A BAND from East Lancashire have been robbed of their shot at stardom by a road accident.

Nelson-outfit Walter Mitty's Head - this year celebrating their 10th year together - were due to appear as part of this Friday's Indie Madness event at Burnley Mechanics.

But they have been forced to pull out after singer Dave Ormerod broke both legs in a horrific car smash.

Guitarist Steve Wilkinson said: "He has stitches in his head and has just been given a wheelchair. He is in Airedale Hospital, near Keighley, but hopes to be allowed home in a fortnight. "We thought about getting a stand-in singer but it wouldn't be Walter Mitty's Head without Dave. It's a shame because we were going to do an LP."

Mechanics publicist Jacqui Livesey said: "It is a very cruel state of affairs."

The event has been staged to give local talent a chance to play in a professional-style venue.

Headlining are Panasonic Soundblast finalists Hedgepig, with wacky Burnley-band Draw in support.

Hedgepig have already attracted the attention of Bob Geldof, Terrorvision and thousands of Channel Four viewers as a result of the competition and are aiming for even greater things.

Guitarist Paul Rowan said: "We are looking forward to it. This is our first big gig, apart from the Soundblast competition in Leeds.

"We are now in a position where we know that if we keep playing pubs we are never going to get anywhere. Unfortunately, we are based in an area that is pretty much overlooked by the music industry. "It might sound arrogant but we see that we will have to start setting our sights a little higher."

The band - who represented Blackburn college in the competition - know that success brings hard work. Included in their performance will be new songs which they have been working hard on to make up the hour-plus set they have been asked to play.

Paul added: "We are just as daft as ever but our material is slightly more mature. It includes quite a bit of acoustic stuff."

The band - whose average age is 18 - have also been working intently on a four-track demo tape, which will be on sale at the gig.

On the other hand, Burnley band Draw are made up of a group of madcap musicians who have started playing again after recently returning from university. In their mid-20s, they are Sven, Tom, Squaw and Mutley - all nicknames.

Trainee clinical psychologist Anna - known as Squaw because of her love of things American - said: "We're all trying to make careers for ourselves but would really love to make a living out of music.

"We have already gained quite a good following of around 30 or 40 people from playing gigs in the local area.

"Contrary to what has been said, we don't think of ourselves as being like REM.

"We have a guitar-based indie sound which you can dance to."

Advance tickets are available at £2.50 on 01282-30055.

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