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My love for singing started pretty early on with hymns at primary school every morning and noone's been able to shut me up since.
I pretended to do a performing arts college course which got me up on stage and taught me how to control my diaphragm (I haven't suffered a leak in years now!). All this time I was picking up various instruments attaining rookie status in each case.
I featured in the short lived and very un-PC-ly named hardcore outfit "Domestic Violence" and various open mic nights with mates or solo with a six-string.
In 1998 I was drafted in to play bass with "Cable Co" but I left in 2004 to travel the world (no seriously, I did actually leave to go travelling around the world). But like the prodigal bass player I have retuned (come on - keep up!).
I was then head-hunted by Uncle Andy to front "RAZAR."
I use a Shure SM-58 mic with a Behringer monitor ("don't-cha know"), allowing me to broadcast bad jokes and full-blown rock histrionics to the nation!
Van Buxton - Guitar
I started playing guitar at the age of 13 while in my 3rd year of secondary school. They had stopped us playing recorders because they didn't know if you could catch HIV off of one. I guess it all depends what you use to blow it with! Still, at least this now naive attitude allowed me to pursue something that had long been nagging at my subconscious. Who knows, I could've been a world renowned recorder player, God forbid.
A lover of all things 6 string, my collection has now grown to nearly 25 electric and acoustic instruments. Some collectible, some custom, the unusual and the everyday jobbin' favourites.
After 10 years of bedroom practice (!) I joined my first band, "Cable Co," with whom I still play. Being in two bands keeps me both in and out of trouble depending on whose perspective you take, with over 50 gigs a year.
My influences and heroes include Hendrix, SRV, Knopfler, Satriani,Vai, Gilmore and Eric Johnson, to name a few.
I generally play Fender Strats and Ibanez JS or Jem models (strung with 10-46's). The rest of my regular gear includes a Taylor electro-acoustic, Boss and Morley effects, Marshall amp/extension cab and Korg tuner.
Andy Paton - Drums
I picked up my first percussion instrument (tambourine) aged thirteen while listening to my Father's swing/jazz 78rpm records (yes, I'm that old but so what?!).
My first drum kit was a cheap Olympic, played in various school and youth club bands.
My first serious band was the still talked about Orange Peakoe (I don't know why…… it's a tea!). This was an originals group (not covers) but after numerous personnel and name changes the band folded without commercial success.
On to "The Rejects," a Bath based band whose attempts at fame followed "OP."
By now I had upgraded to a Gretsch kit, bought new in 1971 and still going strong. I started playing with the legendary "Fred Stoat And The Rodents Of Swing," a band dedicated to fun and good music….. blues, rock and anything that took our fancy. The band was the local equivalent of "John Mayall's Blues Breakers" with anyone who was any good playing during the twenty odd years of gigging.
Skip a few years (only a few!) and various guest appearances and I find myself in a blues outfit called "Killing Time," where I met John. After a few years we decided it was time for a change and I drafted in my two nephews (Van and Shaun) on a permanent basis. This formed the incredible, fantastic, stupendous, wonderful "RAZAR" ("Is that enough praise Van/Shaun?!!!).
John Heath - Bass
I started my musical career in Birmingham in 1977 with punk band "The Dirty Fokkers." Having lied my way in saying I could play bass I then went out, bought a bass and learnt as I played! By '78 we'd all fallen out (very Punk!).
I then went on to assorted Rock and Blues bands including "Nitro Express" and "Root 69," as well as the odd Glam band (nuf sed!!!).
Since moving to Somerset in 1990 I have played with erstwhile covers band "Spotty Dog," originals bands "The Lost Gods" (Metal) and "Kickshaw" (Indie Dance) and "The Volume Junkies" (back to Punk), before joining Blues band "Killing Time" where I met Andy.
The rest, as they say, can be read in "Andy's biog"………….. or as we like to call it……. "History!!!"