Duke Special
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| Duke Special | ||
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| Background information | ||
| Origin | Belfast, Northern Ireland | |
| Genre(s) | Alternative, Folk, Soul | |
| Years active | 2002 – present | |
| Label(s) | Medieval Haircut Records Hag Records Izumi Records V2 |
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| Website | Official site | |
Duke Special (real name Peter Wilson) is an alternative rock musician based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Wilson, a vocalist and pianist, variously plays unaccompanied, accompanied by percussionist Chip Bailey (also known as Temperance Society), or backed by a full band, and his act often incorporates 78s played on an old-fashioned gramophone, or sound effects from a transistor radio. He sings in a distinct Belfast accent. He is married to an artist and has three sons.
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[edit] Background
Peter Wilson was born in Lisburn and grew up in Belfast with his mother, father and three sisters. His family was prodigiously musical with the exception of his tone-deaf father. His entire family played piano and Wilson received piano lessons in his grandmother's home from an early age. As Wilson once put it "It wasn't an optional activity." When they were young, the Duke and his sisters would sing traditional Irish songs in churches and community centres. Wilson was never the most disciplined of students and had briefly considered becoming a community worker before he commited to his music.
[edit] Career
Having played in various bands, including 65dBA, dBA, Booley House, Booley and Benzine Headset, Wilson went solo in 2002 under the name Duke Special. Wearing long dreadlocks, eyeliner and his self-proclaimed "hobo chic" outfits he soon gained a reputation for his vaudeville-style gigs. Percussionist Chip Bailey attracted attention by playing cheese graters and whisks, a Stumpf fiddle and Shirdi drone box, as well as the more typical drums and cymbals. From time to time Duke is joined by various other musicians, including Réa Curran on trumpet, backing vocals and accordion, Ben Hales on bass guitar, "Professor" Ger Eaton on keyboards and gramophone and Serge Archibald III on saxophone, ethereal background sounds and vibes.
He has supported artists like Van Morrison and Snow Patrol, and in 2006 toured Ireland with the Beautiful South and Europe with the Divine Comedy. In December 2006 he supported Snow Patrol at the Odyssey Arena, playing to 10,000 people. He has recently embarked on a UK-wide tour including his first sell-out gig in the Ulster Hall, in a triumphant Belfast homecoming.
He was nominated for three 2007 Meteor Music Awards, for best Irish male, best newcomer, and best album for Songs from the Deep Forest but lost out in all three categories. The album was also nominated for the 2007 Choice Music Prize , but despite being the bookmakers' favourite lost out to The Divine Comedy's Victory for the Comic Muse. (Adventures in Gramophone was nominated the previous year, losing out to 13 Songs by Julie Feeney).
[edit] Discography
[edit] Singles
- "Freewheel" Hag / Izumi Records 2005
- "Portrait" V2 2006
- "Last Night I Nearly Died (But I Woke Up Just in Time)" V2 2006
- "Wake Up Scarlett" V2 2006 (iTunes download only)
- "Freewheel" V2 2007
[edit] EPs
- Lucky Me EP Medieval Haircut Records 2002
- My Villain Heart EP Medieval Haircut Records 2004
- Your Vandal EP Hag Records 2005
[edit] Albums
- Adventures in Gramophone Hag 2005 (collects the EPs Lucky Me and My Villain Heart)
- Songs from the Deep Forest V2 / Izumi 2006
Songs from the Deep Forest has been available on vinyl on Izumi Records since May 2006 and was released on CD by V2 in October 2006.
