1960s

The swinging sixties were changing the face of pop and rock music – and Wolverhampton was making sure it benefitted from this explosion of creative talent. From an internationally-renowned trio of singing siblings to the world's first supergroup, the Civic welcomed some of the stand-out acts of the day.

But it wasn't just rock stars who visited during this decade – national and international orchestras, a prime minister and the UK's answer to Marilyn Monroe also made their way to the Civic.

Towards the start of the decade, English film actress and singer Diana Dors performed at the venue.

She had made her name in risque British comedies and film noirs before gaining fame in Hollywood in the mid-1950s. By the later years of the decade she had turned her hand to cabaret and in 1960 had released her own album, Swinging Dors.

Music of a more classical variety continued to be on offer at the Civic throughout the 1960s with a wide variety of concerts performed by orchestras from the UK and beyond.

The Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, Hungarian State Symphony Orchestra, BBC and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestras and London Philharmonic Orchestras were among just a few of the musicians who entertained in the halls.

In 1965, Wolverhampton welcomed a visit from prime minister Harold Wilson. The Labour politician - and 1965 pipe smoker of the year - came to the Civic Hall on July 2, dutifully entering his address as '10 Downing Street' in the visitor book.

His visit marked the mid-point between elections for Wilson. His party had won the 1964 general election with a narrow majority of four seats and during 1965, by-election losses reduced that majority to just one. In March 1966 Wilson took the gamble of calling a second general election, a risk which paid off by substantially increasing the government's majority to 96 seats.

reads like a list of rock and roll greats

Away from politics, the performance diary for the mid-60s onwards reads like a list of rock and roll greats.

In June 1965, The Spencer Davies group appeared at the Civic. The group, formed in Birmingham, had enjoyed their first number one single Keep On Running a few months earlier.

A year later Manfred Mann performed at the venue, the gig in June 1966 was to be one of the last featuring original singer Paul Jones, who was replaced the following month by Mike d'Abo.

Manfred Mann bassist Jack Bruce returned to the Civic on June 9 1967 with the world's first supergroup, Cream. The band was made up of Bruce along with Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton - both of whom had found fame in other bands of the time. Their combined experience led to the name Cream as the three were considered the 'cream of the crop' among blues and jazz musicians.

On 22 September '67 The Bee Gees brought their trademark vocal harmonies to the Civic stage, the band's set list included Massachusetts, New York Mining Disaster 1941 and To Love Somebody.

The final year of the decade opened with a triumphant trio: The Who performed in January 1969, followed by Status Quo in February and prog rockers Yes in March.