Shock Headed Peters

Shock Headed Peters were a British post-punk band, formed in 1982. The band took their name from the 19th-century German's children book Der Struwwelpeter ("Shockheaded Peter") by Heinrich Hoffmann. In 1982 Karl Blake formed Shock Headed Peters with Ashley Wales, eventually adding Dave Knight, then Mark Rowlatt and Clive Glover. From 1984–86, the band often toured with The Dave Howard Singers. Shock Headed Peters disbanded in October 1987 before reforming in 1990, again with founder-members Blake and Knight. Drummer/percussionist Dave Smith of Guapo occasionally played with the second incarnation of Shock Headed Peters. The band collaborated with Danielle Dax on "Hate On Sight", a track included on Dax's 1995 album Comatose Non-Reaction: The Thwarted Pop Career of Danielle Dax. In 1996, the group split up again.

Links to Peel
In 1984, stories in the music press claimed that Peel banned the group's I, Bloodbrother Be (£4,000 Love Letter) single on his show, due to homosexual pedophilia lyrics. Peel explained on his 12 November 1984 show, that the idea of a ban was ludicrous and didn't play the record because he thought it wasn't very good. He mentioned that the record company chose instead, to put it about that he had banned it:

"'It's one of these things where I suppose, it's good publicity to do this but it's certainly not the case at all. I just didn't think it was a good enough record to play. I don't play Des O'Connor records but you don't see Des O'Connor being interviewed in the papers and saying John Peel's a bastard and he's banned my records.'"

Despite not playing the single, Peel, did play other materials from the band, including their Scorch track on his 19 March 1986 show.

Shows Played

 * 1986
 * 19 March 1986: Scorch (12" - Life Extinguisher) Beach Culture