It’s 35 years since the release of the classic multi-platinum War of the Worlds album.
It spawned the massively popular live show, with tickets for the final arena tour having just gone on sale on Friday.
But creator Jeff Wayne has been recalling the early days when he didn’t even think the original 1978 album was going to be completed.
“The truth is that the money from CBS Records ran out with just a third of the album finished.
“It went from a single album to a double album with guest artists and amazing artwork for the cover.
“There was a three-year span and it came to the point where I had to put my life savings into it to get it completed.
“I had to sit down with my new wife and my dad and say: ‘Are we going to risk it all and plough the money in or do we run up the white flag and yield to the Martians?’
“The band thought I was totally bonkers.”
Even the completion didn’t guarantee a release.
“The contract meant that was down to CBS,” said Jeff. “They had 30 days to decide and then they asked for another 30 days.
“But then they realised there could be singles and it was more like a pop album than they thought.”
Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds visits Glasgow Hydro on November 29 next year and Newcastle Arena on December 3.
Brian McFadden and Jason Donovan will head the cast.
Jeff says War of the Worlds will be moving in “new directions” after the tour which he promises will be bigger and better than ever.
“When we did the first tour in 2006 we had six massive tour trucks this time it will take 12.”
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