FORMED to play just a handful of gigs back in 1979, The Blues Band are still packing them in 36 years later.

Put together by ex Manfred Mann members Paul Jones and Tom McGuinness, along with Dave Kelly, Gary Fletcher and Hughie Flint — the band's line-up is still the same bar drummer Hughie who retired in 1982 and replaced by Rob Townsend.

Dave said: "He's still the new boy, but it's been 33 years [since he joined], so I think he's got the gig.

"The band was Paul's idea. He was an actor at the time, but his first love was the blues and he wanted to form a band to play on his nights off from the theatre.

"He had a week spare and he filled it with gigs in London pubs, most of which aren't there any more. Every gig sold out — and here we are 36 years later."

Pestered by record companies for records, the band released their 'official bootleg' album in 1980 and have since recorded almost 20 albums.

The band plays a mix of blues standards and original material in their set — often throwing up some surprises.

Dave said: "We keep it fresh and got rid of the set-list about 10 or 12 years ago. Whoever wants to sing just calls out the song that's in their mind and we just play it."

Dave has a grounding in all sorts of music. Paul Jones also had his roots in Blues music, which he discovered at college and for a while Manfred Mann backed Sonny Boy Williamson.

And Tom McGuinness' first band, The Roosters, had a young guitarist in its ranks called none other than Eric Clapton.

"I came up on skiffle and rock and roll when I was around 10 years old," he said. "In fact, I still love country, rhythm and blues, jazz — all the ingredients of rock and roll.

"Then when I was about 15 I discovered blues music and was knocked out by it, especially Muddy Waters. It just moves you."

The Blues Band will be appearing at The Bury Met on Friday, December 4.