Embrace drummer Mike Heaton has spent years touring the world, playing to sell-out crowds and releasing No. 1 albums.

Now he is helping local bands get started in the music industry, working with them on every aspect of the business, from songwriting to shooting videos.

He is working with Bradford Council's Music Development initiative, mentoring musicians and bands and helping them develop careers in music.

Once a month Mike visits Keighley rehearsal studio Jam on Top, in Dalton Lane, to work face-to-face with several local bands.

He last month worked with local bands Minus Jack, Meet Me in Vegas and Marmozets and will return on February 22 for another masterclass.

Mike's mentoring role began with North Yorkshire County Council's Connecting Youth Culture scheme.

"I got involved through Hope And Social, a band which supported Embrace on our last UK tour, " he said.

"I was assigned a band called Eskimo Sandwich to mentor, they were aged between 13 and 19. I really took to the process of sharing my skills and experience.

"It's a way of handing over my knowledge of the industry, helping bands get started and giving practical support.

" You get a bit jaded when you've been in the music business for years, but working with young bands is rewarding. I feel like I'm giving something back."

Mike said playing in a band was more than rock'n'roll. "It develops life skills," he said.

"Teamwork, confidence-building, discipline and motivation all go handin-hand with working together as a band.

"I help bands form their vision, create songs, perform live, record a demo. We look at designing artwork for record covers, photo-shoots and filming promotional videos."

Mike, of Liversedge, said being in a band wasn't just about performing, it was also about agents, managers, promoters, image, lighting, sound control.

He said: "I'm wary of spoonfeeding bands; what I aim to do is give them tools to use themselves. I also make them aware of the Musicians' Union; many young bands starting out don't even know it exists."

While at Jam on Top Mike meets several musicians, both those rehearsing or and others dropping into the busy studio.

He said: "They pick my brains, I help out and advise. It's run by Brian Leach. He and I worked together at Drummonds years ago."

Mike is keen to offer the kind of support he says he never had when he joined Embrace as a teenager.

"We started out on sheer determination, but we would've got there quicker if we'd known more about the business, " he said.

Mike and the rest of Embrace have taken a break to pursue various projects - frontman Danny McNamara runs a club in Manchester, keyboardist Mickey Dale is working with Bradford/Leeds band Talk To Angels, Rick McNamara is producing and Steve Firth is pursuing other interests.

"After five albums and ten years together we needed a break. It's been good to get involved with other things, " says Mike. "

“But we'll be back together in 2009. It feels like unfinished business."

Embrace's debut album, The Good Will Out, topped the charts in 1998. In 2004, the band returned to the music scene with hit single Gravity and double platinum-selling album Out Of Nothing.

In 2006, Embrace scored their third No.1 album with This New Day, and recorded the official England World Cup 2006 song, World At Your Feet.

For information about Bradford Council's mentoring scheme phone 01274 432626. Jam On Top is on 01535 600133 or at jamontop.com.