HAVING been a huge fan of Buddy Holly ever since seeing the West End show of his life story as a teenager, I was looking forward to an evening of pure Buddy.

So I was slightly disappointed when at least half the show turned into a tribute to many of the other rock ‘n’ roll artists of the era.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, The Beatles, Elvis, The Everley Brothers and Roy Orbison were among the megastars whose work was showcased, with a couple of Buddy Holly hits thrown in every half a dozen songs or so to remind us why we were there.

Nevertheless, the performances, by all the band members, were certainly appreciated by the sadly half-full theatre.

Dean Elliot, who played the lead in Buddy on the West End stage more than 400 times, had captured the hearthrob’s voice to a tee and had a great stage presence.

The ecstatic reception to favourites including Heartbeat, Maybe Baby, Peggy Sue, Everyday, Blue Days Black Nights, True Love Ways, Rave On and Oh Boy showed the music of the late, great Buddy Holly will clearly live on for a long time to come.

Buddy Holly and The Cricketers is showing at the Pavilion again on Sunday August 5.