The iconic Britpop band, BLUR, is to be the first group to be honoured and recognised by the new PRS For Music Heritage Award, it was announced today.
A special plaque is to be erected at the Goods Shed of the East Anglian Railway Museum - where the band, bassist, Alex James, singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon and drummer Dave Rowntree played their first gig in 1989.
PRS for Music has set up the Heritage Award to recognise the unusual 'performance birthplaces' of famous bands and artists and will accept nominations for other commemmorative plaques from the public.
The plaque unveiling ceremony is due to take place at Goods Shed of the East Anglian Railway Museum next Monday (November 30) and anyone who attended Blur's first performance will be welcome.
The Chairman of PRS for Music, Ellis Rich said: 'Celebrating this country's musical heritage is a great thing to do and these plaques will be springing up all over the country.
'The UK has given the world some fantastic songwriters and performers which enrich our lives and provide the music we love; I'm proud that their humble musical beginnings will be recognised and honoured for all to see.
'It is very fitting that a band like Blur, which started out in such an obscure way and became such a musical phenomenon is the first to receive the PRS for Music Heritage award.'
Their albums include Leisure (1991) Modern Life is Rubbish (1993) Parklife (1994) The Great Escape (1995) Blur (1997) 13 (1999) and Think Tank (2003)
They last performed together this year in Hyde Park, Glastonbury Festival, Oxegen 2009 in Ireland and T in the Park in Scotland but have no further plans to be reunited.
In 1994 Parklife was named Best Album in the prestigious Q awards; in 1996 they were named best songwriters at the Ivor Novello Awards and this year they picked up an Inspiration Award at the MOJO awards.
Anyone who was present at the first gig and is interested in attending the plaque unveiling ceremony or has photos of the performance should contact heritageplaque@prsformusic.com and will receive an official invite.
For more information please go to www.prsformusic.com or www.blur.com