Douglas P.

Douglas P. worked across musician, photographer, actor, singer-songwriter and singer. The registers place that work in neofolk. This article rests on 7 catalogued compositions drawn from named institutional registers. Every statement below returns to a source shown in the evidence panel; where the record is silent or divided, the article says so instead of resolving it.

• Name — Douglas P. • Birth Name — Douglas Pearce • Alias — Douglas P. • Born — 27 April 1956 • Died — YYYY MM DD • Birthplace — Sheerwater, Woking, Surrey, England • Origin — Guildford, Surrey, England • Instrument — Acoustic guitar • Genre — Post-punk, neofolk, experimental, dark ambient, martial industrial, punk rock • Occupation — Musician, songwriter, producer • Years Active — 1977–present • Label — New European Recordings • Website — http: www.deathinjune.net/

Pearce was born on 27 April 1956 and grew up in Sheerwater, a suburb of Woking in Surrey which he said was a "white, working-class ghetto"; his father worked as a courier for the military and had served in World War II in the Royal Air Force where he was wounded in action. Both of Pearce's parents were English, though his mother claimed Scots-Irish ancestry. Pearce described his family life as a "very unhappy, dysfunctional family". Pearce developed an interest in music at a young age, according to the 2005 documentary Death in June: Behind the Mask, Pearce grew up listening to music on Six-Five Special, a British television programme. Pearce's father died of a heart attack at age 56 when Pearce was 14. Pearce grew up in what he describes as "a very militaristic environment, surrounded by war"; he says that he "had a natural attraction to war". At the age of 18 Pearce left home, went hitchhiking around Europe and "came home a changed man". For a time Pearce worked as a mail carrier in order to fund his music career and photography hobby. As a child, Pearce was exorcised by his parents for alleged demonic possession, and after his father died, his mother and he would "muck around with a Ouija board". Pearce believes in the paranormal and occult, and claims to have had contact with various entities saying "I believe in gods, demons, angels whether they're from the inner psyche, another dimension or whatever. I've heard them and I've seen them. I've even felt them touch me". Pearce stated in a 2000 interview that he was first introduced to reading Aleister Crowley, specifically Crowley's 1904 book The Book of the Law by David Tibet in 1983.

In 1975 partially inspired by existentialism and The 400 Blows, a 1959 French New Wave film, Pearce began to dress in all black, cut his hair short, and began to follow and listen to punk rock including British bands such as Sex Pistols, The Clash, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and the Buzzcocks. It was around this time that Pearce was introduced to Tony Wakeford, also from Woking, and began to play opening acts for various pub rock scenes.

In 1977 Pearce began his musical career in a British punk band called Crisis. Crisis played its final show on 10 May 1980 in Guildford, following this the band split up. After Crisis disbanded in 1980, Pearce formed Death in June with Crisis bandmate Tony Wakeford (currently of the English folk noir band, Sol Invictus) and Patrick O'Kill né Leagas (now a member of the English band Mother Destruction).

According to an interview with Compulsion, a music journal, in 1985 Douglas P. became the sole constant member of Death in June, with rotating guest musicians serving as collaborators and live band members. Pearce continues to work under the Death in June moniker.

Pearce was highly influential in the creation of a musical movement often referred to as neofolk, often collaborating and playing live with various artists within the genre. He was a guitarist, drummer and occasional vocalist for experimental music group Current 93.

Since a young age Pearce had an affinity for Nazi memorabilia as his father and uncles all fought in World War II. Pearce also has an interest in runes, Norse mythology, medieval symbology, and heraldry. According to PureHoney magazine, this interest in niche symbology has led to multiple venue cancellations, banned albums, and lyric censorship, as was the case with the 1987 album Brown Book, which was banned in Germany due to Germany's bans on Nazi symbols. According to the 2005 documentary Death in June: Behind the Mask, Pearce's first item he ever bought was a Wehrmacht tropical tunic with proceeds from his job as a paperboy. He later purchased and refurbished a German Stahlhelm, much to his family's disapproval. This interest in German militaria later boiled over into Pearce's musical career, particularly with Death in June, by utilizing Nazi symbolism such as German World War II camouflage patterns, the Black Sun, the Totenkopf, and the Wolfsangel, among others. Although Pearce utilizes this symbology for its shock value, similar to other bands of the 1980s including Joy Division, New Order, Throbbing Gristle, and Ramones, an essay by The Big Takeover magazine clarifies that although closely related to political extremists such as Boyd Rice, Pearce is not a neo-nazi.

Douglas P. is openly gay, and says that "being gay is fundamental to Death in June"; he expresses discontent with that side of Death in June not being explored in interviews. He said in an interview he admires the work and lives of Yukio Mishima and Jean Genet "not only because their work was brilliant but that they were also gay". According to the 1995 book Death in June: Misery and Purity by Robert Forbes, Pearce stated in several interviews that Funeral Rites by Genet and The Decay of the Angel by Mishima are two of his favorite books.

Although Pearce does not subscribe to a specific religion, Pearce has stated on several occasions that he believes in the paranormal, deities, the occult, and some aspects of spirituality. In a 1998 interview with the publication Scapegoat, Pearce stated that "I feel it is part of my duty to be part of the process of resurrection for want of a better word [sic] of my indigenous religion. The Christ-time is nearly over and it’s important to awaken the old Gods". In the same interview Pearce states that he was never baptized as a child, "so Jesus Christ has never meant anything to me".

In 2017, Oregon record label Soleilmoon Recordings was listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center's hate group registry for distributing albums by Death in June, and Boyd Rice's project NON. Charles Powne, the label's owner, denied that Soleilmoon was racist, and said that Pearce and Rice are not racist either. The SPLC pointed out a 1996 quote from Pearce where he proudly aligned with Eurocentric racialism: "I am totally Eurocentric. I'm not overly concerned with the past but I do care about the present and the future. European culture, morals, ethics, whatever are under attack from all sides these days." In a 2000 interview Pearce stated that he and Tony Wakeford were determined to keep Death in June out of politics. While Pearce and Wakeford were both vehemently anti-fascist and worked with the Anti-Nazi League while in Crisis, Pearce stated that "the preoccupations of the masses left a very bad taste in our mouths. Death in June has never done that".

What the record establishes about Douglas P. Douglas P. is recorded with the occupation singer-songwriter. Recorded with the occupation photographer. Recorded with the occupation musician. Recorded with the occupation actor. Classed in the genre neofolk. Recorded as musician, photographer, actor, singer-songwriter and singer. Established in Library of Congress under no2015019040. Established in Discogs under 165472.

Pearce has released numerous recordings of musical work of his own and others under his New European Recordings label since 1981.

• Year — Title — Format, Special Notes — Artist • 1978 — No Town Hall — 7" — Crisis • 1979 — UK 79/White Youth — 7" — Crisis • 1980 — Hymns of Faith — LP — Crisis • 1981 — Alienation — 7" — Crisis • 1981 — Heaven Street — 12" — Death in June • 1982 — State Laughter/Holy Water — 7" — Death in June • 1983 — The Guilty Have No Pride — LP — Death in June • 1984 — Burial — LP — Death in June • 1984 — She Said Destroy — 12"/7" — Death in June • 1985 — Nada! — LP — Death in June • 1985 — Born Again — 12" — Death in June • 1985 — Come Before Christ And Murder Love — 12"/7" — Death in June • 1986 — The World That Summer — 2xLP — Death in June • 1986 — Lesson 1: Misanthropy — LP — Death in June • 1987 — To Drown A Rose — 10" — Death in June • 1987 — Brown Book — LP — Death in June • 1987 — Oh How We Laughed — Live LP/CD, semi-official. — Death in June • 1987 — Happy Birthday — 12" — Current 93 • 1987 — Dawn — LP — Current 93 • 1988 — The Red Face of God — 12" — Current 93 • 1988 — Christ and the Pale Queens Mighty in Sorrow — LP — Current 93 • 1988 — Earth Covers Earth — LP — Current 93 • 1988 — Swastikas For Noddy — LP — Current 93 • 1989 — 93 Dead Sunwheels — EP/CD — Death in June • 1989 — The Corn Years — CD — Death in June • 1989 — She Is Dead and All Fall Down — 7" — Current 93 • 1989 — Swastikas For Noddy — LP — Current 93 • 1989 — Crooked Crosses for the Nodding God — LP — Current 93 • 1989 — Music, Martinis, & Misanthropy — LP — Boyd Rice and Friends • 1990 — The Wall of Sacrifice — LP/CD — Death in June • 1990 — 1888 — EP — Death in June • 1990 — Looney Runes — LP — Current 93 • 1991 — The Cathedral of Tears — CD — Death in June • 1992 — Ostenbraun — 2x cassette/CD — Death in June & Les Joyaux De La Princesse • 1992 — But, What Ends When The Symbols Shatter? — LP/CD — Death in June • 1992 — Paradise Rising — 12"/CDS — Death in June • 1992 — In the Shadow of the Sword (live) — LP — NON • 1992 — Death in June/Current 93/Sol Invictus — CD, previously a bootleg before official release. — Death in June • 1992 — Gilded by the Sun — CD — Fire + Ice • 1992 — Gestures — CD — Somewhere in Europe • 1992 — Thunder Perfect Mind — CD/LP — Current 93 • 1993 — Cathedral of Tears — 12"/CDS — Death in June • 1993 — Something Is Coming — 2xLP/2xCD — Death in June • 1993 — Hitler as Kalki (live) — LP — Current 93 • 1994 — Sun Dogs — 7"/CDS — Death in June • 1994 — Beauty Reaps The Blood of Solitude — CD — Nature & Organisation • 1994 — Dark Rose — 7" — Strength Through Joy • 1995 — Rose Clouds of Holocaust — LP/CD — Death in June • 1995 — Black Whole of Love — CDS 7", 10", 12" box set — Death in June • 1995 — Death in June Presents: Occidental Martyr — CD/10" — Occidental Martyr • 1995 — The Force of Truth And Lies — CD — Strength Through Joy • 1996 — Death in June Presents: KAPO! — LP/CD — Death in June • 1996 — Heaven Sent — LP — Scorpion Wind • 1996 — Salute To Light — 2CD — Strength Through Joy • 1997 — Die Schuldigen und der Nebel — 2xCD box set, previously a bootleg before official release. — Death in June • 1997 — DISCriminate ('81-'97) — 2xCD, "a compilation of personal choice," previously released material. — Death in June • 1997 — God and Beast — LP — NON • 1997 — Sulphur – Low Seed Replication — CD — Splinter Test • 1997 — Despiritualisation of Nature — CD — Tehom • 1998 — Take Care & Control — LP/CD — Death in June • 1998 — Kameradschaft — CDS — Death in June • 1998 — Passion! Power!! Purge!!! — CDS — Death in June • 1999 — Der Tod Im Juni — CD — Death in June • 1999 — Heilige! — CD — Death in June • 2000 — Operation Hummingbird — LP/CD — Death in June • 2000 — We Said Destroy — 7" — Death in June & Fire + Ice • 2000 — Birdking — CD — Fire + Ice • 2000 — The Way I Feel — CD — Boyd Rice • 2000 — Theriomorphic Spirit — CD — Tehom • 2001 — All Pigs Must Die — LP/CD — Death in June • 2001 — Wolf Pact — LP — Boyd Rice and Fiends (sic) • 2003 — Windzeit — CD — Forseti • 2004 — Alarm Agents — LP/Coloured Vinyl/CD — Death in June & Boyd Rice • 2004 — Live in Osaka — CD — NON • 2004 — Trephanus Uhr — CD — Luftwaffe • 2004 — Blacksun Rising — CD — Projekt Thule • 2005 — Abandon Tracks — 2xLP/CD. Rare and previously unreleased material. — Death in June • 2005 — The Doctor — 2xLP/CD. Contains spoken material by Pearce. — Thomas Nola et son Orchestre • 2008 — Agony & Irony — CD. Contains spoken material by Pearce on song I Found Away — Alkaline Trio • 2008 — The Rule of Thirds — 2x10"/CD — Death in June • 2010 — Peaceful Snow — 2x10"/CD — Death in June • 2013 — The Snow Bunker Tapes — LP/CD — Death in June • 2018 — Essence! — LP/CD — Death in June • 2022 — Nada-Ized! — LP/CD — Death in June