Nigel Barr grew up as a member of the High Wycombe Salvation Army band. In 1980 he went to the Guildhall School of Music and studied trombone with Peter Gane and Denis Wick during that time he was also a member of International Staff Band (1980–82) playing bass trombone.Since then Barr has had a varied freelance career and several business ventures, including setting up in 1982 which manufactured and distributed leather gig bags.