Hour tune

Though his name might not be familiar, the bands and musicians he has played with certainly are: Blake Grape, alongside The Happy Mondays' Shaun Ryder; The Mesceleros, with the late Joe Strummer from The Clash; Sly & Robbie, and Brian Eno.

Oh..and he's best mates with artist Damien Hurst. But it took a gig by Oxford's Radiohead, to make the plain-talking Lancashire lad realise that the time was right to form his own band.

Teaming up with Ant Genn, who played with Elastica and Pulp, as well as producing Strummer, they called themselves The Hours.

"We have always been working musicians," says Martin, speaking from his makeshift bedsit/recording studio in Kilburn, north London.

"Ant and I have always written and played with other people, but have also got something original to offer. However, it wasn't until we got together that it became possible. It wouldn't have happened if we hadn't been at the same Radiohead gig, three years ago."

The gig came at a watershed moment for Slattery, who was then playing with Strummer's Mesceleros. When Joe died, he was left to finish the band's album alone - an experience he describes as "pretty painful".

Genn, who at the time was sharing a flat with Robbie Williams, was also looking for something to do. Martin explains: "As well as just finishing Joe's album, I had just had a kid. I was really regretting never having tried to have my own band. I have worked with some great people, but not always on things I've liked. I was a jobbing musician, and was worried things weren't going to get better than that.

"Ant and I were just friends then. We have both loved Radiohead since their first album, and went along to see them at Shepherd's Bush Empire. Seeing that group of friends on stage was an incredible experience.

"Ant and I got talking after and realised what we needed to do."

The pair released their debut album Narcissus Road, last month with a bit of help from the badboy of British art, and scourge of sharks, Damien Hurst, an old friend of Strummer.

Martin says: "Damien supported The Mesceleros as a fan, and now likes what we do. He gave us breathing space."

His musical career hasn't always been glamorous.

"I've been surrounded by music all my life," Martin recalls. "Even as an eight year-old I would go with my dad to working men's clubs in Accrington, Burnley, Bolton and Wigan, where he would play.

"It was great working with my dad, but I realised pretty quickly that playing in a working men's club wasn't for me. I have always suffered from delusions of grandeur!"

It was been his experience of life on the road with Strummer, though, which made the biggest impression: "Joe was a believer in the power of the individual. I have never been a sycophant.

"I am only interested in people's music - not their 'legendary' status. But being on the road with Joe was amazing.

"We would go to gigs and clubs, meet people, and just stay out all night.

"If he'd stayed up all night and you hadn't, he'd call you a wimp in the morning. He was a powerful man, for a guy in his 50s. When he died, no one saw it coming."

Incredibly, before working with Strummer, Slattery had never heard of him.

"When I was a kid I listened to jazz, not The Clash. So when we first met I had to ask him who he was. The whole room went quiet - but Joe liked it! He knew what he was getting from me was honesty."

Tonight The Hours play the Zodiac, where they will showcase their album, with singles Ali In The Jungle and Back When You Were Good. Martin has no doubt gig-goers will be impressed: "We are really happy with the way it hangs together.

"Particularly as we produced it ourselves right here in my bedsit - with the drums in the toilet!"

And does he expect Radiohead to drop by and see the band they inadvertently inspired?

"Maybe ... I hope so," he laughs.

The Hours play The Zodiac tonight (March 9). Tickets are £7 in advance. Doors open at 7pm.