THERE once was a group of mates, with a love of rock music, who decided to form a band.

It was in the 1990's, before the internet was a thing we all used everyday, before Facebook, Instagram, Tik-Tok or even MySpace(who?)…

The guitarist wrote some songs, together they chose a few covers, and then rehearsed them for a gig.

That band was GAS.

Glen, Alex, Stuart, three mates from school and college and various other bands.

That gig was Thurrock Music Festival 1999, T99 for short, in Belhus Park, 8th August 1999. That's now 27 years ago this week.

It was great fun, many bands played, and a work mate held a VCR camera and recorded GAS play their set, early in the afternoon, in front of at least 34 people, and a dog!

That video has shuttled around through the years, through house moves, and eventually into the loft in a box, forgotten and gathering dust.

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Until early June 2026, when during a clear out, sorting things for the local tip, it was rediscovered.

Alex, singer and bass player in the band said: "I thought I'd try and get it digitised, and then maybe get it up on YouTube.

"As it stood, GAS were only a local bunch of mates, but we don't exist anywhere, as we were almost prehistoric, before any internet, so even if you did remember, you couldn't find out anything about us, or hear any music, we just disappeared.

"We weren't really well known anyway, but to be non-existent ….. didn't sit right with me as we put so much time into our hobby, making music!"

Now, after having the gig digitised, uploaded, the gig has been immortalised and an early Thurrock institution is available for viewing.

Local history, can you spot yourself in the crowd?

Glen is now the drummer in Naked Apes, & plays often.

Alex works locally in industry.

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Stuart works in the City.