David started out his musical career at an early age, and became an accomplished pianist and guitarist. After discovering sex and drugs and rock n' roll (and tight pants and pointy boots), he then took up bass, drums and the saxophone.
Originally from the U.K. and living in Preston Lancs, he formed the band RUBI LAZER with Reg Kielthy (vocals), Pete Long (drums), Greg Slater (guitar) and Norman Wade (bass), back in 1975.
Then, in the early eighties, he formed MOSCOW PHILHARMONIX, with Simon Allen (vocals), Norman Wade (again), Az on drums, and Steve 'Digger' Lee on guitar. The band toured extensively on the college/university circuit, and also played many London venues such as The Marquee and The Moonlight Club.
David later moved to Blackburn Lancs and in 1983 formed the band SHAKE SHAKE with Mick Campbell (guitar), Steve 'Horsie' Horsfield (bass), and Paul Chester (drums).
When Mick Campbell left the band, John Wade (who had previously been a member of The Stiffs) joined, along with Neil Somersgill, and THE MIRACLE BIRDS were formed. They wrote a great deal of material together, which culminated in a single 'Heaven Tonight/Brilliant Dreams' and toured all over the UK for 5 years.
After moving to Australia in 1988, David gathered together a new band called TROUBLE WITH TUESDAY, which comprised Phillip Michael (bass), Mark Murphy (drums), and Mark 'Flash' Jordan (guitar). They wrote and recorded many songs during the lifetime of the band and in particular produced a single called 'Blue Eyes 505' which gained airplay on Melbourne radio (and still does, from time to time).
When that band ended, and after a brief hiatus, David joined AUGURY in 1993 as keyboard player, and recorded two albums, 'Moment of Grace' and ' Bending Twisting Turning' with them. Matt Gaertner (bass), Joey Sfameni (drums), Graham Horne (guitar), and Attila Hegedus (vocals) completed the band. Augury played almost every venue of note in Melbourne, including The Espy's Gershwin Room, where they performed to packed houses at each of their album launches.
Also during this period David worked extensively with Rokk Lattanzio and produced a great many songs that later became the basis for the band Rainmaker.
Also he worked with Malcolm Ford on a project that became 121 NATION and recorded an album 'Higher Than The Sun'.
RAINMAKER came about in 1997 and comprised Chris Collins (guitar), Tony Watson (bass), Micheal Taube (drums) and David 'Linus' Van Pelt (keys). The band recorded two EP's - 'Perfect Fascination' and 'Orion's Kite', and a full-length album called 'Edge of the World'.
SOOMO was a studio project which evolved when David met Nissim Solomon in 2004. The two wrote and recorded an EP together, with David singing and playing keys, and Nissim playing all the other instruments and producing.
David is currently in the process of writing for his upcoming solo album.
He is also playing keyboards, guitar, and saxophone in the band ONEFINEDAY. Phil Hooton sings, Mike Dale plays bass, Tung Truong is the drummer, and Johnny 'Twotime' Kabris plays guitar. The band has recorded four songs for an upcoming EP. Check out the myspace website...www.myspace.com/onefinedaytheband.
David has now recorded over 100 original songs, and hasn't quite finished yet.
Just recently (April 2009), Rainmaker has reformed, with original bassist Tony Watson and David writing and recording new songs at a fast rate. One of these songs, 'Seven Million Miles' has been selected to appear on Lakeland Records' (www.myspace.com/lakelandrecordslimited) latest compilation CD which is now released.
Here is the link to the iTunes which features 'Seven
Million Miles':
http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?
id=319215901&s=143444
Furthermore, Augury has just reformed with all its original members. The band's first album has just been re-released, again on Lakeland Records. You can find Augury on myspace at www.myspace.com/augurysongs.
And David still wears the tight pants and the pointy boots...