Pete's Page

Pete has been playing saxophone for nearly fifteen years and flute since he was eleven. He founded his first band when he was at school; a cod-heavy metal outfit called The Leather Reptiles in which he 'played' bass. Shocked at its failure, Pete didn't join any more bands until he had left university. A less-than-stellar career in public relations drove him back to music-making, jamming with a local New Orleans-style jazz group and performing with a rock covers band called Cold Tuesdays.

Pete was introduced to the Mad Hatters by Alex (percussion) six years ago when they played together in the popular-but-disfunctional Harry Monk Allstars, from which the Hatters also co-opted Tim (trumpet).

Pete is also a member of Tunbridge Wells-based Defenders of Planet Earth and has recently founded an as yet unnamed Frank Sinatra tribute group, which is giving him the opportunity to try his hand at arranging big band music. At the time of going to press, he has also started rehearsing with a Brighton-based stilt-band; a venture that involes playing trad-jazz, rock & roll, disco and heavy metal songs in a skiffle-style whilst balancing on stilts and dressed in an oversized zoot suit and brothel creepers.

Pete has under-performed in a number of day-jobs, including Marketing Manager, Press Officer for the British Egg Industry Council, Bungee Jump attendant, bookseller and homeopathic medicine manufacturer, but is indebted to Andy (vocals/ guitar) for introducing him to gardening, an occupation which incorporates his second favourite hobby of not being anywhere near a telephone.