THE WAR OF THE WORLDS RETURNS TO THE STAGE

Back in 1976, an unassuming and seemingly esoteric rock opera revealed itself to an unsuspecting music scene. The year so far had been dominated by the raucous emergence of Queen; ABBA were tightening their grip on the charts and Hi-NRG pop was enticing millions into clubs. By 9 June, just a few days before The Wurzels would top the charts with The Combine Harvester (Brand New Key), the last thing the average pop-fan expected was a double album combining a spoken word narrative, progressive rock and bombastic orchestral strings which drew inspiration from a Victorian sci-fi classic.

Yet, 45 years on, has become a generational institution. “I had a simple hope that we’d see the album in the charts for one week,” Wayne tells me. “Then I could be happy.” With 15 million copies being sold worldwide, the dream has been far exceeded. Being a producer is almost as impressive as its arrangements and ambitions. The original recording drew together Richard Burton as The Narrator, Broadway star Julie Covington and a range of rock talent including Chris Thompson from Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, The Moody Blues’ Justin Hayward, Phil Lynnot, David Essex and Sussex legend (and ubiquitous 70s bass-playing presence) Herbie Flowers.