Pete Drivere at Strawberry Fields, Liverpool England

The title, His Royal Sweetness, is one step in the picking order below Guitar God.

HRS Pete Drivere spends most of his time these days recording other peoples’ music, but he remains a major presence in local live performance.

His recording studio developed as an expedient because his band at the time — the Infidels — was doing so much recording, and grew gradually over over the years. Drivere had his first session for hire at Ampreon Recorder in 1991 and has been going strong ever since. Approximately 85% of his studio time is recording local bands in the quirky building at 1024 Mahoning Ave. across from the former Isaly’s landmark.

Born and raised in West Middlesex, Pa., he picked up a guitar when he was 9 and started his first band at 12, before creating Infidels with his best buddy, John Hlumyk in 1981. They debuted at the Cedars in 1982 opening for local favorite 8 Balls.

In its heyday, the alternative, indie rock band was at the top of the heap in Youngstown and the region, with hit records, national tours and a peek at national stardom, before finally shutting down in 1996, a 15 year run of success. A 2000 reunion resulted in a new CD “All For Nothing,” released in 2003.

The original band had Tony Mentzer on lead vocals and Ken Laverty on drums. In ’83, Frank Secich, the former bassist with Club Wow, Stiv Bator and Dead Boys — which all attained some notoriety — and now with Deadbeat Poets, lent his hand at management. John Koury (also of the Deadbeat Poets) took over behind the drums that year, and guitarist David Lisko replaced Mentzer in ’85; they left in ’91, and Dennis Kocholek (drums), Larry Kennedy (guitar) and Mike Polombi (bass) finished the run.

“We released our first single, “Mad About That Girl” in 1985,” Drivere says, “and it’s still getting played.” John Borak, of Powerpop Bible rated it his ninth best song of all time this year.

Drivere didn’t start singing lead until 1987, and he has developed a strong, recognizable voice since. He joined the Deadbeat Poets (which Secich and Terry Hartman formed) in 2006.

He sings lead — and plays lead guitar and writes the songs — for Pete Drivere and the Pretty Demons the Americana, rock, garage band he started recently. Kocholek, Chris Leonardi (guitar/keys), Mark Miles (electric and acoustic guitar) and Pete’s wife Aleisa (bass) are the other Demons. They should have a CD out early next year.

The Poets and Infidels will headline the International Pop Overthrow Weekend put together by producer David Bash at the Cedars, Nov. 14-16, and featuring the return of Blue Ash.

“Mostly I’m concentrating on my songwriting now,” Drivere, who also earned a degree in history from YSU in 1992, explains, “and I’m in the studio just about every day, all day.” He also manages the sound at lots of shows, and when he goes out and plays, he is His Royal Sweetness.