Douglas P. Explained

Douglas P.
Birth Name:Douglas Pearce
Birth Date:27 April 1956
Genre:Post-punk, neofolk, experimental, dark ambient, martial industrial, punk rock
Associated Acts:Crisis
Death in June

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.

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".

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”.[1] For a while, Pearce was involved with the International Marxist Group.[2]

Career

Crisis

See main article: Crisis (British band). Pearce began his musical career in a British punk band called Crisis in 1977.[3] 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

See main article: 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

See main article: 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.[4]

Personal life

Douglas P. is openly gay,[5] 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.'[6]

Discography

YearTitleFormat, Special NotesArtist
1978No Town Hall7"Crisis
1979UK 79/White Youth7"Crisis
1980Hymns of FaithLPCrisis
1981Alienation7"Crisis
1981Heaven Street12"Death in June
1982State Laughter/Holy Water7"Death in June
1983The Guilty Have No PrideLPDeath in June
1984BurialLPDeath in June
1984She Said Destroy12"/7"Death in June
1985Nada!LPDeath in June
1985Born Again12"Death in June
1985Come Before Christ And Murder Love12"/7"Death in June
1986The World That Summer2xLPDeath in June
1986LPDeath in June
1987To Drown A Rose10"Death in June
1987Brown BookLPDeath in June
1987Oh How We LaughedLive LP/CD, semi-official.Death in June
1987Happy Birthday12"Current 93
1987DawnLPCurrent 93
1988The Red Face of God 12"Current 93
1988Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in SorrowLPCurrent 93
1988Earth Covers EarthLPCurrent 93
1988Swastikas For NoddyLPCurrent 93
198993 Dead SunwheelsEP/CDDeath in June
1989The Corn YearsCDDeath in June
1989She Is Dead and All Fall Down7"Current 93
1989Swastikas For NoddyLPCurrent 93
1989Crooked Crosses for the Nodding GodLPCurrent 93
1989Music, Martinis, & MisanthropyLPBoyd Rice and Friends
1990The Wall of SacrificeLP/CDDeath in June
19901888EPDeath in June
1990Looney RunesLPCurrent 93
1991The Cathedral of TearsCDDeath in June
1992Ostenbraun2x cassette/CDDeath in June & Les Joyaux De La Princesse
1992But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter?LP/CDDeath in June
1992Paradise Rising12"/CDSDeath in June
1992In the Shadow of the Sword (live)LPNON
1992Death in June/Current 93/Sol InvictusCD, previously a bootleg before official release.Death in June
1992Gilded by the SunCDFire + Ice
1992GesturesCDSomewhere in Europe
1992Thunder Perfect MindCD/LPCurrent 93
1993Cathedral of Tears12"/CDSDeath in June
1993Something Is Coming2xLP/2xCDDeath in June
1993Hitler as Kalki (live)LPCurrent 93
1994Sun Dogs7"/CDSDeath in June
1994Beauty Reaps The Blood of SolitudeCDNature & Organisation
1994Dark Rose7"Strength Through Joy
1995Rose Clouds of HolocaustLP/CDDeath in June
1995Black Whole of LoveCDS 7", 10", 12" box setDeath in June
1995CD/10"Occidental Martyr
1995The Force of Truth And LiesCDStrength Through Joy
1996LP/CDDeath In June
1996Heaven SentLPScorpion Wind
1996Salute To Light2CDStrength Through Joy
1997Die Schuldigen und der Nebel2xCD box set, previously a bootleg before official release.Death in June
1997DISCriminate ('81-'97)2xCD, "a compilation of personal choice," previously released material.Death in June
1997God and BeastLPNON
1997Sulphur – Low Seed ReplicationCDSplinter Test
1997Despiritualisation of NatureCDTehom
1998Take Care & ControlLP/CDDeath in June
1998KameradschaftCDSDeath in June
1998Passion! PowerPurge!CDSDeath in June
1999Der Tod Im JuniCDDeath in June
1999Heilige!CDDeath in June
2000Operation HummingbirdLP/CDDeath in June
2000We Said Destroy7"Death in June & Fire + Ice
2000BirdkingCDFire + Ice
2000The Way I FeelCDBoyd Rice
2000Theriomorphic SpiritCDTehom
2001All Pigs Must DieLP/CDDeath in June
2001Wolf PactLPBoyd Rice and Fiends (sic)
2003WindzeitCDForseti
2004Alarm AgentsLP/Coloured Vinyl/CDDeath in June & Boyd Rice
2004Live in OsakaCDNON
2004Trephanus UhrCDLuftwaffe
2004Blacksun RisingCDProjekt Thule
2005Abandon Tracks2xLP/CD. Rare and previously unreleased material.Death in June
2005The Doctor2xLP/CD. Contains spoken material by Pearce.Thomas Nola et son Orchestre
2008Agony & IronyCD. Contains spoken material by Pearce on song I Found AwayAlkaline Trio
2008The Rule of Thirds2x10"/CDDeath in June
2010Peaceful Snow2x10"/CDDeath in June
2013The Snow Bunker TapesLP/CDDeath In June
2018Essence!LP/CDDeath in June

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Death in June.Org – MediaWiki – Interview:2000-Dagoberts Revenge . 7 February 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111011135916/http://www.deathinjune.org/modules/mediawiki/index.php?title=Interview:2000-Dagoberts_Revenge&style=m . 11 October 2011 .
  2. Web site: A History of Anti-Fascist Punk Around the World in 9 Songs . 6 March 2017 . Pitchfork.
  3. Web site: Nazis or not? Censorship keeps fans from deciding . DeRogatis. Jim. 17 December 2003. 13 February 2010.
  4. Web site: DEATH IN JUNE – Interview with Douglas P. And Miro Snejdr | THE END OF BEING . 3 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170708170703/http://theendofbeing.com/2010/11/23/death-in-june-interview-with-douglas-p-and-miro-snejdr/ . 8 July 2017 . dead .
  5. News: Balladeer of Doom – An interview with Douglas P., Part 2 . Helene . Burkholder . 14 October 2008 . 17 April 2008 . Judas Kiss . https://web.archive.org/web/20110720080600/http://monkeyhouse-recordings.co.uk/JK2CMS/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1150&Itemid=38 . 20 July 2011 . dead .
  6. Web site: OCCIDENTAL CONGRESS :: An interview with Douglas Pearce. Occidentalcongress.com. 17 July 2020.