Up-and-coming pop rock band 4Hours plan to make it big in the world of music and have already got off to a good start. CHARLENE MITCHELL talks to vocalist and guitarist Adam Duff about how they plan to achieve their dreams

4HOURS are a band inspired by Queen and the Red Hot Chilli Peppers with a sound that echoes that of the Foo Fighters, The Police and the Kaiser Chiefs. The trio, who grew up in Hillingdon and Ruislip, have had a few ups and downs this year, but are now ready to take on the challenge of making it big in the music industry.

Adam Duff, 22, of The Chantry, Hillingdon, is the singer and songwriter and also plays the guitar. He said: "We got our name from one of the first songs I ever wrote. We had gigs coming up and we didn't have a name, so we just chose the best song name out of the four or five I had written. It kind of stuck because we decided it sounded pretty good.

"Most of our songs are about women because the most experience we've had is either from being in a relationship or falling out of one. The songs are normally in a good way about women though; we don't slag anyone off. Cuter When The Sun Goes Down is the only one that is a little bit derogatory.

"Most of them are just about the way people have made us feel or the way we've made them feel or the excitement of a new relationship. 4Hours is about love and loss.

"It's very traditional pop music and one of our better known songs, Love Song, is very slow, which is very different to what we normally do. It goes down very well in gigs considering most people are expecting three guys to turn up and play rock music."

The two other band members are the bassist Tommy Bass (yes, really), aged 20, from Ruislip, and Kian Chanter, 24, from

West Drayton, stand-in drummer for now and who also plays in covers band The Frantics.

"We lost our other drummer in April because he wasn't as committed as us, so Kian is our session drummer at the moment. We are on the lookout for someone new, which is always a stumbling block," explains Adam.

The band formed in the summer of 2007 after Adam and Tommy met at a stage production at the Winston Churchill Hall in Ruislip. Adam said: "We played our first gig in September 2007 and since then we have played gigs all over London, including the Carling Academy, which is now the 02 Academy in Islington, and The Clapham Grand.

"We've also played at The Crown and Treaty in Uxbridge a lot of times. It's what we call our home ground and it's a great little venue. There's not a lot of places in Uxbridge that can put on music gigs with more than one band, but The Crown and Treaty encourages new music. If it wasn't for them we probably wouldn't have had as many gigs as we've had because they encouraged us to go on."

Last summer the band also got the chance to play a gig in Uxbridge Library as part of Hillingdon Arts Week.

"That was probably the most random gig we've every played before. It was great though and I don't think many rock bands can say they've played at a library before," said Adam.

The band was also booked to play The Carpenter's Arms in Hayes last Sunday, and they have got gigs coming up at the 333 Motherbar in Hoxton on Friday and back at The Crown and Treaty on August 30.

They are keen to make it on their own and don't really agree with the current reality TV fad which has launched many a pop career.

Adam said: "Without wanting to sound big headed we are doing very well. People like Simon Cowell make money out of other people but we want to make it ourselves. The music industry nowadays wants you to do exactly what they say and it doesn't give you as much flexibility.

"Any musician's dream is to be noticed, but I wouldn't want to have my face all over Hello! magazine. I just want to be able to say this many people have bought my songs and be appreciated and recognised for my song writing. We have paid for our own studio time and we made our own deal with iTunes. We are doing it for ourselves so if and when we do make it the benefits will be great. It's a slow process though."

The band dream of making it big and Adam has defined exactly what he thinks making it big really is. He said: "If I could have it my way I would like to get big enough to write a James Bond theme tune or have a Christmas number one. If I get to the age of about 30 and I haven't made it I would go on X Factor because it's kind of the last chance, but before that happens, I will try every other avenue."

Performing definitely comes first for the band though. We spend a lot of time writing new music so to get out on the stage and release the energy and anticipation of a new song is great," said Adam.

"I personally enjoy being able to put on a show. I like interacting, moving about a bit, being a bit stupid while having fun and getting other people to join in. We're not just a straight forward rock band. We truly believe we are different, which is why we have so much faith that we will make it."

The band's first, and currently only, album, Sit Tight For The Ride, is available on iTunes, Amazon and Napster. And if you think you have got what it takes to become the band's new drummer then email 4hoursmusic@googlemail.com. To find out more about the band go to www.4hoursmusic.co.uk .