LEIGH’S favourite rock and roll band will play live for the last time next week.

The Beat Boys bid their final farewell at the premiere of a 50th anniversary dvd musical documentary at Leigh Miners’ Recreation Club – the venue where leader Ronnie Carr first started out in 1957 on his musical career.

They will perform at the launch of “The Life and Times of the Beat Boys”, a second Carr and Chris Miller production which follows the success of their “History of Leigh Casino” which raised over £2,000 for Wigan and Leigh Hospice last year.

This feat won Ronnie the 2008 Wigan Metro’s Citizen of the Year award.

Ronnie, mainstay and leader of the immortalised band, has planned three free screenings of the hour-long official scrapbook of memories on September 18 at 6pm, 8pm and 10pm.

Once again all money raised will go to the hospice.

The group formed in 1960 and were one of the first to bring rock and skiffle to the Casino and becoming regulars as traditional ballroom dancing faded.

They went on to play on the same stages as many of the world’s best Rock and Blues acts of the era including, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and of course their childhood friend, Georgie Fame.

Ronnie’s career began in 1957 when he formed a teenage skiffle group, The Dominoes.

At that time Casino boss Joe Brierley would lock up the Bechstein grand piano because he didn’t want band member, the future hit maker and international jazz keyboard maestro, Georgie Fame, plonking on it.

When he quit at the age of 16 to head South to find fame and fortune, the band changed their name to The Beat Boys In 1960 they broke the attendance record at Bolton Palais and Jimmy Bilsbury stepped in to Georgie’s shoes on piano/vocals.

He went on to form cult band 'The Magic Lanterns' and have number one hits on the continent with 'The Les Humphries Singers', as well as writing a major hit for 'Boney M'.

In 1963 after a few years of hard work 'The Beat Boys' signed a recording contract with Joe Meek and recorded 15 songs with RGM.

In November that year they played at Wigan Empire backing The Rolling Stones They were by now one of the top live groups in England and their talent put them in much demand as a backing band using different names.

In 1964 they met Sharon Osborne’s dad, Don Arden, called themselves 'The Blues Set' and got some more work before quitting touring in 1965.

Ronnie said: ''I just thought the band had run its course, plus like the others we thought a change of life and music may be good for us, which turned out to be the right thing to do. No arguments. No money rows. Just the change in an era of rock and we needed time to refresh the body and mind. Plus we all had families who needed a bit of tender loving care.''

In 1997 the band were officially recognised on 'The Cavern Club Wall of Fame' for their wonderful cellar concerts during the '60s.

In 2001-02 members re-formed for two charity shows and the fans loved it!

Last year Ronnie Carr hosted a Musical Documentary DVD film about the history of the recently demolished Leigh Casino Ballroom. The film Premiered on the September 18 exactly a year to the day of the new one.

The 50th anniversary film directed by Chris Miller features original band members Ronnie Carr, Allan Parkinson, Ronnie Simms, Malc Grundy and friends. It gives a complete band history, music, interviews, documentation and dvd extras. It will be on sale on the night for £5.

Copies including post and package can be ordered for £6 from Ronnie on 01942 747663.