A punk rocker who played on stage with Noel Gallagher is getting ready to roll with it again - just days after major surgery.

Andy Ruff has vowed not to let the operation prevent him from strapping on his guitar for a concert supporting his childhood heroes.

Andy, of Fellcott Way, Horsham, discovered he had hereditary vein thrombosis when he flew back from a gig in New York in January.

The 36-year-old had just formed the punk-rock band Psycho Babble and the gigs were starting to roll in when he was told he had to stop playing.

He is determined to be fit enough to open for Eighties rock legends Spear Of Destiny at Concorde 2 on Thursday.

He said: "It has been pretty painful. I hadn't realised how major the operation would be."

Andy has to practise with fellow band members - bassist Denis 'Big Den' Corrington from Horsham, Crawley drummer Mike Bennett and singer Mark Boyle, who lives in Haywards Heath - lying down.

He said: "I'm determined to get gigging again and get a foothold for the band."

He has been playing in bands for almost 20 years and opened for The Stone Roses at the Escape Club in 1989.

He joined Oasis guitarist Noel Gallager last year at a memorial concert for Steve Marriott of the Small Faces.

He said: "The Small Faces were the first band I was really into and Noel is a big fan too. I've met him a few times at parties through mutual friends."

Another band from Andy's youth are Spear of Destiny.

He said: "They were big in the Eighties. I was a big fan and went along to loads of their gigs so it will be amazing to open for them next week."

Formed in early 1983, Spear Of Destiny took their name from the mythological weapon which pierced the body of Christ and was supposedly acquired over the years by Attila The Hun, Napoleon and Hitler.

Singer Kirk Brandon, who lives in Brighton, is no stranger to physical ailment himself.

In the late Eighties he was out of action for six months with an ankle injury that left him with a permanent limp.

Andy, who designs packaging for a living, said: "I took eight months out last year just to write songs and we've had great feedback so far.

"We're not expecting to be the next Oasis but we'd love to be able to give up the day jobs."

For more details, visit www.psycho-babble.com