EAST LANCASHIRE is home to a surprising amount of celebrities- many of which who have found fame through their musical talents.

From 80s rockers, to modern pop stars, a lot of musicians have originated from the region.

Here are five famous bands and musicians who have roots in East Lancashire- how many were you aware of?

Chumbawamba

You might have spent several nights in your local bar screaming Tubthumping (I get knocked down) on the karaoke machine.
However, did you know that the band behind this 1997 hit song originated in Burnley?

Boff Whalley, Alice Nutter, Lou Watts, Danbert Nobacon are members of the band who come from the town.

After Chumbawamba disbanded back in 2012, the band members went onto lead separate lives- some carried on with music while others chose different career paths.

(Twitter/@alicenut1)

Alice Nutter spent two decades in the band, but is now a stage and screenwriter.

Danbert Nobacon and Boff Whalley are still producing music.

The Four Pennies

This was a Blackburn band from the 60s known for their UK chart-topping song, 'Juliet'.

The song spent a further 15 weeks in the UK charts. 

Bandmembers, Lionel Morton, Fritz Fryer, Alan Buck and Mike Wilsh met above a Blackburn music shop owned by Marie Reidy in Penny Street.

Paul Nuttall, of Reidys Home Of Music, told The Lancashire Telegraph: "My mum was the one who discovered them in 1962.

"It was a good tune, that was the thing. The impact the band had was that it made people in Blackburn realise that they could be discovered in the town."

Jon Anderson

Lancashire Telegraph: Jon Anderson (Deborah Anderson/PA)Jon Anderson (Deborah Anderson/PA)

Accrington-born Jon Anderson was co-founder of the supergroup, Yes- a band popular in the 70s.

‘Roundabout’ and ‘I’ve Seen All Good People’ are just some classic songs created by the band.

Yes were so popular that they were inducted into the prestigious Rock and Roll hall of fame in 2017.

In an interview with the Lancashire Telegraph way back in 1998, Anderson talked about his move to the United States and said the landscape is familiar to the “rolling hills and mountains of East Lancashire”.

Diana Vickers

(Instagram/@Diana Vickers)

Diana is a Blackburn-born singer/songwriter who found fame on reality TV show, The X Factor.

Since then, she has continued to release music releasing 3 UK Top 40s.

Her song ‘Once’ has received over 1.8 million views on her official YouTube Vevo channel.

In 2013, Vickers went back to her Blackburn school, Westholme School, and told the Lancashire Telegraph: “It’s a bit surreal being back here now after four years as an adult and seeing my old teachers.

“I hope that my visit has inspired some of the pupils to pursue a career in the music industry.”

The Stiffs

(Facebook/@TheStiffs)

Do you remember this punk band who were popular in the 80s?

They are regarded as Blackburn legends, with songs such as Destroy All Art and Goodbye My Love.

Some gigs in the band’s early days (Facebook/The Stiffs)

Radio 1 DJ, John Peel, had high praise for the band who said their anthem Inside Out was the greatest record in the history of the universe.