Peter Noble's ubiquitous presence throughout space and time by Friends of Peter Noble

Peter Noble's ubiquitous presence throughout space and time.

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Kolu Mbeya's futuristic 1962 masterpiece 'Mucho Elbon' has been recognised as a major influence on

contemporary artists such as Jake & Dinos Chapman, although they have always strenuously denied it.

I mean, come on Guys!!!!.

"Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it." (Matthew 16:18)

A (mistakenly reported) attempt on Peter's life inexplicably plays second fiddle to The Wall Street Crash, we assume due to local bias on behalf of the paper.

"Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and one toward the future, toward eternity". - Lester Bangs

This un-named and un-credited piece was photographed by Milton Johns in Cowdenbeath in 1972.

Widely acknowledged to have been a direct influence on graffiti artists of various guises throughout the world; although many folk have since attempted to take credit for it, nobody has ever owned up.

“History is contemporary.

Your understanding of history confirms what you think of the present. It's not neutral".

- Ken Loach

This is Peter Noble...

"...but Peter - How do we get to Never Land?" - JM Barrie

An obscure foreign poster for Jack Gold's cult hard-boiled British crime classic 'The Reckoning'.

None of these are actually known to exist.

“His own life seemed so solitary, a fragile column supporting nothing amidst the wreckage of the years.� - Carson McCullers

Showing he is comfortable with balls of all shapes and sizes, Peter looks like he's really given this one a good

whack, and I'd be very surprised if his opponent didn't have to retrieve the ball from two or three gardens over.

What a racquet!!!.

“A fairly young, intelligent-looking man with long hair asked me whether filming or being filmed could do harm, whether it could destroy a person.

In my heart the answer was yes, but I said no.� - Werner Herzog

Always elegant, forever sartorially minded, Peter's search for clobber took him far and wide.

He posed for this photo after agreeing a deal to fetch moccasins to Europe for the first time, helping him develop a look that would precede the 'Casual' movement by the best part of a century.

"How can I describe Peter's face, the pieces of him that stick to my heart?"

- Jodie Lynn Anderson

As I understand it, 'Duke' was like a bionic wonder dog or something.

I never owned it as a kid, and neither did any of my mates. We were more into Star Wars figures and that from Zodiac or Benns really.

"What's real?. What's not?". - Andy Kaufman

Classic poster for this infamous exhibition, where several illustrated renditions of Peter's head are

seemingly juggled, like, I don't know really, like they're balls or eggs or something.

"I rocked the cradle of love". - Billy Idol

Peter's world-renowned expertise with engineering and architecture has been utilised many times.

He graciously poses for a photograph here during the construction of The Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.

"And Peter laughed, and when he did, all the Devils grinned, because Peter's laugh was a most contagious thing". - Gerald Brom

Finding himself at a loose end for a couple of weeks during the summer of 1890, Peter decided to make good on an offer to test-drive an early example of a steam engine over in Seattle.

"I really like the Mariachi singing in Westerns". - Harry Dean Stanton

Peter Noble. Sidney Poitier. Marlon Brando.

Robert de Niro. So many others... Natassja Kinski !!!.

“Sometimes people are beautiful. Not in looks.

Not in what they say. Just in what they are". - Markus Zusak

Peter looking on, allowing other less illustrious individuals to have their time in the sunshine. Jimmy Hoffa waves to the crowd here, mistakenly believing their adulation to be directed at him. Peter just nods politely, unwilling to embarrass Mr Hoffa.

Peter is a humble man. A great man. In every sense.

"His name is Peter and by now, all the civilized world has heard of him. He has captured the public imagination and become a legend, a subject for poets, philosophers and psychologists to write about, and for children to dream of". - CM Mechling

Currently residing in MOMA NYC, Gertrude Levine's 'No Peter Nobler' has caused immense critical

supposition. The Satanic image peeping out on his throat. The Christ-like figure in place of Peter's nose.

The spectral eyes where his nipples should be.

It's all there. A thing of true beauty.

"Aim above morality". - Ruth Gordon

Peter involved again in what is to become an iconic example of anti-establishment rebellion.

Social commentators have often asked the question Does Peter have an uncanny knack for being in the right place at the right time?.

Or does everybody else??.

"By and large, language is a tool for concealing the truth". - George Carlin

Peter Blake incorporated Peter's image (autographed by the man himself), along with a rare 'Bathing Ape' toy bear and a few other attractive looking bits and bobs into this disparate sculpture.

Called 'above a Geoff', it takes pride of place in Chicago's Art Institute, opposite Edward Hopper's 'NightHawks'.

"BMX boys have a lot of fun". - Danny Owen

Adopted as 'an ideal for living' by many cultures in various guises, Peter has always remained

disaffected by global adulation.

His humble response to his many acolytes; (("Don't try and be me Just be the best 'you' you can be")). has been adapted as a mantra by many progressive thinkers and those words continue to inspire.

"...a man who exemplifies the idea that one person can make a world of difference".

- Richard Attenborough

An exhibition dedicated to various artistic impressions of Peter that took place in Ghent, Belgium.

It ran for 4 months in 1999, and besides a major Magritte retrospective has been the most successful installation there yet. As this woman didn't want to be featured in this book, we've covered her head with an illustration of a strawberry.

"We want to be out of sight of land Fisher-Man" - Brian Glover

Known simply to beat-diggers and record collectors as 'Peter-Patch', an original 1976 pressing of this British 'Library' LP fetches a few bob these days.

Predominantly desired for its cover, this record is also noted for including Alan Hawshaw's 'Chicken Man' (aka the much-loved theme to Grange Hill).

"If you were here, I could deceive you". - Tom Bailey

A still from part of an experimental film called 'Peter Pumpkin' that was shown during 'A Trip down Burnley Lane';

A psychedelic happening in Duke Bar circa 1966 that would precede various so-called 'Wig-outs' in London and San Francisco and places like that.

"Peter," I whispered from the shadows.

"We've all been damaged by the 20th century. A man like you can talk to God. But can you spare a word for me?". - Lauren Christy

Universally revered for his altruistic persona and philanthropic way of life, here's Peter supporting yet another good cause.

Notice how he's happy to bring up the rear, graciously allowing the photographer to focus on others.

Noble by name - Noble by nature.

"My cow is not pretty. But it is pretty to me". - David Lynch

Shown here gracing the box of popular detective game 'Wanted', Peter allowed his image to be used on several

similar products in order to secure "an absolute shitload of free games and that" for various hospitals and nursing homes throughout East Lancashire.

"Shoulder the sky my lad. And finish your ale". - AE Housman

One of many examples portraying Peter as an illustrated marine biologist, legend has it that he was

paid for this piece with a decade's supply of Twinkies', which he subsequently gave away, having always believed they'd taste much better than they actually do.

"I quite like talking myself, but when Peter is in the room there isn't much point You just have to listen". - Clive James

Peter shown here sharing a chippy tea with respected novelist Mark Twain (2nd from left).

Mr Twain often professed his admiration for his most esteemed guest, and incorporated Peter's occasional fondness for wearing an outfit that consisted solely of denim dungarees and a straw hat into several of his stories.

Kevin Rowland dug it too I understand although he employed a different type of headwear.

“Only the few know the sweetness of the twisted apples". - Sherwood Anderson

Purchased from an inebriated sailor on a ferry between Talinn and Helsinki, I've genuinely no idea what this is,

but I reckon that it's like some Russian Sci-Fi yarn or whatever about what might transpire if Peter drove a flying saucer or something, like a spaceship like, and alien races throughout the universe laboured under the apprehension that he was some kind of God.

"Don't worry about the jersey". - Phil Menzies

An artistic impression of Peter attempting to reassure a crowd of panicking onlookers who are clearly struggling during their first encounter with an irate elephant.

Imagine if you'd never even seen a picture of one, and suddenly this behemoth shows up. You would SHIT it.

"As a child, I had terrible asthma". - Martin Scorsese

Eric Greaves, a notable contemporary of Bridget Riley, produced 'Bald Bubbles' in 1963.

It sold at auction for $170,000 to an unnamed telephone bidder widely believed to have been tennis legend Ivan Lendl.

Peter returned the compliment theoughout the mid-1980s by selling Adidas tracky tops and trainers that bore Lendl's name.

"Nothing can wear you out like caring about people".

- SE Hinton

It came as little surprise when the most prestigious inter-governmental organisation on the planet asked

that Peter become an honorary member. He has campaigned tirelessly to promote human rights across the world. In 1900, 'The Nobel Peace Prize' was introduced in order to recognise fine folk who walked in his shadow. Even though the organisers spelt his name wrong when giving the award it's title, Peter never made a fuss about it. Hero.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it".

- Flannery O'Connor

In a desperate effort to revive flagging viewing figures, Bob Block offered Peter a reputed six-figure perepisode sum which was unheard of in them days in order to entice him into playing military spook 'Commander Blop', a bespoke role invented for Peter.

After attending two sets of rehearsals Peter advised the team that he 'wasn't feeling it', and his Rentaghost career ended before it began. Ever the gent, at the behest of the cast he posed for this photo. Veteran actress Sue Nicholls (Pipkins, Reginald Perrin, etc) was later quoted as saying that Peter was the most charismatic human being she had ever encountered.

"...with the flat smile of the deeply inconvenienced". - Martin Amis

Thought to be an early piece by Banksy, art fans and Peter Noble acolytes throughout the world were

devastated to learn that this had been 'fliered over' by a poster advertising a concert featuring T'Pau. It is still widely believed to be under there.

"The memories I leave will be nothing at all". - Paul Haig

Peter was an ever-present in teenage tomes throughout the latter part of the twentieth century.

In this 'Saturday Scene Special', a Q&A session revealed his favourite colour to be 'fairly dark brown', and his favourite frozen dessert to be 'ice cream'.

He refused to tell his favourite joke.

"Within three months I had gone from being this black sheep of the town to suddenly becoming a pop star. - Alison Moyet

Fans of Pareidolia will certainly recognise this. Retired LumberJack Margaret Neville, of Hoboken NJ, was 'astonished' to find an image of Peter smiling up at her as she prepared to eat her grilled cheese deluxe.

Following coverage of the miracle on Fox News, Margaret was offered 'more money than I ever seen in my life' for the toastie by a representative of 'Ripley's: Believe it or Not!!', and it now travels around the world helping to spread joyous messages of love.

She was allowed to keep her Breville sandwich maker.

“An English gentleman never shines his shoes, but then nor does a lazy bastard".

- Will Self

A cheeky attempt by t'Circ to cash in on the legendary sex appeal of Peter. Good humoured as he is, the matter was settled out of court.

"If you've got an egg, you've got a meal". - Jason Malone

Another fine example illustrating Peter's cosmopolitan allure, decent copies of this Polish poster for a 1971

Hungarian film sell for thousands. During the film's original theatrical run, as the realisation dawned on cinema-goers throughout Budapest that Peter doesn't actually feature in the film, they proper kicked off.

"The boots had been a mistake.

The decision to buy them was based on the foolish notion that wearing them might cast an interesting glow on a dull personality". - James Kelman

Always one for extolling the virtues of triumph in the face of adversity, this obscure lithograph print shows Peter larking about during the Battle of Waterloo, grinning widely while putting one of the Senior Naval Officers in an affectionate headlock.

The more sartorially minded among you may notice Peter's striped top, which was later adopted by a hip legion of French fisherman, and later still by groovy pop bands such as Orange Juice, and Belle & Sebastian.

"I think cursing is a bunch of malarkey". - Brian Wilson

'Quite besotted' following this chance encounter, revered composer Ilich Tchaikovsky changed his first

name, (by deed poll) to Pyotr which means Peter in Russian. His most popular work, 'The Nutcracker', is widely acknowledged to be an affectionate reference to the shape of Peter's head.

"To see the ball, to run after it, makes me the happiest man in the world".

- Diego Maradona

A poster bought during the 1990s at Afflecks Palace in Manchester.

This was by all accounts one of the top sellers of that era, along with 'Betty Blue', one of the Pope smoking a biffter, that one of that tennis player scratching her arse, and quite a good one of Echobelly.

"Going around under an umbrella interferes with one's looking up at the sky".

- Jerzy Kozinski

According to Damian O'Neill and Michael Bradley, the image of Peter on this advert was the catalyst for them

penning The Undertones hit record 'My Perfect Cousin'.

The opening lyrical couplet was originally 'Now I've got a cousin called Peter, and at everything he can beat ya', but Feargal Sharkey couldn't get the phrasing right.

"I'm developing stuff all the time.

There's a film in my head. I'm imagining a film". - Mike Leigh

Legendary film bod Akira Kurosawa was a HUGE fan of Peter and incorporated his image into promotional

imagery for many of his films. In an interview around the time of 'Kagemusha' (1980), Kurosawa revealed that his masterpiece 'Seven Samurai' (1954) was originally called 'Noble Seven' and featured Peter in several roles, but that the limited advancement of 'special effects' back then restricted his creative vision. He called it his biggest career regret.

"What is?: Is. What was?: Will be. What will be *was*, but will be again".

- Arnold Horshack

As any Noble biographer worth his salt will attest, Peter has always relished any opportunity to chase a massive ball of cheese down a steep hill.

"Only the guy who isn't rowing has time to rock the boat".

- Jean-Paul Sartre

Although unwilling to take up Dennis Waterman's offer of a recurring role in 'The Sweeney', Peter did agree to

appear in this advert for the accompanying boardgame in which young players were encouraged to manhandle burglary suspects and lasciviously pursue middle-aged air hostesses.

"Don't kill the Golden Goose". - Malcolm Mclaren

In an obvious display of two-way affection, the smiles offered by Marilyn and Peter speak volumes here.

As a bystander later told local press: "Miss Monroe wuz staring over toward that bald fella like a hungry woman looks at a meatball sandwich".

" If you find yourself in a confusing situation, simply laugh knowingly and walk away".

- Jim Ignatowski

A snapshot taken in Dusseldรถrf by Pat 'Bomber' Roach during the filming of Auf Wiedershen Pet;

This is a fine example of stencil graffiti.

Understandably, Peter has become an allegorical muse to artists throughout the world as a symbol of peace and quiet.

"Everybody's like everybody else, and everybody's different from everybody else".

- Harvey Pekar

Anton Chekhov was often quoted by claiming that he was 'never happier than when he was reading aloud to Peter Noble'. From the look of that front cover it looks like The Seagull to me, but I'm not sure.

Peter looks absolutely resplendent here in a full-length leather coat which he later graciously rented to Spandau Ballet's Tony Hadley for the groups performance at Wembley Stadium for Live Aid.

“I don't exactly know what I mean by that, but I mean it". - JD Salinger

A common example of the cheekily-monikered 'Nobber Noble' sub-genre of low-budget European

soft-porn films in which a series of look-a-like lotharios pretend to be Peter in order to dupe a wide selection of buxom ladies into varying copulative states.

"Life goes on, long after the thrill of living is gone".

- John Cougar Mellencamp