Douglas_Pearce

Douglas P.

Douglas P.

British musician


Douglas Pearce (born 27 April 1956), known professionally as Douglas P, is a British musician, best known for his neofolk project Death in June. He was born in Sheerwater in Woking, Surrey, and currently resides in Australia, where he has lived since the mid-1990s.

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Early life

Pearce was born on 27 April 1956 and grew up in Sheerwater, suburb of Woking in Surrey which he described as a "white, working-class ghetto", to a father who worked as a courier for the military, and had served in World War II. Both of his parents were English, though his mother claimed Scots-Irish ancestry. His father died of a heart attack at age 56, when Pearce was 14. Pearce grew up in what he describes as "a very militaristic environment, surrounded by war", and says that he "had a natural attraction to war". At the age of 18 Pearce left home and hitchhiked around Europe and "came home a changed man".[1]

As a child, Pearce was exorcised by his parents for alleged demonic possession, and after his father died, his mother and he would "muck around with a Ouija board". Pearce believes in the paranormal and occult, and claims to have had contact with various entities, stating “I believe in gods, demons, angels whether they’re from the inner psyche, another dimension or whatever. I’ve heard them and I’ve seen them. I’ve even felt them touch me”.[2] For a while, Pearce was involved with the International Marxist Group.[3]

Career

Crisis

Pearce began his musical career in a British punk band called Crisis in 1977.[4] After Crisis disbanded in 1980, Pearce formed Death in June with Crisis bandmate Tony Wakeford (currently of the English folk noir band, Sol Invictus) and Patrick O'Kill né Leagas (currently a member of the English band Mother Destruction).

Death in June

In 1985 Douglas P. became the sole constant member of Death in June, with rotating guest musicians serving as collaborators and live band members. Pearce continues working under the Death in June moniker to this day.

New European Recordings

Pearce has released numerous recordings of musical work of his own and others under his New European Recordings label since 1981.

Neofolk

Pearce was highly influential in the creation of a musical movement often referred to as neofolk, often collaborating and playing live with various artists within the genre. He served as a guitarist, drummer and occasional vocalist for experimental music group Current 93.[5]

Personal life

Douglas P. is openly gay,[6] and says that 'being gay is fundamental to Death in June', and expresses discontent with this side of Death in June not being explored in interviews. He describes the lack of coverage of this as 'incredulous'. His literary influences include Yukio Mishima and Jean Genet, whom he admires 'not only because their work was brilliant but that they were also gay. It adds so much.'[7]

Discography

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References

  1. "Death in June.Org – MediaWiki – Interview:2000-Dagoberts Revenge". Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  2. DeRogatis, Jim (17 December 2003). "Nazis or not? Censorship keeps fans from deciding". Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  3. Burkholder, Helene (17 April 2008). "Balladeer of Doom – An interview with Douglas P., Part 2". Judas Kiss. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  4. "OCCIDENTAL CONGRESS :: An interview with Douglas Pearce". Occidentalcongress.com. Retrieved 17 July 2020.

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