Ladies and gentlemen, introducing... the MirrorFootball band

Published 12:12 05/02/10

Sunderland midfielder Andy Reid has revealed that he plays the guitar to escape the pressures of the Black Cats' ten game winless run in the Premier League.

So Andy, if you're reading this, feel free to give us a call if you want to audition for the MirrorFootball band...

Ladies and gentlemen... introducing...

On drums...
Wayne Rooney: The Man United and England star's first foray into music began when he started learning to play the guitar. But The Stereophonics' biggest fan gave up strumming because, as he said in February 2008, "It's been doing my head in. It's so hard!" Instead, Rooney decided to take up the drums. Crash, bang, wallop...
Biggest musical influence: Animal from the Muppets

On keyboards...
Tony Adams : The one-time beer-swilling party boy from Essex is very much a reformed - and refined - character these days. Gone are the booze binges of yesteryear, nowadays you're more likely to find the former Arsenal defender reading poetry, enjoying the opera or tinkling the ivories. May not be a whole loada fun on tour though...!
Biggest musical influence: Phil Collins

On the trumpet...
Nobby Solano: The former Newcastle and now Leicester midfielder is extremely proficient with what some would refer to as a posh horn (but not us!) having learned to play the instrument as a schoolboy in his native Peru. In fact, he had wanted to take up the saxophone but his school only had a trumpet, so he was stuck with that instead.
Biggest musical influence: Louis Armstrong

On guitar...
Gary Speed: The versatile ex-Leeds, Everton and Newcastle star could turn his hand (or feet) to most things on the pitch, and off it he was pretty handy, too. His one and only duet with ex-St James' team-mate Solano didn't go so well though. As Solano later said: "He likes rock music and I like salsa. I now realise the two styles should probably never be mixed."
Biggest musical influence: The Edge

On the banjo...
Gilberto Silva and Julio Baptista : If for no other reason than it allows us to bring you this magnificent video clip .
Biggest musical influence: George Formby

On the Dube...
Dion Dublin: A "unique percussion instrument" in the shape of a "stylish cube" that comes in four separate sizes and can be customised in different colour schemes and tones. That's how it's described by its inventor... none other than... Dion Dublin. What does it actually do? No idea...
Biggest musical influence: Romeo Challenger

On vocals...
Phil Brown: The Hull boss let his emotions get the better of him at the end of last season after the Tigers had confirmed their Premier League status with an extraordinary on-pitch rendition of the Beach Boys' Sloop John B. Those of a masochistic tendency can 'enjoy' it again below...
Biggest musical influence: Jedward