Innes began playing the guitar at the age of twelve, and by the age of fifteen was regularly gigging with any band that would have him, playing blues, punk, jazz, folk and rock music. Although never formally trained in music, blagging gigs with jazz players old enough to be his father gave him a solid background in the basics of music. His other early teacher was a well worn copy of B.B. King Live at the Regal, that was pinched from a second hand shop in Bath. This formed the basics of his playing style.