Monkey Boy

Derek Albert Perlberg (born July 2, 1972), better known by his stage name/alter-ego Monkey Boy, is an American musician, DJ, singer, songwriter, composer and audio engineer. An artist in the electronica music genre, he is credited as a pioneer of hardcore techno, while having also explored other EDM genres such as trance and new-age music.

Monkey Boy is known for his sonic experimentation and elaborate visual appearance, which has included his use of prosthetic makeup and elaborate costumes to resemble a olive baboon.

Early life and education
Perlberg was born on July 2, 1972 in, to Dennis Perlberg, an automobile repairman employed at a Sears Auto Center, and Mona (née Pasqual), a high school horticulture teacher. His father was Ashkenazi Jewish, and his mother was of Italian and Spanish descent. He grew up in nearby. As a young boy, Perlberg developed an interest in monkeys, and at age 7 traveled to, with his parents to see the primates at the.

When he was 10 years old, his family moved to after his father was transferred to another Sears. In a interview, Perlberg stated "it was like culture shock, moving from such a progressive, left-leaning place to a conservative, deeply Christian place. It was my first true interaction with Southerners." He was introduced to electronic music through breakdancing culture and the music of European acts such as and.