ROCKERS Pink Cigar will soon be jetting off to New York to find their fame – but not before heading to Warrington.

The London quartet, who combine glam rock and 70s punk influences, will be playing at the Mix Bar on the corner of Barbauld Street and St Austins Lane on Friday.

They have a connection to the town as their manager Tommy Kennedy, who has worked with U2 and Madonna, grew up in Great Sankey.

Guitarist Edd Whyte said: "Our manager Tommy has connections and friends there and they come down for it.

"And when we played there last time we had a really good laugh so we’re really happy to come back."

It is Pink Cigar's last UK tour date before going to New York at the end of November.

Edd, aged 25, added: "It's extremely exciting because none of us have been before.

"I think our style of music would go down well in America and everyone’s been telling us to go. It’s even what Matt Sorum, one of the original drummers from Guns N’ Roses, said to us at a party.

"Travelling is one of the best things about being in a band. You get to go to places you’ve never been to before and you get to see a different side of things than you probably would as a tourist.

"The energy is always good so it’s almost like being at a party every night."

Following their debut album, We're Gonna Get You Out Of Here, Pink Cigar have just recorded a three song EP at former Clash guitarist Mick Jones’ studio in Acton.

"I loved our first album but I think this is a step up from that," said Edd, whose main influences are Sex Pistols, The Clash, Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Beatles, The Who, Iggy Pop and New York Dolls.

"I wrote a lot of those songs when I was really young. Some when I was just 14.

"As you get older you can refine your songs and perfect them a bit more. These new songs still have the same energy and vibe but they’re a step up and I’m really happy with them."

Edd remembers being obsessed with his dad Michael's guitar when he was six.

He added: "I used to love looking at it but it was forbidden from touching it. But one morning I went downstairs and I picked it up and hit my toy car on the strings.

"That was my first experience with a guitar and I thought I was really good at it."

Edd was then introduced to the likes of the Beatles by a friend at school.

"While all the other kids were listening to current stuff, I was listening to Jimi Hendrix," he said.

"We’ve been influenced by rock and roll of the 1960s and 1970s and what we’re doing is taking the essence of that and making it relevant to our generation.

"It’s our mark on it and it’s lyrics about our lives and the world we live in now."

- Pink Cigar play at the Mix Bar with Serratone this Friday

DAVID MORGAN