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 lives in Adelaide, Australia, which has been his home since the mid-1990s.
Early life Pearce was born on 27 April 1956 and grew up in Sheerwater, a suburb of Woking in Surrey which he said was a "white, working-class ghetto"; his father worked as a courier for the military and had served in World War II in the Royal Air Force where he was wounded in action. Both of Pearce's parents were English, though his mother claimed Scots-Irish ancestry. Pearce described his family life as a "very unhappy, dysfunctional family".
Pearce developed an interest in music at a young age, according to the 2005 documentary Death in June: Behind the Mask, Pearce grew up listening to music on Six-Five Special, a British television programme. Pearce's 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"; he says that he "had a natural attraction to war". At the age of 18 Pearce left home, went hitchhiking around Europe and "came home a changed man". For a time Pearce worked as a mail carrier in order to fund his music career and photography hobby.
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 saying "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". Pearce stated in a 2000 interview that he was first introduced to reading Aleister Crowley, specifically Crowley's 1904 book The Book of the Law by David Tibet in 1983.
Career
Origins In 1975 partially inspired by existentialism and The 400 Blows, a 1959 French New Wave film, Pearce began to dress in all black, cut his hair short, and began to follow and listen to punk rock including British bands such as Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the Buzzcocks. It was around this time that Pearce was introduced to Tony Wakeford, also from Woking, and began to play opening acts for various pub rock scenes.
Crisis
In 1977 Pearce began his musical career in a British punk band called Crisis. Crisis played its final show on 10 May 1980 in Guildford, following this the band split up. 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 (now a member of the English band Mother Destruction).
Death in June
According to an interview with Compulsion, a music journal, 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 to work under the Death in June moniker.
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 was a guitarist, drummer and occasional vocalist for experimental music group Current 93.
Use of Nazi symbolism
Since a young age Pearce had an affinity for Nazi memorabilia as his father and uncles all fought in World War II. Pearce also has an interest in runes, Norse mythology, medieval symbology, and heraldry. According to PureHoney magazine, this interest in niche symbology has led to multiple venue cancellations, banned albums, and lyric censorship, as was the case with the 1987 album Brown Book, which was banned in Germany due to Germany's bans on Nazi symbols. According to the 2005 documentary Death in June: Behind the Mask, Pearce's first item he ever bought was a Wehrmacht tropical tunic with proceeds from his job as a paperboy. He later purchased and refurbished a German Stahlhelm, much to his family's disapproval.
This interest in German militaria later boiled over into Pearce's musical career, particularly with Death in June, by utilizing Nazi symbolism such as German World War II camouflage patterns, the Black Sun, the Totenkopf, and the Wolfsangel, among others. Although Pearce utilizes this symbology for its shock value, similar to other bands of the 1980s including Joy Division, New Order, Throbbing Gristle, and Ramones, an essay by The Big Takeover magazine clarifies that although closely related to political extremists such as Boyd Rice, Pearce is not a neo-nazi.
Personal life Douglas P. is openly gay, and says that "being gay is fundamental to Death in June"; he expresses discontent with that side of Death in June not being explored in interviews. He said in an interview he admires the work and lives of Yukio Mishima and Jean Genet "not only because their work was brilliant but that they were also gay". According to the 1995 book Death in June: Misery and Purity by Robert Forbes, Pearce stated in several interviews that Funeral Rites by Genet and The Decay of the Angel by Mishima are two of his favorite books.
Religious views Although Pearce does not subscribe to a specific religion, Pearce has stated on several occasions that he believes in the paranormal, deities, the occult, and some aspects of spirituality. In a 1998 interview with the publication Scapegoat, Pearce stated that "I feel it is part of my duty to be part of the process of resurrection for want of a better word [sic] of my indigenous religion. The Christ-time is nearly over and it’s important to awaken the old Gods". In the same interview Pearce states that he was never baptized as a child, "so Jesus Christ has never meant anything to me".
Political views In 2017, Oregon record label Soleilmoon Recordings was listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center's hate group registry for distributing albums by Death in June, and Boyd Rice's project NON. Charles Powne, the label's owner, denied that Soleilmoon was racist, and said that Pearce and Rice are not racist either. The SPLC pointed out a 1996 quote from Pearce where he proudly aligned with Eurocentrism: "I am totally Eurocentric. I'm not overly concerned with the past but I do care about the present and the future. European culture, morals, ethics, whatever are under attack from all sides these days." In a 2000 interview Pearce stated that he and Tony Wakeford were determined to keep Death in June out of politics. While Pearce and Wakeford were both vehemently anti-fascist and worked with the Anti-Nazi League while in Crisis, Pearce stated that "the preoccupations of the masses left a very bad taste in our mouths. Death in June has never done that".
Discography YearTitleFormat, Special NotesArtist1978No Town Hall7"Crisis1979UK 79/White Youth7"Crisis1980Hymns of FaithLPCrisis1981Alienation7"Crisis1981 Heaven Street12"Death in June1982State Laughter/Holy Water7"Death in June1983The Guilty Have No PrideLPDeath in June1984BurialLPDeath in June1984She Said Destroy12"/7"Death in June1985Nada!LPDeath in June1985Born Again12"Death in June1985Come Before Christ And Murder Love12"/7"Death in June1986The World That Summer2xLPDeath in June1986Lesson 1: MisanthropyLPDeath in June1987To Drown A Rose10"Death in June1987Brown BookLPDeath in June1987Oh How We LaughedLive LP/CD, semi-official.Death in June1987Happy Birthday12"Current 931987DawnLPCurrent 931988The Red Face of God 12"Current 931988Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in SorrowLPCurrent 931988Earth Covers EarthLPCurrent 931988Swastikas For NoddyLPCurrent 93198993 Dead SunwheelsEP/CDDeath in June1989The Corn YearsCDDeath in June1989She Is Dead and All Fall Down7"Current 931989Swastikas For NoddyLPCurrent 931989Crooked Crosses for the Nodding GodLPCurrent 931989Music, Martinis, & MisanthropyLPBoyd Rice and Friends1990The Wall of SacrificeLP/CDDeath in June19901888EPDeath in June1990Looney RunesLPCurrent 931991The Cathedral of TearsCDDeath in June1992Ostenbraun2x cassette/CDDeath in June & Les Joyaux De La Princesse1992But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter?LP/CDDeath in June1992Paradise Rising12"/CDSDeath in June1992In the Shadow of the Sword (live)LPNON1992Death in June/Current 93/Sol InvictusCD, previously a bootleg before official release.Death in June1992Gilded by the SunCDFire + Ice1992GesturesCDSomewhere in Europe1992Thunder Perfect MindCD/LPCurrent 931993Cathedral of Tears12"/CDSDeath in June1993Something Is Coming2xLP/2xCDDeath in June1993Hitler as Kalki (live)LPCurrent 931994Sun Dogs7"/CDSDeath in June1994Beauty Reaps The Blood of SolitudeCDNature & Organisation1994Dark Rose7"Strength Through Joy1995Rose Clouds of HolocaustLP/CDDeath in June1995Black Whole of LoveCDS 7", 10", 12" box setDeath in June1995Death in June Presents: Occidental MartyrCD/10"Occidental Martyr1995The Force of Truth And LiesCDStrength Through Joy1996Death in June Presents: KAPO!LP/CDDeath in June1996Heaven SentLPScorpion Wind1996Salute To Light2CDStrength Through Joy1997Die Schuldigen und der Nebel2xCD box set, previously a bootleg before official release.Death in June1997DISCriminate ('81-'97)2xCD, "a compilation of personal choice," previously released material.Death in June1997God and BeastLPNON1997Sulphur – Low Seed ReplicationCDSplinter Test1997Despiritualisation of NatureCDTehom1998Take Care & ControlLP/CDDeath in June1998KameradschaftCDSDeath in June1998Passion! Power!! Purge!!!CDSDeath in June1999Der Tod Im JuniCDDeath in June1999Heilige!CDDeath in June2000Operation HummingbirdLP/CDDeath in June2000We Said Destroy7"Death in June & Fire + Ice2000BirdkingCDFire + Ice2000The Way I FeelCDBoyd Rice2000Theriomorphic SpiritCDTehom2001All Pigs Must DieLP/CDDeath in June2001Wolf PactLPBoyd Rice and Fiends (sic)2003WindzeitCDForseti2004Alarm AgentsLP/Coloured Vinyl/CDDeath in June & Boyd Rice2004Live in OsakaCDNON2004Trephanus UhrCDLuftwaffe2004Blacksun RisingCDProjekt Thule2005Abandon Tracks2xLP/CD. Rare and previously unreleased material.Death in June2005The Doctor2xLP/CD. Contains spoken material by Pearce.Thomas Nola et son Orchestre2008Agony & IronyCD. Contains spoken material by Pearce on song I Found AwayAlkaline Trio2008The Rule of Thirds2x10"/CDDeath in June2010Peaceful Snow2x10"/CDDeath in June2013The Snow Bunker TapesLP/CDDeath in June2018Essence!LP/CDDeath in June2022Nada-Ized!LP/CDDeath in June
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