The Life and Time Stories of Australian Musicians, Performance Artists and those who commenced their contributed to the Australian Music industry from the 1950’s through to the 1970’s.
Australian Rock of Ages is a series of interviews conducted with artists, entrepreneurs, managers. Those who promoted and contributed to the Australian Music Industry. All were born in Australia or settled in Australia during the halcyon years of the late 1950’s through to the late 1970’s.
We present a different story each month.
This program features the 3-part story of David (Doctor Pepper) Pepperell.
David is part of the Baby Boomer generation consisting of those born between 1944 and 1964. They represented the “new generation” – the first born after the devastation of WWI, the Great depression and WWII.
This generation is now moving well past the 75 year age group and some are rapidly moving into their eighties.
What’s more David is an example of many “Boomers”, those that aren’t ageing with the “grace and charm” of previous generations. They continue to bring the confidence, the attitudes and the values found in the 60’s and 70’s with them. In addition they do so quite loudly and proudly.
His story is somewhat typical of the Baby Boomers stories, and as such is most enlightening and fascinating. Furthermore he was incredibly active during the 1960’s,‘70s & 80’s, where he openly shares his stories.
He talks of growing up during the boom years of the 50’s and 60’s and how due to bullying he developed a second persona. However, this persona would come back to haunt him in later years.
Consequently, like many Boomers, he was caught in a difficult situation of seeking changes at home, at school and socially. Now, the changes demanded by Boomers were hard for parents, teachers and those of previous generations to understand.
So it was, music became a vital component of his early life, both as an escape and for pure pleasure. Accordingly it would remain so for the rest of his life.
In the second of the 3-part program, we learn that David quickly embraced the cultural changes of the 1960’s. Becoming immersed in the rapidly growing Melbourne music scene he became the lead singer in a group called The Union.
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His group had some success releasing a 4-track EP featuring the track The Thump. Co-written by David and Trevor Lunn it only had moderate success but went on to become a collectors item. Also, the track was an ode to the legendary Melbourne disco – The Thumping Tum.
Singing in a band, immersing himself into music and culture, David dived headfirst into the social changes washing over Australia. Furthermore, he could often be found at all the big music festivals.
He went on to work as a successful “underground” journalist as well as a rock journalist. In doing so had a first hand experience in the developing Melbourne pub-rock scene and all the associated experiences.
David has a very easy-going listening style and a sense of humour to go with it. He is very engaging and in this program we continue to share in his adventures. To illustrate we share in his experiences of a period now some 50+ years in our past. Specifically this period has fast become an important part of our music and social history.
In Part 3 we learn of his friendship with another iconic musician and entrepreneur of the time – Keith Glass.
Along with his close friend, he opened up Melbourne’s first import record shop – Archie & Jughead. Consequently it became the First Import Record Shop in Australia. Opening on 31st March 1971, it broke the back of the record company monopoly. Further, according to David and Keith, it “got the music to the people”.
The shop was a phenomenal success but the cost was great on himself and his friendship with partner Keith Glass. However, this success and the success he was having as a “rock-journalist” and columnist began to take its toll.
The alternate persona he developed years earlier and which had been laying dormant took over. As a result David began to live the life of his alter-ego, Dr. Pepper, with unforeseen consequences.
By the same token David holds nothing back and sugar-coats nothing in an informative, engrossing warts and all story.
One thing is for certain, David helped in shaping the counter-cultural literary scene.
He remained active until recent years. In 2015 he co-authored a major music publication, with Colin Talbot. That was that 2015 publication – 100 Greatest Australian Singles of the ’60s. Sadly Colin passed away in 2018.
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Davd now lives living with his wife Marita in a South-East suburb of Melbourne.
Moreover it’s fair to say David has found a large degree of contentment in what he has achieved. But, it’s easy to get the feeling, there is still more to come.
David Pepperell – Part 1
David Pepperell – Part 2
David Pepperell – Part 3
Previous stories in Australian Rock Of Ages can be found via these links;
Program #1 – Bob Bright: Click here
Program #2 – Normie Rowe: Click here
Program #3 – Mike Rudd: Click here
Program #4 – Phil Manning: Click here
Program #5 – Marcie Jones: Click here
Program #6 – Ross D. Wylie: Click here
Program #7 – Lynn Thorpe: Click here
Program #8 – Sam See: Click here:
Program #9 – Mick Hamilton: Click here
Program #10 – Claire Humphrys: Click here
Program #11- Glyn Mason: Click here
Program #12 – David Flint: Click here
Program #13 – Chris Stockley: Click here
Program #14 – Frank Howson: Click here
Program #15 – Mick Elliott: Click here
Program #16 – Pat Wilson: Click here
Program #17 – Lindsay Field: Click here
