Peter Sykes said his love of music began when he was 7 years old.

“I remember hearing ‘Rock Around the Clock’ on the radio,” said Sykes. “And when the Beatles hit in ‘64 it was all over for me.”

“I’ve been crazy about guitar and music ever since,” he said.

A native Australian, Sykes came to the United States in 1987.

“I was doing my Aussie walkabout thing,” he said.

Ending up in Los Angeles, for a time he worked as a hairdresser, “but I’ve always been a musician,” said Sykes.

Sykes and his wife Victoria co-own the Napa School of Music, which recently moved from Sierra Avenue to South Coombs Street.

“Music is the ultimate form of communication between people,” he said.

“When you play, everything else goes away … It just makes you feel good.”

What three people would you most like to have dinner with?

John, Paul and George and Ringo, if I can have four.

What job would you like to try/not try?

Try: Movie director (of a) comedy.

Not try: President of the United States.

What was your first job?

When I was still in high school, my first job was a gas station attendant at a combination service station/feed store in Ferntree Gully, Australia — a suburb of Melbourne. I pumped petrol, checked the oil and carried 50 pound bags of wheat, layer pellets and bales of hay. I remember coming home covered in automotive oil and smelling of gasoline.

How did you get into this business?

In 1979, a fellow band mate decided to quit teaching guitar and hand over his students to me. I started with about 120 students a week, lots of groups of two and three jammed into a six-foot by eight-foot storage room in the back of a music store. I have worked a lot of other jobs in the U.S. but came back to teaching full time in Napa in 1999.  

Who do you most admire in the business world?

Richard Branson from Virgin Group.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime that you haven’t yet?

Write a classic, all-time hit song like ‘The Rose,’ ‘From a Distance’ and ‘I Hope You Dance.’

What is your favorite music to play and to listen to?

To play: Beatles, Stones, Zeppelin — I’m a classic rock guy.  

To listen: Old stuff or anything with a good lyric and a great melody.  

What is your favorite charity?

One.org. It is ridiculous that so many people die everyday from starvation in some parts of the world when we have a surplus in others. Plus if Bono’s involved, you know it’s worthwhile.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be?

Melbourne. Apart from my wife and 12-year-old son, all my family is back in Australia.

What other business person(s) would you like to see featured in “10 Questions?”

Irit Weir, Acupuncture Clinic of Napa.

More from Peter Sykes

What are some of your favorite clubs in Bay Area?

I like the Sweetwater Saloon (currently closed), Bottom of the Hill and Yoshi’s. 

What’s one thing Napa could do to help local business?

Napa residents should try to patronize their local retail and service businesses before going elsewhere.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

That it allowed me the time to play and write music.

What’s your favorite gift to give?

Anything that you know the recipient is passionate about and will be remembered.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?

That I was a hairdresser in Australia for six years.

What is your motto in life?

Never give up.

What’s the worst job you ever had?

Working for an alcoholic, gambling addicted owner of a one-hour photo store in L.A. Enough said!

I can’t live without:

Music.

What’s on your to-do list?

Clean the garage.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Managing the financial side of things.

To suggest a candidate for “10 Questions” e-mail: jhuffman@napanews.com