The Only Ones

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The Only Ones
The Only Ones, left to right, Alan Mair, John Perry, Mike Kellie and Peter Perrett
The Only Ones, left to right, Alan Mair, John Perry, Mike Kellie and Peter Perrett
Background information
Origin Flag of England South London, England
Genre(s) Rock
Punk; Power pop; New Wave
Years active 1977–1981, 2007
Label(s) CBS
Associated
acts		 The Beatstalkers
England's Glory
Spooky Tooth
The One
Love Minus Zero
Members
Alan Mair
John Perry
Mike Kellie
Peter Perrett

The Only Ones are an influential English rock and roll band. Initially active in the late 1970s, the band were associated with punk rock, yet straddled the musical territory in between punk, power pop and hard rock, with noticeable influences from psychedelia. They are best known for the song "Another Girl, Another Planet" and have reformed in 2007 for UK dates.

Contents

[edit] Biography

The Only Ones were originally formed in August 1976 by Peter Perrett. Perrett had been recording demos since 1973 and in late 1975 was introduced to guitarist John Perry as a temporary bass player. (The guitarist at that time was Glenn Tilbrook of Squeeze). John wanted to concentrate on playing guitar and he and Perrett then found drummer Mike Kellie (ex-Spooky Tooth), and bassist Alan Mair who had previous success with The Beatstalkers, by August 1976. Their first single "Lovers Of Today", self-released on the Vengeance label, was immediately made 'Record of The Week' by 3 of the 4 main music papers. A year later they signed to CBS. Their next single "Another Girl, Another Planet" was a very popular and influential song, and unquestionably the band's best known song. It is often featured on various musical box-sets featuring a punk rock or New Wave theme. An album was released The Only Ones in 1978 and was well received by reviewers and fans. Their follow-up album was Even Serpents Shine released in the next year. A year later their final studio album Baby's Got A Gun was released. In 1982 the band officially disbanded. In subsequent years the band gained a fierce cult following and posthumously released records - live performances, BBC TV and radio shows, and compilations - now outnumber their official albums. Unusually, the Only Ones discs were never deleted from the CBS catalogue, and remain in print today.

[edit] Reunion (2007)

In the 10 November, 2006 issue of the Scottish tabloid newspaper, The Daily Record, it was suggested that Alan Mair may reform The Only Ones after their Summer 2006 Vodafone advert success [1].

On the 21st February 2007, John Perry confirmed via his MySpace page that the band would reform for a 5 date UK tour in June. They will also appear at All Tomorrow's Parties festival in Minehead, England on the 27th April 2007 and the Connect Music Festival in Scotland on the 1st of September. There were also rumours of a slot at Glastonbury Festival.

[edit] Influence

Their musical proficiency distinguished them from most of their peers, although their dominant drug-related lyrical themes, on songs such as "Another Girl, Another Planet," and "The Big Sleep," fit in with the Zeitgeist of the era on both sides of the Atlantic. Perrett and Kellie caught the eye of Johnny Thunders, founding member of the New York Dolls and the Heartbreakers, and worked as sidemen on his solo debut So Alone, notably appearing together on the classic "You Can't Put Your Arms Around a Memory". However, drug addiction, particularly heroin use, derailed their career, and singer/guitarist/songwriter Peter Perrett has only sporadically been heard from since, though he resurfaced in the mid-'90s with the album Woke Up Sticky.

Lead guitarist John Perry went on to play as an active session guitarist for artists including The Sisters of Mercy and Marianne Faithfull. More recently, he has written several well received music biographies - on The Who's seminal hits compilation Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy, The Rolling Stones' double album Exile On Main Street and in 2004, Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland. During 2005/6, he was heard playing and recording with singer and songwriter, Freddie Stevenson.

The Only Ones have been very influential on the indie rock and alternative rock scenes ever since, on bands such as The Replacements, Blur and Nirvana, and more recently The Libertines. Several bands have covered their song "Another Girl, Another Planet", including, The Libertines (at London Forum with Peter Perrett guesting), The Replacements and Blink 182. [2].

"Another Girl, Another Planet" was also used as part of Vodafone UK's Summer 2006 commercial campaign [3].

[edit] Albums

Main article: The Only Ones discography

[edit] Posthumous releases

[edit] Home videos

  • The Only Ones Faster Than Lightning (1991)

[edit] External links

v • d • e
The Only Ones
Alan Mair | John Perry | Mike Kellie | Peter Perrett
Discography
Albums: The Only Ones | Even Serpents Shine | Special View | Baby's Got a Gun
Compilations & live albums: Remains | The Peel Sessions Album | Live | Live in London | The Big Sleep | The Immortal Story | Darkness & Light | Why Don't You Kill Yourself? | Another Girl Another Planet: the Best of the Only Ones
Singles: "Another Girl, Another Planet" | "The Whole of the Law"
Related articles
The Beatstalkers | England's Glory | Spooky Tooth | The Ones | Love Minus Zero
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