Tragedy of a Lost Boy: Benjy Ferree

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"I THOUGHT I was Peter Pan when I was young," says Silver Spring-born singer-songwriter Benjy Ferree. "I was obsessed with flying, like most children are. And I literally jumped off the garage when I was, like, five."

Ferree's fixation with the world of Lost Boys is what inspired his rock-infused second CD, "Come Back to the Five and Dime, Bobby Dee, Bobby Dee," released last week. As a kid, Ferree became fixated with Disney's animated 1953 version of "Peter Pan," especially the title character's voiceovers, which were done by child actor Bobby Driscoll. When he learned Driscoll died drug-addled and homeless at 31, his songwriting muse kicked in.

"I was definitely saddened by his story," explains Ferree, who will hold a CD release party at the Black Cat. "Bobby Driscoll brought up all these other things in my life that maybe I'd taken for granted. The record is about death in general and how precious life really is. I wouldn't say it's a concept record, I'd say it's a tribute record. But it's much more personal than people would think."

Ferree used Driscoll's story as a jumping-off point to explore his feelings on topics ranging from the death of a friend ("Pisstopher Christopher") to American icons ("What Would Pecos Do?") to growing up ("When You're 16"). But it's the rocking sound of the record that makes the biggest impression. Its mix of glam rock and electric blues couldn't be more different from the olde-tyme Americana of Ferree's debut.

"When I got signed with Domino Records, I went on tour with my band and I realized I was sitting on a goldmine of players," he says. "So I really wanted to make a rock 'n' roll record."

» Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW, with Tim Fite, the Laughing Man; Sat., Feb. 28, 9 p.m., $12; 800-551-7328. (U St.-Cardozo)

Written by Express contributor Tony Sclafani
Photo by Bryan Whitson