Nightclubs owner Peter Fielding dies aged 69

The former owner of two iconic nightclubs in the Black Country who also co-founded a well-known live music booking agency has died.

Peter Fielding, who was 69, ran Club Lafayette with his father Stan in Wolverhampton city centre during the 1960s and 70s, and then The Kingfisher in Kingswinford.

Prior to that he was a key figure with the Astra Agency, putting on gigs at halls such as the Civic in Wolverhampton. He died in his sleep last Friday at his home in Eccleshall, Staffordshire.

Mr Fielding was born in Bushbury, as one of four boys, and attended Codsall Secondary Modern, which is now Codsall High.

He married his wife Marie in 1970 and moved to Brewood where they lived until 1994 until relocating to Eccleshall.

Mr Fielding worked with his father Stan in their grocery shop in Bushbury but his future lay in the entertainment industry, where he had great success promoting cabaret and live music.

He formed the Astra Agency with local businessmen George Maddox, Tony Perry, Alan Clayton and Maurice Jones.

In 1967 he took over at live music venue Club Lafayette in Thornley Street with his father.

The club played host to some of the biggest bands of the time, including Status Quo, Thin Lizzy and Led Zeppelin. In 1984, he took over The Kingfisher Country Club in Kingswinford, bringing headline acts to the town such as Tina Turner, Jethro Tull, Alexis Corner and Georgie Fame, while also managing many local groups.

Mr Fielding's son Richard said today: "Some of the biggest bands of the time played there.

"It was the place to be.

"It was very much a rock and swinging sixties venue."

Mr Fielding also ran Staffordshire pubs The Nest in Chadsmoor, then The Old Smithy in Eccleshall, before retiring in 2005.

He leaves behind his wife Marie and two children, Richard and Ann-Marie, as well as six grandchildren.

His funeral will take place at Holy Trinity Church in Eccleshall on Wednesday, starting at noon.