Peter Murphy

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Peter Murphy (born July 11, 1957, near Northampton, England) was a member of the British rock group Bauhaus who later went on to release a number of solo albums, such as Deep and Love Hysteria. Thin, with prominent cheekbones, a rich voice, and a penchant for gloomy poetics, Murphy is often called the "Godfather of Goth." Rising from a coffin on-stage, driving a hearse called the "Bauhearse," or appearing in concert as a vampire all helped to cement the gothic look with this dark, emotionally charged style of music (see gothic rock).



Murphy's solo career has become more nuanced, ranging from pseudo-pop to haunting ballads that showcase his deep and complex vocals. While his lyrics can range from what some critics have called "pretentious" to "incomprehensible," they often act as some metaphysical incantation, pulling his songs into a dream-like state of rhythm, imagery, and emotion. The song "Deep Ocean/Vast Sea" sounds like the pounding of ocean waves; in "Marlene Dietrich's Favourite Poem", one can feel the yearning for what was lost. In the 1990s, Peter Murphy converted to Islam, eventually moving to Turkey, and this middle-eastern influence can be heard in his later albums. In particular, Murphy has been inspired by the mysticism of Sufism.



In 2000, Murphy performed his international Just For Love tour, which resulted in the album Alive Just for Love. It is a live recording of the fully uninterrupted set from the El Rey show in Los Angeles on November 30, 2000. During the tour, Murphy chose to perform with only two back-up musicians, Canadian electric violinist Hugh Marsh and Peter DiStephano from Porno for Pyros on guitar.