This leather-clad music icon with a career spanning five decades sure knows how to rock the house.

During the Glam Rock era, Alvin Stardust was every girls pin-up, but instead of the flamboyant style of lipstick-pouting and glitter-wearing singers like Marc Bolan and David Bowie, he was as a mean, moody rocker in head-to-toe leather. His only concession to the high camp of the 70s was the bling ring he wore over black gloves, and the way he beckoned his audiences with that famous come-hither look.

I'd had success as Shane Fenton and the Fentones in the 60s, but we were beginning to be swept aside as Manchester, west coast and hippy sounds became popular, he explains. I was offered the song My Coo-Ca-Choo by producer Peter Shelley and needed a new name and a unique image that stood out. My idol was Gene Vincent. He wore black leather, so thats what inspired my outfits.

As the 80s left behind many big names of Glam Rock, king of reinvention Alvin came right back with his 1981 hit Pretend. Appearances on Hollyoaks and The Grimleys followed, as well as theatre parts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and even as Billy Butlin in The Butlin Story. But his first love has always been music. Im back doing what I call my proper job now. Though the rockabilly quiff, the gloves and the ring are gone, his trademark leather remains. Im currently touring with a three-piece rock band. Butlins is one of our biggest UK gigs. When we're performing there we're in really big venues, but still within touching distance of the 4,000 people in the audience. The crowd always lets rip and raises the roof.

Butlins is one of the best gigs in the uk. I love the big venues.

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