After a spell playing in his brother Steve’s band (Lipservice) in 1979 Bruce first teamed up with Jeff Summers in early 1980. The band was Weapon who went on to record the much covered Summers composition Set the stage alight (see Metalica’s early history) and later to support Motorhead on the Ace up your sleeve tour. After the demise of Weapon in late 1981 Bruce again teamed up with Jeff to form Wildfire with Martin Bushell and ex More front man Paul Mario Day. After some unsuccessful auditions to find a bass player the band, as yet unnamed, were put in touch with Jeff Brown who completed the line-up. The band recorded their debut album Brute Force & Ignorance soon after in Brussels to be followed by their final album Summer Lightning in 1983.

By early 1985 the band had recorded a last single Jerusalem and had appeared on the channel 4 rock show E.C.T. but the metamorphosis into Statetrooper had already begun. Steve Glover from stable mate band Statetrooper was guesting on keyboards for the show and Bruce had already done the bands demo recordings as they were unable to find a drummer and it soon became clear that interest in Wildfire was waning so the management decided to put their main efforts into Statetrooper.

This meant Bruce jumping ship to join Gary, Steve and the Johnson brothers Steve and Paul. It wasn’t long however before the brothers had a falling out and Paul left the band leaving the bass players job open which was quickly filled by Jeff Brown. Soon after this Steve Johnson left, due to musical differences, and it was felt by the band that the song writing and musical talents of Messer’s Bushell and Summers was just what was needed but it did not make the task of leaving a great friend and talent like Paul behind any easier.

The next two years saw many recording sessions and gigs culminating with the album and a tour with Blue Oyster Cult but again the elusive big break did not materialise. Martin parted company with the band and in a bid to create some press interest Brian Robertson, ex Thin Lizzy, was recruited but that only sped up the destruction of the band.

Out of the ashes however Gary, Jeff, Jeff and Bruce kept on writing together and eventually got into a studio, with the help of Phil Lanzon (Uriah Heep) on keyboards, to put down a three track demo tape but due to contractual obligations were forced to finally lay Statetrooper to rest.