The following article taken from Camden New Journal...
The graffiti crew surrounding a legendary artist who rose to iconic status when he took on Banksy in a high-profile feud on the Regent’s Canal towpath is holding a fundraising event in his honour.
King Robbo, described as “blue- blooded royalty” of the London graffiti scene, has long been revered in underground circles.
But he came to the public’s attention when he appeared out of retirement to embark on a high-profile war of paint with Bristol-born stenciller, Banksy.
The feud kept all eyes glued to the banks of the Regent’s Canal to see who would have the last word in the battle between the tagging Titans.
But just as Robbo intended to get his final revenge, tragedy struck.
He was found close to his home suffering from a life-threatening head injury and was put into an induced coma.
Now, with his condition failing to improve, friends from his old crew, We Rock Hard, are organising a major fundraising event to draw attention to his plight and help secure his family’s future.
Graffiti artists, including Eine and pioneering stenciller Blek Le Rat, have donated works to be auctioned off at the King Robbo Fundraiser and Art Auction, which will be held next month.
DJs, including Artful Dodger, will also give up their time to perform.
Close friend and crew member P.I.C said: “When it happened it was like time just stood still. It was like we were all expecting him to come out of it and sort things out himself, and then I snapped out of it and thought we’ve got to do something about this now.
“All his old crew members are pulling in together and calling on friends and colleagues for help.
“We’ve got people donating original canvases and art works, we’ve got a lot of DJs giving up their time.”
He added: “Robbo has a 17-month-old daughter and we’re hoping to raise funds for whatever needs to be done for him and his family, whether that’s long-term care or other specialist equipment. It looks imminent that he’s going to need that.”
The feud began when Banksy painted over a historic Robbo mural which had lain untouched in Camden Town since 1985 – even escaping being whitewashed by waterway clean-up teams.
Speaking to the New Journal in March, just a week before he suffered the head injuries, Robbo said the disagreement dated back to a historic meeting when Banksy slighted his fellow artist.
“The next thing I knew was he had painted over my piece,” Robbo said. “From that, it spread. There are plenty of walls we could
both use. There was no need to do this.”
Robbo’s response provoked a debate over council policy which protects Banksy’s work under perspex – while threatening other artists with arrest.
A Channel 4 documentary, aired recently, followed the Islington-based Robbo as he cruised down the canal in a canoe owned by The Pirate Castle youth club in Oval Road to deface one of Banksy’s work in the dead of night.
The documentary, Graffiti Wars, also revealed the feud had brought Robbo to the attention of the art establishment, allowing him to exhibit his work. Two of his pieces are currently on show in the Pure Evil Gallery in Shoreditch.
P.I.C said: “I don’t know what he would have made of it – he even has a Wikipedia page. King Robbo with a Wikipedia page! He would have laughed at that.
“If you didn’t know him he could come across as a brash cockney yobbo, he did have that sort of aura around him.
“But once you got to know him he was a really nice guy, and that really came across in the documentary.
“The messages of support that have been coming in have been overwhelming.”
The King Robbo Fundraiser and Art Auction will take place on Sunday, September 4, between 1pm and midnight at Cargo in Rivington Street, Shoreditch. The event will include a live graffiti show, art auction, live music and barbecue. Children of all ages welcome until 7pm.