Robert Pattinson is one of the most popular and beloved English actors of our time. The British-born actor is best known for starring in the latest “Twilight” film as well as its three prequel films. He also starred in the 2013 film “The Rover” and is currently filming the indie film “The Lighthouse” in Dublin, Ireland.
While many people know him for his acting talent, Pattinson revealed in an interview with Vogue that he is actually a talented musician who sings and plays the guitar. He further explained that he actually started acting because he wanted to be a musician and inspired by his bandmates, he decided to pursue this acting dream.
The Band Called ‘R.E.M.’
Pattinson’s first official band was called ‘R.E.M.’ which stands for “Rhythm Embracing Mondoids.” The name ‘R.E.M.’ is a reference to the band Pink Floyd, which he cited as one of his influences and bandmates. The two bands formed a partnership and recorded one of Pattinson’s songs, “Mulberry Wood,” whose lyrics deal with schizophrenia. The whole album, “Hollow Men & Ladies,” was officially released last year and is available for streaming on Spotify.
What Is ‘Moonlight’?
Pattinson’s second band, which he formed with his ‘R.E.M.’ bandmate and Pink Floyd guitarist, David Gilmour, is called ‘Moonlight’. The two Brits recorded an album together titled “Rising Son,” which was released last year and features some of the most famous British rock songs, such as “Sultans Of Swing,” “Wonderful Wit,” and “Madame George.”
Many people have speculated that ‘Moonlight’ is a reference to the upcoming Apple product, ‘moonlight’, as the album’s title track “Moonlight” was officially released last month. In fact, the band teased fans by releasing a lyric video for the song on October 22, just one day before the official Apple event where ‘moonlight’ was officially announced.
What Is ‘Death And The Devil’?
Pattinson’s third band, which is named after Aleister Crowley’s (1875–1947) famous book, “The Book Of The Law,” is ‘Death And The Devil’. Death is the second of Crowley’s major principles, which is why the band is named after “The Book Of The Law.” The band members are officially described as follows:
- Bass — “Wickedness Incarnate” (David Gilmour)
- Drummer — “The Horned One” (Richard Barbieri)
- Guitarist — “The Beast Incarnate” (Tony Levin)
- Keyboardist — “The Lord Of Strangling” (Tony Burks)
- Vocalist — “The Most Evil” (Tony Levin)
The band released their debut album last year and has since been touring across America and Canada. They will be playing in Boston on November 7.
Robert Pattinson’s Influences
While in school, Robert Pattinson was inspired by several musicians, including David Gilmour of Pink Floyd, Elton John, and the Bee Gees. On the topic of his influences, Pattinson stated:
“I suppose that there aren’t many people who haven’t been influenced by the Bee Gees at some point. I just can’t imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t love the Bee Gees.”
Pattinson On Acting And Music
In an interview with Vogue, Pattinson discussed his love for acting and music. He cited his school days as the time he found his calling in life and that he decided to pursue an acting career after graduating from Oxford University.
“I love acting. I always wanted to be an actor, from when I was a kid, and I suppose that now that I’ve actually done it, I will never not want to be an actor. I love the process of it, the collaboration with other people, and being in front of a camera.”
Pattinson’s first significant role in a movie was in the band Madonna’s (born Evelyn Marie Ciccone) 2011 documentary “MDNA.” In the film, an interviewer asks Madonna about rumors that she and Robert Pattinson are having an affair. She responds that she has no comment on the matter but assures the public that everything is “normal”.
Pattinson has also stated that if he could pick any band to collaborate with, it would be The Beatles. “I love their music. It’s such an important part of growing up. They are a band that means so much to me, and I look up to them so much,” he said. “I would love to work with them one day.
What Do You Know?
Pattinson’s interest in music definitely extends beyond just singing and playing guitar. The actor is a huge music fan and frequently attends concerts and festivals. He has also been seen supporting his bandmates and friends in their concerts.
Many fans of ‘R.E.M.’ and ‘Moonlight’ have wondered whether or not these bands will ever release new music or if their collaboration was simply a promotional vehicle. While there is no official word on whether or not the bands will continue to make music together, both members have continued to create music independently as well. As the drummer for ‘R.E.M.’, Richard Barbieri, said in 2014:“There is talk of a new Moonrise record, but nothing is certain yet. It’s a bit early for details!
“I have a few songs that I have been performing live with my band, and I think they’re quite good. So I’ve been playing them pretty much nonstop, and they’ve gotten a rather large following. I’ve been approached by several record labels about signing with them, but I’m still deliberating over which one to choose.”
As for David Gilmour, the guitar player for Pink Floyd, he has expressed interest in working with Robert Pattinson. According to a report from The New York Times, Gilmour said in a 2016 interview: “I’d love to do something with Rob. I think he’s an incredibly talented actor and musician. It’d be great to work with him. I can’t say too much more than that. He’s an incredibly private person and doesn’t do many interviews, so I’m not sure what the status of that is.”
The ‘Twilight’ films have been a financial and popular success, generating over $2 billion at the box office and gaining over 100 million fans on social media. What do you think about Robert Pattinson’s singing and acting talent? Let us know in the comments below!