Blitzkriegzone 2020

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Blitzkriegzone2020 was the brainchild of British guitarist/singer/songwriter Dave Pepper. Born in Coventry England, he was an integral part of the local and nationwde music scene. Playing in bands since the age of 12, he climbed the ladders of varying success with each new band he joined. In 1986, whilst in a Coventry based rock band(Ramrods) he was lucky enough to be on a support tour with The Pogues. During that time, he saw a live performance of Sigue Sigue Sputnik.(Formed by Tony James, X Billy Idol/Gen X) A lightbulb flashed. At the end of the tour useing a 4 track tape, he recorded a 2 song demo. 21 Boy and Teenage Rocket age.
Using his local pub(Rose and Crown) he had met up with one of the best vocalists in Coventry at that time(Steve Guest). Steve was at that time in another band, but agreed to sing on the demo. It worked. Said Dave 'as soon as he sung the words I'd written, I realised that this guy had the energy to get this project off the drawing board and onto a band'.
Using the City center clubs and bars! Dave scouted out band members.'It was not the musical talent I was looking for, I wanted the look. I was at an underground bar (Dog and Trumpet) when I saw a guy with a blue mowhawk. I introduced myself, and just asked If he would pose in a fake band photo so as I could start selling 21 Boy....turned out he could play bass! damn good too! so thats how Martin got in the band....the only bazzare thing is, he never liked playing 21 Boy, and at that time that was our most popular song. To this day, I believe it held us back'
Finding a drummer was more of a hurdle. The thing about BKZ was its simplicity. I didnt want ego problems. Its hard for some musicians to be disaplined. Ive always been a simpleton. Chops on the snare, lots of space. We needed a drummer that was like a robot. After several trys, we were pointed to a local guy(Pete Hnatuska) I managed to do a deal with the local music store for a synth kit, and off we went. We'd rehearse at my appartment with a 500 watt PA(my neighbors must have hated that! for 5 hours a day. I had my phone hooked up, and I called that the bands base.(Network Control)
The city center club 'Busters' was our first gig. I managed to get the local press to use the photos I had shot of me, Martin and Steve, with Trevor(The Drummer we never used!) that got a sort of buzz going locally. Id already made contact with Tony James(Sputnik &Generation X and Billy Idol)we spoke a few times on the phone, and he helped with some early ideas. I even went to his home studio somewhere around Tottenham Court Rd I think.I heard some of the pre demo new album stuff. We very quickly got an agency. I think me and Martin took a bus to London in our stage gear for effect! and signed a contract. We had a guy, Paul Loasby who got the first bunch of important London shows at The Marquee club, The Underground(We opened for Devine) Camden gigs and various other shows around the country.We were also getting DJ's pairing 21 Boy up with F111(Sputnik) Thinking back, I dont think I told the other members of the band exactly what I was doing! Id be on the phone to agencys and venues trying to clinch contracts, then rehearsing then going to clubs promoting the band. I was in a different world!. Some of our shows were 5 hours away. I can remember one show we did in Exeter-it was a 5 hour drive. We rented a truck and Steve drove there, well that was fine! but I had to drive part of the way back..and I tell ya, I was seeing swans crossing the M6(England motorway). We'd then have to unload our equipment, then one of us would have to take the truck back to the rental place! Ha! There was another show somewhere, where we opened for 'Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction" and, oh by the way this tour was The Red Coach tour! well the damn bus broke down! oh those were the days! Ha! On another gig in Hastings? I think? we lost Martin! He was later found under a bridge by the waterfront with a woman that........I was beaten up one time at my local fishy!(Fish n chip shop.U.K.) I guess I earned that, I used to wear 5 inch red stilettoes! Oh My!When we played local shows, we'd normally hang out at 'The Shakespear"pub downtown, or 'The Windmill" in Spon st.Great beers, great ideas!
Having had time to absorb what we did, Ive noticed that the best songs I wrote had the bass and guitar playing the same notes. That was Martins idea, and he was right. On the new material Im working on, now here in the U.S.A., Im replicating the early sounds to capture the same energy we had back then. Im damn sure I got it to! I did one song at a local bar in VA, and I tell ya, the people were floored! THATS what Im talking about!Ha!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy the tracks here, and get ready for a blast next year!
Now rehearsing new material with Cuban born dynamic fiddle player Chuck Tellechea.
Dave was introduced to Chuck at a local bar......seems that always happens....
Now playing several shows a week on the East coast USA, Dave has been writing alongside Chuck churning out mindblasting BKZ songs.Fans in the USA seem to have made 'Afterburn' their favoritie track, and this is one of Dave's newest songs, recorded at Dave's studio in VA.(Swamp)The new Cd will be released DEcember 1st 09.