THESE days he is best known for his work with a local council, but Tony Ecclestone is hoping a trendy record label could revive a 30 year-old ambition – to be a rock star.

Though few of his colleagues may known it, Tony, a communications officer at Cherwell District Council, was once a member of pop four-piece Straightshooter – who cut a record in 1979.

The single, of the same name, only sold 900 copies and never charted and, when the band broke up a few months later, bass player Tony, from Barford St Michael, near Banbury, thought that was the end of the band.

Yet somehow his old fans had other ideas, and thanks to the power of the internet the band has built up a cult following, with the single now a collectors’ item – selling on internet auction site eBay for almost £200.

Interest in Tony’s old band has now led to New York record company Sing Sing tracking down the former bandmates, to seek permission to re-release the record – this time to a global audience.

Tony, now 52 and currently playing in three local groups, the Coyotes, Old Mettle ceilidh band and rock combo Chameleon, said it had all been a bit of a surprise.

He said: “I did an internet search on the record and came across a copy of the record on eBay which sold for £180.

“Then the owner of Sing Sing contacted me and said ‘I’m a big fan of your record and would love to get my hands on a copy’.

“I had some copies but was not sure if he was bona fide so didn’t send one. Then I got an email to say he had got hold of an original copy and remastered it.”

Straightshooter was originally released on 7-inch vinyl, by Strolling Bone Records. The B-side featured a song called She’s So Fine.

Tony admits he is baffled as to why the single has come to be worth so much, but puts it down to vinyl music fans.

The delayed interest has seen Tony get in touch with former bandmates Dom and Mike O’Riley – and they are trying to trace vocalist Pete Luck.

He said: “It has all been a bit of a surprise as I’d lost contact with the others.

“I last saw Dom in about 1990. Mike the drummer continued to send me Christmas cards but as I’d lost his address I was never able to reply. We’re all looking forward to getting back and playing again, and are meeting up later this month at Dom’s birthday party to discuss rehearsals and booking gigs.

“We were all at school together in Hampshire so we go back a long way.”

Now they are appealing for Mr Luck, last known to be living in Poole in Dorset, to get in touch.

The track was re-relased in June, but Tony does not know how many copies have been sold. So far, the group have received £36 each in royalties and are holding onto Mr Luck’s share.

But they hope the recent revival in interest could pave the way for gigs in London later this year, and potentially festival spots in the future.

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