MEMBERS of a rock band are proving there is no age limit on a love of music.

The Roy Rad Band has gone from strength to strength since it formed in 2015, releasing a flurry of albums and singles.

Founding member Roy Rad said: “I started playing guitar when I was 12 and then, like any other teenager, I wanted to be a rockstar.

“Through my teens I organised school concerts with a band and after that we would play in pubs.

“But when I was about 20 I went to college and put my guitar away, family life and a career then took over.”

But the Haywards Heath resident never lost his passion for rock and roll.

After turning 50, Roy decided to fulfil his teenage dream of owning a Les Paul Gibson guitar – an instrument which has previously been played by the likes of Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Billy Gibbons.

After this, the freelance engineer realised he needed an amp so found a shop in Farnham which had once been visited by Brian May and said visiting the store made him feel like “a kid in a candy shop”.

This inspired him to rekindle his fascination with lyrics and begin songwriting again.

He said: “In my fifties I decided to get songwriting down and started putting some songs together.

“I became involved with Rok Skool (a music school for all ages in Haywards Heath) then started producing some of my songs and putting them online.

“The school had contacts and put me in touch with other musicians so I could form a band.”

Since forming in 2015, the Roy Rad Band have been playing and recording relentlessly, only interrupted recently when the drummer had a hip operation.

Roy, now 61, said: “Just because we are of an older age group, I don’t see why we should be disregarded in the music industry.

“We have always had a keen interest in music but as a teenager you have to put 100 per cent in and many don’t make it.

“All of us have other careers and now we are just trying to make good music, I hope people enjoy what we are doing.”

When Roy saw a new Sussex talent competition had been launched he was quick to enter the band.

The group has reached the final of the competition and will perform on Saturday night for a chance to take the inaugural crown.

The final will be hosted by organisers Pier Nine, Brighton’s new seafront entertainment hub in Grand Junction Road. The champion will win £1,000 and a minimum of three performances at the venue next year.