A studio where some of the best music ever produced in Birmingham was made has closed after more than 35 years.

Highbury Studio in Kings Heath, where the likes of UB40 , Duran Duran and Ocean Colour Scene recorded, has closed after owners gave up a long battle to keep it running.

John Mostyn, who has owned the studio since 2010, said it was a sad moment and the end of an era to lose a valuable part of the city’s music legacy.

He said: “We have been battling to keep the studio until two days ago. It is only in the last 48 hours that we have realised that the battle is over.

“Obviously, we are very sorry. We tried our very best to keep it going as a community resource.”

Highbury Studios opened in 1980 by drummer and producer Bob Lamb, after recorded probably the most successful album ever produced in Birmingham – Signing Off by UB40.

Current studio manager John Mostyn, with sound engineer Rob Peters and the original demo tape of Planet Earth.
Current studio manager John Mostyn, with sound engineer Rob Peters

Duran Duran, Stephen Duffy and many other artists used it to rehearse and record and Ocean Colour Scene prepared the breakthrough Moseley Shoals album there.

More recently, Ruby Turner’s album I’m Travelling On was recorded there.

The studio featured on BBC’s The One Show earlier this year when Ocean Colour Scene returned to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Moseley Shoals.

The likes of Duran Duran were among those to back a campaign to keep Highbury going, which also saw a limited edition vinyl album featuring exclusive new songs by Birmingham artists created. Alternative Dubstep Orchestra, Boat to Row and Roland Gift were among those to contribute.

The studio, on the site of a former cricket bat factory, has been in the hands of experienced music industry figure Mr Mostyn for the last six years – who said he had hoped to maintain it for generations to come.

Ocean Colour Scene on The One Show

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He said: “We wanted to maintain if for its history and for recording and rehearsing for up-and-coming musicians but we were unable to.

“It really is the end of an era, especially for South Birmingham.”