Kooky odd popsters The Hoosiers have come back down to earth taking up various solo projects alongside writing their new album.

Alphonso the mad, mustached wonder is now simply Alan Sharland.

“We morphed into the need for reality and I am now the son my parents can be proud of,’’ he said.

The reinvented band are heading for Swindon tomorrow playing all their hits and a few new songs. “We are rehearsing this week and I can promise it will be fun,’’ said Alan.

The guys have taken a year out to retrench after an amicable breakup with their record label. Alan said: “It was giving us time to regroup and do our own thing. I am co-writing a musical, a story about the homeless. We have written eight songs in Goodbye Mr A style, a sort of pop with an edge but we will get someone else to write the script.’’ The drummer admits he is getting a real buzz from the no constraints of his own project.

Their last album Bumpy Ride was not as successful as the first and resulted in the band splitting away from the record label. “It was a bit of a failure , the head of the label left and there was no cash spent on us. “But calling it Bumpy Ride was asking for trouble,’’ he said.

Lead singer Irwin Sparkes’ ventured into some solo singing and returned to his acting.

Last year Alan, Irwin and the third Hoosier, bass player Martin Skarendahl, were asked to play on Chris Evans radio show for the Royal wedding.

“It was crazy and good fun but hardly hanging out with the Royal family,’’ he said.

Alan and Irwin went to competing schools but got together over music and took their first demo to Irwin’s chemistry teacher, Grant Serple, a former member of the US hit band Sailor.

“He was positive about our music, he told us to keep at it. We must have written about 200 songs before we got Worried About Ray,’’ said Alan.

Tomorrow the boys are back inspired to write the new CD and play at the MECA, Regent Circus. Tickets are £16 on 01793 495527 - Flicky Harrison