A BOOK about the life of a highly respected Greenock musician featuring contributions from some of the biggest names in the industry has topped the Amazon bestsellers chart.

The Light Pours Out of Me, Rory Sullivan-Burke's biography of late guitarist John McGeoch, soared to the top of the list after it was released at the end of last month.

John was born in Greenock and went on to travel the world with Magazine, Siouxsie and the Banshees and Public Image Ltd.

Rory decided to write the book when he was listening to the Banshees and got in touch with John's daughter Emily and her mum Denise, who gave the project the green light and supported it wholeheartedly.

He said: "I thought to myself how I would love to be able to read a book about John.

"When I discovered there wasn't I decided to write one myself.

"From the get-go, I knew I wanted to do it properly and with integrity."

The first-time author, who is a care worker, tracked down and chatted to a glittering array of music icons who were all up for speaking about John.

Rory interviewed Billy Idol, Siouxsie Sioux and other members of the Banshees, Howard Devoto, Dave Formula and Barry Adamson of Magazine, Johnny Marr, and John Frusciante.

He also chatted to Peter Hook, Richard Jobson of the Skids, and Jonny Greenwood and Ed O'Brien of Radiohead, among many others.

Rory said he was thrilled that so many big stars were up for paying tribute to John, and says that demonstrated just how well thought of he was.

John, known to his family as Ian, was born at the Rankin on August 25 in 1955.

He went to Lady Alice and Larkfield primaries and Greenock High where he was a very high achiever.

He started piano lessons when he was seven and began playing classical guitar at the age of 12, before the family relocated to East London in the early 1970s.

In 1977, McGeoch formed Magazine with Howard Devoto and recorded three albums with them.

He was involved with Visage in 1979 and 1980 before joining Siouxsie and the Banshees.

John sadly suffered a nervous breakdown in a warm-up gig before the Banshees tour of Madrid in 1982.

He went on to work with Richard Jobson in the Armoury Show before joining forces with John Lydon of Sex Pistols fame in PIL.

John needed 44 stitches and plastic surgery on his face after he was hit with a wine bottle on stage in Austria, and that proved to be a turning point for the star.

After living with severe bouts of anxiety, his career as a professional musician ended in 1992.

He went on to train as a nurse and looked after elderly patients before he died in March 2004, aged just 48.

Now that the book is out there, Rory, who lives in West Yorkshire, wants to make a pilgrimage to Greenock in John's memory.

He has also been in touch with Inverclyde Council in the hope of erecting a statue or memorial for him in the town.

Rory says John inspired him - and he hopes the book will help the much-missed guitarist get the recognition he deserves.

He said: "John was a unique man and was really inspirational to me.

"He is, for my money, the finest guitarist of the post-punk period and in the top five British guitarists of all time.

"He came up with guitar parts that were wholly original, inventive and brilliant.

"John was a one-off and he should be better known all over the world.

"The people of Greenock should be very proud of their son."