I have been playing electric guitar for the last sixteen years.

It all started at the age of 11 when I was living in Nuneaton and a friend of mine came into school one day with a bass guitar. I immediately then wanted a bass but was persuaded by my Dad to have a guitar instead so I agreed.

At first it was hard work which meant sore fingers, boring scales and chords which somewhere along the line turned into songs and solos. After a year of playing I then joined the church choir so I could play hymns with my friends and learn to play in a musical situation with other guitarists and other musicians.

This then lead to myself and three other friends forming a small band in whereby we would try and play a host of different covers from Guns N Roses, Chuck Berry and Iron Maiden.

Soon after I moved to Hilversum, Holland and began taking lessons from a Dutch guitar teacher called ‘Marcel Bottenheft’.

This is where my real training began as he was introduced to virtuoso guitarists such as Steve Vai and Joe Satriani.

I also started to realise how scales and modes were used and how I could develop my playing.

As time went on I then moved to another international school in Arnhem and formed a rock band called ‘Rivera’ with six others students who played a large number of covers from Metallica, Guns N Roses, Stone Temple Pilots, Pantera and a few originals.

After six years in Holland I then moved back to Coventry.

I decided to continue with music and did an ‘A’ level in music and performing arts at Coventry University for the Performing Arts.

I then did a three day business course at Courtalds in Coventry to learn about self employment, marketing and managing a small business.

After I had completed my ‘A’ level in music I then auditioned for a place at Guildford’s Academy of contemporary music’.

I passed the audition and was put in the higher level group to do a two year HND in music in one year.

I then spent a year at Guildford and got my HND.

Swiftly after finishing I was back in Coventry and working in a local covers band playing two to three nights a week all around the Midlands, Northamptonshire and London.

I also started teaching privately part time from his studio at home in Coventry.

I moved to Kenilworth a year and a half later.

After two years of covers I missed playing my own music and formed my own band with his brother Adam who played bass and a friend from the C.U.PA. days called Ben on drums. Pornohotdog was born and together we wrote and recorded various demos and gigged around the Coventry and Birmingham circuit. Eventually Ben’s cover band schedule took over and we were left drummer less thus splitting.

After a short break I decided to look for another band in the Birmingham area and found a band called ‘Trial by fire’ who were looking for a lead singer and guitarist. I then went along learnt a couple of tracks and joined. I have been gigging and recording with them ever since.

If you wish to hear some samples of our music then log onto the following web address: www.myspace.com/tbf2007