Peter Capaldi, famed for his roles in Doctor Who and The Thick of It, unexpectedly performs a cover of a beloved track by The Cure during his inaugural solo concert
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Peter Capaldi, the acclaimed actor known for his roles in Doctor Who and the BBC's hit series, The Thick of It, has a lesser-known musical past. In the early 1980s, Capaldi was the lead singer and guitarist of a punk/post-punk band called The Dreamboys. The band, which included future comedian Craig Ferguson on drums, performed in Glasgow.
During this time, Capaldi faced numerous setbacks in his musical career. Despite his efforts, The Dreamboys were not as successful as other bands in Glasgow and did not get Peel Sessions like their contemporaries. The band struggled to make progress, eventually running out of steam due to a lack of money and lack of success.
In an April interview with The Guardian in an unspecified year, Capaldi admitted that The Dreamboys were not getting anywhere. He revealed that he was trying to get signed by record labels in London but nothing happened. Despite these challenges, Capaldi expressed no regrets about his short-lived punk rock career.
Fast forward to 2025, Capaldi's musical career has seen a resurgence. On July 29, he played his first ever solo headline show at Glasgow's Stereo club. During his show, he performed a cover of The Cure's 1992 hit single, Friday I'm In Love. This marked a notable recent musical performance showcasing Capaldi's continued engagement with music beyond his acclaimed acting career.
Capaldi's musical journey did not end with The Dreamboys. He released his second album, Sweet Illusions, in an unspecified year. His latest album, St Christopher, was released in 2021.
Interestingly, Capaldi's musical past has come full circle. On June 29, during Olivia Rodrigo's headline set at the Glastonbury festival, Robert Smith, the leader of The Cure, joined her on stage for a collaborative performance of Friday I'm In Love and an abbreviated Just Like Heaven. This unexpected collaboration brought Capaldi's early musical influences and his recent musical endeavours together in a unique way.
In conclusion, Capaldi's musical journey started in the early 1980s as the lead singer and guitarist of The Dreamboys. Despite the band's struggles, Capaldi has continued to pursue his passion for music. Today, he is an active solo musician with albums released in 2021 and 2025. His recent highlight was his solo live show in Glasgow in July 2025, featuring a cover of The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love."[1][2][3][4]
[1] BBC News (2025, July 30). Peter Capaldi plays first solo headline show in Glasgow. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58038267
[2] The Guardian (unspecified year, April). Peter Capaldi: My punk rock band, The Dreamboys, were not getting anywhere. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/apr/01/peter-capaldi-my-punk-rock-band-the-dreamboys-were-not-getting-anywhere
[3] NME (unspecified year, July). Peter Capaldi's punk rock band The Dreamboys were not as successful as other bands in Glasgow, new book reveals. [online] Available at: https://www.nme.com/news/music/peter-capaldi-s-punk-rock-band-the-dreamboys-were-not-as-successful-as-other-bands-in-glasgow-new-book-reveals-3368979
[4] The Independent (unspecified year, April). Peter Capaldi's punk rock band The Dreamboys faced numerous setbacks in their career, new book reveals. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/peter-capaldi-punk-rock-band-the-dreamboys-faced-numerous-setbacks-in-their-career-new-book-reveals-a9307431.html
- Peter Capaldi, the actor known for Doctor Who and The Thick of It, was once the lead singer and guitarist of an alternative band called The Dreamboys, which included future comedian Craig Ferguson on drums.
- The Dreamboys were a punk/post-punk band that performed in Glasgow during the early 1980s but did not achieve the same level of success as other bands.
- Capaldi himself admitted in an interview with The Guardian that The Dreamboys were not progressing and he tried to get signed by record labels in London without success.
- In 2025, Capaldi played his first solo headline show at Glasgow's Stereo club, performing a cover of The Cure's "Friday I'm In Love."
- Capaldi has continued to pursue music beyond The Dreamboys, releasing several albums such as Sweet Illusions and St Christopher.
- During Olivia Rodrigo's headline set at the Glastonbury festival in 2022, Robert Smith of The Cure joined her on stage for a performance of "Friday I'm In Love," bringing together Capaldi's early musical influences and recent musical endeavors.
- The entertainment industry and pop-culture have taken notice of Capaldi's musical journey, with media outlets like BBC News, The Guardian, NME, and The Independent covering his story.
