It is certainly not a name many will associate with the local music scene, but London-based band The Red Model has a Maltese connection nonetheless. Formerly a member of notorious Maltese indie cult band Shostakovich’s Nightmare, Bernard Camilleri has been the drummer in this UK band ever since he formed it with guitarist Tom Deitch over a pint of Old Speckled Hen, which apparently is “nearly as nice as a certain local ale”.

Actually, the story goes that Deitch was trying to recruit Camilleri for the band he was then playing with, but by the time the pint had been downed, the Maltese drummer had convinced him to look for a bass player and a singer and form a new band. Andy ‘Wooly’ Wooldridge was a natural choice for bass player, having laid the foundations for four or five tracks in one session. Finding a vocalist wasn’t as easy however.

“After trying out five female singers, I decided to call Matt,” Camilleri recalls. “We used to be in a band together and even though he’s no girl, we felt his prolific song-writing and vocal skills were what we needed.”

The four rockers haven’t looked back since, except maybe to help themselves to the hint of 1980s pop and post-punk edginess that permeates their collective sound.

With several gigs at key London venues (including Cargo and Water Rats) and an album, titled Taste the Difference, under their belt, The Red Model are now bringing their music to Maltese audiences when they perform at Coach and Horses in Msida on December 7 and 8.

For more information and a taste of the band’s music, log on to their official website.

www.theredmodel.co.uk