Man who brought Take That to Suffolk in 1990s calls for 'nurturing' of music scene

A man who helped bring Take That to Bury St Edmunds in the early 1990s has said the music scene in the town needs to be nurtured to keep it thriving.

Paul Johnson, who worked at Rollerbury and Reflex nightclub in the early '90s and went on to co-create well-known music competition BurySOUND in 1998, was instrumental in bringing boyband Take That to the county.

After watching them on an early morning TV show while cleaning the bar, Mr Johnson took the plunge and reached out to ask if they would visit.

They agreed and on August 1, 1992 they performed to a packed Rollerbury.

Paul Johnson pictured in 2016 (Image: Newsquest)

"They had had some success already but had not quite broken through as they say yet," Mr Johnson explained.

"They had a single that charted within like two weeks of them performing in Rollerbury.

"It was a very memorable night. They did A Million Love Songs and a few more of their earlier things."

Back in the early '90s, Take That consisted of Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Howard Donald.

Take That are currently on tour and will play in Norwich next week (Image: PA)

Take That are currently on tour and will visit Carrow Road, in Norwich, on Tuesday, May 28, with Barlow, Donald and Owen the only members still part of the group.

Williams left in 1995 to embark on a highly successful solo career.

Of the band's current tour, Mr Johnson said: "There's a reason why Take That has lasted and people still want to see them in stadiums - they know what they are doing and they practiced in places like Rollerbury."

He said a lot has changed in the industry, including the rise in tech meaning young people can access new music from their phones with less need to go to gigs.

Paul Johnson in 1986 (Image: Paul Johnson)

"Things have changed but there is still a want and a need and a vibrancy for music," he said.

"It is not all bad news, there is hope there, but you have to nurture things you have to support things or else they will not thrive anymore.

"What has gone on in the history, we can learn from that and I think that's the take-home message."

Of BurySOUND, he said: "It was all a college project and I did it all for nothing and for the love of music.

"What we need is people who are willing to take chances and probably do it for nothing."