Disturbed and itchy after a year of turmoil, traveling and writing, singer/guitarist/ songwriter Tommy Gleeson decided he needed to find three like-minded and equally troubled individuals to share his dream of creating an awesome new rock band.

A demo was recorded, with all the instruments bar the drums being played by the 19 year-old Somerset lad, and adverts for "rock star drummers, bassists and guitarists" hit the national music press.

Call it grand design -- or just good fortune, but the first person to heed the call was drummer Jason, whom Tommy had met a year before at a gig in Manchester.

Jason's talent was unquestionable and he swiftly joined Tommy on his quest for rock immortality.

The task of putting together the world's freshest rock act then went momentarily cold. It wasn't until Tommy met up with Ginger from cult rock act The Wildhearts at the Distortion Festival in Nottingham, that he was fixed up with adrenaline-fuelled bass-wielder Toshi, who Tommy also knew, after playing a show in Dudley some time before.

When Toshi came down to show Jason and Tommy what he could do, the pair were blown away -- and Toshi was signed up on the spot.

The embryonic band moved to London and five months of writing and fruitless auditioning followed until legendary soundman Big Mick Hughes (Metallica/Slipknot) tipped off Tommy about a hot young guitarist playing that night in the West Midlands.

Tommy dived on a train to Dudley, and caught him playing with a terrible PA to three kids and a dog.

The guitarist was called Rob -- and it didn't take Tommy long to realise that he was the band's missing axe-man. Rob joined the lads in London, and after much drinking, playing and..er..drinking, The Ga Gas were born.

Sounding big and tough, and tender and beautiful, this band have already risen from obscurity to fledgling rock stardom.

Signed to Sanctuary Records, they have supported Whitesnake and The Wildhearts, already have a rock Top 40 single under their chunky belts, and are now touring their debut album.

And will they be indulging in the cultural life of our fair city while they are here? Probably not. "We're gonna be like a bunch of apes when we get up on stage," Tommy is reported to have said.

Don't miss the chance to hear the future of hard rock, when they shatter the Sunday evening calm at The Zodiac.

Doors open at 7pm. Tickets are £5 in advance or £6 on the door. TIM HUGHES