Rotheray joined his first band when he was aged 13; it was called Mammoth, at one time performing the then-current Sex Pistols song, "Pretty Vacant" at a school concert, without any microphones.

Band members included temporary additions, mainly for demo recordings, were saxophonist Kev Christian and the trumpet players Andrew Nicholson and Andy Russell.

Whilst living on Grafton Street and studying for a PhD at Hull University, Rotheray met Paul Heaton with whom he formed the Beautiful South and began writing songs.

[1] Although ostensibly a solo effort, the record featured collaborations with ten different singer/songwriters including Alasdair Roberts, Jim Causley, Eliza Carthy and Camille O'Sullivan.

[4][5] In 2017, David Rotheray together with Eleanor McEvoy and Mike Greaves formed Prosecco Socialist with a single "This Dog's Just For Christmas Not For Life" in December and the album "Songs From Behind Bars" released in April 2018.