[1] Peter William Brockbanks was born in Chipping Barnet in north London, on 15 July 1947, and raised in 37 Alston Road.

Banks studied art and once had an ambition of becoming a zookeeper, but decided against it when he learned the job had unfavourable hours, and pursued music.

He found the experience "totally terrifying", and was so traumatised that he started having doubts if he could carry on playing the guitar and work in another studio again.

After leaving the Syndicats, Banks joined the Syn which at the time included Chris Squire on bass, Andrew Pryce Jackman on keyboards, Steve Nardelli on vocals, and Gunnar Hákonarson on drums.

Later that year, Banks and Squire joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop with Clive Bayley on rhythm guitar and vocals and Bob Hagger on drums.

[10] Meanwhile, Jon Anderson had joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop as lead vocalist, and Hagger was replaced by drummer Bill Bruford.

The four entered a period of rehearsals in London, during which Banks replaced a departing Bayley and keyboardist Tony Kaye was brought in to round out the group.

[12][10] Following their debut in August 1968 Banks devised the band's first logo, a design featuring the group's name inside a speech bubble.

[4] On 18 April 1970, Banks was fired from Yes after their gig at the Luton College of Technology, and was replaced by former Syndicats guitarist Steve Howe.

[14] Banks' fortunes changed when music reporter Chris Welch wrote an article about him in Melody Maker in June 1971.

Following the addition of bassist Ray Bennett and drummer Mike Hough, the four named themselves Flash and began touring in 1972.

[10] The album features guest appearances from Jan Akkerman of Focus, drummer Phil Collins and guitarist Steve Hackett of Genesis, and John Wetton of King Crimson.

[11] In the summer of 1973, Banks played in a short-lived band with Collins, guitarist Ronnie Caryl, violinist Mike Poggott, and bassist John Howitt named Zox and the Radar Boys.

[3][10] He played on various albums including those by Lonnie Donegan and Jakob Frímann Magnússon,[4] and appeared on Romeo Unchained (1986) by Tonio K. He also worked with Ian Wallace in The Teabags with Jackie Lomax, Kim Gardner, David Mansfield, and Mel Collins.

He co-ordinated the release of the 1997 live compilation Something's Coming: The BBC Recordings 1969–1970, and wrote about his days with the band in the liner notes.

[18] Later in 2004 Banks entered talks with former Flash bandmates Colin Carter and Ray Bennett about a reunion, but he fell out with them and was excluded.

In 2004, Banks formed Harmony in Diversity, an improvisational trio with Andrew Booker and Nick Cottam of the music duo Pulse Engine.

Banks formed a second version of the group named Harmony in Diversity II, featuring himself and keyboardist Gonzalo Carrera.

Although Banks found married life "fantastic" at one point, his second marriage ended in a divorce by the early 2000s due to the effects of his medication to treat his depression, which his friends said made him difficult to live with.

He failed to turn up for a scheduled recording session, and a concerned friend had medical staff break into his home, where his body was discovered.

Banks was cremated, after which several friends and associates, including David Cross of King Crimson and original Yes manager Roy Flynn, met for a memorial drink in Denmark Street.