In today’s A-Z challenge, we ask Toys That Bite to tell us all about themselves as they take on our 26 beloved questions!
A song that made you want to make music?
Shep – Bon Jovi – Let it Rock. The first album I bought as a teenager and the opening track to Slippery When Wet.
Adam – Glen Miller (In The Mood)
Tezza – Welcome Home (Sanitarium) by Metallica. It was the first time i was taught something in a guitar lesson that really grabbed me
Karl – Custard Pie by Led Zeppelin. It was the first true rock song I’d ever heard. It sparked the rock fire in me. I was 13 years old
Best rider you’ve had?
Shep – Played a few corporate gigs in fancy hotels where one on the south coast had waiter service and steak for dinner.
Adam – wedding gig for a couple that followed us around the country. All we could eat & all we could drink. Couldn’t fit in that last wafer thin mint though..!
Karl – A continuation on a theme I’m afraid. Did a New years Eve gig in a local pub. We had free drink with some nibbles. However how the hell I was still standing at the end of the gig I don’t know. Bourbon coming out of my ears. There was so much of it that bottles were going into the audience and back to us, well me. If I remember I even had enough to bring some home the next day.
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
Shep – The moment when one a cover band I was in finally broke up resulting a near full on fist altercation between the band and the vocalist. It was topped off by the drummer picking up his monitors, loading in his van and leaving.
Adam – played a biker rally once in a ska band. Finally finished a two hour set & they asked for more to which we replied we don’t know anymore. All of a sudden this 7ft behemoth who it turns out was the organiser whipped around a hat filled to the brim with buckaroos & told us to start the set again…we didn’t argue. He then proceeded to line the whole stage up with shots & demanded we help clear them. Don’t remember much after that!
Karl – I’ve done so many gigs over the years, probably over 1k, it’s hard to say, but one moment of sheer madness occurred in Trowbridge. I’d bought a Charvel guitar with a Floyd Rose trem, first time I’d experienced them. For some insane reason I decided, at the end of the gig, to rip off all the strings on the guitar. When the final string came off I stood staring at the floor at all the bits of trem just lying there. My only thought was “Shit how does this all go back together”.. I also found out why it’s called a floating trem.The good news is it went back together very easily.
Tezza – My craziest moment so far was probably at our very first gig. I was sooo hell bent on showing the audience how much energy we have that I went flat out from the first note. By the end of the gig I was so exhausted I nearly collapsed leaving the stage.
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
Adam – “in the back room where he preys, full of booze & sin, trying to play the joker card Like that’ll give him the win”
Karl – You’re such an insignific**t. Yep that’s as deep as I go LOL
Easiest song you wrote?
Adam – Hit that Like
Karl – Well so far my writing is solos and the odd adaptation of a riff so all of ‘em
Favourite song in your set?
Shep – Tits (of course)
Adam – Pour Me a Whiskey
Tezza – Gentlemen’s Club. I love the groove of it and the energy it picks up as we’re coming through the solos
Karl – Pour Me a Whiskey – Its got it all going on.
Dave – Last Train – our fastest and most energetic track for me
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
Shep – Sonia from Cobra Spell
Adam – Slash
Karl – Justin Hawkins on Genius Level Stupid. I can hear him now
Dave – yeah I’m with Karl on this one
Tezza – I’d love to have featured Lemmy. Might have missed the boat on that somewhat though
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Shep – Like all bands, respecting each other’s creative differences.
Adam – getting great gigs
Tezza – I’ve got a full drum kit to deal with so it’s gotta be the load in / get out at gigs
Karl – I’m with Adam. The time and effort involved is mammoth. We need a manger guys
Dave – explaining to the family why I definitely need more guitars and no, I don’t have enough already
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Adam – I’ve practiced Judo for 38 years and am head coach for Kobushi Judo Club
Karl – Adam has practiced Judo for 38 years.
Jokes you have in the band?
Shep – Songs must only have riffs that can be played with one finger.
Karl – Shep is actually Mrs Goggins from Postman Pat
Key to writing a song?
Adam – got to enjoy playing the bugger.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Shep – 1.5 light years (Norwich gig) or at least felt like it.
Adam – Norwich…great gig though
Karl – Yep Norwich for sure. Great gig and great breakfast in the hotel. How the hell did Dave and I survive the night before. JD-tastic great mates
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
Adam – Freddy Mercury that man battle to the end of his days & wrote some phenomenal tunes!
Karl – Probably an obvious one for a guitarist but for me it EVH. People say Jimi Hendrix was a turning point in guitar playing and I agree but EVH turned guitar playing upside down, and twisted it beyond recognition. So yeah EVH everytime
New band you’d recommend?
Adam – The Hot One Two
Tezza – Kissin’ Dynamite
Karl – I was at Butlins rock event in Jan 2026 and not only discovered this band for real but voted for them before I saw any other act, it was a battle of the bands thing. Nowt wrong with the other bands but this band had it nailed. The band is The Hot One Two.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
Adam – The Darkness
Karl – Adam and I are very aligned so yep The Darkness.
Place you’d most like to tour?
Shep – Japan
Adam – Canada or Asia
Tezza – Aussie gold coast. Soooo many beaches to surf between gigs!
Karl – I’d be happy in Europe for now.
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
Shep – I have something to say…it is better to burn up than fade away….grrrrr
Adam – Only the insane have strength enough to prosper, and only those who prosper may truly judge what is sane!
Karl – Don’t push your granny when she’s shaving!!. But more seriously sometimes it can get tough with whatever you undertake in life but never give up.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
Adam – did what it says on the tin
Karl – When we put the band together we kept saying about not just being in an audience face we are gonna rip their faces off, musically speaking you understand. So we thought about a gig intro warning of the dangers a Toys That Bite gig might hold, you know over excitement, general craziness and the need for oxygen, that kind of thing . Hence the title of the album. Our get out clause. You Have Been Warned
See us live at?
The Exchange, Bristol, June 4, 2026
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
Adam – for the live music scene 100%, covid really kicked venues right in the balls.
Karl – Yes and no. Music was more varied back in the day and was tolerated by the radio and TV, I mean Judas Priest in TOTP. Now it all seems to follow formulae, even modern metal, so that’s a no for that. However, music is much more accessible these days.
Tezza – I do love having access to such a wide range at the touch of a button though, which has only been made possible by modern streaming platforms
Unusual merchandise?
Adam – contemplating whether to get some life size scare bears!
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
Adam – There might be an acoustic version coming…
Karl – I’d like to do Pour Me a Whisky but about burgers and sausage rolls, and not those meat free cylinder types either!!
What do your fans mean to you?
Adam – without them it just wouldn’t be worth it all.
Karl – Goes without saying really. Without fans who, and what, are we. Also at gigs, or anywhere really, I believe in always giving some time to those who want to say hello and have a chat, even when you’re trying to pack down.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
Karl – Had both many years back.. I was playing Bristol Beirkeller, supporting Roy Wood would you believe, and I’d gone to the front of the stage to do my solo, which was also in front of massive stage monitors. I realised I needed to get back to my microphone quickly so I ran and jumped over the monitor, only to catch my left knee on the corner of one of the monitors. The pain I was greeted with was excruciating and I could not put weight on it, I thought I’d broken my knee. So yeah, I had to get that checked out. I also fell out the back of the band van and hurt my back once too but let us not dwell on that one eh. Other things may have influenced the outcome of that one, eh Mr Daniels. LOL
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Adam – always the drummer!
Tezza – I’m always exactly on time and not a second early thank you very much! 😂
Karl – Helicopter pilot. Well he always has to find the letter H to land on. Even a drone pad will do
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
Adam – obviously a bear…a giant fucking pink one!
Karl – I agree with Adam except for Pour Me a Whisky. Cockles and whelks come to mind with that song