Peter Perrett

Peter Perrett (born Peter Albert Neil Perrett on 8 April 1952 in King's College Hospital, Camberwell, London) is an English singer-songwriter. He fronts the recently re-formed 1970s band, The Only Ones. Perrett lives in Forest Hill, South East London. The Only Ones, often described as New Wave, were noted for their musicianship during the Punk period, and their roots go back to the late sixties. Perrett is influenced by Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd and his eyeliner-look and tendency to disappear share similarities with the reclusive Barrett.

Perrett re-emerged briefly between 1994 and 1996 fronting a new band called The One which released an EP called Cultured Palate and a full length album Woke up Sticky. Similar themes of vampirism, addiction and saturation which influenced his songwriting with The Only Ones appear on these records. Songs like "Twilight World" and "Law of The Jungle" reveal Perrett's abiding fixation with social relations breaking down into disease and parasitism. Perrett's Gothic vision is concerned with the abuses of power. It is partly informed by his interest in The Great Beast, Aleister Crowley which is celebrated in the classic Only Ones song "The Whole of The Law".

Hardly anything was heard of Perrett until he appeared on stage with The Libertines in April 2004. Peter also appeared in concert with his sons Jamie and Peter, Jr. and their band Love Minus Zero. Long hiatuses in his music career have been ascribed to his enduring struggles with heroin and crack cocaine addiction.

The Only Ones reformed for a series of UK gigs in April and June 2007. They played the Connect Festival and All Tomorrow's Parties in Minehead as well as travelling to Japan for a couple of concerts.

In 2009 they embarked on a mini European tour. They played in Bilbao and Madrid and recorded a live appearance for French television. Perrett looked healthier at recent gigs in Manchester, Southampton and Shepherds Bush. They showcased some new material: Magic Tablet and a reworking of an old Perrett composition You Gave Birth.

More details on John Perry MySpace. View the Manchester Academy setlist on Maudlin Rich Live Journal.

Perrett is married to Zena and has two sons, Peter Jr. and Jamie. His two sons are musicians also musicians, and both were in the original line-up of Babyshambles.