Video Killed the Radio Star writer is guest at charity gig
MUSICIAN and songwriter, former Shepshed man Bruce Woolley, who co-wrote one of the world’s best known songs, Buggles’ Video Killed the Radio Star, is due to make a guest appearance at a special charity event in Hugglescote.
Bruce is due to join up with his old band mates from local 1970s group, Medusa to raise money for the Anthony Nolan Trust.
Speaking to the Echo a few years ago Bruce spoke of his time with the band.
It was Medusa and especially the guitar licks of Graham Tom - he of Bardon Quarry family fame - who really kicked off his playing days with a vengeance.
Bruce told the Echo: “Hearing Graham Tom was a real turning point. He was a brilliant guitarist. I was in awe of Medusa.”
He loved the group so much that he and fellow Shepshed bass player, Phil Scaysbrook, joined the band around 1973/74.
Medusa, as with all bands, evolved through the years playing heavy rock Sabbath stuff and straight rock ‘ n’ roll complete with Teddy Boy gear.
“It was all a bit surreal, I used to lie on my back playing guitar.”
Now the band has reformed for the gig at Hugglescote WMC, this Saturday, June 9.
The line up features, Bruce, Phil Scaysbrook, Graham Tom and also John Sutherington (Charnwood Borough councillor for Anstey) on vocals.
John, who was diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anaemia in 2013, underwent a bone marrow transfusion, thanks to a donor found through the Anthony Nolan Trust.
Admission is free but there will be a raffle to raise money for the trust.
Also appearing will be the Buskateers and Technaudio Disco.
Bruce was brought up in Shepshed and his dad was the 1950s/60s local jazz legend Brian Woolley.
After Medusa, Bruce also played with the Leicester based Ivor Kenny dance band and that was when he met Trevor Horn, another band member.
A few years later pair joined
forces and, with arranger Geoff Downes, put together the song that would become so famous, but Bruce wasn’t in Buggles when it became a hit.
Since that time he has had astounding success in the music industry with his songs being recorded by the likes of Grace Jones, Marc Almond, Tom Jones, Jason Donovan, Cliff Richard,The Killers, Tori Amos, Shirley Bassey and Sinead O’Connor.