Club where Hendrix and Bowie played celebrated in book

Jimi Hendrix, Sir Elton John and David Bowie were just some of the artists who performed the Blue Moon Club

A book to celebrate the 60th anniversary of a club that brought music legends to Cheltenham is being released.

Everyone's Gone To The Moon was written by Richard Goddard, Dave Jackson, Chris Stanbury and Mike Williams, who are former members of the Blue Moon Club. The High Street venue attracted music fans from all over the country, as well as from the US.

Jimi Hendrix, Sir Elton John and David Bowie, who were all relatively unknown at the time, were just some of the artists who performed during the two-year period the venue was open for.

Mr Williams said "it was that buzz of being among people that were all likeminded" that made the club so special.

Former members still reunite a few times every year to dance and listen to music from the time.

Mr Williams was there on the opening night, which was headlined by the Bo Street Runners, a London R&B band.

"Their claim to fame was Mick Fleetwood was their drummer," he said.

"He went on to play for Fleetwood Mac of course, but we never saw or heard from them again."

(L to R) Richard Goddard, Chris Stanbury, Mike Williams and Dave Jackson at the former Blue Moon Club, which they have collated memories of for the book

One of the most famous nights in the Blue Moon's two years came in February 1967, when Jimi Hendrix performed.

Mr Goddard jumped the queue, which trailed back to The Promenade.

"I went along having heard him on the radio, he was up-and-coming," he said.

"We got in but it was absolutely rammed. The capacity was about 350 or 360 but there was over 700 in there."

More than 500 members of the club, which was open for just two years, gave information for the book

The Blue Moon Club closed in May 1967 after the owners decided to change direction.

More than 500 members of the club came forward to contribute to the book.

"The publisher basically said 'Stop', we were putting too much into it and he's prompted us with a few ways we could go forward, something like a second edition," Mr Goddard said.

"A lot of people have put a lot of effort into giving us this information."