute two her. They never married, the affair only lasted about six months, but Satie never got over her.
10. After his death, in 1925, admirers were shocked to discover his home as a filthy room, filled with newspapers and a large collection of umbrellas, certainly unsuited for a great musician. He hadn't let anyone visit him in over 27 years, and it seemed for good measure. He also kept two grand pianos in the room, but they were placed one on the top of another.
Photo: famouspeople.com
