Peter Perrett | ||
| Allmusic Biography : As leader of the Only Ones in the late 70s, Peter Perrett was one of the new waves most enigmatic cult figures. His mix of then-current punk/new wave sounds with traces of glam and flighty whimsy helped pave the way for the more flexible alternative rock sounds of the 80s and 90s. Perrett began his musical career in the group Englands Glory in the early 70s, then formed the Only Ones in 1976 with guitarist John Perry, bassist Alan Mair, and ex-Spooky Tooth drummer Mike Kellie. After a promising independent single, "Lovers of Today," the band was signed by CBS Records and made their debut with "Another Girl, Another Planet" -- one of the U.K. new wave’s most enduring songs. Perrett, with his leopard-skin jacket and Lou Reed drawl, won considerable music press attention and the band’s self-titled debut album was very well received. A second self-produced collection, Even Serpents Shine, was also distinctive, but internal group friction and disagreements with their record company hampered the bands progress. Producer Colin Thurston took control of 1980’s Baby’s Got a Gun, which included a guest appearance by Pauline Murray. With sales dwindling, CBS dropped the band from their roster and the Only Ones finally broke up in 1981. Serious drug problems knocked Perrett out of commission for most of the 80s, and indeed, he kept such a low profile that a Syd Barrett-like mystique began to arise around him. Defeating his addictions in the late 80s, he began to ease back into music, forming a new band, the One, with guitarist Jay Price, keyboard player Miyuki Katsuno, bassist Richard Vernon, and drummer Steve Hands. They released an EP of new material in 1994, and then a full-length album, Woke Up Sticky, the following year. Issued in Britain in 1996, it found Perretts odd songwriting muse largely unchanged since the Only Ones days. The band broke up the same year, however, and Perrett drifted back out of view. He resurfaced briefly in the mid-2000s, playing on-stage with the Libertines and his sons Peter, Jr. and Jamies band Love Minus Zero, before re-forming a version of the Only Ones in 2007. They played shows in the U.K., worked on new songs, and appeared at the ATP Festival in Minehead, then Perrett ghosted again for a few years. A couple Only Ones shows in 2014 and a rare solo set (with his sons in the backing band) the next year seemed like the usual brief Perrett sightings, but this time he was back for a more substantial visit. Free from drug addiction for the first time in decades, Perrett signed a deal with Domino Records and readied his first solo album. Working with his sons again and producer Chris Kimsey, How the West Was Won shows Perrett has lost none of his songwriting skills or vocal ability. The set of witty and wise rock & roll ballads was released in June of 2017. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 4 Title: Woke Up Sticky Released: 1996 Tracks: 11 Duration: 44:14 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Deep Freeze (03:44) 2 Woke Up Sticky (04:16) 3 Nothing Worth Doing (03:14) 4 Falling (02:44) 5 The Shame of Being You (03:53) 6 Im Not Like Everybody Else (03:18) 7 Sirens (05:06) 8 Law of the Jungle (04:41) 9 Land of the Free (04:27) 10 Shivers (05:09) 11 My Sweet Angel (03:38) |
 | Album: 2 of 4 Title: Hearts on Fire Released: 2000 Tracks: 17 Duration: 1:11:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% AlbumCover | 1 Lovers of Today (03:30) 2 The Shame of Being You (04:22) 3 Hearts on Fire (03:59) 4 The Big Sleep (04:53) 5 Shivers (03:39) 6 Falling (03:12) 7 You Gave Birth (05:13) 8 Skin Like Armour (03:55) 9 The Company of Strangers (04:04) 10 Another Girl Another Planet (03:19) 11 Baby Dont Talk (04:06) 12 Daughter (04:30) 13 The Beast (06:04) 14 Made to Fall Apart (03:07) 15 Flaming Torch (02:09) 16 Land of the Free (06:06) 17 Law of the Jungle (04:55) |
 | Album: 3 of 4 Title: How the West Was Won Released: 2017-06-30 Tracks: 10 Duration: 42:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 How the West Was Won (04:33) 2 An Epic Story (03:20) 3 Hard to Say No (03:28) 4 Troika (03:44) 5 Living in My Head (06:31) 6 Man of Extremes (02:42) 7 Sweet Endeavour (03:25) 8 C Voyeurger (05:47) 9 Something in My Brain (04:53) 10 Take Me Home (04:21) |
| How the West Was Won : Allmusic album Review : The tale of Peter Perrett seemed destined for tragedy. After the glory of the Only Ones, the singer descended into a years-long battle with drug addiction that saw him surfacing for air regularly -- even releasing a very good album with his band the One in 2005 -- but then going back under, leaving fans to assume that they next time they heard his name, it would be in an obit. Luckily for all involved, Perrett cleaned up in the mid-2010s and got it together enough to record and release his first solo album. Working with his sons (guitarist Jamie and bassist Peter, Jr.) and producer Chris Kimsey, hes made an album thats not only a welcome return from a prodigal son, but also one that compares very favorably with those made during his time with the Only Ones. How the West Was Won is a witty, gutsy album built out of classic guitar rock bones and shot through with Perretts hard-won wisdom and his offhanded, almost blasé, vocals, which sound almost exactly as they did in 1976, which is something of an achievement considering his hard living over the years. He snake-charms his way through melodies, tossing off casual asides and wringing emotion out of a simple twist of phrase or chilling reminiscence. The songs that hit hardest tell of years lost to drugs and the enduring love he feels for his wife of many years, Zena, who stuck by him through thin and thinner. His sons stuck by him, too, and Jamie proves to be the albums backbone as his guitar twangs, slashes, and burns through solos and riffs, providing all sorts of support for his old man. There are moments where its easy to forgot that its not an Only Ones album spinning, especially when they bust into a thrilling chorus like on "An Epic Story," lock into a low-key swagger ("Man of Extremes"), or melt hearts with mascara-dripping ballads ("C Voyeurger"). Its a thrilling match of classic punk ballad style, brilliant singing, and evocative songwriting that proves Perrett is really back this time, fully invested and in total charge of his life and music for the first time in years. How the West Was Won is not only a great album, its also the inspiring, and inspired, story of how Perrett won his own life back. | ||
 | Album: 4 of 4 Title: Humanworld Released: 2019-06-07 Tracks: 12 Duration: 35:34 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 I Want Your Dreams (02:37) 2 Once Is Enough (02:35) 3 Heavenly Day (03:14) 4 Love Comes on Silent Feet (02:22) 5 The Power Is in You (02:58) 6 Believe in Nothing (03:22) 7 War Plan Red (03:56) 8 48 Crash (02:12) 9 Walking in Berlin (02:49) 10 Love’s Inferno (03:07) 11 Master of Destruction (03:18) 12 Carousel (02:58) |