The album which has been lauded as the most influential ever - The Beatles' Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band - is celebrating its 40th birthday.

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The groundbreaking record was a watershed for the Fab Four who, for the first time, ditched the matching suit look. It also marked a rethink in the way the band made records having tired of touring and with Beatlemania on the wane.

Sgt Pepper was recorded at Abbey Road studios in London and was the Beatles' eighth offering. Its release ushered in an unforgettable season of hope, upheaval and achievement culminating in the 1967 summer of love.

Fans continue to pay homage to the the album and a public event is taking place on June 19 at Leeds University which will examine the social and cultural impact of the album and question why it continues to hold a fascination for new audiences.

Artist Sir Peter Blake, who created the album's iconic cover, donated pieces to a permanent exhibition of his work in the School of Music - where a rare signed print of the original 'Pepper' sleeve takes pride of place alongside examples of his other sleeve art for artists including Paul Weller, Oasis and the Who.

Event organiser, senior teaching fellow Simon Warner, said: "Put simply, it's the most important album by the most important group. It was a groundbreaking moment for popular music, bringing together a vast array of musical styles - the mysticism of Within You Without You, the music hall of When I'm Sixty Four and the fairground sounds of Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite."

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