The Only Ones

The Only Ones are an English rock group from London, formed in 1976 and active until 1982, with a later reunion in 2007. The line-up includes Peter Perrett, John Perry, Mike Kellie and Alan Mair. Their music sits across punk, new wave, pop rock, post-punk, indie rock and power pop, with some hard rock and psychedelic influence, and they are associated with punk rock while also moving beyond it.

Formation and early recordings

The band forms in South London in August 1976 under Peter Perrett, who has been recording demos since 1972. Perrett first looks for a bass player in late 1975 and is introduced to John Perry, who decides to play guitar instead. By August 1976, the group is complete with drummer Mike Kellie, formerly of Spooky Tooth, and bassist Alan Mair, who has earlier success with the Scottish band The Beatstalkers.

Their first single, "Lovers of Today", is self-released on the Vengeance label and is named record of the week by three of the four main music papers. The band signs to CBS a year later.

Albums and key songs

"Another Girl, Another Planet" becomes their best-known song and a lasting influence on punk and new wave listeners. It appears on the 1991 compilation The Sound of the Suburbs, is re-released as a single, and reaches number 57 in the UK singles chart. The song also appears in later film soundtracks and is used as an introduction theme for Irish DJ Dave Fanning’s radio show.

The band’s studio albums are The Only Ones (1978), Even Serpents Shine (1979) and Baby’s Got a Gun (1980). Their debut is well received by critics and fans. Their songs often use drug-related themes, including "Another Girl, Another Planet" and "The Big Sleep".

Break-up, influence and later releases

The Only Ones officially split in 1982. In later years they develop a strong cult following, and their live recordings, BBC television and radio sessions, and compilation albums outnumber their studio albums. Their CBS albums remain in print and are not removed from the catalogue.

The band is influential on indie rock and alternative rock acts including The Replacements, Blur, Nirvana and The Libertines. Their song "Another Girl, Another Planet" is covered by several artists, including The Libertines, The Replacements and Blink 182, while Yo La Tengo cover "The Whole of the Law" on Painful.

Reunion and later activity

Interest in the band renews after "Another Girl, Another Planet" is used in a Vodafone campaign in 2006. The Only Ones reform in 2007 and play a five-date UK tour, along with festival appearances including All Tomorrow’s Parties in Minehead, Wireless Festival in Hyde Park and Harewood House, and the Connect Music Festival in Scotland. They perform new material such as "Dreamt She Could Fly" during these shows.

In 2008 they appear on Later... with Jools Holland playing "Another Girl, Another Planet" and "Black Operations", and also perform new songs including "Is This How Much You Care" and "Magic Tablet" in live TV and radio sessions. A live DVD from Shepherds Bush Empire is issued in 2008, and their three CBS studio albums are remastered with bonus tracks and re-released in 2009. A box set appears in the Original Album Classics series in 2012, and the band headlines the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool that year.

Members and related work

Peter Perrett and Mike Kellie work as sidemen on Johnny Thunders’ solo album So Alone, including the track "You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory". After the split, Perrett appears sporadically, including a mid-1990s album, Woke Up Sticky. John Perry becomes an active session guitarist for artists including The Sisters of Mercy, Evan Dando and Marianne Faithfull, and later writes music biographies on the Who, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. Mike Kellie dies in 2017.