Fans of musician Gotye would be forgiven for assuming the Belgian-Australian singer disappeared off the face of the earth after shooting to fame with his track Somebody That I Used to Know. The hit became the best-selling song of 2012 after its release.
Real name Wouter ‘Wally’ De Backer, Gotye went on to release the full album Making Mirrors, along with collaborating on an interactive sound and light sculpture, Fractured Heart, in 2013. But in 2014, he announced there would be “no new Gotye music”.
Instead, he ditched the Gotye name to go by Wally instead, and continued his career as a drummer for three-piece band The Basics, releasing albums like The Age of Entitlement and B.A.S.I.C. Their last release, a live album, came in 2020.
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The band announced in 2021 that they would no longer offer live performances, instead choosing to focus on making and recording music.
(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)
Along with shunning fame using the Gotye name, he has turned down around $10million in ad revenue after refusing to let YouTube play adverts before his songs. He told the Daily Telegraph: “I’m not interested in selling my music. That’s the reason I don’t put ads on my YouTube channel, which seems strange to people in today’s climate, but that is a decision you can make.”
He also fretted that the song that made him famous was too overplayed, telling Stereogum: “[It] probably contributed to an aspect of over-saturation. There was a feeling that it wasn’t me who was shoving the song in everyone’s face, it was the rest of the world.”
Gotye also has his own Australian record label, Spirit Level, to concentrate on after retiring from solo fame. Along with Tim Shiel, the pair’s artist-run label has gone on to sign acts like Happy Axe and Braille Face.
Now Gotye is sporting a different look, too – at least as far as his famous stop motion music video is concerned. In new Instagram snaps alongside his Basic bandmates, the star sports dark curly hair and a huge grin.
A beard also accompanies his casual style – usually seen in oversized grey hoodies or black turtlenecks. But fans are still desperate to let him know how much his musical influence is appreciated.
(Image: Getty Images)
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One wrote on social media: “For Gotye: I was just going to say that the whole world loves you and appreciates your music very much. A thousand years will pass and people will continue listening to your music and remembering you. I hope you are very happy and that you continue doing what you like.”
Another echoed: “Now just somebody I used to know.” While a third Instagram user added: “Wally looking just like that guy we used to know!”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
