November 26, 2004 – Musicians, students, politicians and industry chiefs turned out to celebrate Inverclyde’s brightest new school with help from an indie icon.

Former Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown attended the official opening of the School of Music and Performing Arts at James Watt College hours before he wowed the crowds with a gig at Greenock Town Hall. 

Five years and £2 million in the making, the centre launched with courses on acting, performance, management, technology, and TV production.

(Image: Newsquest) Ian Brown, patron of the new wing, said he was honoured to be asked to be patron and said he was taking his new role seriously.

He said: “This is forever.

“I intend to bring musicians and other people to do workshops with the kids.

“I was told about the problems young people face in the area and that they needed someone well-known to put their support behind the school and legitimise it and let the kids know about it.

“It is a really great place and if it can take kids out of their lives for a while and help them learn about music then it is fantastic.

“We had to think about the best way of publicising it and that's how the concert came about.

“Usually we would charge £15 a ticket for a concert, but we are not here to make money.

“All the crew and band are doing it for nothing.”

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Brown also revealed he had been reading the Telegraph, and said his mother's friend knew someone in Greenock who was keeping copies for him.

Chris Bradley, head of the School of Music and Performing Arts, said: “People from all over the world are desperate to do this course and find out where Greenock is.

“It will put us on the map.”