Rob Sas

(Guitar)

 

"Some guys brought in a Deep Purple album to play at school and I hated it at first!  I just didn't get it at all."

Gradually, the sound of DEEP PURPLE began to have a big impact on Rob but it was when he heard the album ELECTRIC LADYLAND (JIMI HENDRIX) and attended a Purple gig in London that rock music began to take over.

"The first gig I went to see was T-Rex in March 1972 followed by Deep Purple in September.  That second gig changed my life (and hearing) forever!"

When Deep Purple split in 1976, Rob reacted by buying his first guitar but unlike most beginners, he made straight for the electric guitar - in particular, a Fender Stratocaster, and settled down to some years of serious "wood shedding".  In 1980 he started recording with originals band KILLERHURTZ and gigging with them the following year.

"We gigged fairly regularly but were never really very good."

Killerhurtz disbanded four years later having supported THE NASHVILLE TEENS, THE GROUNDHOGS and other such rock bands of the time.  Rob concentrated on his recording studio, producing and recording bands which satisfied him for a while, but he itched to get back to playing.

"I spent 3 years with local bands SO WHAT, then ex Killerhurtz drummer IAN ROOSTAN arrived with vocalist MICK O'TOOLE to do some recording".

This meeting sparked the birth of BAD ATTITUDE and a wealth of songs were written and recorded.  However, Ian did not stay long and Rob went in search of a high calibre drummer.  He found ROSS ELDER, then drumming with the LES PAYNE BAND.

"Ross and I talked, he came round to the studio, set up his kit and within minutes we were off and recording - Astounding!"

Ross brought keyboard player HILLY BRIGGS into the line up.  Bad Attitude were complete and had several songs that the record and publishing companies were interested in.  After some months, Hilly pulled out due to touring commitments elsewhere but introduced TOM DUSSEK from SOUL PURPOSE who quickly took over.  However, the recession bit deep, the new artist roster was slashed and Bad Attitude died shortly after, having played only a handful of gigs.

This led to the formation of a new project - a covers band.  Tom brought in vocalist/bassist JOHNNY HEYWOOD from Soul Purpose and drummer SIMON ALEXANDER completed the line-up.  BURN was up and gigging.

"We played many fine gigs with this line-up including the REDBACK TAVERN in Acton where, on a regular basis, they pack 900 people into this huge Australian pub"!

January 1997 saw the departure of Tom Dussek to other musical avenues.  Burn has remained a three piece ever since.

"In addition to Burn, I have had stints with the JOHN COGHLAN BAND (ex STATUS QUO) over the years, touring the UK and Europe.  Mr Coghlan still rings up with a gig or two occasionally.  QUATERMASS 2, which unfortunately did not last long, was a project headed by MICK UNDERWOOD (GILLAN, THE OUTLAWS, STRAPS) and included Johnny Heywood on bass and vocals.

Rob has had short stints in various other bands, sometimes put together for one or two nights and played with a plethora of other "name musicians" such as NICK SIMPER (DEEP PURPLE, WARHORSE), "HUD" HUDSON (STRAWBS, HUDSON-FORD), GARY BARDEN (MICHAEL SHENKER), LINDSAY BRIDGEWATER (OZZY OSBOURNE, BUDGIE), CHICK CHURCHILL (TEN YEARS AFTER) CHUCK SABO (RIGHT SAID FRED, SHAKESPEARE'S SISTER), CLEM CURTIS (THE FOUNDATIONS) STEVE PRIEST AND MICK TUCKER (THE SWEET) and perhaps the most dubious.....GARY GLITTER!

These days, Rob divides his time between Burn, The Self-Righteous Bros. and a new duo, BACK TO BACK . He has recently completed a solo album featuring re-recordings of some of Rob's songs from the past and some of his own personal favourite cover songs.

 
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