M3 is a high profile 2003 union centred on the former WHITESNAKE trio of guitarists MICKY MOODY and BERNIE MARSDEN with bass player Neil Murray. Moody and Marsden had been operational for some time on the live scene with COMPANY OF SNAKES whilst Murray held down a tradition with acts such as VOW WOW, BLACK SABBATH, the BRIAN MAY band as well as recently featuring in the QUEEN musical 'We Will Rock You'.

Fronting up the whole band, which was assembled primarily to perform classic WHITESNAKE material on the live circuit in Europe, would be the esteemed figure of former BLACK SABBATH vocalist TONY MARTIN. M3 was rounded off by Josh Phillips, previously with BIG COUNTRY, and Jimmy Copley of the PAUL RODGERS band and COMPANY OF SNAKES. A later addition the band, on keyboards, would be former GRAND SLAM and MAGNUM man Mark Stanway. M3 debuted with gigs in Russia and Europe. UK shows throughout November of 2003 saw BOB CATLEY as support act.

Both Moody and Marsden featured as guests on Italian singer CHRIS CATENA's November 2003 album 'Freak Out!'. BERNIE MARSDEN also cut a new solo Blues album 'Big Boy Blue'. MICKY MOODY joined up with ROGER CHAPMAN's band THE SHORTLISTS for German tour dates commencing in April of 2004. Both M3 guitarists, Marsden and Moody, would play a special set of acoustic/electric Blues as special guests of TOTO at the Royal Albert Hall in London in June.

During 2004 TONY MARTIN was to front the 'Whole Lotta Metal' UK tour, one of three featured singers for a show highlighting classic Rock of the '70s and '80s. The singer would also announce that he had set to work on a trilogy solo album entitled 'Clean, Mean Scream' as well as providing vocals on three tracks for a PHENOMENA album. By April reports emerged that Martin had been "fired" from M3, the singer soon refuting this claiming he had quit. For dates in June M3 drafted Stefan Berggren, a former colleague of Moody and Marsden, noted for his prior work with FOUR STICKS, SNAKES IN PARADISE, COMPANY OF SNAKES and RAZORBACK. Also pulled in for select dates would be the MIDNIGHT BLUE, RAINBOW, CORNERSTONE and YNGWIE MALMSTEEN credited singer Doogie White.

Two M3 players would be back in the news in August when plans to release the infamous TONY IOMMI / GLENN HUGHES, heavily bootlegged 1996 album sessions as an official internet download album had been revised. Now scheduled as a regular album to be delivered through Sanctuary Records the sessions had been somewhat re-worked. The guitarist had re-cut some of the main riffs and Dave Holland's drum work had been wiped and replaced by that of Jimmy Copley. In addition, two songs had new bass guitar work added by Iommi's former BLACK SABBATH colleague Neil Murray.

Mark Stanway joined up with THE DOGS D'AMOUR for their Winter 2004 UK 'Heart-Shaped' tour. MICKY MOODY engaged in solo touring during May of 2005, his band including son Micky Moody Jr. on drums, bassist Pete Stroud and vocalist / harmonica player Peter Hope-Evans. April saw Jimmy Copley manning the drums for MAGNUM live dates.