Peter O'Doherty

Peter O'Doherty (born 23 March 1958) is a New Zealand-born Australian musician and visual artist. He is a founder of Australian pop band, Dog Trumpet, in 1991 on guitar and vocals, alongside his older brother, Chris O'Doherty (p.k.a. Reg Mombassa) on guitar, keyboards, harmonica and vocals. They were also members of new wave group, Mental as Anything, which O'Doherty joined in August 1977 on bass guitar and vocals, until they both left in 2000. As a visual artist, O'Doherty specialised in still life and everyday suburban scenes. He is married to Susan, who is also a visual artist.

Peter O'Doherty
Also known asYoga Dog
Born (1958-03-23) 23 March 1958
Auckland, New Zealand
OriginSydney, New South Wales, Australia
GenresPop
Occupation(s)
Instruments
  • Bass guitar
  • vocals
  • guitar
Years active1977–present
Associated acts

Early life to Mental as Anything
Main article: Mental As Anything

Peter O'Doherty was born in Auckland, New Zealand on 23 March 1958; with his family he emigrated to Sydney in 1969. His father, James, and mother were landscape painters.[1] His older brother, Chris (p.k.a. Reg Mombassa, born 1951), attended art school where he formed a new wave group, Mental As Anything, in early 1976 with his fellow students.[2] O'Doherty attended high school on Sydney's Northern Beaches, where he learnt classical guitar and later worked as a petrol station attendant. He appeared on stage with his brother's group in August 1977, initially filling in, and became a permanent member on bass guitar and vocals with Mombassa on lead guitar and vocals, Martin Plaza on vocals and guitar, Greedy Smith on vocals, keyboards and harmonica, and David Twohill on drums.[2][3][4]

Unlike other members of the group's classic line-up,[3] he did not use any stage name for long: Ouzo Pork in his early days and Yoga Dog later. Their single, "I Didn't Mean to Be Mean" (August 1982), has a B-side, "Yoga Dog Sunset", which was written by O'Doherty.[5] During his time with the group they issued three Top 10 albums, Cats & Dogs (September 1981), Creatures of Leisure (March 1983) and Fundamental (September 1985).[2] He also composed tracks, provided guitar and designed covers and art work.[6]

Art career

Although O'Doherty never attended art school, he became a prolific visual artist alongside his acclaimed brother, Mombassa.[1] They had left Mental as Anything in 2000 to concentrate on their art and music careers. His wife Susan is also a visual artist, "[she] paints her more abstract pieces,"[1] while O'Doherty specialised in still life and built landscapes. He has entered the art competition of the Archibald Prize with his works relegated to the Salon des Refusés.[1]

Solo and side projects to Dog Trumpet
Main article: Dog Trumpet

In 1987, with O'Doherty and Plaza with members of Gang Gajang, he recorded a country music album credited to the Stetsons. During the late 1980s and early 1990s he performed live with the bands the Bejesus Burgers and the Happening Thang.

Since 2000 O'Doherty's main musical outlet has been Dog Trumpet, a collaboration with Mombassa,[7] formed as a side-project in 1991.[1][8][4] They released four studio albums and two extended plays.

References
General
  • McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Whammo Homepage". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 5 April 2004. Retrieved 6 May 2018. Note: Archived [on-line] copy has limited functionality.
Specific
  1. Zuel, Bernard: "Sentimental as Anything", The Sydney Morning Herald, 29 June 2002.
  2. McFarlane, 'Mental As Anything' entry. Archived from the original on 13 August 2004. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  3. Nimmervoll, Ed. "Mental As Anything". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  4. Entries at Australian Rock Database:
    • Mental as Anything (1977–2000): – Holmgren, Magnus; Johns, Shane; Warnqvist, Stefan. "Mental As Anything". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
    • The Stetsons (1987, 1997): – Holmgren, Magnus; Jenkins, Pixie. "The Stetsons". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
    • Dog Trumpet (1990–present): – Holmgren, Magnus; Warnqvist, Stefan. "Reg and Pete's Dog Trumpet". Australian Rock Database (Magnus Holmgren). Archived from the original on 29 September 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  5. "'Yoga Dog Sunset' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 6 May 2018. Note: For additional work user may have to select 'Search again' and then 'Enter a title:' &/or 'Performer:'
  6. "Peter O'Doherty | Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
  7. "Res and Pete, the oscillating duo". Canberra Times. 26 September 1991. p. 15. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
  8. McFarlane, 'Dog Trumpet' entry. Archived from the original on 19 April 2004. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
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