Tribute gig for Marine Jonathan Crookes

Band members will stage a tribute gig in honour of drummer and Royal Marine Jonathan Crookes from the Black Country, who was killed in Afghanistan.

Rock band Distant Signal were planning to hold a fundraising show for Help For Heroes when Jonathan, aged 26, from Halesowen, was on leave later this year.

Tragically, the soldier, known to his friends as Jonny Flame, died on Friday in an explosion in Helmand Province.

He was given his nickname because, friends say, he lit up a room when he walked in.

Guitarist Mark Cooper, aged 29, confirmed the band would stage a concert in memory of the soldier, who was a reservist of the 40 Commando Royal Marines, and proceeds would be donated to the charity.

He said: "We had planned to do a fundraising gig for Help for Heroes as we can all empathise with people waiting for partners or friends to come back home.

"I really would have liked to have done some fundraising gigs while Jon was alive. It would be very nice to do a gig in Jon's honour."

The band includes Adam Poole, aged 26, and Paul Baker, aged 28, and all were friends from the Earls High School in Halesowen.

Mr Cooper, a publishing editor formerly of Waxland Road, Halesowen, and now living in Basingstoke, said when they got together in their teens none of them could play an instrument.

He added: "Oasis were getting big at the time and we thought we could be rock stars. We used to practise in a room above Halesowen library before progressing to Apex Studios in Halesowen."

Since then the band has performed at Bar Academy and the Actress and Bishop in Birmingham and Mr Cooper said they packed out venues. Marine Crookes, who was engaged to

Danni Davis,24, was also a part-time international relations student at Aston University, and was a tree surgeon and labourer. He was also a former student at King Edward VI College in Stourbridge.

Tributes have poured in from comrades who described him as "one of the bravest of the brave".