Mrs Miggins' Pie Shoppe professional live music covers band for corporate events, weddings, birthdays, pub gigs or any other occasion.

I remember begging my mum for a guitar from her catalogue when I was about 12, 

I think it cost about 20 quid - a Kay copy of a Gibson SG. 

The word rubbish doesn't do justice to how bad that thing was! I didn't touch it for about 2 years then decided it was time to learn.

Out came a tune a day and I mastered the basic cords.

A couple of years later, we formed a band at school in Derby called Wargazm (that name stuck as my nickname for years). I had decided that it would be cool to play bass so cut the 6 strings off the Kay and added 4 short scale bass strings. It was still rubbish but now even worse - didn't know what intonation was back then! During that year I managed to get hold of a Satelite bass, better than the now screwed Kay but still erm... rubbish but it played! I'd always been a bit of a wizz with electronics so set about building an amplifier. Amazingly, it worked.

Now set on my road to fame and fortune and a couple of gigs down the road with Wargazm, I decided I needed a bigger challenge. I answered an advert for a rhythm guitarist from a local rock band called Cougar. I bought a Kay Les Paul copy and took my amp along. I got the gig!

Little did I know that 28 years later, I'd be playing music again with the same drummer and lead guitarist from Cougar - Gary 'Chopper' Humber and Paul Smith!

After Martin Hind - the bass player - left Cougar, I took up playing bass for the band. I've alternated between rhythm guitar and bass since, although I don't play much rhythm nowadays.

Around 1990 after earlier recording a single with Loneshark (again with Gary on drums) called 'Back Seat Love' and playing many gigs around the country, I decided to stop playing - what a mistake that was with hindsight.

17 years later, a friend of mine dragged me along to a jam night at the Greyhound in Woodville (now closed). He mentioned to the organiser that I played bass, trembling a bit, I got up and twanged out some standard jam night tune with the band, in that moment, I WAS HOOKED AGAIN!!!

I fired up my old Peavey bass rig that weekend (never did get rid of my gear) and watched the smoke pour from it - it was time for a new amp. Having a few quid in my pocket I went out and bought a new amp, cab and a bass or two - the money's all gone now!

So, with my new shiney gear, I started looking for a band to join and was auditioned and accepted by a covers band in Moira. I still fancied playing some rock and was lucky to join another band called The Learning Curve. The first band didn't like me being in 2 bands and sacked me - 3 months later they asked me back - I declined with a smug feeling. I left The Learning Curve in Febraury 2010 as I was struggling to find motivation.

About a year and a half ago, I get a phone call from a guy who's voice is very familiar - there's only one Chopper Humber! We set about forming Mrs Miggins' Pie Shoppe and today have the perfect line up!

Pete Garyga