A WORLD-FAMOUS rock star from Oxford band Radiohead has backed the campaign to save threatened city gig venue The Cellar.

Philip Selway attacked plans to close the club, as an online petition to save it topped 13,600 names.

Since news of the proposal was broken by the Oxford Mail, artists and fans of the subterranean club, in Frewin Court, off Cornmarket, have thrown themselves into supporting it.

Radiohead drummer Mr Selway, who lives in West Oxfordshire and stepped out on stage in front of more than 100,000 fans during a headline slot at Glastonbury this summer, described the venue as part of the 'lifeblood of the music scene'.

One of the world's biggest bands, Radiohead have sold well over 30 million albums, racked up multiple awards and this year headlined the main stage at Glastonbury, yet started off playing small independent venues in the city.

Mr Selway, who is also a respected composer and solo artist, said the venue was vital for fostering talent and providing a platform for up-and-coming bands.

He said: “I heard about The Cellar and it is a great shame when any music venue closes down, especially when it is has been so instrumental to so many bands’ careers.

“It was after our time in terms of music venues, but for Foals and bands like that it was very important. These venues are the lifeblood of the music scene.”

Radiohead honed their craft at the likes of the Jericho Tavern and The Zodiac (now the O2 Academy) during their meteoric rise to rock stardom,

The Cellar is the last truly independent dedicated new music venue in the city centre, but the building's owners – a church charity – plan to close it down when retailer Lush vacates its shop above the club to move into the new Westgate centre.

Owners St Michael’s and All Saints’ Charities want to convert The Cellar to give potential tenants a larger shop, which the charity claims will help it raise more money.

The venue, previously known as The Dolly before becoming The Cellar in 1999, has been staging live music for four decades, playing host to breakthrough local bands like Foals, Stornoway and The Young Knives.

Backing the campaign to save it, he said: “It’s obviously striking a chord with a lot of people. It is great to have a good variety of venues like The Cellar, O2 Academy and The Bullingdon, which offer something to bands at all levels – and it’s good to preserve that.”

The Cellar has ramped up its fight for survival with a new poster being distributed to supporters.

The image was designed for free by graphic designer Salvador Lavado – who has previously worked on albums for The Libertines, Kaiser Chiefs and James Blunt, and designed for Jay Z, Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Kanye West, Justin Bieber, Elton John and Madonna.

Mr Lavado, who lives in West Oxford, said: "I moved to Oxford three years ago and started going to The Cellar when we launched a monthly cinema there, Cinema Under The Stairs. It has turned into a great success, providing a regular meet up and offering a unique, friendly cinema experience to Oxford's movie goers.

"It is the ideal location for our cinema. It has character, history, charm, a great reputation and an awesome bar."

Club manager Tim Hopkins, who lives in Wolvercote, said: "It is amazing that Philip has given us his support. Radiohead are a huge band and this is very exciting.

"Having this kind of support makes you realise how important it is to a wide spectrum of people and that what we are doing is more important than we thought."

He is now planning an 18th birthday party for the venue on November 10, which will highlight the campaign to save it.

Plans have been lodged with Oxford City Council. People have until Thursday to comment. There have already been close to 500 comments already. A decision could be made next month.

City councillors have condemned the plans, with Alex Hollingsworth, city council executive board member for planning, saying: "I'll be putting the strongest possible case that this application can and should be refused.”

Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds wrote to the charity urging them to 'reconsider their decision'.

Mr Selway next month releases his new album, the soundtrack to the film, Let Me Go, starring Juliet Stevenson and produced by Oxford’s Lizzie Pickering.

The record was recorded at Nick Moorbath’s Evolution studio in Osney Mead.

St Michael’s and All Saints’ Charities were approached for a comment but failed to respond.

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