Charlie Harper (singer) explained

Charlie Harper
Birth Name:David Charles Perez
Birth Date:25 May 1944
Birth Place:Gawber, Barnsley, England
Genre:Punk rock, Street punk, R&B, garage rock, rock and roll
Occupation:Singer, songwriter
Years Active:1964–present
Associated Acts:The Marauders, U.K. Subs, The Urban Dogs, Charlie's Harbour Rats

Charlie Harper (born David Charles Perez, 25 May 1944) is a British singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the punk band UK Subs.

Biography

Charlie Harper was born in Barnsley but moved to the Sussex countryside when he was eight years old. Harper is reportedly a nephew of actor Cesar Romero.[1] Harper attended a "radical secondary school" where he was the Chairman of the Young Farmer's Club. He left school at the age of 15 to start a job at Dodworth Colliery then went on to commence a hairdressing apprenticeship. Following the apprenticeship, Harper began busking, playing the guitar and harmonica. In 1970, Harper got married and began working as a hairdresser at his sister-in-law's shop.[2]

A former hairdresser,[3] [4] he was already a veteran of the London R&B scene at the time of the UK Subs being formed in 1976. His first band in 1964 was named Charlie Harper Free Press Band.[5] [6] Prior to performing as the UK Subs, he was the frontman and founder of The Marauders, who were a pub rock band. After seeing a couple of punk rock shows at The Roxy, the band changed their name to the Subversives and started playing punk rock. The name was eventually modified to U.K. Subs.[2]

In 1980 his solo single release "Barmy London Army" spent one week at #68 in the UK Singles Chart.[7] He has also recorded with his side project The Urban Dogs and released a solo album entitled Stolen Property and a second solo single "Freaked". As well as singing he also plays the harmonica and bass, he played rhythm guitar on the UK Subs album Diminished Responsibility. He still typically performs between 150 and 200 gigs per year with the UK Subs.[8]

Discography

Solo

Albums

Singles

with UK Subs

see U.K. Subs discography

with The Urban Dogs

Albums

Singles

with Charlie's Harbour Rats

with Captain Sensible

Compilations

Recorded tributes

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UK SUBS - Inland Empire Weekly. Ieweekly.com. 11 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180711230102/http://ieweekly.com/2007/11//pick-of-the-week-events/uk-subs. 11 July 2018. dead.
  2. Web site: Fortnam . Ian . U.K. Subs frontman Charlie Harper looks back on four decades at punk's frontline . Louder . 5 August 2016 . 18 March 2021.
  3. http://www.music.us/biography/artist/23884/charlie_harper.html Charlie Harper - Music Artist Band Bio
  4. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2002-09-12/music/grandpa-punk/ Miami New Times
  5. https://www.nme.com/artists/charlie-harper#biography Biography
  6. http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/music/artist/bio/0,,504132,00.html Biography
  7. Book: Roberts , David . 2006. British Hit Singles & Albums. 19th. Guinness World Records Limited . London. 1-904994-10-5. 244.
  8. https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/feb/17/cult-heroes-charlie-harper-uk-subs-punk Cult heroes: UK Subs' Charlie Harper is less a punk than a heroic old soldier
  9. Lazell, Barry (1997) Indie Hits 1980–1989, Cherry Red Books,, pp. 109, 243

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