WAR, huh! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing! The lyrics of soul singer Edwin Starr's 1970 smash hit have an added resonance at the moment.

War and many of Edwin's other hits like Stop Her On Sight and Headline News can be heard at The Brook on Friday, February 21 when the soul-shouter brings his 12-piece band to town.

Now based in the UK, Edwin was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, where he formed his first band, The Future Tones, while still at high school. Edwin had his first US chart hit with Agent Double-O-Soul, and first toured the UK in 1966 on the strength of his hit Stop Her On Sight.

On his return he found that his record label had been taken over by Motown, with whom he enjoyed his first US Top Ten hit, 25 Miles.

But it was the song War which made Edwin's reputation in 1970. Originally recorded as an album track by The Temptations, the song was offered to Edwin, whose raucous version hit the top spot in the USA and reached No 3 in the UK.

Edwin has long been a big draw on the UK music scene and in Europe, where he is in constant demand with his showy James Brown-style dynamic act.

Tickets cost £20. Box office: 023 8055 5366.