KING Prawn never felt they were a band that would be commercially successful, but they’ve managed to build an almost cult following.

The ska-punk band were formed by Roger and his fellow St Albans friend Al Rumjen after they moved to London.

Recruiting drummer Nikoli Jones and bass player Babar Luck, the band started playing the capital’s live music circuit, but by Roger’s own admission took some time to make themselves known.

“We never felt that we were a band that would be commercially successful,” he adds.

“That was never our objective but somehow, after playing loads, we managed to achieve some kind of cult recognition.”

Nominated for the Best New British Band category at the Kerrang!

Awards in 1998, King Prawn toured their unique brand of hip-hop ska punk until they decided to call it a day in 2003.

While each individual member went off to do their own musical projects, as well as doing his own, Roger started tour managing a number of other bands.

“It was weird,” he says. “One of the reasons we stopped doing the band was because we were all tired from touring and then I ended up getting this job.

“I worked with a number of groups, including British Sea Power, the Magic Numbers and even Heaven 17, they were a good bunch of lads.

“Although I was getting better money than I ever did touring in King Prawn, I was sitting by the side of the stage thinking ‘I want to be up there again’.”

And now he is.

Following a summer of gig dates, King Prawn are back on the road this autumn and it all starts at Tribal in Colchester this Friday.

The gig also co-incides rather neatly with the release of a double-A side record, Done Days, A Solemn Man, which came out on Monday.

“It was a really natural thing,”

Roger says. “When we started rehearsing we automatically started writing again. It’s like we’ve continued exactly where we left off, except we are all a lot more appreciative of each other this time around.”

KING PRAWN: With support from Imperial Leisure, Tyrannosaurus Alan and Hobo Chang. Plus DJs Dan Rankin and Lloyd Rust.

Tribal, St Botolph’s Circus, Colchester.

Friday. Doors open at 9pm.

£12.50 in advance, £15 on the door.

www.tribalnightclub.co.uk