Guy Pearce Music

If you’re surprised about Guy Pearce’s musical talent, well, who can blame you. In an international movie career spanning more than 25 years, Pearce’s identity as an actor of some calibre is firmly established.
But look in the fine print of his CV. Among all those interesting choices – Priscilla Queen of the Desert, LA Confidential, Memento, The Hurt Locker, The King’s Speech and Mildred Pearce to name a few - you’ll see a musical thread running through. Since appearing in that soap which, in its ‘80s zenith spawned a high-profile spate of slashies (actor/singers), Pearce attempted to suppress his own musicality. But despite himself, his music just kept bubbling irrepressibly to the surface.
Those who know him weren’t surprised at all. The fact is, by the time Neighbours whisked him away into the professional (non-singing) acting realm, he’d been writing music for almost 10 years. Publicly, he’s played with Tim Neal and The Unconscious Brothers, Rebecca Barnard and Jeff Raglas, as well as performing in a string of musical theatre productions in his younger days.
Several savvy film and theatre makers took note and incorporated Pearce’s tunefulness into their work, seeing him perform numerous songs in films such as Heaven Tonight, Hunting and A Slipping Down Life with Lily Taylor, in which he performed songs by Joe Henry, Ron Sexmith, Vic Chestnut and Robin Hitchcock. He played Danny Zuko in David Atkinson’s production of Grease, and for something completely different, in 2008, he sang “a rather daft song” as he puts it, in the children’s comedy, Bedtime Stories, in which he co-starred with Adam Sandler and Russell Brand.
Then, in 2009 he performed in the Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Poor Boy, written by Matt Cameron and Tim Finn, featuring the sublime songs of Finn, which Pearce had the privilege to sing. In the band, was drummer and percussion player Michael Barker, whose stellar credits include The John Butler Trio and the legendary Split Enz (alongside Finn).
Pearce and Barker had many discussions about music and Barker expressed an interest in hearing the recordings Pearce had been making in his studio at his Melbourne home, but had kept hidden away from the world for 25 years. And there and then, things began to change.
“Michael made me realise the value in finishing songs and completing things generally. I think I’d underestimated the negative effects of working on stuff that nobody ever heard” says Pearce.
And so began - with the help of musical friends and cohorts - the process of producing Broken Bones, a collection of songs that bear Pearce’s heart and soul with a beautiful sense of relief and optimism. Also present is the energy of reveling in collaboration after creating his music in solitude for so long. Perhaps above all that is a captivating honesty from a somewhat enigmatic person, who’s at times been an enigma even to himself.

“BROKEN BONES” – the debut album from Guy Pearce. Available now on CD and digital formats (10 tracks) and vinyl (double-disc, limited edition, blue vinyl with three bonus tracks and an interview) through MGM Distribution.

'THE NOMAD" - Guy's second album, will be available worldwide on digital stores from July 6, and on CD and vinyl in Aus/NZ music stores, worldwide via guypearce.net.