Charlie Harper

Charlie Harper (born David Charles Perez, 25 May 1944) is a British singer, best known as the lead vocalist of the punk rock band U.K. Subs.

Biography Charlie Harper was born in Barnsley but moved to the Sussex countryside when he was eight years old. Harper attended a "radical secondary school" where he was the Chairman of the Young Farmer's Club. He left school at the age of 15 to take a job at Dodworth Colliery then went on to commence a hairdressing apprenticeship. Following the apprenticeship, Harper began busking, playing the guitar and harmonica. In 1970, Harper got married and began working as a hairdresser at his sister-in-law's shop.

He was a veteran of the London R&B scene at the time of the UK Subs being formed in 1976. His first band in 1964 was named Charlie Harper Free Press Band. Prior to performing as the UK Subs, he was the frontman and founder of The Marauders, who were a pub rock band. He has also recorded with his side project The Urban Dogs and released a solo album entitled Stolen Property and a second solo single "Freaked".

Discography

Solo Albums Stolen Property (1981), Flicknife

Singles "Barmy London Army" / "Talk Is Cheap" (1980), Gem "Freaked" / "Jo" (1981), Ramkup - UK Indie no. 17

with UK Subs see U.K. Subs discography

with The Urban Dogs Albums Urban Dogs (1983), Fall Out - UK Indie no. 18 No Pedigree (1985), Flicknife Wipeout Beach (1998), Raw Power Bonefield (2012), Time and Matter Attack! (2016), Time and Matter

Singles "New Barbarians" (1982), Fall Out - UK Indie no. 15 "Limo Life" (1983), Fall Out - UK Indie no. 16 "(We Don't Want No) Millenium Dome" (1999), Raw Power "Rebellion Song" (2014), Time and Matter "Trick or Treat" (2016), Time and Matter

with Charlie's Harbour Rats "Rollin' In My Sweet Baby's Arms" single (2012), Punkerama

with Captain Sensible Too Much Reality EP (2013), Time and Matter

Compilations New Barbarians: The Best Of Charlie Harper And The Urban Dogs (1999), Captain Oi!

Recorded tributes "Charlie Harper" - a track by The Bus Station Loonies appeared on their "Bare Faced Hypocrisy Sells Records" EP on the Ruptured Ambitions label in 1998. A different version was on their 1999 Mad Frank's Zonal Disco album. "Charlie Harper" - a song recorded and written by Demob. Unreleased to date. A live version on YouTube. "Uncle Charlie" is a tribute song by Anti-Nowhere League from their LP, The Cage.