Neil Pepper

An early introduction to live performance and its rewards began with a solo ukulele performance at my Great Uncle’s local for the princely sum of an ice-cream cone. This inevitably led to a lifelong romance with beer. However, before reaching this epiphany, further experience was gained by upgrading to a larger instrument with six strings then touring the Cheshire Homes and performing for the residents with my two cousins and this time it was tea and biscuits. I was beginning to see how lucrative this hobby was becoming.

School days in Croydon allowed me to perform with the school choir and hone my vocals and harmonies, until my voice broke, as well as lunchtime jams with other very competent musicians.

A brief encounter with the realms of violin virtuosity was curtailed very quickly after taking the violin home to practice.

Being a keen rugby player, beer is a prerequisite for playing. This opened up to me a new world of pubs and clubs which brought me into contact with many musicians lubricating their vocal chords prior to a gig. Many years were spent gigging in various configurations of either rock bands or more laid back acoustic trios or duos. The latter culminating in a two year residency at a top hotel.

The other guys in the band don’t know this, but one night at the hotel, Jack Bruce, the bass player of ‘Cream’ bought us a pint during our break.

My early musical influences came from the likes of ‘The Eagles’, ‘Crosby, Stills and Nash’, James Taylor and Jim Croce.

I joined Virgo in 1982 when I was 16. This was quite a step up for me as Virgo had won the “Pub Entertainers of the Year” award on a few occasions and appeared on radio and TV, so I had a lot to live up to and I’m still trying! Well, that’s what the other guys in the band say.

My weapons of choice are a Roland G808 guitar/synth controller played through a Line 6 amp, two Guild acoustics, Line 6 electric acoustic, 5 string banjo, mandolin and guitarlele.