Adam's all set for gigging at Glasto

ANYBODY who knows anything about Glastonbury will tell you being billed to play on the Other Stage is a massive achievement.

In recent years the likes of Iggy Pop, The Chemical Brothers and Pete Doherty have all strutted their stuff there.

On Sunday Halstead man Adam Harrison will add his name to the list when he walks out with his bass guitar to perform in front of literally thousands of fans with his band, The Boxer Rebellion.

The 26-year-old said: "We've got a big enough fan base to do the Other Stage at Glastonbury, which is normally reserved for signed bands.

"To be honest, I've seen everybody I've loved at Glastonbury on the Other Stage.

"To be playing it is a pleasure."

Breaking the mould is something Adam is becoming used to.

The Boxer Rebellion may be unsigned, but that did not stop their second album, Union, breaking into the US Billboard Top 100 after it was released by iTunes to download around the world earlier in the year.

"We became the first unsigned banned to break the US album Billboard Top 100," said Adam.

"We've sold about 30,000 records to date."

Union is due to be released in this country on September 14.

Adam described the band's sound as alternative guitar-based music.

His influences include The Beatles and Radiohead.

His band's name comes from the common term for the early 20th century uprising by Chinese peasants against the British Army.

"It's really hard to think of a good band name," Adam explained.

"We wanted a serious band name, so we started looking at political history.

"The name just sounds good, as much as anything."

The journey from Halstead to Glastonbury has not been without its disappointments.

Adam explained the band were first spotted following a previous Glastonbury appearance in 2004, by former Oasis manager Alan McGee.

A record deal for their first album, Exits, was hammered out between them, McGee and Mercury – only for the plug to be pulled at the last minute.

Not that it concerns Adam any more.

"We shopped around for record companies and nobody picked us up," he said.

"I'm sure they would now, but the boot's on the other foot.

"We don't want to sign a deal or give up any of our rights."

The Boxer Rebellion are due to play Glastonbury on Sunday at 12.30pm

To find out more about the band visit www.theboxerrebellion.com