Which rock star, who died in 1971 aged 36, survived the car crash in which Eddie Cochran died in 1962?
Chippenham the brakes business was taken over by the German company Knorr-Bremse, and is based at a site in nearby Melksham. On 17 April 1960, American singers Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent, and songwriter Sharon Sheeley, were involved in a car crash in Chippenham at Rowden Hill. Cochran died as a result of his injuries and a memorial plaque was erected near the site. Each year Chippenham hosts an Eddie Cochran festival (see below). On 13 February 1998, two unexploded bombs from World War II were discovered in the field behind Hardens Mead during preparations for the building of Abbeyfield School.
Eddie Cochran life is chronicled in several publications, including "Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story", by Julie Mundy and Darrel Higham (), and "Three Steps to Heaven", by Bobby Cochran (). "The Very Best of Eddie Cochran" was released by EMI Records on June 2, 2008. On September 27, 2010, the mayor of Bell Gardens, California, declared October 3, 2010, to be "Eddie Cochran Day" to celebrate the famous musician who began his career when living in that city. Cochran was one of the first rock-and-roll artists to write his own songs and overdub tracks. He is also credited with being