ROCK and blues fans want Brighton to become the English Graceland for a guitar hero who found peace on the Sussex coast.

Music fans are calling for a permanent statue and blues festival in Brighton to mark the life of guitar legend Gary Moore.

The Boys will be back in town this weekend with a series of celebrations planned to mark the life of the virtuoso guitarist including a performance by Thin Lizzy founding member Eric Bell.

Eric, a close friend of Gary’s going back almost 50 years ago in Belfast, told The Argus: “I think its about time something was done, some sort of tribute to the guy.

“They’ve done it for Phil Lynott and for Rory Gallagher but now we need to do it for Gary as well.”

The Gathering for Gary event has been timed to coincide with what would have been the former Skid Row and Thin Lizzy member’s 64th birthday on Monday with fans flying in from the US, France, Italy and Gary’s native Ireland.

It is hoped it will become a regular event to help raise funds to build a permanent tribute to his legacy in the city.

The weekend's celebrations included a visit to the Neptune Inn, in Kingsway, Hove, last night [Friday] which has a mural to the legendary guitarist over the bar where he could regularly be found knocking back a drink.

Fans will take a tour round the city today [Sat] taking in his former home in Vallance Gardens, the West Pier where Gary famously posed for the album cover of 24 Hours and his final resting place at St Margaret's Church, Rottingdean.

Tonight will be the big gig at The Latest Music bar in Manchester Street featuring performances from Eric Bell, Gary’s sister Patricia Moore and tribute act Dizzy Lizzy.

The music continues tomorrow with a Gary Moore Day at The Ranelagh in Brighton High Street, where Gary also previously played, with tribute act Crackling Jack playing at noon and another blues band playing on Sunday evening.

Gathering for Gary committee member Helen Neeley said: “We are hoping for a statue and we will be putting pressure on the council to help us make it happen.

“We will have a get together every year to raise the funds, we know it’s going to take years to raise all the money.

“We’d also love it if we could get Gary added to the Brighton Walk of Fame.

“Gary loved Brighton, he lived here and his family are still here.

“Belfast is trying to get a statue but he left there when he was 14, we want Brighton to be the place to celebrate his life.”

Fellow committee member Mick O’Loughlin said: “Gary never got the recognition that he truly deserved but we are hoping to change that and give people a place in Brighton where they can go and show their love for the man.”