Seventies glam rock singer, Alvin Stardust, has died at the age of 72 after a short illness, his manager confirmed this morning. Tributes have been pouring in from far and wide for the popular musician who was recently diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer.

Alvin Stardust
Alvin Stardust has passed away after a short illness

Shane Richie tweeted that Stardust had been a "major part to the soundtrack of my life" and Shaun Williamson described him as a "true pro and gentleman." 

Bobby Davro tweeted: "RIP Alvin Stardust, a really nice, friendly and talented man."

Alvin started out as Bernard William Jewry and the London-born leather-clad rockabilly made his 1960s musical debut under his own name, with little leather at this point, in an unknown teen band, Shane Fenton and the Fentones.

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The band had high hopes for their first demo and posted it to the BBC. Unfortunately, as they waited for a reply from the broadcaster, lead singer Shane Fenton died of rheumatic fever.

The band broke up shortly before that all important call came asking them to audition, with Stardust, still Jewry, as the new lead. The band enjoyed moderate success with hits including I’m A Moody Guy, Cindy’s Birthday and Walk Away before parting ways, with the frontman disappearing into relative obscurity for almost a decade.

However, the name Bernard William Jewry may have gone but the person attached to it was not lost forever and Stardust reappeared in the 1970s as glam rocker, Alvin.

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This new image was an instant hit and Stardust racked up chart success with songs such as My Coo Ca Choo, You, You, You, Red Dress and Jealous Mind. In total, he amassed seven Top Ten entries over a 25 year period.

He was also part of the Green Cross Code road safety campaign Children’s Heroes with the famous tagline "You must be out of your tiny minds" encouraging children to look both ways before they crossed the road.

In middle age, he entered the world of acting and presenting and took on roles in Hollyoaks and Doctors and the TV movie, The Grimleys.

Stardust was married three times and had four children, Shaun Fenton, Adam, Sophie and Millie Margaret May.