Andrew Murphy was born and brought up in Shropshire on a diet of classic rock and catchy pop music. His first idol was one of the greatest performers the world has ever seen, Michael Jackson. Although Jackson is not an obvious influence in Andrew's song writing, it was his first inspiration to become a performer.
Going into Secondary School, his main muse was still acting, and was on stage at every opportunity. It wasn't until he was 13 that he picked up a guitar that he found his years of playing Saxophone had gotten him quite an ear for music, and that he could actually play pretty well. He taught himself a lot of his favourite songs and riffs and started to concentrate more on growing as a musician. Through the next couple of years he started re-teaching himself the piano, and wrote the start of a few rough compositions.
At the age of 15 he met former EMI session guitarist Trevor Jones on work experience. He invited Andrew down to a few 'Jam Nights' he was holding at one of the local pubs. The first time he went, he covered John Frusciante's 'Corners' acoustically, one of his main guitar influences. When this went down a storm, he grew hungry to play to more and more people. He covered his favourite songs at these jam nights every week, and each week he would get the same buzzing response.
Long term friends, through music, Davy Berryman (Drums) and Patrick Cottam (Bass) one day offered to play with him at one of the nights, and for the first time Andrew got a full band experience. Although he had enjoyed playing his acoustic guitar to all those people, it didn't compare to the energy he got from playing with others.
Davy was essentially a classical flautist, now at Grade 8 standard, but had taught himself drums, influenced by Nick Mason of Pink Floyd. He is also a capable pianist, guitarist and an excellent backing vocalist, lending many innovative ideas to the song writing and recording process.
Just like Davy, Bass wasn't Pat's first instrument either. He was originally a Cello player, and taught himself bass through his knowledge of the Cello, excelling at both instruments.
So all self-taught musicians, they had more room than most to be creative with Murphy's songs which were now starting to take shape. The first he wrote was 'Worth The Wait', and with this song, it became apparent that this may be the start of something special.
They continued to take their music to the 'Jam Nights', but early in 2006, Patrick (2 years older than Murphy) decided that he was to take a gap year before going to university. He decided that he wanted to travel to Brazil and teach orphaned and disadvantaged children. They played their last show as a band on 23rd June, and it was all too clear to everyone how much Pat would be missed.
Waiting in the wings, however, was Callum Duggan. Already involved with his own band Fifth Season, he valiantly stepped up to take Pat's place on the bass guitar. Starting with Piano at a young age, he took to the bass guitar through a lifetime of rock music, heavily influenced by Smiths bassist Andy Rourke and Jam bassist Bruce Foxton. Another multi-talented musician, he takes to guitar, mandolin and vocals too. Adding to the guitar, sax, piano and percussion, this made the bands arsenal even stronger than before.
As well as being a talented bass guitarist, Callum is an A-level Music Technology student and has recorded and produced the band’s new EP “Burn Down The Demoâ€, with the help of the band, and good friend Gareth Wardle
It was now obvious to the band that this was what they wanted to do with their lives. They wanted to write songs. But most of all, they wanted to play them to people. They wanted to perform. They wanted to entertain and with the new line-up, there is a new feel to the band; it's different, fresh and exciting. With an ever growing set-list, things can only get better for a band with such determination and talent.
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