The Norwich Puppet Man pictured with today's Evening News.
Video: Norwich puppet man shows “new lease of life” after death rumours
Donna-Louise Bishop, Reporter
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
4:42 PM
Shrugging off the rumours of his death, the Norwich puppet man has been showing off his performance skills today, using his “new lease of life” to prove that he is very much alive.
Rumours of his death escalated over the internet last night but puppet man, David Perry, was all too happy to show he is fighting fit by performing for the Evening News.
“I was phoned up five times last night,” the 67-year-old said.
“They asked me if I was dead and I said well I’m still talking aren’t I? I’m still here.”
The rumour is believed to have began on the social networking site Facebook, after Twitter users traced the source of the rumour to a single individual on Facebook.
His wikipedia entry was also tampered with, which was then publicised on Twitter and Facebook.
The rumour stated that Mr Perry had passed away in Great Yarmouth yesterday after suffering from a heart attack.
But he was back in Norwich today continuing to perform with his puppet Mick Jagger at one of his hot spots on Gentleman’s Walk in the city centre.
He said: “I feel like I am back with new skills and a new lease of life.”
As well as performing in Norwich city centre, he also performs in Great Yarmouth, usually outside McDonald’s Restaurant on Regent Boulevard.
Thousands of people around the world have watched his act on the internet, which he started performing in the mid-1980s, but in 1997 was forced to quit after officials stopped his incapacity benefit because he was earning money through busking.
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9 comments
It is a pity he is not prosecuted for playing recorded music in piblic and not paying any royalties. Businesses cannot pipe music to its workforce with out paying a licence fee so why oh why does this bloke get away with it.
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NchNthMan
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Sorry guys, BUT seriously, is this how we want the visitors of Norwich to remember this city??????? I've got more talent in by big toe! l It's Norfolking good! BAD in a Bad way,
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Rlumb
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Whilst Mr Perry's act is not to my taste it is certainly appreciated by others. However Is he a true musician or a cunningly disguised beggar? T o me this is the key question.
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owllady
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
For years Norwich and norfolk have made significant contributions to the artistic enrichment of East Anglian life,attracting Lizst and Jenny Lind in the past to perform here but nothing compares to the Singing postman or the puppet man for sheer entertainment value. It's performers of this calibre that tell the rest of the world what Norfolk is all about. Long may this master of mime continue to entertain us outside Primark.
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Harry Rabinowitz
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
How coarse NHS Ziggy.
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John L Norton
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
I've just got home from a truly rotten day at work...and I watched the video above....and have practically soiled my undercrackers laughing at it! Genius!!!
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Ziggy
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
We need more like him, he is a harmless entertaining street character much like Marigold and the Market Twins and bag lady, and it's only when you can talk about these people several years down the road, you realise it defines the characters and our city in comparison to others and maybe you'll realise it's a fine city.
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Smiffy
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Must be a slow day for news so let's invent a story.....yawn
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Nick South
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
My dictionary defines a busker as being a street musician. I am afraid all that MR Perry does is play pre-recorded music and waggle his arms around in the hope that people will give him money. Surely incapacity benefit is for those not fit to work
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Norwich lad
Tuesday, March 29, 2011