MUSIC fans turned out in force for the official launch of a new book about the rock 'n' roll heydays of Dudley club JB's.

Black Country artist and comedy author Geoff Tristram launched his lavish tribute to the UK's longest-running music venue - 'JB’s: The Story of Dudley’s Legendary Live Music Venue' - on Friday January 16 at Dudley's Lamp Tavern pub which was once a popular pre-gig watering hole for frequenters of the club.

Hundreds of rock 'n' roll fans turned out for a night of nostalgia to remember the glory days of JB's where acts including Robert Plant, U2, Thin Lizzy, Dire Straits, The Pretenders, Steve Gibbons, Manic Street Preachers, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury, The Police once graced the stage.

Author Geoff, who has penned a series of comedy novels, said: "It was absolutely manic. The Lamp Tavern didn't know what had hit it."

The 180-page glossy book, which Geoff describes as a "rock and roll history, comedy and tragedy all rolled into one", features fascinating facts and 300 photographs, including rare snaps of now famous bands and artists.

It also includes articles by legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, Blur and Steve Gibbons and others - and an array of amusing anecdotes from people who worked, played and socialised at the club which was managed by Colin 'Sam' Jukes for 41 years.

Geoff, aged 60, from Wollaston, Stourbridge, said: "The book is selling mega-well, with places like Merry Hill WHSmith constantly selling out, as are Stourbridge Music Centre.

"One thousand books have gone so far in a matter of a few weeks, some to far-flung places like Japan, NZ, Australia, USA, Canada etc."

Priced £14.99, the book is available online from www.jbsbook.com (plus £3 postage and packing) and Amazon, plus Stourbridge Music Centre, Lower High Street, Stourbridge, WHSmith at Merry Hill.

It can also be ordered from other major book retailers by quoting the title and author’s name and/or the ISBN number.

Geoff will be giving a free talk about the book, which he will be selling and signing, at Dudley Library on February 14 at 1pm as part of National Libraries Day.