Biography
Peter Scott Ivers (September 1946 - March 3, 1983) was an American musician, best known as the host of New Wave Theatre.
Ivers was born in Illinois, but raised in Brookline, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. He attended the Roxbury Latin School and then Harvard University, majoring in classical languages, but chose a career in music. He started playing harmonica with the Boston-based Beacon Street Union (although he does not appear on their album, The Clown Died In Marvin Gardens). He embarked on a solo career in 1969 with the Epic release of his debut, Knight of the Blue Communion (also featuring Sri Lankan jazz diva Yolande Bavan, whom many erroneously believe was married to Peter). After a second LP, Take It Out On Me was shelved by Epic, Ivers signed with Warner Bros., where he recorded two more albums.
In 1976, Ivers was asked by David Lynch to write a song for his movie, Eraserhead. Ivers penned In Heaven (The Lady in the Radiator Song), which became the most well-known composition from the film.
Ivers' best friend was Harvard classmate Douglas Kenney, founder of the National Lampoon. Ivers was also close friends with John Belushi. Both men preceded Ivers in death.
In 1981 Ivers was tapped by David Jove to host New Wave Theatre on Los Angeles TV station KSCI which was shown irregularly as part of the weekend program Night Flight on the fledgling USA Network. The program was a frantic cacophony of music, theater and comedy, lorded over by Ivers with his manic presentation. Using a method of filming known as "live taped", the show was the first opportunity for many alternative musicians to receive nationwide exposure. Notable bands who appeared on the show included The Circle Jerks, The Dead Kennedys, Fear and The Plugz.
In 1983, Peter Ivers was found bludgeoned to death in his Los Angeles apartment. Harvard established the Peter Ivers Visiting Artist Program in his memory. Although there is speculation that disgruntled punk rockers were responsible, his death remains unexplained.
Discography
- Knight of the Blue Communion (Epic, 1969)
- Take It Out on Me (Epic, 1971)*
- Terminal Love (Warner Bros., 1974)
- Peter Ivers (also known as Peter Peter Ivers) (Warner Bros., 1976)
- Nirvana Peter (Warner Bros., 1985)**
* Not released
** Compilation of previous Warner recordings with bonus tracks
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