X marked the spot for trombonist Ashley Slater

Original member of British large ensemble Loose Tubes, frontman of pop group Freak Power and recent X-Factor dismissal Ashley Slater spoke with Chris Philips about a year of contrasting experiences in music.

Speaking about the triumphant reformation and comeback gigs of the Tubes and a frank account of trying his luck on the "brutal" X-Factor TV show with his group Kitten & The Hip Slater describes his disdain for the light entertainment format that sets up people merely for the purposes of ridicule. Despite Simon Cowell et al summarily dismissing Ashley from his already established and successful pop group based merely on age he remains positive and philosophical. 

"A friend of mine who has worked on the show said Ash it's not a telent competition, it's a TV show, just get your head round it. And it is, it's fairly brutal. I personally had a very positive approach to the whole thing. I though let's go in there and win it! The chance came and I thought yeah! Let's go and do what we can do."

The normally wry Ashley, trombonist and famously edgy spokesperson for Loose Tubes live gigs, is still on great form.

listen to ‘Ashley Slater on his X-Factor experience’ on audioBoom

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