WAY back in the mists of time, before the arrival of punks and new romantics, rock giants filled the charts and the heads of impressionable youngsters.

They were playing a new experimental music called Prog Rock that grew out of a rebellion against the three-minute pop songs of the 1960s.

Accrington-born Jon Anderson - lead singer of the band Yes - was one of the those giants and, as he celebrates his 60th birthday and the band's 35th anniversary, a new exhibition charting the 1970s supergroup's history goes on display in his home town.

Yes - 35 Years of Wondrous Music - charts the history of the cult progressive rock band, whose biggest hit was Owner of A Lonely Heart.

The show is the idea of David Watkinson, author of the band's biography Perpetual Change and owner of the largest collections of Yes memorabilia in the world.

The exhibition includes rare records, programmes, posters, T-shirts and other related music paraphernalia, all relating to the supergroup.

David, 45, originally from Bolton, but now living in West Sussex, has been a Yes fan and collector of the band's memorabilia for more than 25 years.

His extensive collection includes everything from tour programmes to rarer artifacts, such as a one-off painting of the band done in the mid '70s.

He said: "When I was a teenager the music scene was all about rock music, but a lot of it sounded the same.

"But when you put a Yes record on it was instantly recognisable and was completely different. They were the best in the world at what they were doing and they can still cut it live now."

The exhibition opens at the Haworth Art Gallery on Saturday, October 16, with a celebration day full of all things Yes.

Mayor of Hyndburn, Councillor Miles Parkinson, will open the event at 11am together with special guests David Watkinson, Rod Hill from the Warriors - Jon's first band, which was headed by his brother Tony - and Steve Carney of Yes tribute band Fragile.

There will be live music throughout the day, together with screened concert footage, refreshments, guided tours by David and even a birthday cake and candles.

Everyone is invited and visitors are welcome to get into the Yes spirit by donning their best '70s attire for the day. Admission is free. For more information contact Haworth Art Gallery on 01254 233782 or Accrington Information Centre on 01254 380293.

Further information on the gallery can be found by visiting the council's website at www.hyndburnbc.gov.uk/hag