Peter ‘Pete’ Austin – Denmark Street store manager by day, rock musician by night – was on first-name terms with Eric Clapton, Jo Strummer and Rory Gallagher

GUITAR virtuoso, music connoisseur and much-loved community stalwart, Peter “Pete” Austin, who has died aged 74, enjoyed legendary status in London’s Tin Pan Alley of Denmark Street where he worked for almost 30 years.

A rock musician by night, by day Pete managed two of the street’s most famous stores, Hank’s and Andy’s Guitars, and was on first-name terms with stars like Eric Clapton, Jo Strummer and Rory Gallagher, who were among his regular customers.

“Denmark Street in those days was regarded as a kind of musical shrine and Pete was one of its best-known characters, admired for his ability to sell people the right guitar without ripping them off,” remembered Pete’s music manager and long-time friend Rodney Prosser.

“He sold to all the big names, being very knowledgeable and a talent in his own right. Rory Gallagher would even come into Andy’s and ask to jam with him upstairs, which was extraordinary.

“But famous or not, Pete would give each customer his friendly attention, and people really appreciated it.”

Raised in Southend in a well-to-do family, Pete taught himself the guitar, inspired by his gran, who played operetta on the piano, and the music of Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan.

He moved to London in his teens and became part of the burgeoning counterculture, developing his lifelong sense of social justice.

After squatting, he eventually settled in the West Hampstead area, spending his final years in Kingsgate Road.

It was here he kept his treasured collection of vintage guitars, including a Telecaster and Stratocaster.

Early on he became involved in the folk music revival scene spearheaded by the likes of Pentangle before gravitating to rock music via his own bands.

One of the most successful was Seize The Time, named after the Black Panther slogan, in which he played and sang alongside Ian Eyre, formerly of Curved Air, and Geoff “Pinball” Harvey.

“Pete was hugely appreciated for his band during the nineties and they played loads of gigs,” said Mr Prosser. “He was as good a guitarist as Keith Richards, with the light touch of Hendrix and great tonality, while his voice was pure and melodic.

“His No 1 artist though was Dylan, not so much for his guitar playing but for the magic of his words.”

After retiring in the early noughties, Pete returned to his folk roots and attracted a new following through performing for charity gigs and community festivals, including Kilburn Grange Park, with his repertoire of more than 200 songs. He also played at the local PDSA store on Sundays.

Another frequent haunt was Folksie’s music shop, which opened in Kilburn High Road in 2008.

“Because of his experience in Denmark Street, he mentored us and became our close friend,” said manager Omri Schitrit.

“He was a very inspirational figure and played a big part in people’s musical journey.”

An all-round creative, Pete wrote poetry and songs and also enjoyed painting watercolours, a hobby that would often take him to the Camden Arts Centre.

He died at the Royal Free Hospital on May 19 after a short illness. Following his death, friends managed to fulfil his wish and track down his daughter, Marianne, with whom he had lost contact as a child, and she attended his funeral at Golders Green Crematorium with her family on June 3 alongside friends and colleagues.

“Pete had a lovely personality – considerate, amusing and very well read,” said Mr Prosser in final tribute. “He was an eternal teenager, a musical outsider who just loved playing the guitar and wanting people to be happy.”