Adopted St Albans lad Mark C Lee carries with him an impressive CV.

He’s played base (albeit briefly) with the legendary Jesus and Mary Chain, had a top 20 hit in Belgium, and even moved the late John Peel to leave flattering messages on his mobile phone.

Indeed, the Pocket Gods currently enjoy airtime in countries across the word; from the UK and Belgium, to South Africa and (believe it or not) Chile.

Yet when I finally catch up with Mark he’s winding down from a day’s training with Her Majesty’s Civil Service, where he’s worked almost throughout his music career.

“Hardly rock ‘n’ roll”, he quips.

Not really, but the Pocket Gods (through various different line-ups) have always done things their own way; turning experimental, country inspired psychedelia in a populous and diverse discography, available to pretty much anyone in the world through their own record label, Nub Country Records.

“We set that up a couple years ago to get ourselves out there. That’s the way indie music is going these days, record companies in the traditional sense will soon be a thing o the past.

“The label allows us to do what we’ve always. We’re not Enter Shikari – we’ve never sold out.”

And this is just as well. Non-conformity is very much the buzz-word for the Gods, completed by wife Claire and long-time friend Annalise.

With tracks like “The Ballad of the Peshwari Naan” (hastily penned in a curry house) it’s hard to see them fitting comfortably on the T4 couch. Probably for the best, if you ask me.

So what do the Gods - the one time darlings of Radio One and John Peel; lauded in the fringe music press for years – want from life?

“We just want to get our music out to anybody who wants it. We’re not in this to make millions; so long as a few people around the world get what we’re doing and like what we have to say then we’re happy.

“Set up in 1997. There’s been a few different line-ups since then but I think this is the best ever “It’s an amazing feeling when people tell you they like your stuff – especially John Peel.

“He phoned me on my mobile shortly before he died. I had been playing a gig up in Leeds and was loading my car when I realised I had a message on my phone. I listened to it and it was him.

“He said he liked my tracks and wanted to play them on air. I thought it was a wind up; one of my mates putting on a really good accent or something. But it was him.

“I’d sent him a CD about two years before. He always said he listened to every one, and he did.”

“That,” adds the 37-year-old “was the highlight of my career”

The Pocket Gods play tomorrow at the 12 Bar Club, London, where they are taking part in Radio One’s John Peel Day – a nationwide celebration on the anniversary of his last broadcast.

The guys will next be in St Albans on Friday, November 7.