Originally formed in 1977 ALTERNATIVE TV were one of the most respected groups during the punk and new-wave eras. They were the first of the punk groups to move on from the restrictive 3 minutes speed induce punk thrash-and their early shows included the use of tapes audience participation and long improvised rants from the singer Mark Perry.
Mark had originally made his name editor of the UK’s first punk fanzine Sniffin’ Glue. Alternative TV was and still is a vehicle for his ideas and emotions. A vehicle that has continued on and off for the past 25 years. During that time Mark has released approx. 20 albums 21 singles and been involved in countless other projects and live performances. All in all Mark has produced an amazing body of work which continues to excites confront and sometimes aggreivate listeners.
The Alternative TV on the new album is not really a group at all but Mark with a collection of his friends and family. “My Life As a Child Star’ is Mark’s first album since 1990’s ‘Dragon Love’ and was originally recorded in 1991 although not released until 1994.
This is very much the album where Mark looks back on his life and tackles some of the subjects that are of interest to him – age racism relationships despair. Mark never avoids an issue but confronts it with a honesty which has sometimes been brutal in the extreme.
The album features a couple of drummers who have been associated with Mark in past Allison Phillips who was on the 1987 album ‘Peep Show’ and Dave Morgan who worked on the aforementioned ‘Dragon Love’. Mark’s daughter Laura appears on the track ‘Reunion’. Suzi Webb and Mike Cook are friends and the studio engineer Ian McKay helps out on various instruments.