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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGLITTER, Gary(b Paul Gadd, 8 May 1940, Banbury, Oxfordshire) UK pop singer. King of glam-rock in mid-'70s, the Liberace of UK pop, giving it some much-needed humour, said to have sold 30 million singles. Aliases in '60s included Paul Raven, Paul Monday (as Monday he made a flop cover of Beatles' 'Here Comes The Sun'). He was a production assistant on TV pop show Ready, Steady, Go '65; appeared on the original Jesus Christ Superstar album, of which Mike Leander was executive producer; Glitter was opening for other acts, and songwriter/producer Leander thought he had as much talent as the main attractions. The co-written single 'Rock & Roll (Parts I And II)' was intended as a one-off, but reached no. 2 UK mid-'72. Glitter Band music was basic rock'n'roll with heavy beat, Gary cavorting in outrageous costumes: similar to T.Rex, Mud and Sweet but with less subtlety. No. 1 hits 'I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am)', 'I Love You Love Me Love'; seven more top tens including 'Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again', 'Do You Wanna Touch?' followed '72-5; then the glam-rock era was over, though Glitter retained affection (Sex Pistol John Lydon was a longstanding fan). From late '70s comebacks were as frequent as farewells; he went to Australia and New Zealand, appeared on stage in Rocky Horror Show, launched UK tour Gary Glitter's Rock'n'Roll Circus early '80s (an expensive flop). 'Another Rock'n'Roll Christmas' gave him a top ten late '84; album Boys Will Be Boys that year reunited him with Leander; he appeared in a soup advert '85 parodying himself and made Alive And Kicking that year; remade 'I'm The Leader' '86 with Girlschool. Bald as a coot, Glitter wore an outrageous wig: his whole career was a joke, but a joke that inspired affection. |