The Voice: Hello Dave the Rave! First of all, let me take the time to officially welcome you to the band.

Dave: Thank you! Can I say it’s a pleasure to be in the band? I also have to thank the fans for making me feel very welcome on the last tour!   So a big thank you to them. It was a lot of fun.

The Voice: It's our pleasure Dave.  We all echo the sentiment. The last tour was fantastic!  September can't come soon enough!  So, tell us a bit about yourself. Previous bands, musical history, that type of thing.

Dave: Ok, A bit about me? Ooooh!  Were do I start?  Ok, I play bass for Toby Jepson band. I have always been a bass player – I simply love the instrument. I'm more or less self taught. I climbed the highest mountain in Europe when I was 13 and I also write feature film screenplays.
 

Previous bands. Well my first band was ‘Ore’ with Dean, which rocked the ‘Marquee’ many a good night. When that band split I rocked on with some guy’s from South Africa called ‘Black Rose’. This band released an album under the same name, toured Britain and Europe.  When they fragmented, I moved on to form a progressive rock band called ‘Sterling’, then was asked to play with Paul Samson of ‘Samson’.  Recording an EP and an Album. 

I did some recording and live shows with Laurie Mansworth formally of ‘Moore’ and ‘Airace’ – the manager of ‘Roadstar.’

I also toured America with the punk band ‘Vice Squad’ now that was an experience I will never forget LOL Now rocking with Toby Jepson.

Dave: Influences?  The first has to be early Deep Purple  - Van Halen – Thin Lizzy – Rush – Sound Garden – Pearl Jam - Foo Fighters – Audioslave.  Can I say these are just a few bands that have touched me on Vinyl/CD and also blew me away live.  To be honest there are many more bands I’d like to mention, but these are my top 10.  

The Voice: You joined the band after the EP had been recorded and three weeks before going on tour. That seems like suicide to me. That means you are either very brave, certifiably insane, or Toby has some pretty serious dirt on you :) Which is it?

Dave: Well,  very brave, certifiably insane? Yes! And Yes!   No dirt as of yet- but that can change I’m sure LOL!

To be hones,. I received a call from Dean asking me if I would like to do the tour with Toby.  There was never a doubt, there could only one answer…. Yes!  

Reasons why:  I love playing great music live – and Toby had some great music and he was taking it out live. Lets go big boy! – I’d played with Dean in the past, and I love the guys playing.  Lets go beardy boy!

I had also heard Andres on the Dean Howard Album and knew there was a great drummer in the engine room. Lets Rock Spanish!

Plus, what a challenge, it had to be taken on! Toby was in a pickle, not wanting to cancel the tour and let the fans down. So the band was born.  I must say the first rehearsals were really electric.  What a buzz.

Oh, and not forgetting, what a great voice and front man!   You see, it was very easy to say yes.

The Voice: Which event have you been the most proud of so far?

Dave: Darn good question. Um - Climbing Mont Blanc when I was 13.  The March/April tour was a great fun very proud of that. Just three rehearsals then out and rocking - And I must say playing Chepstow Castle Festival with the lads. What a fantastic day even with the rain! The crowd was amazing!

The Voice: Are there goals in your musical career that you have yet to achieve?

Dave: Lot’s and Lot’s! I think they maybe achieved with Toby!!

The Voice: It must be challenging to step into a band that has had previous musicians perform the music, such as the Little Angels songs and even the newest EP. Is there a big difference to play these types of songs over songs you've worked on and recorded with the band?

Dave: Yes and no. I wanted to get the songs right so Toby could relax live but, to be honest, you feel songs differently so slowly you put something of yourself into them and in turn the songs gradually become part of you. We had many comments on the last tour that people were ‘enjoying the harder edge’ we brought to the music. That pleased me very much. The next EP should to great I am so looking forward to rocking on that.

The Voice: We're all waiting with baited breath for EP #2!   What is the most embarrassing thing you have ever done on stage?

Dave: There are lots and I’ve been advised not to say anything more by my lawyer. Sorry.

The Voice: Name three words that describe you starting with the letter "T".

Dave: Thank you for making me feel at home and making the March/ April tour a fantastic time!  Can’t wait to see you all in September.  Keep it live and loud!  Oh, and mine’s a JD & Coke – Cheers!!! Also feel free to come over and say hello in September, I only bite if you ask me to.