Drove back to perform preludes (8)
I believe the answer is:
repulsed
'drove back' is the definition.
('repulse' can be a synonym of 'drive back')
'perform preludes' is the wordplay.
'perform' indicates anagramming the letters (I've seen 'performed' mean this).
'preludes' anagrammed gives 'REPULSED'.
'to' is the link.
(Other definitions for repulsed that I've seen before include "Driven back in preludes" , "Beaten back" , "Caused to feel intense aversion" , "spurned" .)