When it comes to documenting Bradford’s rock ’n’ roll golden years, Derek AJ Lister is an authority.

A key figure on Bradford’s music scene as Dal Stevens, resident DJ at the Gaumont and Majestic ballrooms, Derek charted those exciting times in his first book Bradford’s Rock’n’Roll – The Golden Years which he followed up with Bradford’s Own, the potted biographies of well-known men and women from the district.

Next came Derek’s third book, Bradford, Born And Bred, a chronicle of the city during the period in which he grew up, from 1938 to 1956.

“I found there was a gap missing covering children’s lives and later during the 1940s and 1950s in Bradford,” said Derek when the book was launched. “I wanted to fill that gap with a book that could be used as a reference for those times.”

Now Derek is planning to fill another gap. He’s currently working on an expanded version of Bradford’s Rock’n’Roll, due to be published later this year. The new book will include more information about the many groups on the Bradford scene between 1954 and 1966.

“It will be a Who’s Who of Bradford’s bands from that period,” says Derek. “I couldn’t fit them all in Bradford’s Rock’n’Roll, but I wanted to do justice to these bands which played such a big part in this important, memorable chapter in Bradford’s music history.”

The list of bands is too long for this page, but they include Mick Sagar and the Cresters, The Dingos, The Del Rio Four, Lorraine and the Bahtats, The Phantoms, The Dakotas and the amusingly-titled Branwell and the Brontebeats with Charlotte. Derek is appealing to anyone who was in bands, or knew someone in them, to provide information.

“There are a lot of people out there who went to the Majestic and the Gaumont when I was DJ who’ll remember these bands. I’d like to hear from them, and anyone else who was around back then.

“I’m particularly interested in photos of theatres, dance halls and clubs, students’ clubs and other local venues.”

The book will be a definitive guide to Bradford’s bands from 1954 to 1966, with a biography of each band member including their date of birth, where they were born, schools attended, jobs after leaving school or college, the first group they joined, with names of group members and where they played.

Present-day details will also be included, such as marital status, hobbies, whether retired or in employment, and where living now. Derek would also like information on acts from 1967 onwards, right through to the present.

“I’d like people to write as many details as possible, and submit photographs. I can visit people to scan these if necessary,” he says. “When my research is completed, I’ll edit the information and return it for approval.”

The closing date for inclusion in Derek’s book is April 30. Anyone who was in a Bradford band from 1954 to 1966, knows a former band member, or has memories of the scene should contact Derek on (01274) 511915 or 07787337965, or e-mail derek_rorkesdrift@yahoo.co.uk.