Long ago, there was a time before MySpace and Facebook gave us all the opportunity to create imaginary people, whose lives could be shared with other imaginary people across the Internet. In this technologically retarded age, you were obliged to do your social networking face to face.

Those of us with musical inclinations could often be found at 'open mic' nights, which proved popular with those chaps who enjoy drinking beer whilst listening to a wide standard of singer/songwriter, with the potential for voicing our considered opinions as to their talent level (kind of like a 1980s Simon Cowell, but with beer as an excuse for being rude). Some of us even took the plunge and performed, and it was at just this kind of evening that the roots of Riser began to form.

Lee was a regular performer, and first met Paul, and then Dave Cox and Pete, when he was all sweaty and breathless after an energetic croon. It took years to get all of the Fab Four together in one place, but the seed was there. A few years later, Lee guested for Pete and Dave when they were doing some stuff with previous bands, and needed a vocalist.

Scroll forwards a few years, and Paul was invited to play as part of the band supporting the 2006 Pantomime at Maidenhead Town Hall. Also in the band was Pete's lovely wife, Jo, on keyboards. At one of the performances, Paul was formally introduced to Pete, but neither realised that in a few short weeks history would be made. Meanwhile, Lee was getting itchy feet. He wanted, in the words of Joliet Jake Blues, to 'put the band back together'. So calls were made, schedules were checked, and the numerous connections that had started way back in the days of yore came to fruition. Riser was born!