ELO star Kelly Groucutt tribute gig to raise money for ... parrots!

Mar 29 2009 by Anuji Varma, Sunday Mercury

CASH from a tribute concert for the late Midland pop star Kelly Groucutt is to go to ... PARROTS.

ELO singer and bassist Kelly, who died suddenly at the age of 63 last month, was always surrounded by birds.

Of the feathered variety, that is.

And last night bandmate Mik Kaminski revealed plans to help a sanctuary set up to protect exotic species.

The tribute gig will be staged on May 11 at the Robin 2 R&B club in Bilston, during a tour by Kelly’s ELO spin-off band The Orchestra

It will include performances from former bandmates and other musicians he worked with.

“Kelly was a true professional and this concert will be a tribute to him,” revealed Mik. “The show will be called An Evening Without Kelly Groucutt and it will feature people from his musical family.

“I will be performing, along with others from The Orchestra, but it won’t be a concert specifically by us.

“It’s being organised by Kelly’s family and it just shows how well-respected he was. The gig is to celebrate his life and we want to make it a joyous occasion.”

The tour, which also stops at Dudley Town Hall on May 10, had been booked before Kelly was struck down by a heart attack. It would have been a homecoming for the star, who was born and bred in the Black Country.