Liverpool native Peter Davies, 68, is not your average debut novelist. He has navigated a diverse career path, from teacher to Crown Prosecutor, and more recently, singer-songwriter to novelist (with plenty more to come).
From an early age, Davies starred in the acclaimed “7 Up” documentary series, capturing the attention of generations whilst being very much in the public eye, even as he got older and shied away from the spotlight. Now, he is telling his own story — through his debut fiction novel, “Valediction Records”.
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“Valediction Records,” delves into the lives of a group of friends who form a band during the post-punk era, exploring their rise to fame, bitter breakup, and a pact that binds them together. In this pact, the former friends agreed that if any of them ever faced trouble, they would call for help by sending a guitar plectrum, with the name of their label — Valediction Records.
Now, in the present day, that signal arrives, drawing the friends back together and unravelling the stories of how their lives have changed since their time in the band. It explores their struggles as time passed and how they navigate the lingering pain from their breakup. At the heart of the novel is a haunting symbol of their bond — the plectrum, featured on the book’s cover, nestled in guitar strings, waiting to be played once more.
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The story intertwines past and present, reflecting on music, friendship, love, and the passage of time — a narrative rich with Davies’ own experiences and observations. “It’s about how we deal with time passing, with growing older. Our regrets. Our losses. And how we cope with all of that.” Peter muses. “Some parts were emotionally tough to write, especially those dealing with mental illness and dementia.”
He continues: “One of the characters suffers from depression, which I’ve dealt with on and off in my life. Another deals with dementia, something I’ve seen up close in my family.” Still, he insists: “If you want to write something meaningful, you have to be brave and confront the darkness.”
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Reflecting on his creative process, Peter recognises some autobiographical elements in his characters and storyline, drawn from his extensive musical career (performing and songwriting for the award-winning alt country band The Good Intentions) and personal interactions.
“There are some elements of people I’ve known in there. I’ve grown interested in these people myself and I’m not sure exactly where some of them are going to go after this story. So I think I might have a couple of them at least reappearing to some extent in a future” he said, highlighting the somewhat accidental blend of fiction and personal reflection that enriches his storytelling.
His process blends intention with spontaneity. “I had a rough framework in my mind… but not all of it by any means,” he admits. “Halfway through I thought, ‘Whoa, what if I did this?’ And surprised myself. Real life isn’t planned, it goes off in twists and turns, and I wanted the book to feel like that.”
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Beyond his artistic endeavours, Davies has also grappled with the legacy of being a lifelong participant in the “7 Up” series, which documented his life since childhood. He speaks candidly about the challenges and insights gained from being part of such a long-term project, noting how it has shaped his perspective on life and self-discovery, themes which appear in his debut novel.
“Having been in the “7 Up” series pretty much all my life, I suppose I am sort of used to the idea of thinking back and reflecting on the previous few years and trying to make sense of them”, Peter said. What began as a promising start in the public eye eventually took a darker turn, and the experience influenced his creative trajectory in surprising ways. “You know, my memories of being a very little kid in the first couple of shows are only very vague now,” he says, reflecting on his early days on television.
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At the heart of his decision to step away from the spotlight was politics — or more precisely, the fallout of speaking his mind as he got older in the limelight. “I had said a lot of bad things about Margaret Thatcher’s government, and some of the media — some of the tabloid newspapers — hadn’t liked that. What a surprise,” he recalls wryly.
“Growing up in Liverpool, everybody I knew thought that way. So I thought, there’s nothing controversial about this. But I learned that wasn’t necessarily the case.” The backlash was swift and unsettling. “We think social media is brutal now, but even then, newspapers could be just as vicious.”
The impact of this early exposure still lingers. “Once I got older and had more experience, I knew I had to be careful. I didn’t want to say anything without thinking, because I knew it would be there forever.” Despite this cautiousness, Davies hasn’t shied away from vulnerability in his fiction. His writing invites readers into worlds that are emotionally rich, unpredictably real, and shaped by a life lived on both sides of the lens.
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Reviewers rave about the way he artistically blends fiction and reality, how alive the historic elements feel, and how the novel manages to explore difficult topics such as regrets, nostalgia and passion. Peter’s creative journey has extended way beyond literature, also co-writing and producing a musical titled “Under the Mersey Moon,” which premiered at the Floral Pavilion Theatre in New Brighton. The musical, set in Liverpool and Nashville, explores themes of ambition, dreams, and the complexities of pursuing a passion against the odds.
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For a long time, he stayed away from television. But his passion for music never wavered, eventually leading him back to writing and to the lens. “Originally, I was in fairly punky new wave bands,” he explains. “We weren’t that good, but we had great fun. We were loud, rebellious, snotty — everything you want to be at that age.”
Over time, his sound evolved. Inspired by artists like Elvis Costello and the unexpected influence of Joe Strummer, he found himself drawn to a grittier, rootsier kind of country music. “People always think country means rhinestones and line dancing,” he laughs. “But old country music — real country music — is dark, rebellious, and has a history that goes all the way back to the folk traditions of the British Isles.”
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His band’s sound, often labelled “Americana,” bridges this rich musical heritage with his own restless spirit. “It felt like a natural progression. The punk protest is still there. I just changed style slightly.” Ironically, it was music that pulled him back into the world he’d once walked away from.
“We had a record coming out, and I thought, how on earth am I going to promote it?” he recalls. “My wife said, ‘There’s an obvious way — go back on the show.’” He reached out to the producer and struck a deal: if they could help him promote the band, he’d return. “That’s how I came back into it. And I’m hoping I can do the same with the book, the musical, and future projects.”
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As he embarks on writing his next novel and returning to live music performances, Peter Davies remains committed to exploring universal themes of memories, resilience, regret, and the enduring power of creative expression. For him, writing is not just about music or personal reflection, but a testament to the human experience — a journey marked by introspection, evolution, and the pursuit of artistic truth.
“You’ve got to write a novel because you need to. Because it won’t let you go.” He said. And the story, it seems, isn’t quite finished. “The project’s ongoing,” he teases. “Things are beginning to stir. That’s all I can say. But I don’t think you’ve heard the last of it.”
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Peter Davies’ novel is available via Amazon, Waterstones, or direct from his publisher — anywhere you usually get your books. And if you pick up a copy, don’t be surprised if you find yourself missing the characters long after the final page.
Liverpool native Peter Davies, 68, has led a remarkable life—from appearing in the iconic “7 Up” documentary series to careers as a teacher, Crown Prosecutor, and singer-songwriter. Now, he steps into the literary world with his debut novel, “Valediction Records”, a powerful story of friendship, loyalty, and music.
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Images 4 & 10 courtesy of John Hollingsworth
