 raymond john pepperell (born november 17, 1958 in oakland, california), better known by his stage name east bay ray, is a guitarist best known for his membership in the san francisco bay area-based punk band dead kennedys. his guitar work was heavily influenced by surf music, jazz and rockabilly, and, alongside jello biafra's astute lyrics and unique vibrato-based vocal style, east bay ray's playing was one of the defining factors of the music of the dead kennedys, and by extension, of the "second wave" of american punk. ==career==  before the dead kennedys, east bay ray played guitar with a san francisco bay area based rockabilly/doo-wop bar band cruisin', releasing one single, "vicky's hickey", sold primarily at their shows. the dead kennedys were a notably idiosyncratic punk rock band. although they kept their music for the most part loud, fast, and aggressive, they threw in eclectic flourishes that were easy for casual listeners to miss. these experiments were represented most prominently in the guitar playing of east bay ray, who took cues from sources such as film music (spy movie scores and ennio morricone spaghetti western scores), instrumental surf rock (the guitar stylings of dick dale and george tomsco of the fireballs), as well as the psychedelic music of the 60s (especially early pink floyd) with his trademark echo effects. with help from jello biafra and klaus flouride, east bay ray crafted a distinct and driving guitar style and sound. in interviews east bay ray has cited the playing of syd barrett on pink floyd's first album the piper at the gates of dawn, as well as the music of the ohio players, and the guitar playing of elvis presley side-man scotty moore (with his trademark echo), as influences. east bay ray claims that he has never been consciously influenced by surf music, and attributes the recognizable elements of surf in the kennedys music to "having grown up in california," although it could certainly be the influence of klaus flouride or jello biafra. east bay ray's fondness for spaghetti western music is evidenced by a 7" single he recor
1958_births Alternative_Tentacles Alternative_Tentacles_artists American_punk_rock_guitarists Dead_Kennedys_members Living_people Musicians_from_Oakland,_California