STAR-MAKER record company Sony could never have expected teenage musician Joe Rose to tell them he was just too busy to rock.

But 18-year old Joe, who fronts a band predicted to be the new sound of Manchester pop, had vowed to put his burgeoning music career on hold until he had finished his A-levels - even if that meant making a record had to wait.

However, school is now out for singer Joe, who this week picked up three top grade A-levels. And he is putting his heart and soul into taking his band Fear of Music right to the top.

Joe, who sings vocals with the four-piece outfit and plays guitar and keyboards, has already been busy in the recording studios. And next month the group kicks off a 13-date national tour playing support to Manchester singer-songwriter Liam Frost.

Critics have praised the band for the sophistication of their lyrics and music. And success was clearly beckoning when Sony BMG - the label behind some of the biggest names in the music industry including The Boss Bruce Springsteen and Jennifer Lopez - offered them a one-album deal.

Understanding

"Our record company were fairly understanding about us taking our exams," said Joe, who got top marks in A-level English Literature, English Language and psychology. "We said we wanted to get them out of the way before we really started going. We have already got quite a busy schedule in front of us. My parents wanted me to make sure I did my exams but they realised that opportunities like this don't come very often and I had to do a balance of both things."

The four-member band, who describe their sound as "loud rock", lived in the same neighbourhood of Old Trafford and began playing together at school.

Joe began playing guitar at the age of eight or nine and his first public performance was with Chris Stanley - now Fear of Music's drummer - when they were at Oswald Road Primary School in Old Trafford together.

Joe said: "We were 10 and only did one performance, singing Beatles songs standing on a bench at the school fair."

His second stab at stardom was as a member of a two-piece group called Napoleon's Left Hand which he formed at the age of 12.

Fear of Music made their debut EP as a foursome two years ago and the result of the session at Chorlton's Airtight Studios earned them both respect and new fans on the local music scene.

The band had first formed as a trio in 2001 and Joe says their first gig proved difficult as most bars refused to let them play because of their age. The final piece of the jigsaw slotted into place when guitarist Michael Ward joined Joe, Chris and bass player Ali Esmaill.

Joe says he met Michael at a drama group in 2001 and in the early days of the band had considered inviting him to join.

Impossible

At the time it was impossible, however, as the guitarist had a Saturday job which was the day the band always rehearsed. Things changed when Joe got a Saturday job, too, and practices were switched to Sundays.

He said: "Initially the band was only playing fairly small halls but then we had some interest from a local promoter which led to Sony picking up on us. We had a couple of other record companies showing interest at the same time, but it was obviously hugely exciting that someone as big as Sony wanted to sign us up. We're hoping to have a single out next month, and then hopefully the album will follow in the New Year."

Joe, who studied for his A-levels at Stretford Grammar and Xavarian College, says he has not ruled university out.

But he said: "It's always something I can go back to if necessary. For the moment the band is our future."

Fear of Music take to the road with Liam Frost on September 18 when they play in Glasgow. The tour which also includes dates in Nottingham, Stoke, London, Bristol, Southampton and Brighton, comes to Manchester's Academy 2 on September 21.

Tweet