Bury St Edmunds music fan Paul Johnson hopes to twin the town with Elmore City, Oklahoma, which inspired 1984 film Footloose

A music fan has spoken of his ambition to have Bury St Edmunds twinned with the town that inspired the classic 1984 film, Footloose.

Paul Johnson hopes that partnering with Elmore City, Oklahoma, it could lead to an ‘exchange of culture’ through what he saw as a ‘shared story’.

He felt the town overcoming a pre-statehood restriction on dancing in 1980 mirrored the time music was banned in Bury after The Clash’s infamous 1978 gig at the Corn Exchange, now Wetherspoons.

Mr Johnson will make his case before Bury Town Council next Wednesday.

He said: “I think this would be fantastic for the town.

“We don’t have a festival, but they host Footloose Festival, where they go hard into the feel of Footloose, with cars, clothes and references to this classic film – celebrating their link to pop culture.

“The inspiration behind the film was a great story that we share with them.”

Footloose was loosely based 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.

Footloose Festival is held annually in Elmore City, with the next scheduled for April 26, and centres around a car and motorcycle show, featuring dance contests, vendors, live music and races.

This gesture forms part of Mr Johnson’s quest to ensure The Clash’s Bury gig is never forgotten.

It was so controversial, that music was banned in the town for 20 years.

Mr Johnson said: “I’ve got three minutes to convince half the council that this is a good idea, because why not? It offers us a chance to connect with a community across the pond.

“Let the music play – let’s see what happens.”