BRIAN Chatton is not a name that immediately springs to mind when you talk about well-known musicians.

But he has played with some of the biggest names in music, including the likes of The Hollies, BB King, Phil Collins and Meatloaf.

As a songwriter, keyboard player, guitarist and vocalist he has appeared on stages around the world.

What's more, the LA-based musician, who is about to publish his autobiography entitled Crazy Daze with Rock 'n Roll Royalty, is a local lad.

"I was born in Farnworth near the 43 bus route," He said. "When I was two years old in 1950, we moved to Springfield Road in Kearsley, where I lived until 1965."

That year Brian joined the Accrington-based band The Warriors — whose singer went on to much bigger things a few years later.

"It was Jon Anderson, who founded Yes," said Brian. "Jon and I hung together most of the time back then.

"We never seemed to get fed up of talking about where we were going and he became a real confidence booster when I needed it the most.

"I was the youngest in the band and got a lot of flack from the others, but I wish the guys good luck in what they do.

"Sadly, our other band mate Ian Wallace is no longer with us. When he came over to LA I was able to help him and we were almost inseparable.

"He was not dissimilar to Oscar Wilde with his wit and satire, but it was no longer at my expense — without a doubt he was one of the most respected and finest drummers ever to take the stage."

Throughout his career Brian met a number of music legends including Jimi Hendrix, who inspired one of his artworks for his book.

He said: "We were discussing writing down on manuscript his riffs so that he wouldn't have to keep playing for a studio. I've drawn a cartoon for my book about it."

He also met Phil Collins very early on.

"When Jon Anderson and I moved down to London, I met Phil and we formed a band that backed John Walker of The Walker Brothers," Brian said.

"I did many projects with Phil and he played on a track called I Wanna Be a Cowboy in a group I was in called Boys Don't Cry and had some members of Sad Café in. It was a number 12 hit in America in 1986.

"I also wrote for Sheena Easton and The Hollies. In fact I did a song with The Hollies called Take My Love and Run in a studio where The Beatles recorded."

Jon Anderson himself remembers Brian affectionately — jokingly calling him 'Brian Chatslob'.

He said: "We were musical brothers and were always laughing. Brian was up for anything. We later recorded an album together and just had a ball."

Bobby Elliott of The Hollies also speaks highly of Brian.

He said: "Take My Love and Run is one of my favourite Hollies tracks, it should have been a hit.

"Brian always had a great suntan and we would refer to him as Sunbed Brian.

"He was fun to work with and he looks like a true Rock Star."

Brian has backed many of the greats in his amazing career which will be revealed in his book, which is soon to be published on Amazon.

Brian said: "Yes, I've been lucky enough to have worked with the likes of Eric Burdon (Animals), Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees, Keith Emerson, most members of Yes and Meatloaf, and I did Jay Leno's Tonight Show in America with the legend that is BB King."

Brian, now 67 and still writing and performing decided to write his autobiography.

"It's taken me five years and I'm getting close to its launch now," he said excitedly.

"I've got some cartoons of various events in my life, such as meeting Hendrix and playing pool with Ringo Starr, as well as some great pictures."

Brian's book, Rolling With Rock Royalty, is in keeping with his humourous outlook on life and could possibly include the story about how was kicked out of the Vatican and his less-than-uncouth introduction to Princess Margaret.

He said: "It's been a great journey from Kearsley to London to Munich, Indiana and Los Angeles. I wouldn't have missed it for the world."

By Martin Hutchinson