AN album featuring cover songs written and performed by late Buzzcocks singer Pete Shelley will be released in December with proceeds going to a campaign set up to install a permanent memorial of him in Leigh.
Pete, from Leigh, died after suffering a heart attack at his home in Estonia in December 2018 at the age of 63.
Following the musical icon's death, a fundraising campaign was set up with the aim of paying for a memorial of Pete to be put in place in his hometown, ideally near the town hall.
A host of sell-out gigs, auctions and an exhibition at The Turnpike in Leigh in December 2019 dedicated to the popular artist have generated just under £12,000 for the cause.
And now an album, titled Yesterday's Not Here, which features covers of songs written by Pete, is set to be released in December with the profits being put in the campaign pot.
The band Fast Cars playing at the last memorial gig that the campaign held
A large audience watch one of the gigs before the lockdown
Co-founder of the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign, Paul Lally, 54, said: "Right at the beginning of the campaign I did not expect it to be as successful as it has become.
"We have had people from all over the UK coming to gigs in Leigh.
"The last three gigs we have had have all sold out.
"The main thing is that we want to keep Pete's legacy alive forever because we feel it is important for inspirational purposes.
"He started from humble beginnings in Leigh and went on to achieve massive things."
A plaque for Pete Shelley which was paid for by Wigan Council
Pete Shelley's widow Greta with the curator and designer of Buzzcocks artwork, Malcolm Garrett, at the exhibition at The Turnpike, Understated
Fans at the Understated exhibition
Paul Lally and Paul Banks from the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign
Meanwhile, on Friday, dozens of pre-orders of a double A-side clear vinyl record, which includes covers of I Don't Know What It Is and You Say You Don't Love Me sold out before they were due to be released for general sale at 8am.
More copies are due to be printed and available to order online.
In line with the Government's coronavirus restrictions live gigs cannot take place at the moment.
But back in June the campaign organised a virtual gig and auction which raised around £700 for the cause.
Signed memorabilia which has been auctioned off
For more information about the campaign visit peteshelleymemorial.com.
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