A CELLIST who thought his band days were over is about to start a European tour rocking out with Placebo's ex-drummer Steve Hewitt.

Laurie Ross grew up with classical music and reached the top grade playing the cello but now he is more used to hard rock as he plays with Love Amongst Ruin.

The band were formed by Hewitt in 2007 when he left alternative rock band Placebo who he had been with since 1996.

Ross, who lived in Conegra Road in High Wycombe until he went to university in Bath, joined last August after a chance encounter in the pub where he worked.

The 25-year-old said: “I was studying at uni in Bath. That was my last year and I was working opposite Moles Studio in a pub.

“The pub had links to Moles,where Steve was recording, and afterwards he would come in the pub. I was a bit cheeky and gave him my number and said if you ever need a cellist give me call.

“He called me a couple of months later and asked if I wanted to be in the band. It has been really cool.”

Last year the band were holed up rehearsing until January where they played in Holland at Eurosonic and are starting their European tour in September followed by gigs in the UK.

Ross, who studied commercial music, added: “We're getting everything together and changing the songs a little bit to fit the live thing.

“I wasn't a hard core fan of Placebo but I definitely liked them. I bought the Black Market Music album when I was 16.

“It is the right sort of music for that age. Working with Steve is brilliant. He is very open to other people's input. He has got a really good song writing brain on him. You wouldn't expect a drummer to be such a good song writer.”

Love Amongst Ruin made their official début live outing in June backed with Donald Ross Skinner (co producer / guitarist), Steve Hove (lead guitar), Teresa Morini (bass) and Keith York (drums) and of course Ross on cello, keys and percussion.

Ross was in a band called Mydriasis and played gigs at the White Horse in High Wycombe. At uni he was in a band called Jump Ship.

He mused: “I have always wanted to be in band. I kinda though after Jump Ship I couldn't really be bothered to get a whole band together again and that would be it.”

He went to Desborough School in Maidenhead and St William Borlase's Grammar School in Marlow.

Ross said: “The Wycombe scene was really good. The whole new metal scene was brilliant. I wonder if we will do a little mini tour and come to High Wycombe.”

The eponymous début album is released on September 13. For more information go to www.loveamongstruin.com