Plan to build town museum

A museum celebrating Kidderminster's rich musical heritage could be created to celebrate the town's showbusiness idols.

The heritage centre should form a centrepiece at Kidderminster Town Hall, say regeneration chiefs, who want to set up exhibitions and memorabilia celebrating the town's links with music.

An annual music festival could also be created in the town as part of the new plans.

It is hoped halls, venues and even shopping centres in Kidderminster would come alive with music during the festival, which councillors are keen to launch to take fans on a trip down memory lane.

Councillor Fran Oborski said: "Few people realise Kidderminster's contribution to the world of music.

"Most people know about Robert Plant and John Bonham, of Led Zeppelin, but how about Bronco, Clifford T Ward, Steve Gibbons, Chris Eaton, the Band of Joy and Jess Roden?

"Kidderminster people have played or worked behind the scenes with the biggest artists in the world, including Madonna, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix, Queen, Peter Gabriel and many others.

"But how many realise that Christine McVie, of Fleetwood Mac, whose hit Songbird is world renowned, used to play in Shatterford Village Hall with Stan Webb and Chicken Shack?

"Stan is still a Kidderminster resident, yet is more famous in Germany than he is here.

"Few locals know that the famous keyboard line of Telstar - the first US number one by a British band - was played by Roger Jackson Lavern, who started out playing in The Briars pub in Habberley.

"We should celebrate the town's music history in a variety of ways, such as through an annual music festival."

The proposals have been submitted to Wyre Forest District Council to be used as part of its regeneration plan for the town.

Kevyn Gammond, a former member of the Band of Joy, which helped spawn Led Zeppelin, and creative director of Kidderminster College-based MAS Records, said: "I think an annual music festival would be a good idea, because of all the artistic talent which has come out of the town."