Tributes for music producer and historian Chris Phipps

Tributes are being been paid to the music producer and historian, Chris Phipps.

Originally from the Midlands, he was called to the North East to help create the legendary live music show 'The Tube' for Channel Four.

Chris worked on the show throughout its run, from 1982 to 1987. He played a huge part in giving unsigned bands - including Frankie Goes To Hollywood and the Fine Young Cannibals - their big break, as well as bringing some of the biggest names in the business to the then Tyne Tees studios at City Road in Newcastle.

Former AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson recalled his friendship with Chris Phipps, built on a shared love of music:

Highly respected for his extraordinary depth of knowledge and contacts throughout the music industry, Chris Phipps also worked on a range of programmes and documentaries. These included NORTHSTARS - a celebration of musicians with North East roots - and the Chris Rea documentary, ‘Hard Is The Road’, both of which won Royal Television Society awards.

He wrote extensively, encapsulating his knowledge in a series of books.His recent ‘unorthodox autobiography’ - Namedropper! - charted five decades of encounters with the stars, from Miles Davis to Madonna and David Bowie to Ozzy Osbourne.

Chris was known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of popular culture, collaborating with Lindisfarne musician Ray Laidlaw on projects including the Tyne Idols bus tours - celebrating North East musical heritage:

His informative talks and interviews on music and film inspired many to explore the back catalogue of movie soundtracks, and discover gems of the North East captured on film.

Over the last decade, he was a driving force behind the Whitley Bay Film Festival and was due to take part in this year's events:

Watch Helen Ford's report here: