Filthy Pedro
Encyclopedia
Filthy Pedro is an antifolk musician based in London. Born Simon Parry in Anglesey, Wales, he moved to London in the late 90s. Parry had grown interested in antifolk after hearing Beck
's 'Stereopathic Soulmanure' album (1994). However, it was only after a trip to New York's Sidewalk Cafe (where Beck
had first come to prominence) in 2001 that he thought a similar movement should be created in London.
Similar to Lach
, the New York based musician/promoter who first started booking 'antifolk' shows at various venues in New York City after finding himself unwelcome at more traditional venues, Parry founded a similar movement in London in 2002, taking the stagename Filthy Pedro. He created the antifolk.co.uk website and soon after started a seasonal gig in London -- 'The Antifolk UK Fest' -- where unusual and like-minded songwriters could perform outside of the generic indie/rock scene. The 'antifolk movement' and its unorthodox practices (often booking people on its shows with a low-level of musical competence), started to attract some press attention in 2006, with Filthy Pedro a key interviewee.
The movement has been championed by Nude Magazine, Time Out London and Everett True
of Plan B
Magazine and The Village Voice
. Filthy Pedro has appeared on Channel 4's Transmission
programme (which borrowed the idea from his song 'Rock N Roll Points' as an interview technique), was recommended by Lauren Laverne
in the NME
and in 2007 performed live on Marc Riley
's BBC6 radio show following the launch of his first single.
Filthy Pedro often performs with a band, 'The Carthaginians', which is composed of Thee Intolerable Kidd (who played most of the instruments on the album, and drew the artwork) Claudius T. Skull (Tim Tomlinson), Cigarface (Jack Medley), Penny O, Krakatoa Kate (Parry's partner), and Disco Stu (Stuart Saunderson of David Cronenberg's Wife
). Many songs humorously combine themes of (usually ancient) history with more modern examples of heavy drinking, drugs and sex: 'Man, I'm Old', 'History Lover' and 'Talking About Caesar'.
'Gilgamesh' (Blang Records, 2010)
'Get Your Beak On' (Blang Records, 2010)
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
's 'Stereopathic Soulmanure' album (1994). However, it was only after a trip to New York's Sidewalk Cafe (where Beck
Beck
Beck Hansen is an American musician, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known by the stage name Beck...
had first come to prominence) in 2001 that he thought a similar movement should be created in London.
Similar to Lach
Lach
Lach is a musician associated with the anti-folk movement. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he was trained as a classical pianist from an early age only to abandon it once he heard The Sex Pistols, The Jam and The Clash for the first time. Realizing he was a songwriter, Lach backtracked and explored...
, the New York based musician/promoter who first started booking 'antifolk' shows at various venues in New York City after finding himself unwelcome at more traditional venues, Parry founded a similar movement in London in 2002, taking the stagename Filthy Pedro. He created the antifolk.co.uk website and soon after started a seasonal gig in London -- 'The Antifolk UK Fest' -- where unusual and like-minded songwriters could perform outside of the generic indie/rock scene. The 'antifolk movement' and its unorthodox practices (often booking people on its shows with a low-level of musical competence), started to attract some press attention in 2006, with Filthy Pedro a key interviewee.
The movement has been championed by Nude Magazine, Time Out London and Everett True
Everett True
For the cartoon character, see The Outbursts of Everett True.Everett True is a British music journalist, who grew up in Chelmsford, Essex...
of Plan B
Plan B (magazine)
Plan B was a monthly music magazine based in London, England. It catered mainly towards independent music but did not discriminate between the relative popularity of the bands it features. Plan B also documented alternative culture such as film, comics, video games, visual art and books. The...
Magazine and The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
. Filthy Pedro has appeared on Channel 4's Transmission
Transmission (TV series)
Transmission is a British television programme broadcast on Channel 4, offering live performances and interviews of famous music artists that ran for three series between 2006 and 2007...
programme (which borrowed the idea from his song 'Rock N Roll Points' as an interview technique), was recommended by Lauren Laverne
Lauren Laverne
Lauren Cecilia Fisher , known professionally as Lauren Laverne, is an English radio DJ, television presenter, author and singer...
in the NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
and in 2007 performed live on Marc Riley
Marc Riley
Marc Riley is a British musician, alternative rock critic and radio DJ on BBC 6 Music. Formerly a member of The Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger...
's BBC6 radio show following the launch of his first single.
Filthy Pedro often performs with a band, 'The Carthaginians', which is composed of Thee Intolerable Kidd (who played most of the instruments on the album, and drew the artwork) Claudius T. Skull (Tim Tomlinson), Cigarface (Jack Medley), Penny O, Krakatoa Kate (Parry's partner), and Disco Stu (Stuart Saunderson of David Cronenberg's Wife
David Cronenberg's Wife
David Cronenberg's Wife is a London-based band.Described as "where genius meets idiocy" by BBC Radio 2's Mark Lamarr, the band's lyrics combine dark subject matter with an off-kilter humour. They released their first single "I Couldn't Get Off" in 2007, followed up by two singles and their first...
). Many songs humorously combine themes of (usually ancient) history with more modern examples of heavy drinking, drugs and sex: 'Man, I'm Old', 'History Lover' and 'Talking About Caesar'.
Singles
'Rock N Roll Points' (Blang Records, 2007)'Gilgamesh' (Blang Records, 2010)
'Get Your Beak On' (Blang Records, 2010)