Filthy Pedro is an
antifolk musician based in London. Born Simon Parry in Anglesey, Wales, he moved to London in the late 1990s. Parry had grown interested in antifolk after hearing
Beck's ''
Stereopathetic 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
Everett True (born Jeremy Andrew Thackray on 21 April 1961) is an English music journalist and musician. He became interested in rock music after hearing The Residents, and formed a band with school friends. He has written and recorded as The ...
of
''Plan B'' Magazine and ''
The Village Voice
''The Village Voice'' is an American news and culture paper, known for being the country's first alternative newspaper, alternative newsweekly. Founded in 1955 by Dan Wolf (publisher), Dan Wolf, Ed Fancher, John Wilcock, and Norman Mailer, th ...
''. 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
Lauren Cecilia Fisher (née Gofton; born 28 April 1978), known professionally as Lauren Laverne, is an English radio DJ, model, television presenter, author and singer. She was the lead singer and additional guitarist in the alternative rock ba ...
in the
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
and in 2007 performed live on
Marc Riley
Marc Riley (born 10 July 1961 in Manchester) is an English radio DJ, alternative rock critic, musician, and former music businessman. He currently presents on BBC Radio 6 Music.
Formerly a member of the Fall, he co-owned a record label, In-Ta ...
'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 (Nathaniel Kidd), Claudius T. Skull (Tim Tomlinson), Cigarface (Jack Medley), Penny O, Krakatoa Kate, 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".
Singles
* "Rock N Roll Points" (Blang Records, 2007)
* "Gilgamesh" (Blang Records, 2010)
* "Get Your Beak On" (Blang Records, 2010)
Albums
* ''Filthy Pedro and the Carthaginians'' (Blang Records, 2010)
External links
Official websiteAntiFolk UK - The Homepage of the British Antifolk movementMorning Star article on AntiFolk & Filthy Pedro
Everett True on Antifolk / Image of Filthy Pedro
{{DEFAULTSORT:Filthy Pedro
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)