Pez The Flyer Interview 1996

If you have ever seen a flyer, there's a chance that it will have been illustrated by Pez, A.K.A Steven Perry. The man the mystery. Until now, that is. His tag has graced the flyers of the greatest . Dreamscape, Helter Skelter, The Edge, World Dance, Raindance, Moondance, Jungle Fever, Freedom to Dance, Awol, Beyond Therapy, Dance Planet, Humanity, Rage.........etc,etc,

Basically, Pez was there from the start and he continues to provide us with stunning artwork, deep and mysterious, right up to the present day. But where did he come from and what were his roots? " My role as an artist began in the mid 1980's . Graffiti Art permitted me to experiment with colour and form. I became obsessed with Graffiti Art and culture for many years but eventually I felt restricted by the primitiveness of the spray can. I am a self taught as an airbrush artist, applying the rule that the next piece must be better than the last. On the Graffiti scene, Pez holds respect to 'Seen' (New York), 'Mode 2', 'Pride' (Trailblazers, Chrome Angels London) In my opinion, They are the Kings of Graffiti Art.

For Pez ,now 26, his first thoughts on flyers were of disenchantment. "When the scene began flyers were not necessary, the events were illegal, you only found out through word of mouth. After a night out at biology at Lynford film studios I was handed a black and white photocopy advertising an event coming up It was poor with no artwork, not very exiting I thought I could do better. Graffiti represented Hip Hop music and culture but House music however, was blank with no art form to call it's own, after all it was just beginning. Everyone could feel it was growing into something that could not be stopped, so in the years since then I have dedicated myself to creating the art form of the Dance Music Scene."

The road to success was a rocky one, but he was determined and spent many years trying to break into flyer design. He was constantly harassing promoters and club owners, carrying his portfolio to clubs and dance parties, hoping to get noticed for his talent. "I used RAGE/OZ (Heaven , Charing Cross) as my office for many years, the opening hours were Thursday nights 10pm-3.30am (no business was permitted during Groove's last half hour,3-3.30am) so for 4 years anyone involved in the scene had to and did go to Rage, and if they were anyone usually leaving having been forced to see my portfolio, and many thanks to Kevin Millings for letting me use the club as an office for all those years."

His influences are infinite, nothing escapes the watchful eye of pez. Gathering information from everything around him, all forms of media, TV advertising, Magazines, Technology, he pieces together a library of information, which at some point down the line flows back out in the shape of a stunning painting. " I admire anything that catches my eye and communicates instantly, that is the secret. The real source of my work is my imagination: For a moment place yourself in one of my pictures , wander around, you are inside my mind. The problem is, there are world's untold trapped within my imagination that I cannot paint, my hands can only produce so much of what I see.

My imagination is most productive when I am tired, I believe sleep deprivation is the doorway to my best work, by persevering beyond exhaustion I journey into most creative realm. "Pez loves his music, so much in fact, that he cannot paint without it. For example, the artwork used for this interview and Helter Skelter, March 96 was inspired by the track "Give me a dub plate" . "I have a few favourite dj's, on the dark side Groove Mickey finn Hype on the jazzy tip Fabio, Bukem, On the funky De large and the Wise guys / Way out West, M.C -GQ.

With so many promoters using computer aided design, many would think that paintings are a dying form in the world of the flyer, but not Pez. He continues as he always has done, safe with the knowledge that he will always provide original work, something that at the moment computer aided design may not be able to match. " The computer and the airbrush are both design tools - instruments of a creative mind and creative hand. There are few excellent computer aided designs on flyers, a clear weakness is similarity, as most are designed using the same programs. The Dance Music Scene is my passion. I trust that in the future, as in the past, my work will continue to reflect my enthusiasm and feeling for the music we all love."

This interview has been an enlightening one, shining light on the man that is Pez. Living down in deepest Somerset (formerly London) with his wife Michelle & daughter Charlotte, Pez makes his final comment on the scene as a whole.

"At the moment I believe the scene is at it's strongest, well organised and full of people working hard and committed to what they are doing. Thousands of people every week dance and listen to a diversity of House Music. The talent which has emerged through many changes experienced in the house music scene, has a responsibility to continue it's development, and not reflect on past glories"