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From Anarchy to the TARDIS: The Punk Rock Past of Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson
Before he was Doctor Who and he was a late-night TV host, Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson were bandmates in a Glasgow punk rock group called The Dreamboys. This unlikely friendship, forged in art school and acid trips, is a fascinating footnote in the history of two entertainment icons.
Imagine, for a moment, the Twelfth Doctor from Doctor Who and the witty, self-deprecating host of The Late Late Show. On the surface, Peter Capaldi and Craig Ferguson occupy very different corners of the entertainment universe. One is a celebrated Scottish actor known for intense, iconic roles; the other, a beloved comedian and talk show host who redefined American late-night. But wind the clock back to the post-punk scene of early 1980s Glasgow, and you'll find them sharing a stage, a flat, and perhaps a few hallucinogens.
The Glasgow Art School Scene
The story begins not in a television studio, but at the Glasgow School of Art, a crucible of creativity in a city buzzing with new-wave energy. It was here that a young Peter Capaldi, the aspiring painter and frontman, met Craig Ferguson, the aspiring drummer. They were part of a generation inspired by the DIY ethos of punk rock, ready to make noise and art on their own terms.
Meet The Dreamboys
Together, they formed a band. Initially, they went by the gloriously punk name 'The Bastards from Hell,' a moniker they later wisely traded for the more marketable 'The Dreamboys.' Capaldi was the lead singer, bringing his characteristic intensity to the microphone, while Ferguson laid down the beats on the drums. While they never achieved mainstream success, they were a fixture in the vibrant Glasgow music scene, playing gigs and honing the stage presence that would later serve them both so well.
Forged in Friendship (and Acid)
They weren't just bandmates; they were close friends and roommates. Their shared history is filled with the kind of wild youthful experiences that bond people for life. Ferguson, in his autobiography and various interviews, has been candid about their adventures, including experimenting with LSD together. It speaks to a deep, formative friendship that predates fame and fortune. As Ferguson once recalled about his bond with Capaldi:
We were in a punk rock band together and we were pals. We took acid together. Which is a special bond. I don't know if you've ever taken acid with anyone, but if you have, you know. You are bonded.
Divergent Paths to Stardom
Eventually, The Dreamboys disbanded, and their lives took dramatically different turns. Capaldi focused on acting, slowly building an acclaimed career with roles in films like Local Hero before achieving cult status as the profanely brilliant Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It and, ultimately, global fame as the star of Doctor Who. Ferguson, meanwhile, battled alcoholism and found sobriety, channeling his experiences into a comedy career that took him to America. There, he defied convention as the host of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson from 2005 to 2014, earning a Peabody Award for his thoughtful and anarchic take on the format.
A Full-Circle Reunion
For years, their shared past was a piece of trivia known mostly to hardcore fans. That changed when Capaldi, then the newly-minted Doctor, appeared on Ferguson's show in 2014. The televised reunion was a joy to watch, as the two old friends reminisced about their punk rock days, their shared flat, and their incredible, improbable journeys. It was a moment that brought their story full circle, from a noisy Glasgow stage to the global spotlight, their lifelong friendship still perfectly intact.