MUSIC fans from all over flocked to Leigh in aid of a campaign that is raising funds for a permanent memorial of late Buzzcocks founder and frontman Pete Shelley.

Fast Cars, The Freshies and Leigh's very own Static Line played at the gig which was compered by Salford urban poet Simon Williams and held at The Turnpike on Saturday, February 12.

He also led an auction which saw signed memorabilia from Buzzcocks, The Freshies and Fast Cars, along with artwork from Lou Shelley who designed some of Pete Shelley’s stage shirts go under the hammer.

Leigh Journal: Fast Cars performing at the TurnpikeFast Cars performing at the Turnpike

The event was the seventh live music gig hosted by the collective known as the Pete Shelley Memorial Campaign and again sold out of tickets prior to the date.

Leigh Journal: The late Pete ShelleyThe late Pete Shelley

In the audience were fans who had travelled and stayed overnight in Leigh from places like Edinburgh, Derby, Kent, and Brighton.

But by far the furthest travelled in the audience was lifelong Fast Cars fan Phil Painter who had travelled from Berlin to Leigh.

Leigh Journal: Phil Painter, who travelled from Berlin, with Fast Cars' Stuart Murray Phil Painter, who travelled from Berlin, with Fast Cars' Stuart Murray

Paul Lally founder of the campaign said: "Again it’s overwhelming to see the continued support of the events in honour of Pete Shelley and to raise money that will fund a permanent memorial of Pete in his hometown of Leigh.

“We have evidenced the visitor attraction to the town that our very own musical icon has, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the campaign so far and to the community of Leigh for their continued support".

Leigh Journal: Static LineStatic Line

Steve Murray, from Fast Cars, added: " Buzzcocks were a massive influence on me and led to us forming our band, I saw them play at many venues, and we supported them at Manchester Polytechnic way back in 1978. We were asked to play at the fund raising gig in 2020 and were honoured to do so, to be asked again is a great feeling and this time it was very poignant as it’s the first time we have played together since our lead guitarist Craig Hilton sadly passed away last year".

The event raised a whopping £2,600 taking the totally of funds raised now to £22,500. To find out more about the campaign visit www.facebook.com/groups/ peteshelleymemorial

Videos from the Turnpike gig can be found at www.youtube.com/peteshelleymemorial