He learned how to play guitar from an old waterlogged guitar that his dad used as a paddle when he was stuck out in the lake having lost his oars. His first professional gig was at 16, playing slide guitar for a Newcastle band. Now, he composes and plays all types of music, from blues, to folk, to classical and all in between. He has currently recorded over 780 pieces. He likes to try new things, like playing the cello and flugelhorn together, or Celtic music arranged for a string quartet. Pete feels that "categories shouldn't be applied to music, it's just sound."