Legendary Only Ones front man at Islington Academy 19-2-2025 Take Me Home: Sometimes I go walkin’ in the dark I’m waiting for fate to jump out at me Feels like I’m walkin’ in the shoes of another man Someone who refused to ever follow the plan

Gig going now seems to be a list of “Wow.. They’re Still Alive?” Peter Perrett, formally of ‘78 vintage The Only Ones was never in a Venn diagram of artists with healthy lifestyle choices but he had a timeless swagger and a laconic drawl of a voice he has never lost.

And he’s a fine, fine songwriter still. Now in his 70’s he’s had a run of three exceptional solo lps in the past few years, largely managed by his very talented sons, Jamie Perrett in particular who opened last night’s set with his own songs is an exceptional guitarist and has his Dad’s voice and good looks. Jamie spent some time with Pete Doherty and Babyshambles before going out on his own and playing in his father’s band. Such a chaotic upbringing must have stood him in good stead for that.

Perrett is a survivor: A man whose pharmaceutical habit was so copious that some may say that Drugs had a Peter Perrett problem. He disappeared for a few years and had moments of living in Dickensian squalor in South London before this late blossoming of creativity.

The Only Ones were short lived but left behind the timeless “Another Girl Another Planet” which we were treated to along with “The Beast” an extraordinarily powerful song about addiction.

“Another Girl Another Planet” is a solid gold tune though. When we were students, old friend S who I went to this show with would play it 4 times in a row before we’d go off to some party adventure.

We were reminiscing last night that we went to three parties in Eltham by accident one night trying to find the right one. We once got a round of applause in lectures for turning up after a particularly hedonistic night out. We’re considerably more sensibly paced these days.

The fact that his new songs are so great is magical. He writes of love, loss addiction and the madness of the modern world and my God, he’s lived it. A small, skeletal figure in a black baggy suit and shades; he spoke next to nothing until the encore when there was just the smallest hint of an amused smile that he’d nailed such a great set and that the audience loved him for it. A final laconic “I hope we get to do this again one day..” from a man who has pretty consistently written about his imminent demise; it’s bitter sweet. And then he shuffles off like Lou Reed dressed as Syd Barrett being played by Wilfred Bramble.

On a bonus note, I bumped into old friend Ash outside the venue who told me she had bothered Lawrence of Belgravia who was loitering by the merch stall. It’s a peak Memorial Device and National Treasure moment.

I’d also incorrectly and inexcusably accused the original genius Only Ones guitarist, John Perry, of being dead, when Ash messaged to say he’s still with us and was spotted in the darkness with a walking stick near where she was standing.

The haunting “Take Me Home” from Hackney’s Moth Club.

Sometimes I go walkin’ in the dark I’m waiting for fate to jump out at me Feels like I’m walkin’ in the shoes of another man Someone who refused to ever follow the plan