Before Solitary, there were bedroom world tours, a homemade Flying V, a band that never played a gig and one unforgettable day with Xentrix.
This is where it all began.
The Bedroom World Tours (1988–1990)
As a kid, I had no interest in making music, only listening to it. At school, I’d been led to believe that you couldn’t play an instrument unless you could read music, so I immediately checked out and concentrated on things I thought were actually achievable football, cricket and fishing.
Once I got to secondary school, my obsession with metal took over. I was still convinced I’d only ever be a fan, despite the fact that I could play absolutely anything on air guitar or a cardboard tube.
In fact, I became so good at fake guitar playing that my neighbour made me a Flying V out of an old wardrobe door. Who needs strings and pickups when you’ve got a felt-tip pen?
In my head and my bedroom I completed two world tours between 1988 and 1989.
Then, in November 1990, everything changed.
November 1990 — The Day Everything Changed
In November 1990, Preston’s local newspaper ran a competition offering one lucky winner the chance to spend the day with Xentrix as they recorded the live tracks for their Dilute to Taste EP.
And guess who won it?
That day changed everything. After years of imaginary world tours and playing air guitar in my bedroom, I suddenly found myself spending time with a real thrash metal band, watching them do what I’d only ever dreamed of.
The gods of bedroom thrash gigs had spoken. The stringless guitars would have to become a thing of the past.
Rich with Xentrix & Crew 10th December 1990 – the day that changed everything
Epitaph — The First Attempt (1991–1993)
Armed with a cheap black guitar, a microphone and a boom mic stand, I decided it was time to form a proper band.
Together with a few schoolmates, Epitaph was born. There was just one small problem none of us could actually play anything.
Not that it stopped us planning world domination.
We had all the enthusiasm in the world, but very little musical ability. I was a bloody awful guitarist, had absolutely no idea how to sing, and we didn’t even have a drummer.
Epitaph finally called it a day in early 1993, without ever properly playing live. After all, nobody was playing gigs with a drum machine back then.
Looking back, it was probably a blessing in disguise.
An Apprenticeship in Thrash Metal (1993–1994)
After Epitaph came to an end in early 1993, I found myself spending more and more time around Xentrix.
I spent countless evenings at their rehearsals, watching them write new songs, work through ideas and practice their existing material. I also had the opportunity to roadie for them, getting a firsthand look at what went into being part of a working metal band.
Rich & Chris Astley of Xentrix – November 1993
Looking back, that period was effectively my apprenticeship in being in a metal band.
I might not have realised it at the time, but everything I was learning would prove invaluable when Solitary eventually came together in 1994.
Next Chapter — The Birth of Solitary
By 1994, the bedroom world tours were a distant memory, Epitaph was history, and everything I’d learned from watching Xentrix was about to be put to the test.
Next time, I’ll tell you how Solitary came together and how our own journey into thrash metal began.
I Promise To Thrash Forever.
Rich
