THIS weekend marks the 44th anniversary of rocker Eddie Cochran's death and, according to his fans, kicks off a year of events the likes of which the town has never seen.

Cochran died in a car smash in Rowden Hill, Chippenham on April 17, 1960, aged just 21, and this Saturday night music fans will mark the date with a special concert in his honour at the Hungry Horse pub.

"The event runs from 9pm and we have two great bands, Zig Zag and Halle Bop who will be playing a variety of rock 'n' roll music," said licensee Reg Molyneaux, 47.

"We have had a great deal of interest in the gig and I think we're going to be packed out we could even be looking to make this an annual event."

Mr Molyneaux, who plays the saxophone said: "Being on Rowden Hill, the location where Eddie Cochran died, we want to pay our respects and also celebrate his fantastic music."

Cochran, whose hits included Come on Everybody and Summertime Blues, was the darling of British teenagers. They loved his music and his all-American good looks. And his UK tour was such a resounding success it was extended for a further 10 weeks.

Cochran had played in Bristol and was returning to London when the Ford Consul taxi in which he was travelling crashed into a lampost at the foot of Rowden Hill.

He, Gene Vincent and Cochran's girlfriend Sharon Seeley were rushed to St Martin's Hospital in Bath where Gene Vincent was treated for broken ribs and collar-bone.

Sharon Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. But Eddie Cochran had been thrown through the windscreen and had brain injuries. He never recovered, dying the next day in hospital.

Chippenham also hosts its 10th Eddie Cochran Rock 'n' Roll Weekend from September 2426 and organiser John Knight, of the Eddie Cochran

Appreciation Society, has hinted that a huge star is expected to sign up to headline the event, any day.

"We are now 100 per cent certain that we will be signing a world-famous headline act from the US for this year's festival," said Mr Knight, 62.

"Unfortunately I can't give his name yet, as the final contract hasn't been signed, but it's safe to say that he is a giant of rock 'n' roll."