Bury St Edmunds music fan Paul Johnson makes his case for wanting to twin the town with Footloose inspiration Elmore City, Oklahoma

A music fan is pursuing his ambition for Bury St Edmunds to be twinned with the US town that inspired the 1984 classic film Footloose after taking his idea to councillors.

Paul Johnson spoke at yesterday’s Bury St Edmunds Town Council meeting about why he believes the market town should be partnering with Elmore City, in Oklahoma.

He told the community leaders that the 20-year ban on contemporary live music in Bury’s public buildings following The Clash’s infamous 1978 gig at the Corn Exchange mirrored a restriction on dancing in Elmore City.

Footloose, a cult classic, was loosely based on real events in Elmore City. In 1980, a class from the town’s high school requested a prom despite dancing being banned, which was narrowly granted permission.

Mr Johnson told the meeting: “That had a happy ending - like I hope I’m going to get from this meeting.”

The music fan, who helped to create BurySOUND music contest, added: “I believe that asking the good folk of Elmore City to twin with us would be a win win win situation for all concerned.

“They have a festival called the Footloose Festival that happens in April every year and they celebrate their part of cultural history. They are really proud of being associated with a cult classic.”

He said there was a ‘synergy’ between Bury and Elmore City and he believed twinning the two would generate considerable publicity for Bury.

While admitting she is fond of The Clash, Cllr Diane Hind, Mayor of Bury St Edmunds, suggested Mr Johnson get together with like-minded people in Bury and set up a twinning association.

“It’s something you could come back [to us] with,” she said. “I think you have probably got a little bit of a way to go.”

Not discouraged, Mr Johnson replied: “I’m not hearing a no.”

Cllr Donna Higgins said: “I like the idea. I like a bit of musical history as well and that kind of thing.”

In 1978, The Clash played at the Corn Exchange, now a Wetherspoons pub, in Abbeygate Street.

After the concert punk rockers were accused of damage to property, drunkenness and public urination.

It led to a council ban on all live ‘contemporary music’ in public buildings for the next 20 years.

The music scene, however, was reborn when Mr Johnson, who worked at Rollerbury and Reflex nightclub in the early 1990s, went on to help create well-known music competition BurySOUND in 1998. He is also credited with bringing Take That to the town in 1992.

His endeavour for the town and Elmore City to be twinned is part of his quest to ensure The Clash’s Bury gig is never forgotten.

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