CRUSH are a band on a mission to entertain. The Darwen five-piece have, since 2002, built up an extremely large and devoted following with their own brand of rock-influenced covers.

At this year's Darwen Live festival they took to the main stage and had over 3,000 people clamouring for more.

"That was our biggest gig so far," said lead singer Dave Wilde, "and it was amazing."

Crush were formed in 2002 by Dave and rhythm guitarist Keith Jones. Bassist Pete Mariner, lead guitarist Stuart Mellor and drummer Keith Jones complete the line-up.

Keith is the most recent addition to the band, having taken over the drumstool from his son Danny, now having great success as lead singer with Outsider.

"We don't have any illusions or great pretentions," said Stuart.

"We want the floor fo be full from the moment we start playing to the end of the night.

"If people aren't enjoying themselves then we are not doing our job right."

Although their set is made up of covers, Crush are much more than your average covers band.

"We took a conscious decision to move away from many of the old standards," said Pete.

"We do try and do songs that others don't do."

With music ranging from the '60s through to the current chart, the Crush repertoire takes a lot of people by surprise.

"I think they see a bunch of gentlemen of a certain age come on stage and then we'll launch into something by Green Day or the Kaiser Chiefs," said Stuart.

With all five members having full time jobs it's a major commitment to keep the band gigging.

Thursday nights are rehearsal nights when new songs will be tried out.

"We listen to stuff all the time and if anyone hears something that they think might work they'll bring it in," said Stuart.

"We have a rule that even if one person doesn't want to do a song it will be dropped immediately," said Pete.

"So many bands fall out over songs," added Keith, "but by having a simple rule it works really well.

"We all get on very well and enjoy playing together and that shows at our gigs.

"We don't rehearse songs to death," said Stuart.

"We will bring a new song in after two or three rehearsals once we are confortable with it."

Crush are just beginning to get out playing live again after short break.

"From January we hardly stopped," said Keith Jones.

"Then we took a break in June to get some holidays in but now we're building up the gigs again. We're really busy."

At every gig Crush find themselves winning over new fans.

"We do see some familiar faces at the gigs," said Keith Jones.

"But we do find that when people have seen us once they'll tell their friends about us and come down with them again."