Rattlebus, The Story So Far.

I think I first met Martin Ward at a house party somewhere in Oxton over ten years ago now. It was very late and I remember he was sitting against a wall, alone but cool with it. I'd have to admit to being slightly in awe of him as he was sort of a local hero. He'd been in bands that could have been big and I'd heard he'd done Peel sessions and stuff. He busked too and had, still has, an encyclopaedic knowledge of song words. He had all the confidence and belief I didn't, don't have. He encouraged me when I sang too quietly, got nervous or just freaked out and spoiled things. Martin is an actor too, a really proper one, one that actually becomes the person he's playing.

Once I'd met him once I seemed to run into him everywhere I went. Following a chance encounter at a benefit gig [some one had died and their family needed money] at The Vale, Martin said, and I quote, 'Let's form a band.' He turned up at my house later on with his guitar and we sang 'Me and Bobby McGee'. I remember this very well because Martin told me I could sing. No one had ever said this before and I'm forever grateful for this. We went out as an acoustic duo with varying degrees of success. I'm glad we did, and glad for the hours and hours we spent playing and singing. He and I developed a priceless empathy, almost mind reading stuff. I know where he's going, what he's likely to do next and how it should all hang together. He's the same with me. We're like some old married couple.

Martin and I write the songs for the band, separately, but adding lots to each others tunes. Even when we had a bass player and a drummer we remained strictly and fervently acoustic for a long time. When Chris Stevens joined us on bass this changed. I can't recall why we started playing electric guitars again, but it was very exciting, a real release somehow. Martin had been in a band with Chris before. Chris was extremely enthusiastic and hard working, organising a monthly gig at The Pilgrim in Liverpool known as 'Hell's Ditch'. We got to play with some really fantastic bands here and Chris spent all his free time making fanzines and burning CDs to give away.

We had a string of drummers, some good, some less so, but none really fitted until we came across Steve Vasey, almost by accident. He was our drummer for ages, some seven or so years, and played on both our albums. Obviously it was very sad to see him go, but he had to do what was best for him in the end.

Phil McHoul I met at a smallish festival Rattlebus were playing in Oxton. I knew him to nod to and accosted him in an attempt to drum up a larger audience for our gig. Martin knew him already, but I think they'd lost touch. Phil came to just about all our gigs after that, helping out carrying things and what have you. Phil would perform quirky, wordy acoustic songs at The Westbourne. When Chris had to leave, Phil was the obvious choice. Despite a tendency to make tea for himself and no one else, he's worked out really well, a steadying, solid complement to the rest of us. He also does the website and looks a lot better now he's had his hair cut.

Allan Legge is our 'new' drummer. I use inverted commas because Martin played in a band with him ages ago, so they work together really well. Allan is an amazing drummer and we are incredibly lucky to have him aboard, yet he is one of the most modest and unassuming people I have ever met. When, via a complex network of wives and girlfriends whispering, passing messages to and fro and then reporting back, I heard he was interested in playing with us, I may have performed a short improvised celebration dance around the kitchen.

So here we are, Rattlebus. Tim Glover [me], Martin Ward, Allan Legge, and Phil McHoul.