ROCKING Kidderminster Harriers chairman, Colin Youngjohns, will swap the boardroom for the stage to help launch a book by a man who was struck by a mystery virus while writing it.

John Combe started writing Get Your Kicks On The A56 five years ago but was forced to put the project on hold when he found himself in intensive care at the City Hospital in Birmingham, unable to walk.

Now his gruelling labour of love is complete, John is set to donate the profits from its star-studded launch to the Spinal Research charity, which he hopes could eventually help him - and thousands of other spinal injury sufferers - to walk again.

The event, which will be held at Kidderminster Town Hall on Saturday, May 21, will feature sets by original bands from the 50s and 60s era, The Clippers and The Indigo Set, fronted by Youngjohns.

Headlining the evening will be a collection of musicians going by the name of Kidderminster All Stars, which will include John Bryant and Paul Smith of the Stubble Brothers and Mike Sanchez, who has forged a successful solo career after leaving The Big Town Playboys in 1999.

Former Chicken Shack bass player, Andy Sylvester, who now plays with Mike Sanchez's band, will also take part and other well-known musicians whose roots lie in the district are expected to be confirmed.

Mr Combe, who worked in the music industry as a road manager and promoter and brought bands including U2, UB40 and Simple Minds to Kidderminster during the 1980s, said the book provided a fascinating insight into the town's music scene between 1956 and 1972.

He said it described "all the local groups, as well as the groups that made it big and how they got there, blended with a little bit of local history".

The 60-year-old, of Wolverley Road, Franche, resumed writing the book in October, 2003 - a year after his mystery virus landed him in hospital, where he stayed for 10 months.

He said the launch concert was celebrating all the musicians that Kidderminster had spawned.

It was, therefore, fitting that it was being held at the town hall during its 150th anniversary, he added.

"The money from the show will go to Spinal Research for obvious reasons," he went on.

"Because of my condition, I want to help fund research because they are looking for ways to cure spinal injuries and, maybe one day, they can help me."

Tickets for the launch, which will run from 8pm until midnight, are on sale at the venue, which can be contacted on 01562 732158.

They can also be purchased at Kidderminster Library, Bewdley Books and Pete's Prints in Stourport.