Peter Wolfe (musician)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Peter Wolfe (Wolfman)

---

Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Peter Wolfe
Alias = Wolfman
Born = 1968
flagicon|England Maidstone
Origin = Kent, England
Genre = Indie rock
Alternative rock
Occupation = Musician, Songwriter
Years_active = early 90s - Present
Label = Beyond Bedlam

Peter William Wolfe (born 1968 in Maidstone, Kent) (more commonly known as Wolfman) is a poet and a musician of the band Wolfman and the Side-Effects. He is also a friend and the rumored corrupter of Pete Doherty. From time to time Wolfman and the Side-Effects support Doherty's band, Babyshambles, and used to support The Libertines.

Life and career

Personal life

Peter Wolfe was born in Maidstone in 1968. Not much is known about Wolfe's mother, except that she left when he was four years old. The lyrics of the song "Wolfman" imply that Wolfe's "mother was a junkie" and his "Dad drank Special Brew". It is likely this refers to prescription medication that was widely used by stressed mothers at the time however, Wolfe's father, a carpenter, was indeed an alcoholic (though he has been sober for many years.)

Wolfe left school with no O-levels and he became a plumber.

Early years

At 18 he moved to London, and for a short while shared a flat with Shane MacGowan.cite news |first=Dorian |last=Lynskey |title=Big bad wolf |date=2004-11-19 |url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/fridayreview/story/0,12102,1353956,00.html |work=The Guardian |accessdate = 2007-06-29] In the early '90s he moved to a flat in the Blackstock Road and worked on his career as a musician. However, Wolfe was "relentlessly unsuccessful." In the late 90s he moved to New York and later to Paris, where he published a book of poetry. When he returned to London his marriage was divorced, which led to heavy drinking and suicide attempts.

2000-2008

In 2001 Peter Wolfe met Pete Doherty in Islington. They formed a relationship ever since mostly based on songwriting. Wolfe about their relationship: "He turned up at my flat and started hanging around saying he was in a band. He's a great fucking person. Sometimes really awful but sometimes very kind. Maybe he was the first person to look at me through eyes which didn't say, "This guy's a cunt."

In 2003 Wolfe recorded "For Lovers" together with Doherty. Wolfe had written the song in the mid 90s and recorded a demo with his old school friend and musical collaborator, Julian Taylor. Doherty altered the words to one verse, and musicians in Wolfe's band, "The Side Effects", along with producer Jake Fior made other changes to the arrangement for the single recording. The single was Wolfe's biggest success as musician, reaching No.7 in the UK charts. Despite the success of the single, which was nominated for a prestigious "Ivor Novello Award" for songwriting,cite news
title=Geldof to follow up Live Aid and 'turn the world'
date=27 May, 2005
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher="The Guardian"
url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/live8/story/0,,1500501,00.html] the pair received relatively little money. Rumours that the publishing rights were sold for "a small amount in a pub"cite news
title=Over the Edge with Pete Doherty
first=Mark
last=Binelli
date=24 March, 2006
accessdate=2007-05-12
publisher="Rolling Stone"
url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/9519813/over_the_edge_with_pete_doherty] are unfounded as in reality the rights were shared amongst the musicians who worked without pay on the recording.This did, however, give Wolfe some media attention and increased his fanbase.

On 12th July, 2008, Wolfe joined Pete Doherty on stage during his solo show at the Royal Albert Hall and they performed "For Lovers" together. Wolfe's appearance on stage however did not meet critical acclaim. According to the critics the song was ruined by Wolfe's out-of-tune vocals and lack of charisma. [ [http://music.guardian.co.uk/live/story/0,,2290716,00.html Pete Doherty, Royal Albert Hall, London | Music | The Guardian ] ] [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2008/07/14/bmpete114.xml Pete Doherty's bloom lost in space - Telegraph ] ]

Discography

ingles

*"For Lovers" (2004) #7 UK
*"Napoleon" (2004) #44 UK
*"Ice Cream Guerilla" (2005) #60 UK

References

External links

* [http://www.myspace.com/peterwolfe Wolfman's official website]