AS ONE of Britain's best loved bands The Levellers are known for their pint-swilling, stomping student pub anthems.

But why is it that this gang of West Sussex boys are quite often mistaken for being Irish or a band with strong political roots?

In fact since forming in a Brighton pub in 1989 The Levellers have been described as everything from 'quasi-socialist, neo-hippy new travellers' to 'celtic influenced rock punk artists'.

And with hits such as 'Way of Life' and 'Just the One' and 'This Garden' there aren't many clues in their song titles.

So who (or rather what) exactly are they?

Leveller's bass guitarist, Jeremy Cunningham, has helped The Citizen to put the record straight before the band wind down their current UK tour at Preston Guild Hall on March 15.

Jeremy said: "The amount of times we've read that we're Irish or out to save the world is unreal.

"But we're not into soapbox speeches or jumping onto the 'anti' bandwagon like so many other bands and artists.

"Primarily we are entertainers and that's what we do best.

"Any political or social comments we have to make are expressed through the lyrics of our songs, on our website or by our support at concerts and festivals.

"People come to our gigs and concerts to spend a couple of hours away from the daily grind, listen to our songs and have a good time.

"There's nothing worse than a band standing on stage preaching at their audience, but occasionally there is an issue which we feel strongly about and we do get involved.

"At the moment we are trying to raise awareness of what is happening between the UK, America and Iraq, and have set up a website dedicated to the threat of war.

"Other than that the only link the band has with social politics is in our name.

"The original Levellers were a band of puritans who became the first real socialists and were part of the New Model Army during the English Civil War between 1647-49.

"They stood up for democracy, which is pretty cool, until they were all executed and exiled by a power-crazed Oliver Cromwell."

At present the group are touring the country after an exhaustive European tour and will be performing the final date at the Preston Guild Hall on March 15. Tickets are on sale now, for more information please contact the venue on 01772 258858.

For more information on The Levellers anti-war campaign log on to www.waketheworld.org