Rocking vicar may risk arrest in base protest

Rocking reverend Philip Chew, vicar of St Stephen's CofE Church, Oxford Road, Burnley, and his rock band Revisit were today playing a protest concert at American military base Menwith Hill, near Harrogate.

The Yellow Line Gig is named after a line at the base which marks British from American land which if people cross they can be arrested.

And Rev Chew has hinted that he and his band may be ready to cross the line and risk arrest.

The band is performing a set at the listening base as a show of support to protesters who fear the site could be become a home to part of the US missile defence system also known as star wars.

Lead singer Philip, bassist Mark Hurlbut, from Accrington; John Mayor, drums, from Darwen, and lead guitarist, Graham Chapel from Langho are planning on playing new single We're Under Attack as well as a cover of Green Day's American Idiot at the gig.

Philip said: "All people in society whether it be smokers or tax payers feel under attack.

"We are going to show solidarity and identify with the fact there are people who protest about Menwith Hill.

"There is a yellow line in the middle of the road which if you cross you are on American land and people who have crossed it have been arrested.

"So if we crossed it we could be arrested."

The band, all in their 40s, formed six months ago and have a similar sound to The Smiths and U2.

Revisit's single is being distributed to radio stations next week Philip and Graham, who runs an engineering business, enjoyed limited success and toured the north-west in the post punk era of the 1980s as part of the band Euro-K.

Mark, an optician, and John, a psychiatric nurse, were also members of the Blackburn-based band The Stiffs.

Philip added: "The single launch date to the radio stations is early next week and it will be up to them if they want to play it.

"We have pluggers working for us promoting the single, and hopefully it will chart."