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Post Info TOPIC: Peter Boam


The Only Way is Down

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Peter Boam
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So this is something that came up during the online chat tonight. I've recently been interviewed by a guy called David Palfreyman who's making a documentary film about Peter Boam. Most of you'll know of Peter as being a member of the Pulp line-up that made the It album (he also promoted gigs around Sheffield in the very early '80s, and put on a couple of Pulp's earliest shows at the Royal and the George IV).

Not in itself a massive claim to fame, but the Pulp connection was really a bit of a sideline in a fascinating, if ultimately rather sad story, which the film is going to attempt to unravel. His early bands were part of the same early '80s Sheffield postpunk scene that produced the schoolboy/Peel Session version of Pulp (he was on vinyl by 1980, courtesy of Marcus Featherby), and he continued to write and record music for the rest of his life. He was a seriously talented and prolific songwriter and musician; he also worked extensively in theatre - variously as an actor, director, writer and composer.

Sadly he died in Brighton in 2006, having struggled with various demons for much of his life. At the time he'd just completed a solo album which he'd been working on for a number of years. On a personal level he was a really great bloke; he was an incredibly generous and patient (and funny) interviewee when I spoke to him for the book as an awkward and clueless 19-year-old, giving far more of his time and insights than he needed to. We stayed in touch over the years and he sent me successive versions of the album. It was a seriously good piece of work, and I hope it somehow sees the light of day eventually.

In some ways his story parallels Jarvis' - they were the same age, similar background, both with absent fathers, and they both spent a lot of years trying to find the right outlets in a world where, at the time, they often seemed to be square pegs. Unfortunately Peter never got his dues in quite the same way.

Here's the trailer to the film - I'm in it momentarily at about 3 minutes 15, but don't let that put you off...



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The Only Way is Down

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Peter Boam
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Well! I posted a follow-up below the above, with Youtubes of a few of his songs, and it's been flagged as spam! Apparently a mod has to approve it. Go to the ass with your fuckin Boam?

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The Only Way is Down

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Yeah, how do fcuking routers get through when something much more worthy doesn't...?

By the way, you're looking well on the trailer - every inch the minor indie popstar, I would venture.

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The Only Way is Down

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Peter Boam
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Ah shucks. I will pass your compliments to my makeup department!

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Ian


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That was a really interesting read and watch. I'm looking forward to watching the full documentary film

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The Only Way is Down

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This looks really, really interesting. I'll definitely be checking it out. Thanks for bringing it to our attention Mark.

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Here's one of his songs from the mid '80s. There's quite a few more on YouTube now if anyone wants to check them out.



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Ian


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Is his song that featured in "Looking for Life" available?

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The Only Way is Down

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Not that I've found so far. I think it might've been by his early band Mortuary in Wax, who apparently did record more than the one single they put out - so it might surface eventually.

Here's the Mortuary in Wax song:



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The Only Way is Down

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Second trailer for the Boam film... I'm not in it but his cousin's got my book!

 



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The Only Way is Down

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Cool. Will this premiere at Sheff DocFest or similar?

I'm traipsing up to Brum in May just to see a film about Talk Talk (unauthorised with none of their music!), maybe I should similarly make such an effort for Mr Boam.

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The Only Way is Down

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Peter Boam
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Not sure what the eventual plan is for release, but yes the Sheffield Docfest would seem a logical home.

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