John Your Mate was John (vocals), Neil (bass), and Tim (guitar) have spent nearly four decades on the verge of something big. What that “something” is remains unclear, but they’ve outlasted trends, hairlines, and a worrying number of marriages.

Frontman John, a man with a voice described by some as “powerful” and by others as “a sound that startles dogs,” always had the charisma to hold a room, sometimes by force. Neil, the brooding bassist, still insists he was “this close” to joining a much more successful band, though no one has ever been able to verify which one. And Tim, the guitar hero of the trio, has long claimed to have invented the power chord, a claim that has been widely debunked by everyone who knows what a power chord is.

A short lived record deal in 1997 ended when the label went bankrupt. “Probably our fault,” admits Neil. A disastrous concept album (Artefact) led to a hiatus, but then to a 2011 reunion gig that never actually ended.

Now in their silver years, they continue to play as long as gigs finish before bedtime. With a new rebranded and expanded band, The Afterdays, plus new album Waiting For The Punch, they remain dedicated to rock, friendship, and just enough gigs to avoid proper jobs. And in the end, isn’t that what rock and roll is all about?