Teacher sees former band's music finally go online

Mark Sykes (left) and fellow Computerman members Adam Pickering, Paul Hurford, Rhys Griffiths and Rob Crich

A primary school teacher who used to be in a band has finally seen his album released, 17 years after it was recorded.

Mark Sykes from Cheshire was lead singer of Computerman, a band who met at university in 2002 and were soon signed to a record label. They split up in 2007, shortly after recording Death of the Great Romantic.

Another former band member managed to secure the release of the indie pop album on a number of streaming services.

"It's just a dream come true that it's finally out there," said the 42-year-old from Willaston, near Nantwich.

Mark Sykes is now married with three children, and was very excited for them to hear his former band's music

Mr Sykes said the band moved to Nottingham after university in Leicester to make a go of the music business.

They built up a following, signed to a label, released a single in 2005, and went on tour while holding down part-time jobs.

But it all ended in 2007 due to creative differences, shortly after the album was ready to go.

"My children weren't alive when I first made that music with my band," he said.

When the band's songs were released online in March, the former members stayed up to see them go live at midnight.

The Year 6 teacher, who now also runs a children's after-school rock band, said the music was his life's work, and he was very proud to still have a "tiny, tiny bit of rock 'n' roll history".