A MUSIC promoter has written a book about his experiences of booking acts as big as U2 and UB40 in Kidderminster.

The second volume of John Combe’s Get Your Kicks on the A456 tells the story of music in Wyre Forest from 1972 to 1999.

It follow’s 2005’s original release, which covered the rock ‘n’ roll explosion and beat boom of the 1960s.

John said he was inspired to write the book to appeal to younger generations of music fans. He said: “At first, I thought it wouldn’t be that interesting compared to the 60s but, thinking about it, there was a much wider variety of things going on in Wyre Forest in this later era.”

During his career John has been involved in organising gigs at venues across Wyre Forest, including ones by U2 and UB40 at Kidderminster Town Hall in the early 1980s.

“I used to read the NME every week when it was a paper, not a magazine, and I kept up with all the new bands,” he explained.

“I booked U2 and I actually lost money on them that night.”

John said Bewdley’s Karl Hyde, of dance act Underworld, reached number two in the charts in 1996 with Born Slippy, which featured on the soundtrack to Trainspotting.

“Not many people realise he’s from Bewdley,” John said. “Underworld are huge across the world.”

John has now turned his attentions to setting up an annual music festival in Wyre Forest, which is taking place this week.

The book will be launched at a show by The Blockheads at Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday – the final gig of Wyre Fest.