Rock legends playing Burnley -- and all in a great cause. GAIL ATKINSON spoke to Bernie Marsden about a very special gig. . .

WHEN former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden got the letter asking him to perform in Burnley to raise funds for the family of the three tragic Waddington girls, he did not hesitate.

That was months ago and tomorrow he and fellow original band members -- Micky Moody and Neil Murray -- will bring their M3 Classic Whitesnake experience to Burnley Mechanics.

They will be joined by drummer Jimmy Copley and vocalists Steffan Berggren and ex-Rainbow singer Doogie White, and organist Mark Stanway.

A seven-strong camera crew will film the gig, speaking to fans on the night for a future DVD release. There will also be an audio recording of the gig, with the results turned into a live at the Mechanics CD.

Not only will the fund receive proceeds from the ticket sales but the band is also donating some of the profits from CD sales on the night.

Bernie said this week: "The whole vibe of this show has been really good since we were asked to do it and the people in the North West like to have good times.

"The moment I saw the letter from my agent I said we are there, and whatever we can do to help out we will do."

Marsden is planning to release an album of 12 songs he has penned later in the year and the finished article may come as a surprise to fans, with its strong soul leanings.

"I was working with a couple of guys I don't normally work with. We sat in the studio and found a common denominator which turned out to be Al Jackson and the whole Stax era. We were going to do some Booker T and the MGs stuff but it was so loose it was really hard to learn so I said let's use the grooves and I will write some new stuff around it. I'm really pleased about it. We did it in just a few days and it was like recording in the old days, very little technology just focusing on the real thing, the players.

"Doing the M3 thing enables us to do a certain amount of shows a year and that gives me the opportunity to do other things. I don't really want to keep going round the world playing stuff that's 25 years old but the problem is a lot of people still love it."

A handful of tickets priced £14, concessions £12.50 remain. Details from the box office on 01282 664400.