A ROSSENDALE musician who rubbed shoulders with post-punk legends The Fall and Joy Division has been hailed a creative genius by his family.

Ex-Burnley College tutor Gary Lomax, of Burnley Road East, Waterfoot, died on Sunday after a short heart illness. He was 67.

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Gary was a well-known face on the Manchester music scene, having played in bands including The In Sect, Sons Of Potto and Victor Drago, who supported The Fall at the Hacienda.

Rawtenstall-born Gary played for Bolton Wanderers Football Club’s youth team and went on to earn a master’s degree from London’s Royal College of Art.

He turned down a chance to work as a photographer for fashion magazine Vogue to focus on music and start a family with his wife Christine.

One of Gary’s five children, Guy, 36, said: “He was inspiring and helped us to get on in life.

“He was a loving character, an eccentric man who loved life.

“He would have jammed with all the main bands on the Manchester scene and his photographs were used for loads of album covers.

“People like Marc Riley, Eddie Fenn and Terry Swaizland were his best friends.”

Gary, who also studied at the University of Manchester under renowned Haslingden artist Dave Pearson, taught at Bolton’s Harper Green School as well as Burnley College.

Guy, who plays in The Lomax Brothers band with sibling Aaron, 37, said: “Dad travelled all over but he was so proud to be from Rossendale. He campaigned to stop a housing development on Cloughfold Recreation Grounds and he loved Rossendale and his family.”

“He has influenced so many people as an artist and as a teacher.”