The Blues Band are heading to Monmouth later this month playing an evening of blues classics tracks as well as songs from a new CD/DVD package recorded back in 1980 .

“Were focussing on a DVD / CD package which has just been released by our label of a show we played at the Rock Palace in 1980, says Bass guitarist Gary Fletcher, “it did a lot for us in Germany although I don’t think our bit was broadcast in the UK .it bares no physical relationship to any of us now – except Paul!”

Gary of course is referring to the ever youthful Paul Jones who is also well known for his work with 60s R n B band Manfred Mann along with fellow Blues Band guitarist Tom McGuinness.

Both Paul and Tom decided to form the Blues Band in 1979 with Hughie Flint, Dave Kelly and Gary Fletcher. “Dave Kelly had a call from tom McGuinness if he’d be interested in combining with Paul and him,” remembers Gary, “Dave and I were playing on a Sunday at the bridge house over in Canning town with a guy called Wilgar Campbell, we were driving back one night and Dave said he’d got a call from tom saying do you know a bass player? Dave put me in the frame, there was never an audition and I just turned up for the first rehearsal.”

“There’s four of us still there from the beginning Hughie left in 81 then rob Townshend came in.” says Gary.

The popularity of The Blues band has endured over the last 34 years while each individual member has continued with solo projects. “Dave always says that a band that stays together travels separately and I think that’s very true, we don’t spend so much time when we’re not on stage or in the dressing room together so we don’t get bored with each other to the point of it causing a descent”.

“I’ve only really done live shows outside the blues band in my own right since 2004,” continues Gary, “before that id done a lot of recording projects I finally plucked up the nerve to go live, id likes to do more but it has to fit in around the Blues Band. I love doing it.”

Gary has a few busy months lined up including an appearance at The Great British Folk Festival with Tom Leary in December, but h maintains that he always loves returning to Wales with The band “I love playing Wales you guys still go outside the front door to listen to music you like live music, you’ll listen to new songs. My mother was born in Tonypandy, my name is actually Gareth but my name actually got lost with the first publishing deal that I had when they assumed I was called Gary – I don’t know why! That’s what I'm registered with as far as PRS is concerned.”

Catch The Blues Band at The Savoy Theatre, Monmouth, monmouth-savoy.co.uk for details