IT'S a sensitive topic to most, but 36 Stone, have no qualms about flaunting their heavyweight status.

When we had our first gig, we didn't have a name. Well, Big Al is a touch on the large side and I'm not so small myself, so between us we made up about 36 stone which seemed quite apposite," said vocalist Rob Turner, explaining the band's origins.

The Big Al he's referring to is Big Al Price, the other frontman in this 10-piece, playing their first gig since 1996.

This was meant to have happened 12 months ago for the millennium, but the Marr's Bar - whose affable owner Brian Maher is also 36 Stone's guitarist - wasn't up and running then.

They began life as a six-piece in 1989 and gradually expanded to embrace a full horns section, which now sees Caroline Evans on saxophone, Chris Barmby on tenor sax, John Best on trumpet, Alan Avery on guitar, Dave Gibbon, Darren Fearns on bass and Roger Roberts on keyboards.

The old Northwick cinema became their home venue for many years until 1996 when they played in front of more than 1,500 fans at Perdiswell Leisure Centre in tribute to city musician Peter Keers, who learnt to play the drums one-handed after a bike crash, and died that year.

36 Stone play The Marr's Bar on New Year's Eve. Tickets cost £25.

Call 01905 613336 for details.

IT'S a sensitive topic to most, but 36 Stone, have no qualms about flaunting their heavyweight status.

"When we had our first gig, we didn't have a name. Well, Big Al is a touch on the large side and I'm not so small myself, so between us we made up about 36 stone which seemed quite apposite," said vocalist Rob Turner, explaining the band's origins.

The Big Al he's referring to is Big Al Price, the other frontman in this 10-piece, playing their first gig since 1996.

This was meant to have happened 12 months ago for the millennium, but the Marr's Bar - whose affable owner Brian Maher is also 36 Stone's guitarist - wasn't up and running then.

They began life as a six-piece in 1989 and gradually expanded to embrace a full horns section, which now sees Caroline Evans on saxophone, Chris Barmby on tenor sax, John Best on trumpet, Alan Avery on guitar, Dave Gibbon, Darren Fearns on bass and Roger Roberts on keyboards.

The old Northwick cinema became their home venue for many years until 1996 when they played in front of more than 1,500 fans at Perdiswell Leisure Centre in tribute to city musician Peter Keers, who learnt to play the drums one-handed after a bike crash, and died that year.

6 36 Stone play The Marr's Bar on New Year's Eve. Tickets cost £25.

Call 01905 613336 for details.