Born John Dikran Utidjian in London, England, Dikran grew up in the Middle East, the Caribbean and the USA as his family followed his father's medical career. After spending his teen years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he moved to London in the mid-70s to pursue his interests. Originally trained for a career in ballet, in 1976 he became lead vocalist for the ska band Madness when they first formed as the North London Invaders. At this time he took the stage name Dikron Tulane, slightly changing the spelling of his middle name and adopting the name of Tulane University as his new surname. However, when he was accepted at the London Drama Centre, where he studied to become an actor from 1977–80, he changed the spelling of his name to Dikran Tulaine.