My other life: Gordon Rutherford, Axa - Bass Player

How did your interest in bass guitar start?
I bought my first bass when I was 13 and paid for it over 10 weeks with £3 from my paper round. For the first two years I had no amplifier and had no idea how to even tune the thing but I kept plugging away, playing along with my records in my bedroom. I am eternally grateful to punk rock for emerging when it did. It was much easier to play along with than Pink Floyd.

What have been the highlights of your music career?
Back in the 1980s Glasgow was a really happening place musically, with the whole Postcard Records thing. I played in bands that supported Aztec Camera, Orange Juice, Altered Images and Lloyd Cole & the Commotions. But, for me, every time I strap on a guitar or plug in a synth is a highlight. It’s the most enjoyable thing imaginable and takes you to a completely different place.

What's next for your band, Dark Flux?
Our drummer recently had to quit because of work commitments, so the first priority is finding a new replacement. After that, we want to get into the studio and record. We have 11 really strong tracks we want to record properly. The sound we are trying to create will be much more suited to studio work than live stuff. It’s pretty layered. After that Glastonbury 2017.

Any crossover between playing in a band and your insurance day job?
None at all. I have always compartmentalised my life. It keeps me sane. My work for Axa is in one box, Dark Flux is in another. The only connection is that both require a high degree of creativity. Oh, and three other guys in my marketing and e-commerce team are in the band now.