I'd like to think that I've had a wide and varied musical education.  Before I ever thought of picking up an instrument, I remember my early childhood being characterised by experimental, world and new wave music from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s and to this day my music taste is extremely broad.  And I will heavily defend the late 1970s, early 1980s new wave punk group Japan to the death! 

I took up the flute at about eight at school although I had a difficult relationship with it.  I loved playing the music itself but hated the sterile and mechanical way it was taught to me. 

As I got older, I moved into the world of rock music and and got myself into bands playing ska, punk along with that whole scene.  This really developed my appreciation for live music and shaped my ethos that playing live is really the best and most important thing about being in a band.

I met the guys in the band whilst studying at Durham University.  It was pretty unique as it was the first time that I had ever been individuals whose musicanship was of such a high calibre that there were no creative limits. Everything, musically, just worked!

Outside the band I like history (I am a graduate now!), travelling, tea (many many different varieties), football manager and my spiritual home, the city of London.