Musical Background: I started singing when I was 15, because a friend was putting a band together and no-one else wanted to do the job! It was a 5-piece rock band, which was fortunate enough to involve more experienced musicians fairly early on, who's advise was invaluable, because I never had any singing lessons, and really didn't know what I was doing. Some things never change eh? One such musician was a gentleman by the name of Matt Laws, who went on to a project called Binary Finary, and had a massive worldwide hit with the dance anthem "1998". I have continued to sing in that band on and off for the last 16 years, and have been fortunate enough to have played support to such acts as Wishbone Ash (yes they are still going!), Geno Washington and The Rolling Clones.
A desire to explore different musical styles (and therefore different aspects of my singing voice) led to many other projects over the years. Music shouldn't be exclusive should it? All of them gave me valuable experience not just in terms of understanding more about my voice and the places I could take it, but in performance, execution of material, studio recording...everything really. I have had the pleasure of playing Glastonbury Festival with a jazz-funk combo called Ripe, and have two (soon to be three) albums winging around Europe and doing very well indeed with a Rockabilly band called The Blue J's (which feature scene legends Mark Harman of Restless and Alan Wilson of the Sharks). I have sang punk, folk, jazz, blues, rock, 60's beat, pop, rockabilly, country - and now my personal holy grail - SOUL! I have enormous respect (no pun intended) for the individuals involved in Respect, and the vibe when we're playing is just amazing. There really is nothing quite like it.

Musical influences: everything from ABBA to Zappa really. There aren't many musical styles that I can't find some enjoyment or respect for. I do have a top 10 list of my favourite songs of all time - but the only two constants are Comfortably Numb by Pink Floyd - possibly the finest example of man and guitar being one sentient being, and Forever Autumn from Jeff Waynes's musical version of War Of The Worlds - masterfully sung by the legendary Justin Hayward. Currently occupying my CD player (literally at the time of writting!): Alanis Morrisette - Under Rug Swept, Newton Faulkner - Hand Made By Robots, Phish - Hoist, Sting - All This Time, Led Zeppelin - Mothership and Iron Maiden - A Matter Of Life And Death. If music be the food of love.... SPEED IT UP!

I don't have any equipment coz all i do is shout.

Best moment in Respect: There are so many. The band is made up of such fantastic musicians and interesting people that practically every gig produces a new favourite moment, whether it be a musical occurance or a slapstick moment on or off stage. Maybe I'm just easily pleased. In terms of sheer adrenaline and intensity of performance for us all though, I would have to say headlining the Holt festival. What a gig! Right from the word go the crowd were 100% into it, and that always reflects in the band hugely. Easily the most fun anyone can have with their clothes on.