Alvin Stardust

Born Bernard William Jewry in 1942, Alvin Stardust was a British glam star who rocked the '70s and '80s.

His mother ran a boarding house in Nottinghamshire during his childhood and entertainers and musicians were often guests. Perhaps they inspired young Bernard's dreams of the spotlight?

He was a roadie for a band called Shane Fenton and the Fentones in the 1960s. The band had won an audition for the BBC, but there was one complication: their lead singer had sadly died of rheumatic fever. Bernard stepped up, even taking on the name Shane Fenton in honour of their fallen comrade.

The band had a few hits on Parlophone records but broke up before they made it big. In the 1970s, glam rock began to set the scene alight, and Bernard decided to join in. Alvin Stardust was born. Hits like My Coo-Ca-Choo and Jealous Mind made him a pop smash hit

With his quiff, sideburns, and black leather, he was soon a household name. Over the next 25 years, he achieved seven Top Ten hits and guested on many television specials. He also appeared on stage. He even appeared on a Green Cross Code advert to promote safety for kids.

He died in 2014 of prostate cancer, but ever the rocker, a posthumous album, Alvin came out a few weeks later.