From Zero To Hero....

From every end comes a new beginning. After playing the Leicester music scene for 3 or 4 years, and getting next to nowhere, things needed a change. Snap To Zero was slowly fading away, with members moving to Uni, and the music just not having the same effect as it once used to. After a mutual decision Snap To Zero split, with guitarist Chaz Barnes heading off to Uni, leaving the remaining three members (guitarist/vocalist Darren Jilks, bassist/vocalist Nick Moreton, and drummer Jonny T) with a clean slate to start from. New songs, a new direction, and a fresh outlook gave the trio something to work on. After the first few practices all was going well, and after naming the band, Have A Go Hero, things seemed be lifting off. Five songs were slated to appear on the band's self-recorded debut EP, 'Letters From December', though 'Playing Opposites' was replaced at the last minute by new song 'Further To Our Conversation This Morning'. After getting the CD to friends and families, it was met with a warm reception, which was followed by a debut live performance at The Shed in Leicester. Quite a number of people made it out to see the show, and, while the songs seemed to go down well, something still seemed to be missing. There was no cutting edge to this new band, and soon playing the songs off the EP began to feel more like a chore.

From here, the band set about writing new songs, more influenced by artists such as Taking Back Sunday, Brand New and Funeral For A Friend, and it was immediately obvious that everything was starting to click into place. Where the 'Letters From December' EP had been somewhat of a pop-punk effort, the new tracks had a more emo/post-hardcore feel to them. After previewing the new songs at a show at The Charlotte in Leicester, it was obvious to the band which way their music was headed. A decision was made to scrap all-but-one of the songs from the debut EP, leaving just 'Three Spaces On The Left', which, along with 4 new songs, was recorded and placed on the bands second EP, 'An Ending For Your Film'. After passing out copies of the new EP, the band were met with a much more positive response than they had previously received from 'Letters From December'. Friends and strangers alike were quick to point out how far the band had come in such a short space of time. Things were looking up for Have A Go Hero, though things were once again about to change...

A decision was made by bassist/vocalist Nick that his talents were more suited to a guitar than the bass, and soon the band were set about finding a new bass player. By this time, former Snap To Zero guitarist and long-time friend Chaz Barnes had returned home from Uni for the summer, and was drafted in to play bass until a replacement was found. He did so, and after only one practice it was obvious that two guitars suited Have A Go Hero's sound and that this was the way forward. With Chaz fitting in so well, and already knowing all the songs, it made searching for a new bassist all the harder. Though, however much he fitted in, the time came when he was once again set to flee the nest back to Uni. A week before this, however, the band had received contact from a local bass player, with similar musical interests and was looking to join a band. It seemed that the answer had finally been delivered, and, after only one practice it was obvious that this was the man to fill the shoes. So, Have A Go Hero welcomed Gavin Weir on bass/backing vocals, and began looking to the future....

After a couple of months of getting the new sound perfected, Have A Go Hero exploded back on to the live scene playing various dates around the Leicester area late 2003/early 2004. New songs were also being written constantly, and in February of 2004, the band decided it was time to get these tracks recorded - their first recording as a four-piece. After 2 weeks of hard work, it was finally complete - Have A Go Hero's first mini-album '...Look Hot In Wristbands', 8 tracks showcasing 6 months of hard work. The album consisted of 6 brand new songs, and re-recorded versions of 'From Here I Can See For Miles' and 'You Call That A Knife?'. 50 copies of the CD were originally pressed, and were all sold within a month of being released. Shining reviews were handed out by both friends and critics alike, and really showed an advancment in the bands songwriting ability. Things were definately looking up, and with gigs outside of Leicester finally appearing it looked as if everything was finally falling into place for the four-piece. Another 4 months of gigging followed, including the bands first trip outside of the Midlands, down to Southampton, and then it was time for the band to hit the studio one more time to record a new EP. Four brand new songs appeared on the CD, which later became known as the 'Hey, LaRusso!' EP. Much praise was handed out for the EP again, and this was followed by more live dates.

...And now we sit at the start of August - almost a year since Have A Go Hero officially became a four-piece, and its amazing to see how far the band has come...With gigs lined up until November, with more being added all the time, it seems the Have A Go Hero rollercoaster is only just beginning. All we can say is thank you to anyone who comes to our shows, anyone who buys our CDs, and a HUGE thank you to all the bands we've met and played with over the past 9 months - we've met some of the most incredible people on the road, and long may it continue....Thank you for all your support.

We'll see you all on the stage in the very near future....Much Love, Have A Go Hero xx

Brand New, The Early November, Hidden In Plain View, Taking Back Sunday,

You gotta feel the love of Telford...