Alvin Stardust was born Bernard Jewry in the East End of London in 1942.  The family moved to Mansfield in Nottinghamshire to follow his father Bill's new job as a salesman.  The job came with a big house where Bernard's mother started theatrical digs for The Palace Theatre, ensuring that the young Bernard was soon surrounded by performers, actors and singers.

 

His early musical influences came from the children's Saturday matineés at the local ABC cinema.  His idols were the singing cowboys, Roy Rogers and Gene Autry.

He went to St Peters infants and junior school and from there he boarded at Minster Grammar School.

 

The American Forces Network and Radio Luxembourg introduced him to Jazz, Blues, Swing and Rock n Roll.  From Frank Sinatra, Howling Wolf and BB King through to Ray Charles, Elvis and Buddy Holly.

 

Bernard was given his first guitar on his twelth birthday.  He took it on the bus to Doncaster with him to see Buddy Holly and the Crickets.  He talked his way backstage, where Buddy noticed Bernard clinging to the guitar, so he asked him to play for them.  Buddy and the Crickets all joined in, and they jammed to Peggy Sue in their dressing room with Bernard!  They had no paper or photos for an autograph, so instead they signed his guitar, which started the collection of autographs that have made this guitar worth over a million pounds.  Some of the other signatures include:

Eddie Cochrane, Gene Vincent, Johnny Kid, Billy Fury, Joe Brown, Marty Wilde, Bert Weedon, Chuck Berry, Bill Haley, all of The Beatles, and all of The Rolling Stones (including Brian Jones).

 

Bernard called his little guitar, Peggy Sue.

 

In 1960 Bernard jumped up on a talent night at The Mansfield Palais and met Johnny Theakstone and The Tremeloes, a local group.  They became great friends.  Sadly Johnny died from an illness that he had had as a child, that had left him with a weak heart.  The band, including Bernard were devastated and split up.

 

Prior to this Johnny had sent a tape to the BBC to be considered for a live broadcast using the name, Shane Fenton.  A while after Johnny had died, his parents received a letter from Saturday Club saying that they would like the band to do a live show.  Next day Bernard had a visit from Johnny's mum and dad, they asked if he could get the band together to do the show in Johnny's memory.  They also asked if Bernard would take Johnny's place and use the name, Shane Fenton.  Bernard felt proud to be there for his friend Johnny.

 

Shane Fenton and the Fentones very quickly became household names after their numerous and regular BBC broadcasts on Saturday Club and Easy Beat, with over 20 million listeners per show.

 

In 1961, George Martin's assistant, Ron Richards from EMI's Parlophone Records came to see them, and they signed their first record deal.  Six months later George signed The Beatles.  Shane recorded and toured through most of the 60's with many of his idols.  The Fentones became a very respected band and remain so today.  They consisted of Mick Eyre and Jack (Jerry) Wilcox, two brilliant guitarists.  Walter Bonney, their great bass player and Tony Hinchcliff, a brilliant drummer.

 

They recorded with Parlophone for a few years, but their main strength lay in live performances.  They are known throughout Europe on the Rock n Roll circuit with songs like 'Why Little Girl', 'It's Gonna Take Magic', 'Moody Guy' and 'Five Foot Two', pairing up with Blues harpist and singer Duffy Power to continue touring in the UK and Europe.

 

Midway through the 60's, Shane tried his hand at agency management, but decided that it wasn't for him.  He also tried a couple of years doing cabaret, but also decided that this wasn't for him either, so he teamed up with a bass player and drummer and formed 'The Shane Fenton Rock n Roll Trio'.

Together they built a strong reputation through the late 60's and early 70's, with Hal Carter, (Shane's great mate) from the earlier tours with Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Joe Brown.  Shane tried to get a record deal in the early 70's, but was turned down as being 'too 60's'!!

 

In 1973 Hal introduced him to Peter Shelley and Michael Levy at Magnet Records, and so Alvin Stardust was born...

 

Throughout the 70's they had hit after hit around the world.  The debut single 'My Coo Ca Choo' was a number one all over the world, numerous global hits followed, including four number ones for 'Jealous Mind', 'You You You', 'Red Dress' and 'Good Love'.  Music Week awarded Alvin 'Best Live Male Artist'.  At The British Pop Awards he won 'Best Live Performer'. In Antwerp he was awarded 'The Diamond Award for Rock Music' alongside Michael Jackson.

 

Towards the end of the 70's Peter and Alvin decided to quit whilst they were still ahead.  Alvin made some cracking records with producer Roger Greenaway.

 

Then came the 80's and a new manager, Roy Massey.  Just when they thought it was all over, Roy steered Alvin toward Pete Waterman, Pete had a song...The song was 'Pretend'.  Almost every major record label had heard and like the track, but because it was Alvin, they turned it down, they said he was 'too 70's'.

 

Dave Robinson saved the day by signing Alvin to the most street cred label around, Stiff Records.  'Pretend' became a global success, along with more hits following, such as  'I Won't Run Away', 'Walk Away Rene', and 'Wonderful Time Up There'.

 

Sadly Stiff Records closed down in the mid 80's.

 

Alvin met up with his old friend Mike Batt, who wrote him a song called, 'I Feel Like Buddy Holly'.  This time round the labels wanted Alvin, and Chrysalis won the race to sign him.  Alvin became their top seling singles artist with three consecutive hits, 'I Feel Like Buddy Holly', 'I Won't Run Away' and 'So Near To Christmas',

 

During the 90's Alvin fulfilled a life long ambition, to act.  He had always loved films and had appeared in a couple in the 60's (one with Billy Fury and Helen Shapiro), but now plays, musicals, radio and tv slots seemed to fall into his lap.   He had shows on Radio 2, and Radio 5.  He hosted his very own Sunday morning children's TV series on ITV called It's Stardust.  He appeared in 'Holly Oaks', 'The Grimly's' and 'Doctors'. 

He did stints in theatre, namely in 'Godspell', (Uriah Heap in) 'David Copperfield' - the musical, (The Marquis Of Queensbury in) Oscar Wilde, (The Phatom in) 'The Phatom Of The Opera', 'Side By Side with Sondheim', and 'A Slice of Saturday Night'.  Not forgetting his widely acclaimed last six months at The Palladium in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' as the notorious Child Catcher, and his portrayal as Sir Billy Butlin in 'The Butlin Story' also at the London Palladium.

 

Alvin was recognised by his contemporaries and people in the industry as being a legend of the music business, being one of the UK's pioneers of rock.

Keith Richards of 'The Rolling Stones' is quoted as calling him 'The Godfather of British Rock n Roll'.

 

John Lennon said to Tony Prince live on air from New York when 'Coo Ca Choo' was number one all over Europe, 'I'm so glad for Shane, he really deserves this success, he's a great bloke and performer'.

 

Missing the live gigs and music, Alvin returned to the studio to record 'I Love Rock and Roll', which was released by Universal Records in 2010.  Since then he continued to tirelessly play festivals, clubs and theatres throughout the UK and Europe.

 

With new management on board and a record deal, Alvin recorded 'Alvin', which was finished just weeks before his untimely death.

The album, due for release on 27th October, is a testament to a man who lived and breathed Rock n Roll.