In the early years of the Cold War five guys named Ray decided it was best to stay hidden in a fallout shelter until the Russkies gave up. While they were there all they had were hot dogs to eat, 1950's sci-fi movies to watch and a radio to listen to. Having become adept at playing the music they heard and loved on that radio (especially during the 1970's) they finally decided it was safe to emerge early in 2007. Calling themselves The Atomic Rays they hit the Bristol pub scene like an invasion from Mars. Playing the likes of Bowie, Purple, The Who, The Tubes, Bolan and The Stones with flamboyance, energy and the kind of theatre that only exposure to too many monster movies can inspire. Lights, smoke, movies, monsters and in yer face Rock n' Roll. Oh, and a bit of jumping about. The Atomic Rays are the metalunic Ray D8 on vocals, the single-minded Ray Zon Detra on guitar, the monstrous Ray Gunn on bass, the mysterious Ray "Sir" Roof ..borads and the atomically powered Ray Dar on drums. Will someone please call The National Guard? Its The Astonishing Atomic Rays! They're atomic. And they're all called Ray.
..50>
What they said:
"One of the best gigs at The Cat in a long time" - Paul from Psycho Delia Smith
"One of the best gigs at The Cat in ages" - Paul from The Glambusters
"The Prom gig was good but this one went up to 11" - My mate Duncan
"Best one yet" - My mate Justin
"Best one yet" - My mate AJ
"Best one yet" - My mate Speedy
"You've got a cracking band there" - Dave
"Loved the film. Better than the gig" - My mate AJ
"Well not better than the gig, obviously" - My mate AJ
"Shut up AJ" - Ray Gunn
"Fantastic! You should have seen Scott (the landlord) air-drumming behind the bar" - My mate Will
"Respect! You Rock!" - Drunk bloke outside
"Nearly the perfect gig" - Scott the landlord
"Obviously I'll be wanting you back here" - Scott the landlord
"We're booked until February but I'll see what I can do. We have some staff parties coming up" - Scott the landlord
"I loved Godzilla" - My mate Lisa
"You guys Rocked" - My Wife
"They (the audience) loved you" - Scott the landlord
"I come here a lot and that is one of the best gigs I've seen" - Some bloke
"Can you play a cider festival at Easter Compton at the end of July?" - Same bloke (I gave him our card)
"He (pointing at Ray D8) has got loads of energy" - Scott the landlord
"Actually the energy of the second set was fantastic" - Scott the landlord
"Storming gig! Really enjoyed it" - My mate Brian
"Your too big for this place" - A foreign woman (Irish or American - not sure)
When told we're playing The Prom) "You're too big for there as well" - Same woman
Rock is rock. Rock is a four letter word. A bass guitar has four strings as does an electric guitar (if you take two off). Rock usually has four beats to the bar and if a drummer has a spare pair of sticks with him then then he has four.
Looking forward to seeing you guys rock the Cat & Wheel
Gentlemen Rock is Rock ...... this is fact, undeniable fact. Our Caveman ancestors would have rocked but they lacked not only fender guitars and marshall amplification but the very means of power to amplify them. I take it then gentlemen, that in salute to our ancestors, you will rock the Prom
