Charlie Harper | |
|---|---|
 Harper at Hellfest 2017 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | David Charles Perez |
| Born | 25 May 1944 Hackney Central, London, England |
| Genres | Punk rock, Street punk, R&B, garage rock, rock and roll |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1964–present |
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.
Charlie Harper was born in London 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 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 shortened to the 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]
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