Saturday 18 Jul 2026, 10:37am
35-year-old guitarist based in the Brentwood, Essex area looking to join or start a punk, hardcore or alternative band that's serious about writing original music, rehearsing regularly and getting out to play gigs.
My roots are firmly in punk, but my music taste has always been broad.
I grew up listening to everything from Discharge, The Exploited, GBH, The Clash, The Restarts, One Way System, Oi Polloi, Dead Kennedys, Rancid, The Partisans, Peter and the Test Tube Babies, Jawbreaker and UK Subs to Rage Against the Machine, Korn, Slipknot, System of a Down, Stone Sour, Audioslave, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Earthless, Hawkwind, 1000mods, Heavy Trip, Senser, Asian Dub Foundation, The Prodigy, Green Day, Sum 41, MC5, Rites of Spring, Bruise Control, Torso, The Raging Nathans and many more. If it has energy, groove, attitude or something interesting to say, I'm probably into it.
Playing-wise, I'm around Grade 5 standard (unofficially) and currently working through Steve Krenz's Learn & Master Guitar course, about to start Session 15. I'm constantly learning and improving. I can read both standard notation and guitar tablature, know my pentatonic and blues pentatonic scales, barre chords and a wide range of chord voicings, and can play songs such as Bombtrack by Rage Against the Machine.
I'm looking for musicians who want to write original material with a strong punk foundation but aren't afraid to bring in influences from hardcore, psychedelic rock, groove, dub, alternative or metal where it fits the music. I love fast riffs, memorable hooks, solid grooves and songs with real energy. I enjoy bands that aren't afraid to experiment while still staying true to their sound.
I'm more interested in writing riffs that serve the song than showing off. A great riff, a solid groove and playing tightly with the rest of the band will always come first. I'm all for a good solo when the song calls for it, but I believe the song should always take priority over flashy playing.
Although writing original music is my main goal, I'm absolutely open to learning a few well-chosen covers to get the crowd going and add some familiarity to a live set. I think the best bands strike a balance between creating their own identity and putting on a great live show.
I'm not chasing perfection or egos—just like-minded musicians who enjoy writing, rehearsing, gigging and having a laugh along the way. I can commit to rehearsing two or three times a week and I'm keen to be part of a band that's motivated, reliable and wants to see where the music can go.
If you're based in Essex, East London or the surrounding areas and this sounds like your kind of project, drop me a message. I'd love to have a chat, swap influences and arrange a jam.
Additional info:
Have been very active musically most of my life, going to gigs as a small child onwards.
Learnt to play in a band at a local Rock School work shop during my Secondary School years and further studies in Music Tech, Production & Industry in my Higher Education years.
I do have a Monday to Friday job so arrangements will need to be made.