THE BAND
Darwin's Rejects are a 6 piece folk/rock/indie band based in the East Midlands.
RUSS TORR
// lead vocals
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I started out musically (in the loosest sense of the word) as a Karaoke DJ around the Midlands area, a good friend suggested starting a band, “The band with no name” was born, we did a few pub cover gigs but it never went very far, I then approached Warren and suggested creating a festival band, he was well up for it so we formed Darwins Rejects, (named after a car park in Derby)! I grew up on a pedigree of heavy metal, soft rock/hair rock & cock rock, frequenting the Monsters of Rock festival (now Download) as often as we could (sneak in… security was very lapse in the 80’s)!!!, Followed by many years attending the Download festival. The Levellers came and played at a festival in our village (never heard of them)!!! But I was instantly hooked. Around the same time, Ferocious Dog & Headsticks appeared on my radar, another two bands that have heavily influenced Darwins.
Musical influences/favorites:
Thunder, Status Quo,
The Levellers, Ferocious Dog Headsticks,
Favorite vocalists:
Danny Bowes (Thunder) Andrew Tranter (Headsticks)
WARREN IRELAND
// guitar & backing vocals
Music has been an integral and fundamental part of my life since as long as I can remember. I started playing guitar when I was 14, and graduated to open mic nights and busking at 18 when I left home. Since then I’ve been in a really fortunate position to pursue music as more than just a hobby – developing a solo career featuring my trusty loopstation. As for Darwin’s – I’m immensely proud of where we are. What started out "as a laugh” with four of us, and have turned into a six piece full band outfit that’s going from strength to strength with each performance. Just don’t tell Russ or he might not get his head through the door for our upcoming shows!
ELLIE OWEN
// electric guitar, backing vocals and lead vocals
I have been playing guitar since I was 8 and have been playing in bands since I was about 10. I have always wanted a career in music. I grew up playing classic rock like Guns n Roses and AC/DC and this heavily influenced my playing style. After a few years I started playing acoustic solo sets and through this I met Warren and Russ at Rock and Bike Festival. This is where the downfall began from rock star to the fiddle substitute. Influences include anything from Steve Vai to Halestorm and from Led Zeppelin to Iron Maiden.
JAMIE SHARRATT
// mandolin
I didn’t start playing till I was well over 30, it was just guitar then, fingerpicking folky stuff. The mandolin came in at about 45ish when I wanted something different, that’s when it all went downhill! First proper band was Shanks' Pony when I met Mr Hallam, that’s when things changed (for the better). Oh, I do like a tipple or two. Influences? whatever i'm playing at the time
ALAN FISHER
// bass guitar
I came into playing music relatively late in life, having always had a love of watching and listening to musicians of varied genres. Levellers are my enduring musical love, after dalliances with rock and dance music, and nearly anything in between, I irrevocably came back to the boys from Brighton, and through them inevitably I was led to Ferocious Dog. They propelled me into a scene of like-minded folk that have impacted nearly every facet of my life. My performing started out banging a box (cajon) with the Star Copiers - a bunch of festival mates having a laugh, then the same again with Car Boot Bandits. Despite being very much a bit of fun, I think we surprised a few people and even released music into the wild, and enjoyed stage time with some notable folk (mainly members of Ferocious Dog, haha!). I learned a bit of ukulele in between jobs and during lockdown, and deputised for Jim on percussion for Darwin’s Rejects on occasion when he was on fine wine tasting holidays. They must have quite liked me because a clandestine plan was hatched between Warren and my other half Ella late in 2022 which saw me mysteriously receive a lovely bass ukulele for Christmas just as the Darwin’s seemed hell bent on adding some brown noise to their sound! It was exciting to get enough songs down to be on a stage in less than two months of being a bass player - but I still consider myself very much a beginner!
JIM MYATT
// drums
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I started playing drums and percussion at the age of 11. Over the years I’ve traversed from orchestra’s to extreme metal. Highlights are playing at Beautiful Days, Rebellion, the Royal Albert Hall, and supporting 2 former Iron Maiden singers (not that one though, yet). My influences range from Anthrax and Slipknot to Kate Rusby and Fiona Apple. When not drumming I enjoy fine wines and the lamentations of my enemies
