The Sun, Front page, March 12th 1986

Daily Mirror Front Page, June 12, 1987

Leaked scenes from new 'Project Power' video shoot in South of France spark re-union rumours...(Newyddion, BBC Wales regional news report 21-11-10)

STORM RAGES OVER LONDON! Rumours of surgical enhancement persist as rockstar Colin B Storm touched down at Heathrow after spending time at David Coverdale's LA mansion...(The Sun, October 2010)

YOU GOT THE POWER?Peter Scirocco and Colin B Storm together in Summer 2010 at their South of France mobile recording studios. Is there truth in the rumours that The Project Power are planning a World Tour and new Album for 2011? (Headline, The Daily Mirror, August 2010)

The rock rumour mill went into hyper-drive recently when these photos appeared in the Daily Mirror sparking a worldwide scramble for tickets and information on the Official website, causing it to crash. There has been no official statement from anyone in the group's inner circle. Storm, 43, and Scirocco 42, would neither confirm or deny statements from the press on their return to Heathrow, though Scirocco perhaps gave the strongest hint as to what is really happening in Project Power-ville. When asked by a pretty American reporter  if the Scirocco/Storm brand of Power Ballardeering was irrelevent in a modern audience, Storm, 46, asked "why's there an elephant in the audience?". Scirocco, 45, added that although a humble man, he felt sure he "would be there for the youth, the aged, the rich and the poor, when they need me and when they need the Power". The world awaits...

Colin B Storm refutes press claims he has undergone plastic surgery telling journalists, "I aven't 'ad no plastic surgery,man! I just naturally look this good, deal with it!" (Daily Star, September 2010)

Scirocco, humble rock God and cultural icon for a generation...

Pictured in France 2010.

The spot where Colin B Storm was concieved...

Black Road Bridge, Macclesfield.

...Mystery remains as to Colins' true parentage. He is commonly thought to be the product of an illicit liaison between his mother and a drunken sixties singing sensation PJ Proby, who had that evening performed a trouser-splitting concert down the road at Macclesfield Majestic Theatre before taking a shine to comely 16 year old ice cream usherette, Alma.
Close family, neighbours and indeed PJ Proby refute these rumours and say Alma would "drop her drawers for any diddy-goy and tinker willing to share their rough cut 'bacca..."

'Under Buxton Road Bridge my love and I did ride the dragons of desire, in t'Hovis Mill beyond she ground my swelling flour' (excerpt from 'Winds of Grain' copyright Scirocco/Storm)

Approaching Buxton Road Bridge, the canal arrives in Macclesfield. The Hovis Mill is seen beyond.

72 Mincemeat Street, Macclesfield, Birthplace of Peter Hilman, later Scirocco, humble rock legend and cultural icon for a generation.

Macclesfield News - written by local people
Club Franco Britannique de Macclesfield
You are invited to listen to Dr Valerie Harkness who will be reading and discussing her poetry in French Contact: Rita Arafa on 01625 421980 or email club_franco_britannique@live.com for more details
Theatre Company Appeals For Show Sponsors
Macclesfield Majestic Theatre Group is looking for local sponsors for their October show “Little Shop of Horrors” which runs from 3rd to 8th
Carlo Curley Organ Spectacular, Saturday 21 May
The world's foremost concert organist in concert at Macclesfield Methodist Church
October 2011
Treacle Market, Sunday 24 April
Treacle Market in Macclesfield's Market Place and Chestergate. Bring a big basket !
Macclesfield's Royal Charter 750th Anniversary Celebrations  
Yes! It's true! Macclesfield is celebrating it's 750th Anniversary of the granting of the Royal Charter - lots of events, and lots of other great things to enjoy in Macclesfield in 2011 - join in the fun...

'NME' interview, May 17th, 1986 (reproduced by kind permission)

Words: Tony Parsimonious
Pics: Annie Chocoliebnowitz

As the lonesome midnight wolves prowl the prairie skies, their rabid drool dripping like a hungry salamander, I arrive here at Joshua Tree Motel tired but not forgotten, to interview two of the coolest men on the planet at this point in time, Colin B. Storm and Peter Scirroco of ultimate power balladeers, The Project Power. I am greeted by their longtime 'doer', Mark 'Mick the' Miller, himself an imposing character who legendarily beat Alice Cooper unconscious with his bare penis for 'looking t'wrong way at Colin's missus'. Miller greets me suspiciously and leads me to a purple-draped room where I am asked to 'sit t'f**k down, tha'f***ing f***er'. He disappears. I wait. Nervously.
After several years pass a door opens and six scantily clad girls run past me giggling, wads of dollar bills protruding from knicker elastic, traces of white powder twinkling around their nostrils in the red glow of a buzzing neon Motel sign. I will discover later they have fallen victim to a talcum powder and cash based prank perpetrated by Colin, who will swear he was dealing with "quite a nasty rash from t'leather keks". As the girls exit, two grinning rock gods enter and hug me warmly, offering me tizer and jaffa cakes and appologising for keeping me waiting, bidding me to "get comfy and roll t'tape"...

TP: So guys, how's life here, Stateside?
CBS: It's blinkin' magic, Tone, y'know? T'Americans are reet gradely, int'it...we love it here, mate.
TP: And how have the shows been going? I hear you've been whipping up a storm...pun intended!
CBS: HEHEHEHEH! Good one Tone!
TP: Cheers Col, seriously though, how have you been going down with these mostly female audiences?
CBS: Well, they've mostly been going down on me, int'it Tone, HEHEHEHEHEH! No, seriously, they've been cool. I think t'Americans appreciate our blend of t'artiness and power ballards, and with this new MTV we've been able to put it over really well with t'videos and that.
TP: Yeah, about the videos...you caused a controversy filming the last one in South Africa. A lot of performers are refusing to go there because of the apartheid situation...
CBS: Hey look, Tone. Nobody can accuse us of being racialistic, I mean I've got every episode of Love Thy Neighbour on Betamax, and I flippin' love Jim Davidson doin' his Chalky voice, so I'm not flippin' racialistic am I? And Peter's mam always gets us a Vesta curry boil in the bag on when we go 'ome. I'm not keen on the raisins though, me...
TP: And where do you stand on the race question Peter?
PS: I prefer not to comment on politics, Tony. I'm suspicious of all of these so called leaders...I mean Mrs Thatcher is a wonderful woman in so many respects and I very much admire some of the intelligent things Mr Reagan has said...but I'm merely an internationally respected rock god and cultural icon for a generation, so I try to let my music speak for me...
TP: Do I sense you are suspicious of the press too, Peter?
PS: Let's just say Colin and I have been burned...

(Peter is referring to the notorious story in the Daily Star two years ago when Peter told a journalist that Colin, who was mourning the tragic loss of two of his previous wives, had "tragedy dogging him around". The journalist had reported that Colin had "tragically gone round dogging" to get over his loss. The incident clearly put a strain on the rock gods' relationship.)

TP: What can you tell us about the direction you're going in with the next album?
CBS: Well, we don't wanna give too much away, but we're developing the sound for the young fans. I mean a lot of the new acts like U2 and Sting have said what an influence we were on them, not just t'music like, but with t'artiness an that, int'it.
PS: Phil Collins was telling me just the other day he would never have got in front of the drums and done 'In The Air Tonight' if it hadn't been for us...so I guess the world has us to thank for the gift of Collins! Ha!
CBS: And Cher, Peter... I mean what you did for that lass is amazing. She had very low selfish-steam before you give her a seeing to, didn't she Peter?
PS: Hmm...I don't want to take credit where it's not due, Colin, you know I'm a humble man. But I have to say, I inspired the woman on a spiritual and human level with my ability to see into her very soul and unlock her inner spirit from the abyss of self-doubt and negativity into which she had fallen prior to meeting me and falling in love with me...
CBS: It were her inner spirit, weren't it Peter...
PS: ...and I have to say too that I believe the world is so much the richer for Cher rediscovering, through me if you will, her God given voice. She really did love me, you know Tony.
CBS: God given weren't it, Peter...
TP: And do you have any plans to collaborate with Cher in future, or anyone else for that matter?
CBS: Well we've been working a lot with David Coverdale who's producing the new album, "Sowing the Beads on Gloves", and there's always the chance that we might release the work we did last summer with Elton, who I think should be Knighted. He's a flippin' National Treasure, that man, he's going to make some lucky lass a very happy woman one day...
PS: ...and I think we can reveal Mark Knoppfler has played solos on two tracks on the new LP. Enough of a scoop for you, Tone? Ha!
TP: Wow, that is dynamite, guys!
CBS: Dynamite is my middle name Tone!
PS: No, Colin, it's Barbara.

And with that the brooding figure of  'Mick the' Miller returns, filling the doorframe with his full heft, drawing a finger across his throat to denote this interview is over. Storm and Scirroco have been amiable and excellent interviewees.and theirs is indeed a very Powerful Project...The Project Power. Ballardeers supreme. America loves you.

Strength to Strength: A Power Surge

1983 was a good year in many respects. The Project Power was in full flow and the creative juices of Scirocco (Hilman) and Storm produced an endless flow of non stop rock ballads that scared the rest of the music industry. Colin was famously quoted in Kerrang (November, 1983 [the issue where his poodle perm accidently caught fire during the cover shoot due to copious applications of Cossack hair lacquer]) "T' band is a fusion of creativeness and t'artiness, I write t'words and Pete sits and stares int' space. It just works, I don't know why, it just does". After turning down a big money deal to sign up for Warner music Storm stunned the rock world with the release of the bands now infamous gatefold sleeved picture disc 'Captain Salt's Salvation Army Appreciation Society'. The album introduced a young Axl Rose on backing vocals and later was to become recognised by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the most influential albums of all time. After a series of sell out world tours including venues such as Knebworth and Hyde Park the band took a break to focus on media exposure. Storm and Scirocco (Hilman) were not shy in courting the gagging media and numerous appearances on Wogan and Aspel led to international recognition. A South Bank Show special followed along with controversy. Colin was alleged to have struck a stunned Melvin Bragg for misinterpreting the host's question: "Who has the largest collection of bras?". An outraged Storm was pictured being led away from Granada Studios and the press were the first on the scene. The now world recognised headline taken from The Sun "STORM IN A B-CUP" was adopted by fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and used as a slogan that appeared across T-shirts across the country. After falling out of favour with the British media Storm and Scirocco (Hilman) moved to Los Angeles where they purchased their now world famous homesteads. Storm has regularly been quoted as stating that "T'America took me into it's warm bussom when the chips were lacking salt and vinegar and I love t'Americans they are reet gradely". Scirocco (Hilman) established his 'Wonderland Ranch' and invited under privileged children from across the world to come and stay. Little is known of what lies beyond the walls of 'Wonderland' as all visitors are asked to sign a disclaimer before entry. Scirocco (Hilman) remains to this day secretive of his private life. The 80's established Project Power as a leading influence in world music. Some say the bands most creative and successful period.

About:The Project Power

Peter Scirocco (formerly Peter Hilman) and Colin Storm (middle name Barbara, after his great grandfather) met at Macclesfield Boys Grammar School on a cold November morning in 1978 at the bike shed behind the Meteorlogical Hut. Scirocco failed to extort the younger boy Storm's lunch money with threats of violence, but noticing Storm's copy of 'Bat Out of Hell' protruding from his haversack, decided instead to make conversation. Bat Out Of Hell would prove to be a touchstone and the boys would meet here over the months to discuss their mutual appreciation of Rainbow, Deep Purple, Scorpions and Genesis. And Pat Benatar's tits. With their fellow long haired classmate Ian Curtis (later of Joy Division) on drums, they decided to form a group.They called themselves "Iron Finger" and were a great success at the school end of year concert, where they caught the eye of entrepreneur Jonathan King who was in the area scouting for talented schoolboys. He signed the boys up to appear in 'Battle of the Bands' for Look North (regional news programme). They were a raging success playing covers of songs by Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Meatloaf and Peter Skellern. A series of increasingly important gigs followed and the line up was expanded to incorporate Dave "Numpty" Cargill on bass and Joe "Kegs" McQuilly on keyboards. There was a triumphant gig at Macclesfield Town Hll in December of 1981 which saw the band being signed to Virgin subsidiary label "Black Pants Records". In the summer of that year the band secured a slot supporting Saxon at Macclesfield Steal Workers and Dinner Ladies Union Hall which was shown on BBC2's Rock goes to College. Favourable coverage in Sounds and Melody Maker led to a whirlwind tour of Scandinavia, but all was not well in the camp. Curtis had left to start a group with local schoolboy darts champion Peter Hook after rows with Scirocco over loose tobacco and cider. Finding themselves cold and drummerless in Sweden they quickly recruited Sven Maelstrom to fill in. They went from strenth to strength and scored their first hit, "You Blow Me Gently" in October 1982. A succession of radio friendly Power Balads followed including; "Wings of Steel", "Steel Butterfly" and "You Are My Steel Angel". Dave Lee Travis described the group as " the best thing I've heard down on the farm since 'Mull of Kintyre'." He proved to be a major champion of the band and invited them to take part in his legendary 'snooker on the radio' competition for seven consecutive weeks. It was then, in late 1983 that they changed their name to Project Power...