A PENSIONER is calling for people to put on their top hats and cravats and get involved in an underground fashion movement.

Musician Baron Volt-Hazard wants the people of Brighton and Hove to make Steampunk “the next big thing”.

Steampunk takes inspiration from Victorian science-fiction and is based on 19th century images based on what the world would look like today.

The 72-year-old, from Hove, better known as Barry Willison, has recorded his first Steampunk inspired song and is encouraging people to take up the trend.

Mr Willison, who recorded under the name Kevin Kirk in the sixties, said the genre is “massive” in other parts of the world and he wants to help it take off in the city.

A Steampunk festival in Lincolnshire is in its sixth annual year and Baron Volt-Hazard thinks Brighton and Hove is the “perfect place” for the subculture to grow.

Mr Willison said: “I am trying to bring Steampunk down south.

“It is quite big up north and is very big in Germany and Japan.

“I have been studying it for the last year, Steampunk is Victorian scientific, it is like the world has come to another stage where we are back using steam.

“It is based on things like Jules Vergne, HG Wells and Fritz Lang’s Metropolis.

“Steampunk is going to be the next big fashion. I have been speaking to lots of youngsters and they are really bored with what is going on at the moment.

“It is not just for one age group, it is something for everyone. I cannot think of a better place than Brighton to get it started.”

Mr Willison is also appealing for anyone who can help him produce a music video for his track called Yer-Look-In-Good.

He is asking for anyone who can provide a location and anyone who wants to be an extra in the video.

Baron Volt Hazard said: “I have the character and I have made the record, I am trying to find somewhere I can put a video together.

“I would like to do a video in an engineerium or an old theatre.”

He added he is holding off releasing the track until he can provide the visuals.

To get in touch with Mr Willison email him on bwillison@hotmail.co.uk