Watch: Birmingham music hero Steve Gibbons fans celebrate Broad Street star at the Velvet Rooms

More than 300 music fans packed into Velvet Music Rooms in Birmingham on Sunday night (6 November) to watch local-hero Steve Gibbons pick up his ‘Star’ on Broad Street’s Walk of Stars.

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Maureen Cornish, presented the coveted ‘Star’ at the Birmingham Rocks event, and the much-loved old rocker then belted out two sets of his much-loved music with the Steve Gibbons Band.

Gibbons was born in Harborne, and started his professional life as a plumber’s apprentice, but he was a big Elvis Presley fan and joined a band called The Dominettes in 1958. His music career saw him regularly touring with The Who with his Steve Gibbons Band which formed in the 1960.

Their first performance was at The California pub near Weoley Castle, with other regular venues including the Grotto Club on Bromsgrove Street, The Sicilia Coffee Bar in Edgbaston and the Firebird Jazz Club on Carrs Lane.

By 1963, The Dominettes were renamed The Uglys, whose hits included Wake Up My Mind, It’s Alright, and Something.

Gibbons then teamed up with guitarist Trevor Burton from The Move in 1969 to form a new group called Balls, before he left to join The Idle Race which quickly evolved into the Steve Gibbons Band, regularly touring with The Who.

As well as his music career, Gibbons – now aged 81 – has also devoted time and energy fundraising for the Birmingham Children’s Hospital and other charities.

What did Steve say about the accolade?

Steve joins the likes of Ozzy Osbourne, Noddy Holder and Tommy Iommi in getting a prestigious Broad Street star. After he received his ‘Star’, Gibbons looked genuinely overwhelmed, and said: “Thank you so much – it’s a great thrill to see so many old faces! Thank you very much.”

He was then joined on stage by the Steve Gibbons Band of Johnny Caswell on guitar, Simon Smith on bass guitar and Howard Smith on drums to the cheers of the audience.

‘One of Birmingham’s genuine stars’

Mike Olley, general manager of Westside BID, which organises the awards, added: “It was a brilliant evening and so well deserved by Steve Gibbons, who packed Velvet Music Rooms to capacity with an estimated 340 in attendance.”

Dani Hadley, director and co-owner of Velvet Music Rooms, said: “What a great turn-out for one of Birmingham’s genuine stars! We were so thrilled to host this event and to see the joy on every single face of the audience. What a night.”

The ‘Star’ presentation comes after local campaigner Jim the Hat, along with his friends, collected thousands of signatures on a petition which was handed in to Westside BID last year. The nomination was carefully considered by the Walk of Stars committee, chaired by Birmingham comedian Jasper Carrott.

Steve Gibbons has become the 48th ‘Star’ on the Broad Street Walk of Stars, which has been in suspension for some years due to the Metro tram extension work and Covid.

Mr Olley added: “While we are experiencing technical issues with our Walk of Stars estate of physical stars, we don’t want to deny Steve Gibbons his rightful place. The previous 47 ‘Stars’ are currently in a safe storage and we are now planning to re-lay them all along with Steve Gibbons’ new ‘Star’ next year.”