The rock star train worker touring the world

Robb Weir says his two jobs go well together

A guitarist has told how he combines playing around the world with his band and his railway job.

Robb Weir founded heavy metal band The Tygers of Pan Tang in 1978 in Whitley Bay.

But for the past 22 years, he has been combining his rock 'n' roll life with working at train operator LNER's customer experience team.

“I don’t have a problem with that at all. They coexist very well for me," he said.

“I literally get off a plane. Go home, get showered, and then get on a train.”

The Tygers have just come back from playing in the Caribbean, with shows in Italy and Brazil coming up next, as well as a new album release.

The band performs around the world

The band was formed after Mr Weir put an advert in the local paper looking for a bass player.

They were part of the British heavy metal new wave scene, and enjoyed top 20 chart success.

“I recall playing Reading festival in 1980, Whitesnake were headlining I remember," Mr Weir said.

"We were playing on their stage to 72,000 people which is quite something when you can't even see the back of the audience.

"We were back there two years later, co-headlining with Iron Maiden. So our career moved forward from being fifth on the bill to co-headlining.

"It was a great, great time, it really was. “

Trains and rock 'n' roll

The group eventually left their record label and in 1987 Mr Weir "got disillusioned with everything" and walked away from the music business.

When The Tygers reformed in 1999, he decided to keep on working.

He came across his railway job three years later when he spotted an advert.

Mr Weir decided to call and was at Newcastle's Central Station one hour later for an interview. He was on a train the next day.

"It was quite unplanned really but here I am 22 years later!" he said.