Peter Deary | |
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Background information | |
Also known as | Digsy |
Born | Early 1960s Liverpool, England |
Genres | New wave, alternative rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, songwriter |
Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
Years active | Late 1970s–present |
Associated acts |
Cook da Books Small Smaller The Sums Rob Smith |
Notable instruments | |
Guitar, vocals |
Peter "Digsy" Deary is a Liverpudlian born musician and singer/songwriter.
He was lead singer for 1980s band Cook da Books, went on to front Small, and then Smaller, who had two hit singles in the mid-1990s, and is now in The Sums. He has enjoyed a long friendship with Noel Gallagher, who guested on several tracks by Smaller. He was also the inspiration for the Oasis song "Digsy's Dinner" on their album Definitely Maybe, and was mentioned in the lyric to "Be Here Now" ("Your shit jokes remind me of Digsy's").
Early Days Digsy was in the Hilda Valen Road show, and sang with a young group called Surprise. In his youth he won several competitions at Butlins. His uncle, Wally Griffiths, taught his own sons Tony and Chris Griffiths, and Digsy to play guitar. Tony and Chris went on to become another well known band on Merseyside called The Real People (Realies).
We Wouldn't Want To Knock It
In 2012, Digsy and Owen Moran (long time friend and former Cook da Books band member) were the subject of a documentary by Liverpool filmmakers Daniel Draper and Frankie Cowley called We Wouldn't Want To Knock It (in reference to a classic Books song). The film, shot in a naturalistic and free form style, explores Digsy's musical career (in Cook da Books, Smaller and now The Sums) and his personal relationship with Moran.