New names sought for Wall of Fame

It already features some of the biggest names from the Black Country's entertainment industry.

Now bosses at Wolverhampton's Civic Hall say they want to add even more of the region's famous sons and daughters to their Wall of Fame.

Slade frontman Noddy Holder MBE was the first performer to have his name added to the shrine, in the main hall behind the stage, when it was first launched in 2008.

Since then the likes of boxing promotor Ron Gray, Glenn Hughes from the band Black Country Communion, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham and his son Jason, as well as Dave Hill, Jimmy Lea and Don Powell, all from Slade, have been added.

Civic Halls general manager Mark Blackstock said there were one or two big names soon to go up alongside those greats already on there.

He said: "We are hoping to get Frank Skinner's name put up there and Lenny Henry's when he comes in March.

"Also maybe Robert Plant. He would be a great name to have on the wall.

"People are genuinely honoured and chuffed to get their names up on the wall. It always surprises me how happy they are when we ask them.

"We have a great collection at the moment but we want even more names to cover the back of the stage and all the walls round the stage."

Mr Blackstock continued: "Whenever we have people looking round the civic we can show them the wall.

"We wanted to have the wall of fame at the back of the stage because that is where all the action takes place."Whoever goes up on the wall has to have been famous across the country and not just the region, but be from this area or have made their name here. They have to have been known from Dover to Doncaster."

World famous music composer Edward Elgar, a Wolves supporter, is another recognisable name up on the wall, as well as Wednesbury-born rock promoter Maurice Jones.

Mr Green, who died in 2009, was best known for co-promoting 1985's historic Live Aid concert at Wembley with Harvey Goldsmith. He later managed Slade.

One time music promoter Tony Perry, who once worked with rock and roll band The Strollers among many others, said: "I think this wall is excellent and it certainly needs filling up.

"It means a lot to the people that are put up there."I helped bring many bands to the civic. They have shaped what goes on here at the civic."

Mr Perry, 70, who is the father of TV presenter Suzi Perry, helped bring the likes of Elton John, Queen and ACDC to the civic hall during the 1970s and 1980s.

Mr Blackstock added he wanted suggestions form the public on who else should go up on the wall.

Anyone with a suggestion should call the civic hall on 01902 552122.