| Description: | In late 2003, I was jamming with 2 guys at this big shed that I had rented out in the industrial/commercial parts of the suburb of Westcourt in Cairns. A few weeks into the lease though the 2 of them had informed me they no longer wished to jam. I was in a really tough spot because I had organised 2 other bands to join us in renting out this shed (at $440 per month) and now I was without a band. My younger brother Michael had been speaking with Tom Campbell (now Tormented's ex lead guitarist) who had expressed an interest in starting up a thrash metal band with Michael and another mate from school who played Drums.....Ned Gulliford. I was of course extremely keen at the time to start up a thrash metal band, so I asked Michael if he would mind if i called Tom. The next day I talked with Tom and explained to him the dilema I was in and that I needed to find a band right away. Tom was immediately keen and we organised a jam at the shed so that I could meet Ned and we could all have a jam.
I explained to them at the time that I had already written some original material which I wanted the band to perform, and in return I was willinging to perform any additional material they wished to do. After a few jams we invited a friend of ours by the name of Ashley Martin, to join the band and forfill the role of bass guitarist. Unfortunately after a few jams Ashley told us that he was not keen to join the band........its still unclear to us as to whether or not refer to Ashley as an ex band member. We don't even know if he ever actually "joined" the band.
Not to long after, we invited Gene Waltham, another friend of ours to join the band and play bass guitar. And thats how the line-up was formed. We began rehearsing 2-3 times per week, playing the 5 original songs I had put together as well as a range of cover songs including Die by the Sword (Slayer), Paranoid (Black Sabbath), Dirty Deeds (AC/DC) as well as some Judas Priest and Anthrax. |