Dave Pepper – Biog

As a teenage guitarist of some repute, Dave Pepper helped create punk band ‘X-Certs’ and provided a varied stance on the Coventry scene including Dexy’s style soul (Team 23), the iconic “I” with Dill from Gods Toys (who very nearly secured a big deal), the baroque music of the Courtiers of Fashion with Tracey Skarzynska, the Ramrods/Major Five with Danny Cunningham & his brother Barney and of course under the direct influence & support of Tony James (of Generation X & Sigue Sigue Sputnik), probably Dave’s best known band, Blitzkrieg Zone 2020. He also spent many years living and working in the USA, playing, touring, learning and including a very successful career playing the vineyard circuit of Virginia.

Dave in his heyday in Blitzkrieg Zone 2020

The X-Certs

From Coventry, England, they began life in 1978 and lasted for 3 years.

Zero Summers (Kev) had started playing drums about 2 weeks before and Gray Summers, previously playing 6 string, changed to bass at the same time due to a lack of bass players in Coventry. Dave Pepper, was persuaded to join by kidnapping and threat of torture. He was pretty good and Gray and Zero didn’t think he would join a couple of novices. Swayed by our lack of good looks (it meant he would stand out!!) we got down to the nitty gritty of writing some tunes. Dave and Gray shared vocals and the song writing. Some decent tunes and a semblance of being able to play a bit materialised and the band launched into gigs joined by Dave Chalmers (sound) and Chris King (previous manager of The Flys.

The X-Certs feeling in the groove..... — Dave Pepper and the X-Certs feeling in the groove…..

The band had a good following locally but the more visual bands the Specials/Selecter and God’s Toys grabbed a huge fan base in Coventry. The X-Certs won the Battle of the Bands at Warwick University and suddenly ‘got confidence’.

Gig after gig, a few recording sessions and interest from record companies materialised but the band drifted apart. The threat of the single release of ‘FEELING IN THE GROOVE’ c/w ‘SATISFIED’ didn’t hapen as the Indie record label ZAMA Records kept re-mixing it all the time. (They wanted fairy dust sprinkling over it !!!!!)”

The Courtiers Of Fashion

After Dave Pepper left the band ‘I’, he had a stab at new romanticism with this band. Recorded at Cabin Studio in Coventry this was the first 45 RPM 7″ vinyl single release on the newly formed Sonar Record label.

Dave Pepper – Vocals, Keybords, Guitar
Paul Johnston – Drums, Keyboards
Karen Ellett – Vocals

Dave Pepper and the Courtiers Of Fashion first and only vinyl release

Sonar Music Anniversary Album

The track ‘Courtiers Of Fashion’ appears on the Sonar Music 25th Anniversary Album.

The track also makes an appearance on the new Alternative Sounds Volume 2 album. Buy here