A new book traces the history of pop art through his famous Mojo club at Pitsmoor and through his other ventures, the Penthouse in Dixon Lane, the Ark Club in Walkley and Down Broadway in High Street.

It is published next Friday, the club owner's 68th birthday, with all proceeds going to the Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity.

Working with local author Dave Manvell and artist Paul Norton, Peter Stringfellow talks of how the Mojo Club at Pitsmoor was originally decorated.

"Realising the club looked a little austere I painted African warrior dancers with full head-dress and tiled mirrors for eyes, the reason being I couldn't paint real people. The effect was surreal and looked great."

He inspired others, and the book also looks at the work of these artists and how they were affected. Paul Norton says of his days painting the King Mojo club: "Sometimes I can still smell the paint and hear the music."

The Stringfellow clubs gave many young artists the chance to express their creativity as well as being an illuminating sight for customers and famous performers.

The book contains posters, adverts and membership cards from the clubs as well as pictures of paintings.

Now based in London, Stringfellow describes the evolution of pop art in his old Sheffield empire as "gangster pop art followed by flower power and finally psychedelic."

He pays tributes to people such as Dave Senior, who painted the gangster murals, art college girls Sue Barfield, Julie Shrivastava and Alanah Hatfield and Colin Duffield, who produced screen printed posters that went on to be collectable works of art.

"I look back at the Mojo days with great happiness and pride and the fact was that I had no real talent for singing or art but I opened the door for so many people who allowed me to share this with them.

"It is true to say that the name King Mojo Club will continue as a Sheffield legend and I certainly hope that the new Sheffield superstars like the Arctic Monkeys know where their roots came from."

Mick Liversidge, publishing director of Pickards, predicted the book will "stir a few memories".

Peter Stringfellow, Dave Manvell and Paul Norton, who painted the King Mojo, will be signing copies of the book on November 3 at Trippett's wine bar in Trippett Lane from 7.30pm to 10pm. Peter Stringfellow will visit the Children's Hospital in the afternoon.

Pop Art of Sheffield's King Mojo and Beyond is published by youbooks.co.uk and costs at £9.99.




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