In 1982 he got his wish and was bought a second hand ¾ size nylon string guitar and started lessons in his lunch breaks at school.

A year later and back across the water Lara was hassling her parents to play an instrument. The obvious choice for them was to put her in the local brass band, the obvious choice for Lara was the piano. She got her way and 3 men almost broke their backs trying to get her new toy up to the first floor of their house. She started lessons too.

Another couple of years down the line and musical tastes were developing… For better and worse.

Lara was getting into Vasco Rossi and Pink Floyd and pretended to like Wham, but only to be awkward as everyone else liked Duran Duran. Ian was still playing Shadows stuff mixed with country and western classics. (It was all his guitar teacher of that period knew how to play, thus…) However, the likes of Dire Straits and Queen and a copy of a late 70's Who compilation (which also started a life long love/obsession for the group) set him in a slightly better direction. He also found a new guitar teacher, who has had a bigger influence on him than just ways of playing the old 6 string.

1987 and Ian and Lara wanted to do just like all of the people they'd been listening to and form a band. Lara and her girlfriends wanted to be like the Bangles and Signorina Bartocci borrowed a bass guitar, the piano at this point put on hold. Master Plunkett wanted to be a guitar hero and got together with some other just teens to play Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and Heart and covers. They actually played around the local pub circuit which looking back as an adult seems ridiculous, even though at the time it was taken with the up most seriousness. As with all the greats, musical differences caused both bands to fold within months.

At this point, Lara buckled down to some serious academic studying, choosing a school 40 miles away from her home at the cost of getting up at 5.30 am for the next 5 years to make the bus and train journey… Just to get as far away as possible from the village where she lived. During this period, while all the other girls we out ‘shopping' for the latest pair of trainers, Lara kept her old ones and bought a Roland D-50. Also during this period, she went Goth. Or Dark as it was preferred to be called. Black clothes, white face and Vasco was ditched for Joy Division, Bauhaus and the Cure.

Ian tried to buckle down to academia, but deep down, he knew his passion was the guitar. He took on a part time job working 4 nights a week after school after school and Saturday mornings to pay for all the guitars, amps and fuzz boxes… tools of the trade no?

From the embers of his old band, a new one was formed and the inevitable happened… Heavy Metal! Not the real fast, stupid stuff but the likes of Iron Maiden and Black Sabbath. He grew a mullet and they too played the pubs.

Leaving school happens earlier in England than in Italy and at the age of 16 and a big sigh of relief, he left. He also left the Metal group. With the intensions of studying a music course, all seemed ok until a month before finishing school when he then found out that the cool course he wanted to partake studying recording and stuff didn't exist anymore and instead, there was a new one where ‘dancing' was part of the agenda... No f***ing way! So, no more school and no idea what to do. After his first bout of many periods of being ‘un-employed', he found a job in a paint brush factory, where he remained for 10 horrible long years! Things did get slightly brighter the following year though, as apart from passing his driving test, he responded to an add for a guitarist which turned out to be for a group of guys, only slightly older than himself, who were the best he'd seen a few years earlier on the local pub scene. They wanted to write their own music. (At this point, his future and what he became was laid out…) With the shared tastes of Simple Minds, Marillion and anything slightly prog, they wrote.

Finishing school completely spent from the preceding 5 years, in 1993 Lara moved to Rome to study architecture. Still Dark, but MTV, which is terrestrial in Italy , brought grunge into her room and she liked it… Then something completely new arrived… Electronic music! Orbital, Aphex Twin, Autechre, Seefeel, Orb, µ-Ziq...
She found where she belonged. Closed off in her room with her old D-50, an Akai S2000 sampler and a Quazar expander, she started to write.

Around this time, in true rock'n'roll tradition, both Ian and Lara started smoking.

Two years later and architecture didn't have her heart anymore so she enrolled herself to a music course, still at Rome , where she studied midi, sound engineering, acoustics, harmony and technology. During this time she became involved in 2 projects. One being an ambient affair, with fellow fanatics of music where not a lot happens. They called themselves ‘Ex Machina' and have released two albums… The other a duo with her then boyfriend called ‘Left-Right'.

In 1995, Ian or ‘Plunks' by which he had become known as, was still writing with his group. After 4 years of bouncing around between original music, covers (Pink Floyd, Genesis, Rush) or a mixture of both, occasionally playing the local scene…..and singers and bass players coming and going, they settled down. Castles, Fishy and Plunks were the core of the group and they decided to take things even more seriously. There was no other option. The Trance vibe had also tickled their ears and they bought an Akai S.2000 sampler. They then called themselves ‘ Shine'. It set them off in a new direction and the one which would accumulate with them recording an album in Italy 5 years later. A drummer, 2 guitarist/vocalists and endless pads, loops and noises coming from an array of synths and the sampler. A flag ship album for the band late that year was Leftfields' debut, ‘Leftism'. This was also an important year for Plunks, as he grew his hair and officially became a hippy.

A year later and some nice stuff was coming out. Trancey instrumentals mixed with pop type stuff. The time had come to start sending out demos. A slight interested was shown but it went no further than that.

Over in Italy, things were looking a bit rosier for Lara, who at this point wasn't as ‘Dark' as before but still had a strong tendency to wear black... partly because she couldn't be bothered to update her wardrobe! The biggest independent Italian label ‘Sonica' liked what Left-Right were doing together with a female vocalist they'd found, called ‘Otero', who wanted them to write some songs for her. They recorded an album of electro pop tunes under the name of ‘Otero' at Sonica Studios, just outside of Florence , signing a deal with Polygram who distributed part of productions of Sonica/C.P.I. The album was finished and at this point Polygram withdrew.
The reason? The ‘happening' moment had passed and the Otero's look wasn't quite right. (One could ask ‘if it was good then, why ain't it now… and it's the music that counts isn't it?'… There you go… big wheel…who are we?)

Out of the confusion came another opportunity though. The producer of the album had some friends and a studio and put forward the idea of opening a label together with the creative part of Otero, ie Left-Right. They thought about it and accepted. At least if Lara wasn't to become an artist in her own right, perhaps there could be some satisfaction in helping others realise their passion. So, she finished her music course and moved to Florence as a partner of Dune Records.

1997 and Shine were slowly moving forward. They had a full set off songs and as well as sending demos off, decided to try and built up a fan base playing live. The music at this point wasn't suitable for the pub scene and as for playing the local venues, even as a support act, it was pretty much a closed shop. (Apart from a one off gig in the grounds of Norwich university, playing along with groups such as ‘Sneaker Pimps' and ‘Space' who were both coming through at the time) That left only one option… Organize, promote and pay for your own gigs. To add to the dance/trance feel of things, local dj's we're brought in to play before and after the group. The turn out varied between poor and moderately successful, but either way they group always remained well out of pocket and more depressingly, without any real feeling of moving forward. What to do? Scrap almost everything and start all over again.

Towards the end of the year Plunks flapped his wings and left home, sharing an old house in the country with a life long mate and his then girlfriend. The independence did him good, the lack of money hit hard and has followed him like a lead weight tied around his feet ever since.

Unfortunately, 9 months later the house they we're renting was sold. Not wanting to move back home, he found a small place, which was basically an elaborate shed, with one room and a bathroom… And it was very small. But as this too was in the country and with little other option, he took it and it became his home for the next 4½ years. Living alone for the first time, he decided to live in his own self built world. No TV, a big stereo system and lots of candles. It would be true to say that not all of it was passed happily. The band still desperately trying to be successful, single, a job he hated and some months spending more than he was earning with nothing pleasurable to show for it. He had the band and a few good mates to keep him occupied several nights a week, but the rest of the time, alone to dwell on where he was going and what he really wanted out of life… and what's true and what's not… What matters and what doesn't. After a while, to try and make some sense of it all, he started writing it all down in a ‘little red book'.

While Plunks was alone with his candles, tormenting himself, Lara was working 15 hour days, as A&R and producer, trying to get Dune Records off the ground. Also for Lara… it would be true to say that not all of it was passing happily…

Dune had published 5 albums, mainly electronic based… some in house artists, others signed up groups. At first, they searched to sell their finished productions to independent distributors throughout Europe and USA . This entailed contacting each one, one by one… And then, in these places if no one's heard of the act, the CD's don't sell. You need promotion and being a small label, you can't reach the places the majors reach. The result was they were only just managing to cover the costs of all the expenses involved in creating the albums. A new approach was needed. Make an album, then sell it to a major, leaving them to take care of promotion and distribution… and taking a huge slice of the pie after all the ground work's already been done.
A frustrating time and as a result Lara started dance ‘breakbeat' with a new friend called ‘panic attack'.
At that point, Lara decided it would be wise to open the doors to not only electronic music, but to groups where people play instruments. (Both herself and Plunks were listing to the likes of ‘Radiohead' and ‘P.J.Harvey' at the time). Still music you could call ‘alternative', but something perhaps more human.

1999 and Shine had a new set… and a new name… ‘Pukromo'. The new set of songs was strong and balanced more equally between the electronic and guitar sounds. The instrumentals were also gone, favouring verse chorus structures giving them a more pop/commercial flavour. They also started gigging again, playing a new local alternative venue, the Junction at Cambridge and London's BarFly. They also sent off demo's again and this time, there was some serious interest from UK labels, but none of them prepared to go the whole way and sign the boys. There was also the feeling amongst them that if nothing came this time round, they didn't know which other way they would be able to turn. It was already 9 long years since their journey together began.

One of these demos made its way over to Italy, after Castles found this label called ‘Dune Records' somewhere on the internet. It fell into the hands of Lara and as the recent decision had been made to broaden out their musical styles and stronger links were being made with the majors, she proposed the English group to her colleagues. E-mails were sent, phone calls were made and a contract was proposed and finally agreed upon.

In December Pukromo flew out to Florence for the first time to meet the Dune crew and sign the 3 album deal. For some reason Plunks and Lara felt slightly embarrassed around each other.

Christmas was slightly happier for everyone that year.

In January work began on recording the first half of the album. Taking all of the guitars and drums on the plane was somewhat impractical, so they drove and old Vauxhall Astra loaded up to the brim all the way from Norwich to Florence . From a small selection of considered studios, Sonica's was chosen as it was better equipped than the others and the Dune team wanted to produce the best work possible as majors, who would take the finished work, were already showing a good deal of interest.

It was a truly fantastic time, hard work and long days in the studio but when it's all you've ever wanted to do for the last 9 years you do it with an enthusiasm and energy never ever before realised. Everyone was into it. …And after all the hard work, fantastic food and places to drink which didn't close at 11pm !

Two weeks later, 6 songs finished and back in the Astra for the long ride home… And Plunks kept thinking about Lara… And Lara kept thinking about Plunks.

Three months later and they were back to record the rest of the songs. (In the meantime, Lara spent 2 months working for the American branch of the Label in New York .)

Another fantastic time was had and this time they fitted in their first Italian gig so work could be made on the live side of things. Like the time before, the work was done, 2 weeks passed too quickly and Pukromo went home… And Lara kept thinking about Plunks… And Plunks kept thinking about Lara.

This time, there was a bit of a pause before the final stage of the album was to be completed. August… 4 months! Plunks was still working at this point and found himself with his head in one place and his body in another, but you do what you have to do.

August arrived and this time (thankfully!) they went back to Florence by plane. Mixing was being done in an even bigger studio called ‘Hyper'. They even had a reasonably well known producer who'd worked with the likes of Nick Cave and Depeche Mode mixing some of their songs… It couldn't get any better. They then had people who deal with management and A&R from BMG flying in from Germany to meet up with them, listen to the mixes and talk about all the ideas and plans they had in mind for the future. Mixing is great because all the playing's been done, so you just have to sit around all day while the producers do their thing… And then go out drinking!

Three days before Pukromo were due to fly home and Plunks and Lara's future was given a helping hand. At a party on the Italian August bank holiday, one of Dunes team got drunk and announced in English ‘ She-a loves-a you' to Plunks, referring to Lara who at the time was stood right beside him. Both went very red and both hardly said a word to each other for the following 2 days!

On the last day, they managed to communicate again and although they'd be miles apart, (something was stirring you see!) it wouldn't be for long as 3 weeks later they'd be back to do a gig, broadcast live over the internet.

The gig was to be the peak of an exciting year and the start of their career with again, important people flying in to see them and talk of a November release date for their debut album ‘Promise Me Kill Me'. Things were looking so good, so definite that Plunks left his job of 10 years, exhaling the old and inhaling the new. They hadn't received any money yet, but the album was weeks from being released, the contracts already drawn up and agreed upon and at that point some sort of cash would arrive or he'd be too busy to worry about it.

Unfortunately, the gig wasn't quite as good as it could have been. Bad sound engineering and teething troubles with the backing tracks, but like we said, teething troubles… things could be sorted. Everything was still on regarding the album coming out.

After the gig, Plunks and Lara got a rare opportunity to be alone… and they talked. The day after, they said goodbye at the train station, Plunks knew that he was in love and Lara cried for the next 3 days.

Now, comes the hard bit! Plunks and Lara started talking via sms and Pukromo and Dune got let down. November arrived and still no news of when the album would be coming out…. Then the bombshell. It was around the time the whole ‘Napster' thing blew up and the majors got a bit nervous. The consequence being that no money was to be invested into new artists. Shit! Everyone still believed in the album, so other majors were contacted. Lara went off to meet up with various A&R who all said ‘Yeah, cool… Really like it… But we're only signing groups who sound like ‘Limp Bizkit' at the moment… Sorry!'. Another big independent label in America wanted the project, had contracts drawn up and again at the last minute withdrew as some of their distribution channels had been sucked out by the majors.

All of this took a time span of 7 months and in the meantime Plunks had spent all of his savings and almost went completely crazy having 24 hours 7 days a week to mull over the continuing build up and crash downs of their album and the girl he was in love with being in another country and still only communicating via sms.

Lara was also in crisis as her partners at Dune were starting to loose interest in the whole situation and she was running out of money too. So they got other jobs, Lara working 10 hours during the day at Dune trying to sort the Pukromo situation out, then off to waitress ‘till the early hours…6 days a week.

One good thing happened though. Plunks asked Lara to come over and see him for a few days, which without the need of being asked twice she did! This time, when they parted at the airport it was Plunks who cried his eyes out.

The rest of the year passed with one of the two flying out to the other every 2 months for a week and ever more intense sms sessions. As for Pukromo, after another, this time final letdown and not knowing where to turn, the group disbanded. One of the most heartbreaking things that had ever happened to Plunks.

With no band and no future, in February 2002, he moved to Italy to finally be with Lara… And became Ian again. (And Jan and Ianne and Il and other variations by Italians who can't quite pronounce his name correctly).

For 2 years they became normal, not playing or making any music whatsoever… And Ian was opened up to a whole new world of Italian music with artists such as Francesco De Gregori, Ligabue and Cristina Donà and a culture that put nearly if not as much emphasis of the lyrics as the music. He also had to learn Italian to understand what they were sining about... And what the hell everyone else was saying around him.

In 2004 they got married and some old feelings started creeping back and they started writing what would become '14 Days' (see Discography).

With a desire to write songs and disillusioned with the music business, they wrote for themselves. Without any thought or the pressure of trying be anything other than that. Themselves.

They've decided to put what they do on the internet and see what happens. They just wanna do what they do how they do it and if others get to hear it and like it…Well, good!

In January 2006 they moved to the countryside of Fabriano , Marche .

If you got this far, with out skipping to the end.. Well done!

Apart from all the music stuff, Lara is mad about nature and collecting cactus plants. Ian is interested in hardly anything.