Richard D. James, better known as Aphex Twin, is one of the most storied electronic artists in modern music. The myths surrounding the producer are manifold: at various stages of his career, it’s been claimed that he owns a functioning tank (it’s actually an armoured car), came up with the majority of SAW II while lucid dreaming, and lived inside a former bank simply because he thought the four-foot thick walls would be good for soundproofing.
It’s well-known that James is prone to dispensing the odd fib in his interviews, and it’s likely that at least some of his most outrageous claims are less than credible. One of the strangest tales surrounding this visionary producer’s early years, though, has turned out to be entirely true. Way back in 1994, James delivered two unconventional performances incorporating two household items not often found alongside synths, drum machines and electronic music gear: a sheet of sandpaper and a kitchen blender.
