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Burton-upon-Trent has played host to some of the biggest names in popular music.Ìý The walls of venues and clubs like the old Kevin Ballroom, Jubilee Hall, Paradise Club, 8 Bar Rest and the small, but mighty, 76 Club and numerous others, have resounded to the sound of The Beatles, The Kinks, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC, Sex Pistols, Dire Straits and many, many more.

The often overlooked abundance of home-grown talent like the 60s band, The Alpines, also find an important place in "Rock This Town".Ìý

The Beatles and the Sex Pistols

But although the emphasis is very much on local groups within Burton-upon-Trent, some of the town’s most notorious live music events are covered in some detail.Ìý For example the visit of the Sex Pistols to a shell shocked, mainly hippy, 76 Club audience in September 1976, and the town’s first encounter with The Beatles style ‘fan mania’ with the visit of the chart topping Kinks in 1964.

We were treated to some of the biggest names in popular music from the 1950s through to the 1980s covering all types of live music from Skiffle, Rock and Roll, the Beat Music boom, Progressive Rock, Heavy Rock, Glam Rock, Punk and Reggae.

Accounts and anecdotes of gigs and related articles are dotted through "Rock This Town", contributed by group members, club owners, managers, bar staff, organisers, bouncers, roadies, and those in the audience.Ìý In addition, I have interviewed many people to obtain first hand accounts of events, and compiled a comprehensive amount of details from local newspapers etc.

Live bands dying out

The impetus for writing the book was a combination of things, mainly the total lack of a decent venue to go and see live bands in the town nowadays.

The book is over 270 pages, with more than 70 photographs and illustrations, in black and white and colour.Ìý There are lists of the bands who have appeared, as well as the venues they appeared at throughout.ÌýÌý

The clubs are long gone, but if you were there, or just wish you were there, then grab yourself a copy of this prime piece of Burton’s musical history.

Available now from bookshops, the Burton-on-Trent Tourist Information Centre and http://www.rockthistown.org.uk/ for £12.99 (plus p&p)