WHO EXACTLY WERE THE PEAKY BLINDERS?
Did Peaky Blinders really exist? Throughout history, many people have claimed to be Peaky Blinders. The most famous of these is James Murphy who was a member of the Birmingham Gang and was jailed for life in 1901. He claimed that he had been Peaked Blinded by his father on the day he turned 16 years old. However, others contest this claim and say that it's just an urban legend or story made up by TV series writer Stephen Knight to add drama and interest to the show.
- Peaky Blinders are a street gang from Birmingham England who were active in the 1890s through 1940s
- They were involved in robberies, protection rackets, extortion schemes, and other crimes such as theft of silk and Peaky Blinders were rumored to be behind the 1926 General Strike
- Peaky blinders grew in power quickly. They eventually controlled all crime, especially illegal gambling; they also regulated brothels and pubs throughout Birmingham
- Members of the Peaky Blinder gang wore a distinctive style of clothing: flat caps with razor blades sewn into the peaks which were used as weapons
WHAT IS ACTUALLY THE OPINION OF THE PEAKY BLINDERS
The Peaky Blinders were a gang of violent, roving criminals who operated in Birmingham and London during the late 19th century. The Peaky Blinders became one of the most notorious gangs in England with their unique appearance: they would sew razor blades into their caps so that when they attacked someone, it could lead to blindness or death.
Many people know Peaky Blinders is a TV series that has been aired on Netflix. Peaky Blinders are involved in the illegal activity of betting on dog racing, stealing weapons, and killing people. Peaky Blinders are also known for their significant influence in the parts of Birmingham where they operated, which is no doubt an indication of their power.
HOW DID THE PEAKY BLINDERS GET THEIR NAME?
It is rumored that Peaky Blinders got their name because they used to sew razor blades into the peaks of their caps. Peaky Blinders are also called the Peaky, the Stabbers, or the Birmingham Gangsters.
LIFE OF THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Peaky Blinders took over Birmingham and threatened other gangs in order to make money. This caused Peaky Blinders to become more popular and successful. Peaky Blinders had connections with other gangs and countries, and it continued to grow as a gang because of this. Peaky Blinders were also protected by local residents because they protected the community from outsiders who would hurt them.
Peaky Blinders became more ambitious as time went on, but they began to face problems as a result of the Peaky Blinders' ambition. Peaky Blinders would take over houses and businesses that were not theirs, which caused problems with other gangs because then they wanted to do it too.
Peaky Blinder members also became more violent as time went on, which led Peaky Blinders into a downward spiral where everything got worse for Peaky Blinders. The Peaky Blinders were eventually taken out by other gangs, which led to Peaky Blinders losing control over Birmingham and becoming weaker than before. Peaky blinders grew in power quickly and eventually controlled all crime especially illegal gambling they also regulated brothels and pubs throughout Birmingham Peaky Blinder members were known for their distinctiveness.
IS THERE SUCH A BOND IN REAL LIFE?
There is a group with that name, but none of them are relatives or family. The time when they were famous also predates the First World War. They were often referred to as the Birmingham Gangs instead of the post-war Peaky Blinders. The characters inspired by the series are the naughty guys in the photo below.
WHO WAS THE PEAKY BLINDERS GANG LEADER
THOMAS SHELBY WAS THE PEAKY BLINDERS GANG LEADER.
He lived in Small Heath, Birmingham with his wife Polly Gray. His life revolves around the Peaky Blinders' criminal activities including protection rackets, illegal horse racing, robbery, and selling alcohol during Prohibition.
Shelby's ambition is to build the Peaky Blinders into a national organization. To this end, he has developed business interests in London which can supply customers to pubs and clubs across the Midlands.
THOMAS SHELBY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Thomas Shelby is a man who has everything and nothing. He's the head of one of the most notorious gangs in Birmingham, England, and lives a life that many would kill for. But his past haunts him every day and he does not know how to escape it. His gang is taken over by those close to him as he tries to figure out what really matters in this world.
ARTHUR SHELBY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Arthur Shelby was born in Birmingham, England. He joined the Peaky Blinders gang and became a feared enforcer for them. Arthur's tough demeanor earned him his nickname "The Frog."
POLY GRAY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
"A lot of people are curious about the woman who played Poly Gray in the Peaky Blinders. This is her story."
Poly Gray was an actress and vaudeville performer, born Phyllis Watson on March 5th, 1875 in Bolton, Lancashire. She began performing as a child with her sisters at age 10 to help support their family after their father died. Poly made her first stage appearance at 14 years old and went on to become one of England's most popular actresses during the early 1900s. In 1924 she married Frank Howard Price and retired from acting because she wanted to focus more time on being a wife and mother.
FINN SHELBY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
In the BBC series "Peaky Blinders," Finn Shelby is a character that will not be easily forgotten. He's always up to something behind his brother's back, and he has a nasty habit of being in all the wrong places. Though he can't take care of himself, Finn Shelby is somehow still able to get out of any tight spot with a little help from his friends.
ADA SHELBY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
"Ada Shelby is one of the main characters in Peaky Blinders, a British television crime drama set in Birmingham after World War I. She is the sister of gang leader Tommy Shelby and works as his second-in-command." The emotion that can be felt from Ada's character is strength, determination, and loyalty to her family. While she was portrayed as strong throughout the series viewers were introduced to other sides of her character such as vulnerability. When it came down to protecting her brother it seemed like no obstacle would stop Ada from being at his side.
LIZZIE SHELBY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Lizzie Shelby was a woman of many talents, but her most notable skill set was her ability to make money. She did this by running one of the first speakeasies in Birmingham and had connections with high-profile individuals across the world.
LINDA SHELBY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Linda Shelby was a woman ahead of her time. She stood up to the men in her life and found success for herself, all while living in one of the most male-dominated parts of England. Linda's story is an inspiring one about overcoming obstacles and achieving your dreams.
MICHAEL GRAY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
"Michael Gray. What an incredible man he was, and what a shame it is that he isn't spoken about in such high regard today."
Who was Michael Gray from the Peaky Blinders? He was born in 1849 to parents who were both Irish immigrants living in Birmingham, England at the time. He had seven siblings: four brothers and three sisters. Unfortunately for Gray's family, his father passed away when Michael was just nine years old and left them all to fend for themselves without any income coming into their household.
GINA GRAY FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Gina Gray was a woman who had the unfortunate opportunity to be born into an impoverished family during the industrial revolution. Born in 1894, she grew up in poverty and faced immense discrimination because of her gender.
JESSIE EDEN FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Jessie Eden was a woman of many talents. She was beautiful, intelligent, and she had a knack for fashion. Jessie captivated the Peaky Blinders with her charm and beauty from the moment they met at a garden party hosted by Lady Chesterfield in 1920s Birmingham. They were smitten with her right away, but what started as an innocent flirtation quickly turned into something much more serious when Tommy Shelby fell in love with Jessie Eden.
COLONEL BEN YOUNGER FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
"Colonel Ben Younger from the Peaky Blinders" is a character that has been in our lives for quite some time now. The show "Peaky Blinders," which is an epic British crime drama, has taken all of us on a roller coaster ride with this man and his family. It's hard to believe that we have been through so many twists and turns together as he was one of the main characters at the center of it all. We were first introduced to him when Tommy Shelby took over their business, but Colonel made sure they stayed afloat by taking care of their illegal activities even though it meant putting himself at risk.
JIMMY MCCAVERN FROM THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Jimmy McCavern was a member of the Peaky Blinders gang. He had an affair with Polly Gray, the wife of his boss Arthur Gray. However, when Jimmy's son died in WWI, Jimmy lost all hope and decided to commit suicide by hanging himself from the rafters in the family home.
THE PEAKY BLINDERS SONGS
DAVID BOWIE AND THE PEAKY BLINDERS
David Bowie was a huge fan of Peaky Blinders as well as several other British dramas such as Breaking Bad and The Sopranos. His song lyrics also often referenced this interest with mentions such as "She'll scratch your eyes out, Peaky Blinders". He even attended the Peaky Blinders opening night in London in November 2013.
NICK CAVE AND THE PEAKY BLINDERS
Nick Cave is one of the most successful British rock bands ever, and their music has become synonymous with Peaky Blinders. Peaky Blinders uses Nick Cave's songs to create a dark and powerful atmosphere for the Peaky Blinders.
Peaky Blinders music has been influenced by various artists including PJ Harvey, David Bowie, Scott Walker, Tom Waits, Johnny Cash to name but a few - it is Nick Cave who truly makes his songs come alive for audiences on screen with some of their most popular tracks being used throughout many episodes of Peaky Blinders such as 'Red Right Hand' or 'Into My Arms'.
HERE ARE THE LESSER-KNOWN THINGS ABOUT THE SERIES:
- The most criticized aspect of the series has been its dialect. Many people believed that the Birmingham accent was created specifically for sale in the American market, but many experts and historians have disputed this claim.
- Charlotte Riley, who plays the horse breeder in season two, is married to Tom Hardy, who plays the lead character. In the series, Tom Hardy portrays Jewish Alfie Solomons. Cillian Murphy and Tom Hardy starred together previously in two other films. We've already seen them together in both Inception and Batman The Dark Knight Rises.
- The language spoken on the Peaky Blinders TV program isn't genuine. Romanian was used among themselves.
- Winston Churchill did only a little of his job on the series in 1910.
- In real life, John Shelby and Finn Cole from the Peaky Blinders were brothers.
- Outside of Birmingham, the majority of the filming occurred.
