Brendan Perry - Early Life

Early Life

Perry was born in Whitechapel, London, England, UK, in 1959 to Anglo-Irish parents and subsequently raised and schooled in the East End of London, until his family emigrated to Auckland, New Zealand. Having received no formal musical education, Perry began to play the guitar at the Catholic school he attended in Ponsonby. After failing to become a primary school teacher and to join the civil service, Perry worked at a series of jobs until joining the Scavengers in 1977. At first Perry played bass guitar, later taking on the duties of lead vocalist when the original singer left the band. Apart from a handful of original songs, the band covered music from the Stooges, New York Dolls, and late-'60s Psychedelia. After two years, having failed to secure a recording deal or live dates, the band moved to Melbourne, Australia, in 1979 and changed its name to the Marching Girls. In 1980, Perry left the Marching Girls to pursue a solo career, experimenting with tape loops, synthesis, and alternative forms of rhythm. In 1981, Perry formed Dead Can Dance with Simon Monroe and Paul Erikson (both of whom were to leave soon after they had relocated to London), and Lisa Gerrard.