Osmosis are a product of the excellent Starfish stable, the local organisation set up to help promote young bands. “We can’t value their help highly enough. Steve and the rest of them offered advice, and equipment, and a place to play. Before Starfish existed we just made noise in people’s rooms. Pretty soon people start to tell you to get out of that room quick.” Starfish also arranged a number of gigs for them. “This was great, in the time before we could arrange our own gigs. It gave us vital experience in how to play in front of a crowd.” In one such gig they supported the band that Hugh from the Kooks - another Starfish graduate - was playing in. I remind them that this puts them one step away from the Rolling Stones, who the Kooks supported in August. Amazing but true.

They sing about things that strike them about everyday situations; about things that annoy them. “’She’s not a Boy’ is about how men always take control of things like driving. We did the London to Brighton bike race and when we saw a tandem it was always the bloke in front.” Other song titles include ‘Pamela’, ‘Lonesome Blues’ and ‘Prizefighter’. “We sing a surreal song about snakes. And a few songs about shoes. Shoes seem to be a pretty vital fashion item. We also sing a song called ‘Crazy Chick’ about a fictional girl who killed all her family.” The Lansdown gig came about through sending a demo to the landlords there. “We got an answer pretty much straight away, Dave (Wilson) said he liked our stuff and would give us a punt.” Osmosis will be playing alongside another Starfish band, Dr. Razzu. AL