SOME of the biggest names in music have backed plans for a new music industry academy which were conceived in a Box pub.

The Real Academy is the brainchild of composer Roger Bolton, 40, from Box, who wrote the musical score for hit television series 999, and came up with the idea while enjoying a pint at the Queen's Head.

He hopes leading personalities and technicians in the music industry will come to the academy to share their experience in a wide range of fields, from music composition to lighting and sound.

The Queen's Head regular said Korda Marshall, who signed glam rockers The Darkness, as well as Garbage, Ash and the legendary boy band Take That, has already pledged his support for the scheme.

Peter Gabriel has been invited to become a patron of the organisation.

Mr Bolton said he also hopes to bring in expert counsellors to advise bands preparing to go on tour about everything from drug and alcohol abuse to diet.

The successful composer said he will invest thousands of pounds from the royalties he receives each year because he is determined to make his dreams of building the academy a reality.

"I was looking at how the public was responding to the Pop Idol and Fame Academy phenomenon and I admit I became engrossed myself," Mr Bolton explained.

"I decided I wanted to create something more permanent, that was educational and lasting."

He said the academy would offer short, flexible courses, which would fit around the busy schedules of musicians, technicians and support crews.

Subjects covered at the academy will include studio and production training, recording, marketing and promoting as well as talks from key industry personalities.

Mr Bolton said he is in discussions with Peter Gabriel's Real World Studios to use some of their space for workshops and lectures.

He revealed that the reaction from professionals he has approached has been extremely positive and many have been eager to 'put something back' into the industry.

The composer said the sound engineer for Irish band The Corrs has signed up to the scheme as well as Peter Gabriel's sound specialist.

"People have said, just tell me what you want me to do and I'll do it, it's quite extraordinary," Mr Bolton said.

"I don't think it's because they have been reluctant to help out in the past. I just don't think many of them have ever been asked before. I just don't think anyone has ever been stupid or brave enough to say, why don't you come down and work with the younger generation of musicians and pass on your experience to help accelerate their development."

The academy's artistic director Greg Brooker hopes to launch the project from Glass House Music Bath and Glass Tone Productions in the last two weeks of August.

Mr Bolton, who wrote the music for the title sequence in BBC2's The Money Programme, Crimewatch File and Sounds of the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties, will also lend a hand presenting workshops about music for television and film.

He said up and coming bands will be able to showcase their new skills at popular music venues, including Moles Club in Bath.

Mr Bolton added that the project will also give disabled, disadvantaged and people with little experience an equal opportunity to become successful in the notoriously tough industry.

"I think music is incredibly powerful and a lot of youngsters can really benefit from being creative," Mr Bolton said.