Secret double life of banking singer

By John Hill on August 14, 2008 2:00 PM |

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HE PERFORMED at gigs across the world – but convinced co-workers he spent his weekends browsing hardware stores.

That’s the strange tale of Honey Ryder guitarist Martyn Shone, who hid his secret life as a touring musician from colleagues at Wharf company Credit Suisse.

The 29-year-old consultant and project manager quit in January to devote himself to the folk-rock two-piece, which has just cracked the Top 40 with first single Numb.

An album is expected by October.

He said: “In previous jobs people knew I was in a band and it didn’t do me any favours. They like to think you’re fully committed, so I kept it quiet.
“I’d finish work at about 10pm and travel to Lower Acton for rehearsals, and I’d probably get to bed about 2am for an 8am start.
“I did a session gig in Russia a few months back, and when people asked how my weekend went I just told them I went to B&Q. I even played secretly at Glastonbury.
“I was like Clark Kent. I’d tie my hair back at work, and do the Sideshow Bob thing at gigs.”

He’s now thrown off the disguise thanks to the success of his partnership with vocalist and former MTV assistant director Lindsay O’Mahony. The pair worked together in various bands before starting the project two years ago.

The band – who have influences ranging from Pearl Jam to Fleetwood Mac – have also cooked up a unique way of financing themselves while remaining unsigned.

Lindsay, 28, said: “We’ve set up a company called Honey Ryder Music Ltd, and we’re selling shares in 50 per cent of the band. £3,500 gets you one share, which gets you half a percent of album sales, touring profits, merchandise in perpetuity.
“It’s a high-risk project but because we’re an Enterprise Investment Scheme you can get tax breaks. Former EMI CEO Eric Nicoli has bought a lot of shares and is really into us, but anyone can buy a share if they like the music and can spare the money.”

Honey Ryder has performed with bands such as Supergrass, at The Bedford in Balham and in schools across the country. But the group popped up recently in Bar 1802 in West India Quay to play a few acoustic songs to Martyn’s old workmates.

He said: “It was weird coming back, but humbling. Everyone’s really excited about the music and what we’re doing. A lot of people came down to watch us play, and then had to head back to work until 9pm.”

For more information on Honey Ryder, go to www.honeyryder.co.uk