An historic society has opposed a bid for a blue plaque to mark a punk gig that caused "mayhem" in a Suffolk town. 

The Bury Society will not back calls for a blue plaque at The Corn Exchange in Bury St Edmunds, currently a Wetherspoon pub, to commemorate The Clash's 1978 concert at the venue.

But music fan Paul Johnson believes the gig, which he cited as the reason behind a "20-year contemporary live music ban" in the town, should be remembered.

Mr Johnson pictured in 2016Mr Johnson pictured in 2016 (Image: Newsquest)

He said: "I remember the stories, I remember the headlines and the kerfuffle.

"It sparked a council emergency meeting. Contemporary live music was  banned for 20 years, so it was an historic moment.

"I just want something to mark it and remember the 20 year ban.

"It is amusing and entirely appropriate that Bury Society holds a gun against punk music after nearly 50 years."

The Clash were an English rock band that formed in 1976The Clash were an English rock band that formed in 1976 (Image: Newsquest)

Martyn Taylor, chair of the Bury Society, said a set of criteria the group follows when deciding on plaques, based on the English Heritage Commemoration - People and Places document, states "no celebration of infamous persons or deeds will be entered into". 

He said the criteria also states it "needs to be recognisable as worthy of celebration and not put up for the sake of it". 

Martyn Taylor, chair of the Bury SocietyMartyn Taylor, chair of the Bury Society (Image: Bury Society CIO)

Mr Taylor said The Clash's 1978 gig caused "mayhem" in the town and added: "No matter what Paul Johnson says, they misbehaved that night. What are you going to do, put a blue plaque up for all of the people who have behaved badly?

"This sort of behaviour should not be commemorated with a plaque."

The Corn Exchange in Bury St EdmundsThe Corn Exchange in Bury St Edmunds (Image: Google maps)

Mr Johnson, who said he is a Bury Society member himself, plans to continue the fight to recognise the gig in some official capacity. 

"This isn't the end, we haven't even started yet," he said.

The Clash were an English rock band that formed in 1976 and had several hit songs including Rock The Casbah, London Calling and Should I Stay or Should I Go.