A SPECTACULAR gig celebrating the life of one of the world’s greatest pop artists will be hitting the Neeld in Chippenham next month.

The sounds of Prince songs will rain down on fans during Purple Rain: A Celebration of Prince at the Chippenham concert venue on July 29 but Jimi Love, who will sing the vocals of the pop legend, said the gig is about celebration of a great, rather than an impersonation.

“Since last year, this show has really taken off but in quite a bittersweet way,” the singer said. “I have been a huge Prince fan since the age of 10 when my godfather played Let’s Go Crazy in his car.

“I spent my late teens and early 20s playing in various bands and one day we had a bit of banter with the guy that owned one of the venues and he said I should do a Prince tribute act because I looked a little bit like him.

“I gave it some thought and put something together and we did a gig on New Year’s Eve and we had such a blast that we decided to carry it on.

“I have never been an impersonator though. We dress in clothes of the era but no one is going to sing, dance or play like he did.

“He didn’t seem human - he was beyond that.

“All I have done from day one is create an atmosphere like the ones you used to get at Prince gigs so that people can enjoy themselves and his music.”

Mr Love, who originally comes from Ipswich, will be joined by his eight-strong band during the whole UK tour, which stretches the length and breadth of the UK.

“We have never done anything like this before,” Mr Love added. “I have been on tours across the country as a tech assistant but I am looking forward to it. I’ve never been to Chippenham before but I know it is a beautiful part of the country and I can’t wait to go.”

Tickets for Purple Rain, which cost £19.50, can be purchased from the box office on 01249 446699 or online from www.neeld.co.uk. JESSICA WELLS