Tributes as glam rock star Alvin Stardust dies

Tributes have poured in for singer and actor Alvin Stardust who has died after a short illness. He was 72.

He had recently been diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and died at home with his wife and family around him.

The singer — real name Bernard Jewry — started out in the music business in the 1960s but became a huge star on the back of the 1970s glam rock craze, scoring hits with tracks including ‘My Coo Ca Choo’ and ‘Jealous Mind’. Stardust, who lived in West Sussex, was still performing until recently and working on a new album which is due for release next month.

His manager Andy Davies said: “I may not have known him long, but even in that short time, he proved to be one of the most genuine and likeable men I’ve ever met. His passing is a huge and sad loss.”

Born in London, Stardust grew up in Mansfield and started playing guitar as a schoolboy. He met one of his biggest influences, Buddy Holly, at a gig in Doncaster and played backstage with the singer and his band the Crickets.

He signed his first record deal in 1961 as the frontman of Shane Fenton and the Fentones but the band struggled to get in the charts despite regular touring in Europe and the UK.

In 1973, he signed up with Magnet Records and took on the name that would make him famous — scoring hit after hit as Alvin Stardust.

His success continued into the 1980s with ‘Pretend, I Feel Like Buddy Holly’ and ‘I Won’t Run Away’ all making the top 10.

Turning to acting, he appeared in a string of musicals including playing the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium.

He presented his own children’s show, It’s Stardust, on ITV and appeared on shows including Hollyoaks and Doctors.