Pepsi Tate

Who was Pepsi Tate?

Pepsi Tate was the bass guitarist of Welsh glam metal band Tigertailz, who made the Top 40 in the UK Albums Chart in the early 1990s. Pepsi's nickname was "Boy" or "The Boy".

Born as Huw Justin Smith, son of Dempsey & Makepeace actor Ray Smith, Pepsi Tate grew up in the village of Dinas Powys, just outside Cardiff.

He pursued a career in television as a producer and director. His work for BBC Wales included directing the weekly politics programme, Dragon's Eye, presented by former BBC Wales political editor David Williams.

In the summer of 2006 a series of videos appeared on YouTube depicting a fictional band called The Pepsi Tate Jazz Band.

The Thrill Pistol album featured his last recordings. It was dedicated to Pepsi and his family.

On 18 September 2007, aged 42, Pepsi Tate died after suffering with pancreatic cancer. He died at Holme Towers Cancer Hospice in Penarth only a few weeks after he had married his longtime partner, Welsh opera singer Shân Cothi.

His funeral, held in Cardiff, was attended by hundreds of friends, family and fans.