AN Indie rock band who burst onto the Essex and London music scene in May last year has had to change its name.

The Hooks, a five-piece hailing from Thurrock, Brentwood and Rayleigh, are now known as Lady Grey and the Earls after an American band contacted them saying they already had copyright on the Hooks name.

The line-up remains the same with lead vocalist, Amy Clayton, from Grays who was the songwriter and one of the lead singers for Fonchi, a signed funk group backed by a metal band.

Rhythm guitar and principle songwriter, Justin Cartledge, of Grays, has fronted bands such as Moneypenny, Intern and Persona and lead guitarist Paul Sowden, from Brentwood, was in Intern with Justin.

On Bass there is Dave Bettis, from Rayleigh, who has played in Persona, and Terrapin.

Singularly named Alex, from Wickford, is on drums and has been in Leftover Lucy and was the last member to complete Lady Grey and the Earls.

Justin said: “As a band our influences range from The Foo Fighters, Oasis, Skunk Anansie to Stevie Wonder and The Temptations. We try and fuse all the sounds together to get what we feel is an original sound. Our songs are catchy, with plenty of melody and raw music.”

To find out more about Lady Grey and the Earls go to http://www.myspace.com/ladygreyandtheearls.