Bass player, Phil Spalding, and Duran Duran guitarist, Dominic Brown, will be rocking up the Arts Centre in aid of the charity, Hep C Positive Swindon, this month.

Phil is a former addict that launched the town’s first support group and, following its success, became the Hepatitis C co-ordinator for Swindon, employed by Swindon and Wiltshire Alcohol and Drug Service.

On Friday, January 23, from 7pm the blues rock extravaganza from Blues To Brown kicks off in the Devizes Road Theatre, with special guests The Commonweal Collective, pupils from the Old Town school.

Phil has played with such names as Mick Jagger, Seal, OMD, Kylie Minogue and Robbie Williams, but the heady days of rock ‘n’ roll came crashing down around his ears, due to his own drug addiction.

“I was convinced I needed the drugs to prop up my personality and my playing. It is an easy trap to fall in to when you are weak, but ultimately it destroyed me,’’ said Phil.

He lost his way in music, he lost his money and his marriage crumbled.

But the one person who kept faith with Phil was Christine, his mother, who had always inspired and encouraged his musical talent, giving him his first guitar when he was only 12-years-old.

Christine was a member of the Salvation Army and she found the rehabilitation centre near Swindon called Gloucester House and persuaded her son to seek help.

After a long, hard journey back, following being diagnosed with Hepatitis C himself, Phil started performing gigs to raise awareness and funds for The Gloucester House Buy A Bed - Save A Life Campaign.

Performing has always come naturally to Phil. As a youngster he was a child model and appeared in a TV advertisement for Smiths Crisps, but he learned his rock skills from Bernie Torme guitarist and singer with Gillan, rock band led by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan.

He then went on to collaborate with Toyah in 1980, which gave him his first big break and opened big name doors for him, including Elton John. Phil’s bass tracks are featured on the soundtrack studio album of the Lion King.

In 2012 Phil found himself back among the A-listers as he performed at the premiere of Tom Cruise’s film Rock of Ages in Leicester Square.

“I talked to him about the recovery work I do in Swindon which he was really interested in,’’ said Phil.

Blues To Brown will be playing rock and blues tracks at the charity gig in aid of the Hep C support group and also the Commonweal Community Theatre Fund.

Tickets to the gig are £10 from 01793 524481 or 07507709042. - Flicky Harrison