CLASSIC rockers Rubian have notched up several hundred gigs since they started five years ago.

But the band, based around the Ribble Valley and Preston, have never played in Accrington and are making their first appearance in the town tonight when they play Mighty Muldoons, on Manchester Road.

The group, who frequently appear at the Keystreet Music Bar, in Clitheroe, are a six-piece and drummer Mark Gibson, guitarist John Kenny, and singer Andy McCaffery have been in the line-up since the beginning.

At a recent appearance in Preston, John set fire to his guitar Hendrix-style to mark the band's fifth anniversary. They were playing consecutive nights at the venue, so it was as well that he saved his pyromaniac antics for the second performance.

John said: "It was just like what Jimi Hendrix did. I poured lighter fuel all over it and set it alight. I did it to celebrate five years of the band. I know Hendrix did it in 1967 but it was still fun 30 years on."

The lads play a mixture of original material from their album American Deadline as well as covers of acts like Led Zeppelin and Guns 'n' Roses.

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