THE Tygers of Pan Tang guitarist has told how he swapped one brand of heavy metal for another, as he maintains a day job working on the railway.
Musician Robb Weir, 65, founded his rock band The Tygers of Pan Tang in North Tyneside in 1978.
But for more than 20 years he has combined his rock n roll flair with life as a train operator for the LNER customer experience team.
He says: ““I don’t have a problem with that at all. They coexist very well for me,” he said.
“I literally get off a plane. Go home, get showered, and then get on a train.”
The Tygers have just returned from playing in the Caribbean, with shows in Italy and Brazil coming up next, as well as a new album release.
Intially, the band was formed after Mr Weir put an advert in the local paper looking for a bass player.
They were part of the British heavy metal new wave scene, and enjoyed top 20 chart success.
“I recall playing Reading festival in 1980, Whitesnake were headlining I remember,” Mr Weir said.
“We were playing on their stage to 72,000 people which is quite something when you can’t even see the back of the audience.
“We were back there two years later, co-headlining with Iron Maiden. So our career moved forward from being fifth on the bill to co-headlining.
“It was a great, great time, it really was. “
