Hi, I'm Andrew and I was born in Leamington Spa in late November 1971. I moved to Dronfield, Sheffield, at the age of one so my late Father, Terry, could take on a new career as a school Headmaster. He bought my first drumsticks for me at the age of 7 so that my Mum, Norma, could have her wooden spoons back for cooking as she was a home economics teacher!

After building my first kit from her pots, pans, lids and buckets I would sit for hours listening to my older sister’s vinyl, imitating the great drummers of the late 70’s to early 80’s. I got my first ‘real’ drums at the age of 9; bought second hand from a friend for £17. They would have been more at home in an African village than suburbia; the skins were even made of real leather and they were brilliant turquoise. I taught myself basic rudiments and beats until my Dad found me lessons in Chesterfield with ‘Sound Incorporated’ drummer’s father Morris Fogg - a local jazz legend.

I learnt to play Jazz, Military Rudiments, and gained independent playing skills quickly. I formed my first band later that year at the age of 10 ‘Weetabix’. During the same year we headlined our Junior Assembly Hall with our classroom hit ‘I come from Birmingham’. The lyrics could never be repeated and remains the only full song I have written by myself! Progressing onwards my parents then kindly bought me a four piece Jazz Swingerland set up as I was starting to get into groove playing. The kit took a great pounding for some years until my Drum teacher pointed me in the direction of a ‘Premier’ - the kit of its day in 1985, with Paiste Cymbals.

My sister Katie was a huge influence over my taste in music which varied from The Sex Pistols, The Police, Echo and the Bunnymen, Hendrix, Blondie, Susie and the Banshees, the Cure, Smiths, Simple Minds, The Waterboys and she even took me to my first gig in Leeds to see U2 in Concert. So, I really grew up with this music from a very young age.

Between the ages of 11-15 I had many school bands, ‘Jester’ & ‘Kut-n-Run’. Both were classic Rock and Indie Bands; we played original music in front of my 1000 strong school on many occasions. My Sister (a guitarist) again convinced me that I was better than these bands and I should move my drumming to share with more experienced musicians in the Centre of Sheffield. I auditioned for a couple of groups finding the ‘F*ck City Sh*tters’ (FCS) (Freshly Cut Sandwiches to my parents); then moving onto a very established punk rock band, which became known as ‘Durango 95’ when I was 15 years old. They were a four piece band in their early 20’s and had 2 albums worth of material already written.

We continually toured the UK and Europe for 12 years and I spent a lot of time in recording studios all over the country having signed several record contracts. The highlight of these years was listening to Radio 1 and legend John Peel raved on about how unique we were on the release of our second single release ‘Sometimes’ in 1989. Those were the glory days and I owe a lot to Durango 95 for teaching me the music industry so quickly and getting me into pubs to play at 16 years old.

My other major interest arrived when my younger brother introduced me to Snowboarding in 1991 having previously been an avid skater throughout the 70’s & 80’s. I worked my way quickly from Snowboard Instructor to Ski Slope Manager for Several Ski Centres in the UK. I moved to London in 2000 giving up my long-term music career and settled for a well-paid Leisure Management Post. In late 2002, I moved back to Sheffield to open my own Business - a Board Store selling snow, skate and surf kit, fashion and shoes with long-term friend and colleague Stefan.

More recently, in 2002 when my Father’s passed away, my mum treated me to another top end drum kit and I saved for a Roland TD-20 in 2005, motivating me to take up teaching the drums on a larger scale under my alias, AB Drum Tuition. I also started part-time session drumming work with Tim Pare, Padma and members from The Whip, Reverend and the Makers, and Blings of Leon to name a few. Drumming is my passion and has always come first.

I still live in Sheffield - a great place for music and meeting like-minded people. I met my gorgeous girlfriend Gem in 2006 - a Head of Geography Teacher. We live near the centre of Sheffield where we will stay till we win the lottery, when we see ourselves moving near to the sea, growing our own food and taking up surfing - more seriously, maybe when we’re old eh?

So, why a U2 tribute act? I have bought every U2 Record/Tape/CD/DVD since the War album was released; I have been to every ‘U2’ tour since the Joshua tree. I have queued for the tour tickets over night and been at the front of the queue for their new releases since I was 12. They kind of get under your skin – four ordinary lads making simple music for the masses.

‘It’s a musical journey’ I want to be a part of it, and I feel I have been with it all the way! I have respected Larry Mullen Jr. musically since 1982 and love his simple, dynamic, big hitting approach to playing. He was a role model when growing up along with Stewart Copeland and remains a dude in my eyes. This is the first cover band I have been in and I say, “If you’re going to do it, then it has to be right, there are no second places in my world - so it has to be U2.

So thanks for having me lads, in the best U2 tribute band in the world - it looks like the pin board notice worked after all… Hee Hee…

I look forward to seeing you all on the road soon.