From selling houses to heavy metal!

11:28am Wednesday 30th April 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A Halesowen estate agent swapped the day job to pursue his dream of hitting the big time in a heavy metal band.

Mark Barber left behind his sedate working life at Home and Away Estate Agents in Halesowen.

The 20-year-old ditched the suit and tie to take to the stage as drummer in up and coming band Hostile.

Mark, of Roundhills Road, Hurst Green, said: "I was never going to be an estate agent for the rest of my life.

"I've always wanted to be a rock star!

"And now im solely focused on taking this opportunity by the scruff of the neck and building a successful music career."

Hostile also features singer Adrian Carloss, aged 38, from Kidderminster, 21-year-old Andrew Mills known as AJ, from Dudley, on lead guitar, bass guitarist Andy Mills, aged 45, and Matt Waddoups, aged 17, on guitar.

Members are looking forward to performing at the London Astoria as a support act for Cavalera Conspiracy and have also won a slot on the line-up at Donnington Park Download Festival on Friday June 13.

The first album, which is being produced by KK Downing of Judas Priest, is well under way and is set for release early next year.

Mark, who is known as Gunga, left the estate agents last August and has been doing bits of bar work since to fit in around the time he spends rehearsing with the band.

He said: "We have got lots of gigs to build up our profile. Things are fantastic - to have KK Downing executive producer on our album is great."

Hostile will appear at JB's in Dudley on Sunday May 4 and at the Little Civic in Wolverhampton on May 28.

Visit their website at ww.hostileband.com or www.myspace.com/ hostile.UK for more details.