Miss World / Perkins Biography




MISS WORLD / PERKINS
The Immaculate Miss Conception

Jonathan Perkins (born 9th February 1958 Swindon, Wiltshire) is the lead singer and songwriter of MISS WORLD, and formerly The Flame, JP’S SILVER SPURS and Stadium Dogs.

He has been a working musician since the mid seventies, touring and travelling both first class and economy. Perkins’s surreal and eclectic diversity of musical styles and influences is exemplified by the many influential artists and “bright sparks” he has worked with over the years, these include;
The Teenage Polecats, XTC, Stadium Dogs, Original Mirrors, Shakespeare’s Sister, Siobhan Fahey, Roger Taylor, Dave Stewart and the Spiritual Cowboys, Buzy, Chris Sheehan, Nan Vernon, Murray Lachlan Young Terry Hall, Jonathan Meades, Timothy Leary, Eddie Jordan, Chris Thomas.

Early years / Teenage Polecats, XTC, Stadium Dogs: Perkins was an active member of the burgeoning Swindon music scene of the early to late 1970s, playing piano in local Rock n’ Roll band The Teenage Polecats alongside Pete Cousins between 73-75. In 1974, Perkins joined Andy partridge, Colin Moulding and Terry Chambers on synthesiser and electric piano and collectively became known as XTC from 74 – 77. He gigged and recorded the early demos of “She’s so square” and “Science Friction” amongst others. Alongside XTC, Perkins was also a member of the punk band Stadium Dogs 76 -78. In 1977 they released a single “Easybeat” (on their manager’s label Audiogenic – reaching the “Top 10” of the alternative chart) followed by “Love on the Airwaves” and the LP “What’s next” released on Magnet Records (all songs were credited as band co-writes) the band toured the UK, Holland and Scandinavia. The band also recorded an LP with Swedish artist Magnus Uggla called “Vitring” (CBS Sweden 1978)

The Original Mirrors: In 1979, Perkins joined the Original Mirrors as keyboard player. The band produced two albums “The Original Mirrors” in 1979 and “Heart, Twango and Raw beat” in 1981 and singles including “Could this be Heaven” (Produced by Bill Nelson), “Boy’s cry”, Dancing with the Rebels” and finally “20,000 Dreamers” (Produced by Langer / Winstanley) in 1982. The band were often featured on John Peel and performed on the “Old Grey Whistle Test”. They gigged continually between 79 -82 in England and Europe supporting amongst others Roxy Music, Iggy Pop and The Only Ones.

JP’S Silver Spurs / Shadey / Wide Boy Awake In 1982, Perkins started pursuing a solo career. He wrote and performed the song “Love is Burning” in the film “Shadey” directed by Philip Saville (Larkspur / Channel 4). He signed to RCA Records in 1984 and recorded one EP “I’ll lay my Silver Spurs She’s Wrong” b/w “The Beast in Me” and “From the Hips not the Heart” Produced by Godwin Logie. They appeared live on The Tube and recorded sessions for John Peel and Janice Long. They gigged and supported Toyah on her U.K. Tour. Beggar and Co covered the Perkins song “We all work out” released as a single on RCA in 1983. During his time with RCA Perkins collaborated with fellow RCA label mate Kevin Mooney of Wide Boy Awake on their first EP “Billy Hyena” Produced by Francois Kevorkian (RCA 1985) and played keyboards at their debut at the Music Machine in Camden, London.

Chrysalis Records/ Anxious Records / The Flame / Dave Stewart’s Spiritual Cowboys / Shakespeare’s Sister / Nan Vernon / Buzy / MISS WORLD: In 1986, Producer Alex Sadkin signed Perkins to Chrysalis Records. They recorded an LP in Nassau during which Alex Sadkin was tragically killed in a car crash. The recording although later completed by fellow American and friend of Alex’s Don Gehman, was never released. In 1988, Perkins signed to Dave Stewart’s Anxious Records. Perkins released the LP “The Flame” (1989) this was later repackaged with additional songs and renamed “Snaketalk” (1990). Several singles taken from the above LPs included; “X-Streams” “This Time Tomorrow” “Move the Moon” “Hey Little Girl” “I can’t say no” and “A little Hate makes Love much better”. The recordings were co produced by Manu Guiot and Perkins with additional productions and mixes by Dave Stewart. The toured the UK, and supported the Eurhythmics at Wembley Arena and the Beach Boys in Dublin. Perkins also recorded two albums with label boss Dave Stewart’s Spiritual Cowboys “ Spiritual Love” (1990) and “Honest” (1991). Perkins had a minor U.K. and European hit with the single “Jack Talking” a co-write with Dave Stewart. They toured the UK, Europe and the USA extensively. He contributed additional keyboards on Shakespeare’s Sister LP “Hormonally Yours” (1992) and co-wrote and produced songs for Nan Vernon’s LP “Manta Ray” (1994). Perkins collaborated with many other associated Anxious artists including Barry Maguire, Chris Sheehan, Siobhan Fahey (London Records) and JC001 and Desire. Some of these songs are listed on the LP “Anxious High” (MISS W). During this period, Perkins also played “extra” keyboards on many of Dave Stewart Stewart’s song productions for “artistes” and celebrities at his studios in, L.A. London and the South of France, including; Timothy Leary, Roger McGuinn, Terry Hall “VEGAS” LP (1993 Anxious &east west) ”Jute City” TV soundtrack (Anxious - RCA) Beyond the Groove” Channel 4 TV series and many others. In 1991, Chris Thomas produced the LP. “MISS WORLD” (Anxious / east west records.1992.) and the single “The First Female Serial Killer” featuring Perkins new band MISS WORLD, with Martin Chambers on Drums, Jimmy Taylor on guitar, Peter No-one on Bass and Geoff Hammer on keyboards. The band toured the USA and UK supporting Shakespeare’s Sister. MISS WORLD played the infamous "FUK-IT" party at the Commonwealth Centre London by Fashion Designer John Richmond and later modelled his clothes on the catwalk at the 1992/3 London Fashion festivals. MISS WORLD also played the post Grand Prix JORDAN "Silverstone Parties" (94, 95, and 96) at the request of Formula One's Eddie Jordan. In 1994-5, Perkins – co-wrote and co- produced “Vice and Verse” for EMI Artist / Poet Murray Lachlan Young* as part of the 100 years of EMI celebrations. Perkins wrote music to accompany Murray Lachlan Young’s poems including; “Simply everyone is taking Cocaine” and “I’m being followed by the Rolling Stones”.

Buzy: In 1995, Perkins recorded a duet with French Pop star Buzy called “Ligne Brisee” (Trema Records, France)

Roger Taylor – Smashing Records: In 1996, Perkins signed to Roger Taylor’s Smashing Records and recorded three MISS WORLD LPs; “Draining Venus”, “Woman’s Hour” and “Dead at the Country Club” all of them are available on MISS W.

Rialto: In 1996-97, Rialto had a Top 5 U.K. Hit with the song “Untouchable” (east west records). Publishing credits later included Perkins as co-writer.

MISS WORLD – Present In 2003, Perkins contributed music to Jonathan Meade’s programme on “Surrealism” (BBC2) and wrote the theme tune for Eddie Jordan's Channel 5 programme "Bad Boy Racers" (2006) MISS WORLD’s music is now available on his MISS W label, these include; “MISS WORLD”, “Snaketalk”, “Draining Venus”, “Woman’s Hour”, Country & Eastern”, “Dead at the Country Club”, “Bling” Volume 1, “Flogging a Dead Whore”, “Anxious High” and “Bling” Volume 2, (these last two LPs are still unavailable due to contractual issues) and the current release “Me Man You Monster”

MISS WORLD will be playing shows at the end of 2009 in London and the south west.

Miss Leading - - Miss Guided - - Miss Understood - - Miss World

My Space www.myspace.com/missworldmissworld

MISS WORLD / PERKINS Management: info@1music.com

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