Bury St Edmunds music fan Paul Johnson plans to continue quest to commemorate 1978 Clash gig

A music fan has his eyes set on continuing his mission to ensure an infamous Bury St Edmunds punk gig from the 1970s is never forgotten.

Paul Johnson is looking to create a ‘multimedia event’ to teach current generations about the time ‘contemporary music’ was banned from being played in public buildings in Bury for 20 years.

As it stands, he wants to display a poster with a QR code, which when scanned will allow the user to view content relating to The Clash’s infamous gig in 1978, which led to the ban.

He told SuffolkNews of his plans ahead of the 45th anniversary of the release of legendary ska bands Madness and The Specials’ debut albums under 2 Tone records, on October 19, 1979.

He hoped the poster would be on display at the Corn Exchange, now Wetherspoons, where The Clash entertained crowds all those years ago.

Mr Johnson said: “I think this will be great news for the town – it will be something that has never been done before.

“I was this an interactive, informative and educational piece that teaches people a bit of the forgotten history of our town.

“Watch this space.”

Mr Johnson said he had been in contact with Our Bury St Edmunds Business Improvement District (BID) about his plans.

Mr Johnson previously spoke with SuffolkNews about his desire to ensure The Clash’s gig was remembered.

He previously approached the Bury Society about getting a blue plaque placed at the Corn Exchange to honour the show, which was denied.

After The Clash’s concert, punk rockers were accused of damage to property, drunkenness and public urination.

It led to a council ban on all live ‘contemporary music’ in public buildings, for the next 20 years.

The music scene, however, was reborn when Mr Johnson, who worked at Rollerbury and Reflex nightclub in the early 1990s, went on to co-create well-known music competition BurySOUND in 1998.

He is also credited with bringing Take That to the town in 1992.