Gary Glitter
Encyclopedia
Gary Glitter is an English former glam rock
singer-songwriter and musician.
Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. He had a long solo UK chart run during the 1970s, with several hits including "Rock and Roll, Parts One and Two
", "I Love You Love Me Love
", "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" and "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again
". Between 1972 and 1995, Glitter had 26 hit singles which spent a total of 180 weeks in the UK Top 100. He continued to record in the 1980s and 1990s, with his 1984 song "Another Rock N' Roll Christmas
" being one of the Top 30 Christmas hits of all time. He released seven studio albums, and at least 15 greatest hits
collections or live albums. In 1998, his recording of "Rock and Roll" was listed as one of the top 1,001 songs in music history. The mostly instrumental "Rock and Roll, Part 2" has been played as a popular cheering song at American sporting events for several decades.
In 1999, Glitter was convicted of possession of child pornography
in the United Kingdom, and later convicted in Vietnam for committing obscene acts with minors.
, and the Laconda and Safari Clubs. His repertoire consisted of early rock'n'roll standards and gentle ballads. He got his first break when film producer Robert Hartford Davis discovered Gadd and financed a recording session for Decca Records
. At 18, Gadd recorded his first album; under the stage name Paul Raven, he released his first single, "Alone in the Night", in January 1960.
A year later, with a new manager, Vic Billings, he signed a new recording contract with Parlophone
and worked with producer George Martin
, before Martin's association with the Beatles
. Martin produced two singles, "Walk on By" and "Tower of Strength", but neither sold very well and Raven's recording career reached an impasse. By 1964, while Martin's work with the Beatles was conquering the world, Raven was reduced to playing the warm-up for the British television programme Ready Steady Go!
. He did numerous TV commercials and film auditions, and in the course of those activities met arranger-producer Mike Leander
who eventually helped revive his career.
. After Leander's group disbanded, Raven formed Boston International with saxophonist John Rossall, and spent the following five years touring the UK and Germany, recording occasionally. By 1970, several singles, including "Musical Man", "Goodbye Seattle" and a version of George Harrison
's "Here Comes the Sun
", put Raven back into record stores. As the glam
movement hit full swing in 1971, Raven took the new name Gary Glitter, which he devised by playing alliteratively with letters of the alphabet, working backwards from Z. Other options included Terry Tinsel, Stanley Sparkle and Vicky Vomit. The style that would come to define Gary Glitter had taken its basic shape.
The song that at last made Gary Glitter's name and career began as a 15-minute jam, whittled down to a pair of three-minute extracts released as the A and B sides of a single, called "Rock and Roll, Parts One and Two
". "Rock and Roll (Part Two)" would prove to be the more popular side in many countries, although it took about six months before it made its full impact, going to number two on the British pop charts and reaching the Top Ten in the United States, one of the few British glam rock records to do so. "Rock and Roll (Part One)" was also a hit: in France it made number one and in the UK both sides were listed together on the charts.
on stage, challenged Sweet
, Slade
and T.Rex for domination of the charts. To reinforce his image, he reportedly owned 30 glitter suits and fifty pairs of silver platform boots. He also released several singles which became British Top 10 hits, with "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" being his first single to reach number one in the summer of 1973, and "I Love You Love Me Love", its follow-up, his second. Even an atypical ballad, "Remember Me This Way
", went to number three. He had 11 consecutive Top Ten singles, from 1972's "Rock and Roll (Parts One and Two)" to "Doing Alright With the Boys" in the summer of 1975.
"Rock and Roll (Part Two)" caught on as a popular sports anthem in North America. Often used as a goal song or celebration song, fans chanted out "Hey!" along with the chorus. In light of Glitter's court convictions (see below), some teams have stopped using the song, though it remains heavily played.
Despite his success in the UK, Glitter never made the same impact in America, where, at best, glam rock was seen as a curiosity. Glitter had one more entry on the U.S charts with "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock 'n Roll)"; after that, however, the closest chart success for Glitter was a cover recording of "I'm the Leader of the Gang" by Brownsville Station
.
After "Doing Alright With the Boys", Glitter won the award for Best Male Artist at the Saturday Scene music awards hosted by LWT. His next release was a cover of the Rivingtons' rhythm and blues legend, "Papa Oom Mow Mow", but it got no higher than number 38 on the British charts. After subsequent releases stalled in similar fashion, Gary Glitter announced his retirement from music in early 1976. That same year, his first hits package, simply titled Greatest Hits, was released. It entered the UK Top 40 best-seller charts. A similar budget album, entitled I Love You Love Me Love, was issued by Hallmark Entertainment the following year.
Glitter's career took a downturn towards the end of the 1970s, leading to his first bankruptcy (he went bankrupt a second time over unpaid tax bills in the 1990s). He was said to have begun drinking heavily, even admitting later that he pondered suicide. Under financial pressure, not even a pair of Top 40 hit singles ("It Takes All Night" and "A Little Boogie Woogie in the Back of My Mind") could lift him all the way back. It took the post-punk
audience, and some of its artists who still respected Glitter's work, to do that; he had been an influence on post-punk, new wave
, britpop
and hair metal, as well as early punk rock
itself. Around this time, Glitter settled into being a performer with a cult following that continued until his child pornography conviction in the late 1990s. This helped provide the opportunity for Glitter to cut a dance medley of his greatest hits, All That Glitters, which charted in 1981. Within three years, he was playing 80 shows a year at colleges and clubs, and had chart hits "Dance Me Up" (UK No.25) and "Another Rock N' Roll Christmas" (#7).
Glitter's comeback was boosted in the 1980s by various guest spots and collaborations, leading to his becoming a cult figure with students. In 1982, he appeared on the British Electric Foundation
album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One (UK #25) along with fellow pop/rock luminaries Sandie Shaw
and Tina Turner
. In 1988, the Timelords' "Doctoring the Tardis," a Doctor Who
tribute that sampled "Rock and Roll (Part Two)", reached the number one spot. In due course, Glitter re-cut "Rock and Roll" with producer Trevor Horn and also "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" with Girlschool
. In the late 1980s, his hit singles were used to compile the Telstar-released C'mon, C'mon ... It's the Gary Glitter Party Album. In 1989, Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
put a large sample of "Another Rock and Roll Christmas" on their Number 1 UK hit "Let's Party".
In 1991, Glitter opened a restaurant in the West End of London
. Glitter's Snack Bar was promoted under the slogan "Leader of the Snack". It was successful at first, but business eventually slowed and the restaurant closed in the late 1990s.
Glitter also launched his own record label in the early 1990s, Attitude Records
, after he lost his deal with Virgin Records
. Glitter had signed to Virgin after leaving Arista Records
in 1984 after twelve years with the label. Attitude records was merged into Machmain Ltd later in the 1990s, a music company owned by Glitter.
Glitter spent the next decade mostly as an in-demand live performer, and his back catalogue of recordings proved durable enough that several compilations sold well. Glitter appeared in several humorous billboard and poster advertisements for British Rail
, in one of which he was shown attempting to look younger (and quite clearly failing) in order to obtain a Young Persons Railcard. He also issued a new studio album Leader II in 1991 which sold reasonably well.
He was a surprise hit at the 1994 World Cup concert in Chicago, which was telecast live to forty-six countries. He played the Godfather in a 1996 revival of The Who
's Quadrophenia
. He also cut a single, a new version of "The House of the Rising Sun
". British rock group Oasis
used a sample from Glitter's 1973 chart hit, "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again
" on their 1995 multi-million-selling album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
, one of a number of acts that borrowed from his songbook.
"Rock and Roll (Part Two)" by this time was being used heavily as a crowd-rouser at numerous sporting events, and it was featured in the hit films The Full Monty
, Happy Gilmore
, Meet the Fockers
and The Replacements with Keanu Reeves
.
of Glitter's music first issued in 1997, days after his arrest (see below), which covers his commercial breakthrough in 1972 up to that point; again it was moderately successful.
In September 2001 he released a new album, On, that included material written before his 1999 British conviction. That material was to have been part of a project called Lost on Life Street until that album's release was cancelled following his arrest. By December 2004, after releasing a new single, "Control", Glitter was in the news again concerning his behaviour; NGOs had been petitioning the government with their own evidence aimed at arresting Glitter. Glitter moved to Vietnam.
In 2005 Remember Me This Way, the documentary filmed at Glitter's career peak in 1973 (and originally released in 1974), was issued for the first time on DVD. Glitter's music itself still had an audience, further demonstrated by three new album releases, although all of them contained past recordings from the vaults, rather than new product. The first two new albums were issued at the same time, The Remixes and Live in Concert (the latter of which was a 1981 recording). These were only for sale on the Internet. A new collection of Glitter's chart hit singles followed, The Best of Gary Glitter. In 2006 his back catalogue was made available via the Internet from sites such as iTunes and eMusic
.
, new wave
, gothic rock
, Britpop
and hair metal.
In July 1963, Gadd married Ann Murton. The following year they had a son, also called Paul, and in 1966 a daughter, Sarah. They divorced in 1972. In February 2001, he had another son, Gary Jr, with Yudenia Sosa Martínez, born 1973, with whom he was then living in Cuba.
reported that the singer had suffered a severe heart attack. These reports were denied, although it was confirmed that he had been diagnosed with heart problems. "Glitter was admitted to our hospital with acute diarrhoea," said Nguyen Huu Quang, the director of the hospital in Binh Thuan Province
, near the prison where the singer was serving out his sentence. "While we were treating him, we found out that he also has a cardiovascular disorder."
showed a drama (or 'mockumentary
') called The Execution of Gary Glitter
. Set in an imaginary Britain in which the death sentence has been re-introduced, the drama examines the possible consequences of capital punishment when Glitter is put on trial as a paedophile
under imagined Capital Crimes Against Children legislation. The drama was written by Rob Coldstream and starred Hilton McRae
as Glitter.
laptop that he had taken to the Bristol Cribbs Causeway branch of PC World
for repair. As a result, he was castigated in the media over the allegations. Additionally, his appearance in the Spice Girls
' film Spiceworld The Movie
was cut. Nevertheless, a truncated edit of the scene, featuring a version of Glitter's "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)", was still included in the film. In the months before his conviction, he thanked audiences for their support at his last show before his trial.
In 1999, Glitter was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and listed as a sex offender
in the UK following conviction for downloading thousands of items of child pornography
.
He was also charged with having sex with an underage girl, Alison Brown, around 20 years earlier, when she was 14 years old. She had had a relationship with Glitter for some years. Glitter was acquitted of this charge. It was later revealed that Brown had sold her story to the News of the World
and stood to earn more money from the newspaper should Glitter be convicted.
Following a rejection by the British public and facing scrutiny from the press following his arrest and conviction, Gary Glitter fled on his yacht to Spain. Upon being discovered there, he set sail again, ultimately travelling to Gibraltar
, Cuba, Mexico, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela, and Thailand, before settling in Cambodia.
.
, Vietnam. In late 2005, at age 61, Gary Glitter was arrested by Vietnamese authorities and charged with molesting two underaged girls, aged 10 and 11, at his home in Vũng Tàu. He initially faced possible child rape charges carrying the death penalty, but prosecutors did not find enough evidence for those charges, so Glitter was instead tried for lesser child sexual abuse
charges. Early in 2006, he was convicted of committing obscene acts with minors and sentenced to three years imprisonment. On one of two appeals, in 2007 this was reduced by three months.
He was released from prison on 19 August 2008 and returned to London three days later, after being refused entry into Thailand and Hong Kong.
Despite having applied for permanent residence in Vietnam, Gary Glitter fled his home on 12 November 2005. Three days later, he was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City
while trying to board a flight to Thailand. Six Vietnamese females, aged from 11 to 23, claimed that Glitter had had sex with them; the age of consent
in Vietnam is 18.
After his arrest, Glitter was turned over to provincial police from Ba Ria-Vung Tau and returned to Vung Tau and held on suspicion of having sex with the two under-age girls. Glitter was held in jail throughout the criminal investigation, which was completed on 26 December 2005. The charge of rape was dropped for "lack of evidence" (according to Glitter's lawyer), although the singer admitted that an 11-year-old girl had slept in his bed. Glitter could have faced execution by firing squad
if convicted of child rape. After having received compensatory payments from Glitter, the families of the girls appealed to the courts for clemency for him.
On 2 March 2006 Glitter was tried on charges of committing obscene acts with two girls, aged 10 and 11, facing up to 14 years in prison if convicted. The following day he was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison. He was also forced to pay compensation of $320 to each girl's family, as well as court fees. Judge Hoang Thanh Tung: "He sexually abused and committed obscene acts with children many times in a disgusting and sick manner."
The sentence included mandatory deportation
at the end of his sentence, and payment of 5 million Vietnamese dong (US$315) to his victims' families. Glitter continued to deny any wrongdoing, saying he believes he was framed by British tabloid newspapers. He announced he planned to spend part of his sentence writing an autobiography, which he had already begun during his pre-trial.
Glitter, in his first interview in more than eight years to BBC News
in May 2006, denied any wrong-doing and claimed not to have knowingly had sex with anyone under 18. He also said "I know the line [not] to cross". When asked what he thought of adults having sex with children he said "It certainly is a crime ... I would be very angry about that." Christine Beddoe, director of End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking, criticised Glitter and said he was trying to "minimise what he has done" and added "We must allow children to tell their story and not just have the words of Gadd."
In his interview, Glitter denied that he was a paedophile. He said that he had hoped that there was even a slim chance he could put his life back on track and have a career after he left prison in England. However, the people around him felt that the media had already made a sensation about the paedophile allegations. He continued to blame the press for his downfall and called them "the worst enemy in the world", alleging 'entrapment
' by them by paying local girls in a bar to arrange a photo-scoop. Glitter did not comment about his previous conviction for possession of child pornography several years earlier.
On 15 June 2006, in a closed hearing, the People's Supreme Court of Appeals heard Glitter's appeal for a reduced sentence. The three-judge panel rejected the appeal four weeks later. Although he was calm throughout the 40-minute reading of the verdict, upon leaving the courthouse, he shouted angrily to reporters and denounced Vietnamese justice for not hearing the defence arguments. On 7 February 2007, it was announced that his sentence had been reduced by three months. In anticipation of his release, the Philippines barred Glitter from entering that country as of 16 May 2008.
Glitter's Vietnamese lawyer, Le Thanh Kinh, said that his client intended to return to the UK, although he had also expressed interest in moving to either Hong Kong or Singapore. In the UK it was reported that he would be placed on the Sex Offenders Register
on his return. British Home Secretary
Jacqui Smith
said he should be given a Foreign Travel Order (FTO) banning him from overseas travel: "We need to control him, and he will be [controlled] once he returns to this country."
Glitter was released from Thu Duc prison in southern Binh Thuan Province
on 19 August 2008. He was escorted under police guard to Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City
and put on board a flight to London via Bangkok. At Bangkok he claimed that he had tinnitus
and a heart condition, and refused to board the flight to London despite the efforts of British police sent to escort him, although they had no jurisdiction to take action. He was refused entry to Thailand and threatened with deportation to the UK. On the evening of 20 August he took a flight to Hong Kong, where he requested medical treatment saying he was suffering a heart attack. The Hong Kong authorities also refused to admit him and he returned to Thailand the next day.
At least 19 countries, including Cuba, Cambodia and the Philippines, announced that they would refuse to admit Glitter, and on 21 August the Thai authorities stated that he had agreed to return to the UK. He arrived back in the UK at Heathrow Airport at 7:10 am on 22 August 2008, where he was met by British police officers.
On his return to the United Kingdom, Glitter was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register
for life, and stated an intention to appeal against this decision; on 16 January 2009 it was announced that he had abandoned this move.
On 25 June 2008 The Daily Telegraph
reported that Gary Glitter planned to record a new album on his prison release. He was quoted as saying "I have an incomplete album that I want to finish. I have been thinking about the plan during my days in jail, I have sung rock'n'roll for 40 years. After jail, I will continue to rock'n'roll." After his release from prison, Glitter said that he was planning to write a book to prove his innocence.
In 1973, Glitter undertook a world tour to celebrate his new-found fame. He toured Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, and New Zealand.
He continued to tour until 1976, and his retirement from music, he visited Australia some twenty times, and toured Europe and America several times.
During his comeback period of the 1980s, he did fewer tours, and mainly toured Britain. However he did shows in Ireland, Germany, France, America and Bahrain. During the 1990s, he toured America several times, finally gaining the significant popularity he sought in the 1970s. In 1995, he undertook his last major tour, he visited Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and Singapore. It is unclear if he toured Japan or India, but this was an intention. His last tour was in 1996, when he toured with The Who across America. During his residence in Vietnam, he sang in local bars and clubs in Vung Tau.
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
singer-songwriter and musician.
Glitter first came to prominence in the glam rock era of the early 1970s. He had a long solo UK chart run during the 1970s, with several hits including "Rock and Roll, Parts One and Two
Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)
"Rock and Roll", also known as "The Hey Song", is a song performed by British glam rocker Gary Glitter that was released in 1972 as a single and on the album Glitter. Co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander, the song is in two parts: Part 1 is a vocal track reflecting on the history of the genre,...
", "I Love You Love Me Love
I Love You Love Me Love
"I Love You Love Me Love" was a popular song by Gary Glitter.Written by Gary Glitter and Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander, "I Love You Love Me Love" was Glitter's second number one single in the UK, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in November 1973, and establishing itself as...
", "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" and "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again
Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again
"Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again" is a 1973 hit single performed by Gary Glitter and co-written by Glitter and his producer Mike Leander. The title of the song is only sung once and as a result other more frequent sung lines have become alternative titles, these include "It's Good to Be Back" and "Did...
". Between 1972 and 1995, Glitter had 26 hit singles which spent a total of 180 weeks in the UK Top 100. He continued to record in the 1980s and 1990s, with his 1984 song "Another Rock N' Roll Christmas
Another Rock N' Roll Christmas
"Another Rock And Roll Christmas" is a popular 1984 Christmas song by Gary Glitter. It was written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago....
" being one of the Top 30 Christmas hits of all time. He released seven studio albums, and at least 15 greatest hits
Greatest hits
A greatest hits album is a music compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular artist or band...
collections or live albums. In 1998, his recording of "Rock and Roll" was listed as one of the top 1,001 songs in music history. The mostly instrumental "Rock and Roll, Part 2" has been played as a popular cheering song at American sporting events for several decades.
In 1999, Glitter was convicted of possession of child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
in the United Kingdom, and later convicted in Vietnam for committing obscene acts with minors.
Early work
By the time he was 16, Glitter was already performing at London clubs. His career grew as he appeared at such venues as the Two I's, in SohoSoho
Soho is an area of the City of Westminster and part of the West End of London. Long established as an entertainment district, for much of the 20th century Soho had a reputation for sex shops as well as night life and film industry. Since the early 1980s, the area has undergone considerable...
, and the Laconda and Safari Clubs. His repertoire consisted of early rock'n'roll standards and gentle ballads. He got his first break when film producer Robert Hartford Davis discovered Gadd and financed a recording session for Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
. At 18, Gadd recorded his first album; under the stage name Paul Raven, he released his first single, "Alone in the Night", in January 1960.
A year later, with a new manager, Vic Billings, he signed a new recording contract with Parlophone
Parlophone
Parlophone is a record label that was founded in Germany in 1896 by the Carl Lindström Company as Parlophon. The British branch was formed in 1923 as "Parlophone" which developed a reputation in the 1920s as a leading jazz label. It was acquired in 1927 by the Columbia Graphophone Company which...
and worked with producer George Martin
George Martin
Sir George Henry Martin CBE is an English record producer, arranger, composer and musician. He is sometimes referred to as "the Fifth Beatle"— a title that he often describes as "nonsense," but the fact remains that he served as producer on all but one of The Beatles' original albums...
, before Martin's association with the Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. Martin produced two singles, "Walk on By" and "Tower of Strength", but neither sold very well and Raven's recording career reached an impasse. By 1964, while Martin's work with the Beatles was conquering the world, Raven was reduced to playing the warm-up for the British television programme Ready Steady Go!
Ready Steady Go!
Ready Steady Go! or simply RSG! was one of the UK's first rock/pop music TV programmes. It was conceived by Elkan Allan, head of Rediffusion TV. Allan was assisted by record producer/talent manager Vicki Wickham, who became the producer. It was broadcast from August 1963 until December 1966...
. He did numerous TV commercials and film auditions, and in the course of those activities met arranger-producer Mike Leander
Mike Leander
Michael George Farr professionally known as Mike Leander was an arranger and record producer for Decca Records in the 1960s and Bell Records in the 1970s and worked with such artists as Marianne Faithfull, Billy Fury, Marc Bolan, Joe Cocker, The Small Faces, Van Morrison, Alan Price, Peter...
who eventually helped revive his career.
Gary Glitter
Raven joined the Mike Leander Show Band in early 1965. Then he was deputised to produce a few recording sessions by such artists as Thane Russell and a Scottish beat group, The PoetsThe Poets
The Poets were a Scottish blues, freakbeat and psychedelic pop band, who were managed and produced by Andrew Loog Oldham. Some of their singles were released on his Immediate Records label...
. After Leander's group disbanded, Raven formed Boston International with saxophonist John Rossall, and spent the following five years touring the UK and Germany, recording occasionally. By 1970, several singles, including "Musical Man", "Goodbye Seattle" and a version of George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
's "Here Comes the Sun
Here Comes the Sun
"Here Comes the Sun" is a song by George Harrison from The Beatles' 1969 album Abbey Road. It is regarded as one of the most popular Beatles songs. The song was written while Harrison was away from all of these troubles...
", put Raven back into record stores. As the glam
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
movement hit full swing in 1971, Raven took the new name Gary Glitter, which he devised by playing alliteratively with letters of the alphabet, working backwards from Z. Other options included Terry Tinsel, Stanley Sparkle and Vicky Vomit. The style that would come to define Gary Glitter had taken its basic shape.
The song that at last made Gary Glitter's name and career began as a 15-minute jam, whittled down to a pair of three-minute extracts released as the A and B sides of a single, called "Rock and Roll, Parts One and Two
Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)
"Rock and Roll", also known as "The Hey Song", is a song performed by British glam rocker Gary Glitter that was released in 1972 as a single and on the album Glitter. Co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander, the song is in two parts: Part 1 is a vocal track reflecting on the history of the genre,...
". "Rock and Roll (Part Two)" would prove to be the more popular side in many countries, although it took about six months before it made its full impact, going to number two on the British pop charts and reaching the Top Ten in the United States, one of the few British glam rock records to do so. "Rock and Roll (Part One)" was also a hit: in France it made number one and in the UK both sides were listed together on the charts.
Mainstream success
"Rock and Roll" was followed by other successes: for the next three years, Glitter, backed by the Glittermen / the Glitter BandThe Glitter Band
The Glitter Band are a glam rock band from England, who initially worked as Gary Glitter's backing band under that name from 1973, when they then began releasing records of their own. They were unofficially known as the Glittermen on the first four hit singles by Gary Glitter from 1972 to 1973. The...
on stage, challenged Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
, Slade
Slade
Slade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
and T.Rex for domination of the charts. To reinforce his image, he reportedly owned 30 glitter suits and fifty pairs of silver platform boots. He also released several singles which became British Top 10 hits, with "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" being his first single to reach number one in the summer of 1973, and "I Love You Love Me Love", its follow-up, his second. Even an atypical ballad, "Remember Me This Way
Remember Me This Way (Gary Glitter song)
"Remember Me This Way" is a song released in 1974 by British Glam Rock singer, Gary Glitter. It was co-written by Glitter and his record producer, Mike Leander. Unlike Glitter's previous singles this was a slow ballad that surprised many at the time. Nevertheless, it went on to reach Number 3 in...
", went to number three. He had 11 consecutive Top Ten singles, from 1972's "Rock and Roll (Parts One and Two)" to "Doing Alright With the Boys" in the summer of 1975.
"Rock and Roll (Part Two)" caught on as a popular sports anthem in North America. Often used as a goal song or celebration song, fans chanted out "Hey!" along with the chorus. In light of Glitter's court convictions (see below), some teams have stopped using the song, though it remains heavily played.
Despite his success in the UK, Glitter never made the same impact in America, where, at best, glam rock was seen as a curiosity. Glitter had one more entry on the U.S charts with "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Till I Saw You Rock 'n Roll)"; after that, however, the closest chart success for Glitter was a cover recording of "I'm the Leader of the Gang" by Brownsville Station
Brownsville Station (band)
Brownsville Station was a rock band from Michigan that was popular in the 1970s. Original members included Cub Koda , Mike Lutz , T.J. Cronley , and Tony Driggins...
.
After "Doing Alright With the Boys", Glitter won the award for Best Male Artist at the Saturday Scene music awards hosted by LWT. His next release was a cover of the Rivingtons' rhythm and blues legend, "Papa Oom Mow Mow", but it got no higher than number 38 on the British charts. After subsequent releases stalled in similar fashion, Gary Glitter announced his retirement from music in early 1976. That same year, his first hits package, simply titled Greatest Hits, was released. It entered the UK Top 40 best-seller charts. A similar budget album, entitled I Love You Love Me Love, was issued by Hallmark Entertainment the following year.
Comeback and business interests
In 1976, Glitter faced drug addiction and declining record sales. He took a two year long exile, living in France and Australia, before returning to the UK, and beginning his comeback.Glitter's career took a downturn towards the end of the 1970s, leading to his first bankruptcy (he went bankrupt a second time over unpaid tax bills in the 1990s). He was said to have begun drinking heavily, even admitting later that he pondered suicide. Under financial pressure, not even a pair of Top 40 hit singles ("It Takes All Night" and "A Little Boogie Woogie in the Back of My Mind") could lift him all the way back. It took the post-punk
Post-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
audience, and some of its artists who still respected Glitter's work, to do that; he had been an influence on post-punk, new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
and hair metal, as well as early punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
itself. Around this time, Glitter settled into being a performer with a cult following that continued until his child pornography conviction in the late 1990s. This helped provide the opportunity for Glitter to cut a dance medley of his greatest hits, All That Glitters, which charted in 1981. Within three years, he was playing 80 shows a year at colleges and clubs, and had chart hits "Dance Me Up" (UK No.25) and "Another Rock N' Roll Christmas" (#7).
Glitter's comeback was boosted in the 1980s by various guest spots and collaborations, leading to his becoming a cult figure with students. In 1982, he appeared on the British Electric Foundation
B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation)
B.E.F. are a band/production company formed by former Human League members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh who later became Heaven 17 .-History:Ware and Marsh's first release as B.E.F...
album Music of Quality and Distinction Volume One (UK #25) along with fellow pop/rock luminaries Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw is an English pop singer, who was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s. In 1967 she was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest...
and Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
. In 1988, the Timelords' "Doctoring the Tardis," a Doctor Who
Doctor Who
Doctor Who is a British science fiction television programme produced by the BBC. The programme depicts the adventures of a time-travelling humanoid alien known as the Doctor who explores the universe in a sentient time machine called the TARDIS that flies through time and space, whose exterior...
tribute that sampled "Rock and Roll (Part Two)", reached the number one spot. In due course, Glitter re-cut "Rock and Roll" with producer Trevor Horn and also "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" with Girlschool
Girlschool
Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
. In the late 1980s, his hit singles were used to compile the Telstar-released C'mon, C'mon ... It's the Gary Glitter Party Album. In 1989, Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers
Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers were a 1980s and early 1990s novelty pop music act from Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. The face of the group was Jive Bunny, a cartoon rabbit who appeared in the videos, and also did promotional appearances for them...
put a large sample of "Another Rock and Roll Christmas" on their Number 1 UK hit "Let's Party".
In 1991, Glitter opened a restaurant in the West End of London
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
. Glitter's Snack Bar was promoted under the slogan "Leader of the Snack". It was successful at first, but business eventually slowed and the restaurant closed in the late 1990s.
Glitter also launched his own record label in the early 1990s, Attitude Records
Attitude Records
Attitude Records is the name of a London, England label founded by the pop/rock star Gary Glitter, who formed it in the early 1990s after his contract with Virgin Records expired. In an interview at the time, Glitter said "I decided to put my money where my mouth is and launch my own label". ...
, after he lost his deal with Virgin Records
Virgin Records
Virgin Records is a British record label founded by English entrepreneur Richard Branson, Simon Draper, and Nik Powell in 1972. The company grew to be a worldwide music phenomenon, with platinum performers such as Roy Orbison, Devo, Genesis, Keith Richards, Janet Jackson, Culture Club, Lenny...
. Glitter had signed to Virgin after leaving Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
in 1984 after twelve years with the label. Attitude records was merged into Machmain Ltd later in the 1990s, a music company owned by Glitter.
Glitter spent the next decade mostly as an in-demand live performer, and his back catalogue of recordings proved durable enough that several compilations sold well. Glitter appeared in several humorous billboard and poster advertisements for British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
, in one of which he was shown attempting to look younger (and quite clearly failing) in order to obtain a Young Persons Railcard. He also issued a new studio album Leader II in 1991 which sold reasonably well.
He was a surprise hit at the 1994 World Cup concert in Chicago, which was telecast live to forty-six countries. He played the Godfather in a 1996 revival of The Who
The Who
The Who are an English rock band formed in 1964 by Roger Daltrey , Pete Townshend , John Entwistle and Keith Moon . They became known for energetic live performances which often included instrument destruction...
's Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia
Quadrophenia is the sixth studio album by English rock band The Who. Released on 19 October 1973 by Track and Polydor in the UK, and Track and MCA in the US, it is a double album, and the group's second rock opera...
. He also cut a single, a new version of "The House of the Rising Sun
The House of the Rising Sun
"The House of the Rising Sun" is a folk song from the United States. Also called "House of the Rising Sun" or occasionally "Rising Sun Blues", it tells of a life gone wrong in New Orleans...
". British rock group Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
used a sample from Glitter's 1973 chart hit, "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again
Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again
"Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again" is a 1973 hit single performed by Gary Glitter and co-written by Glitter and his producer Mike Leander. The title of the song is only sung once and as a result other more frequent sung lines have become alternative titles, these include "It's Good to Be Back" and "Did...
" on their 1995 multi-million-selling album (What's the Story) Morning Glory?
(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
Morning Glory? is the second studio album by the English rock band Oasis. It was released on 2 October 1995 through Creation Records. The album was Oasis' most enduring commercial success, charting at number one in the UK and number four in the U.S...
, one of a number of acts that borrowed from his songbook.
"Rock and Roll (Part Two)" by this time was being used heavily as a crowd-rouser at numerous sporting events, and it was featured in the hit films The Full Monty
The Full Monty
The Full Monty is a 1997 British comedy film directed by Peter Cattaneo, starring Robert Carlyle, Mark Addy, William Snape, Steve Huison, Tom Wilkinson, Paul Barber, and Hugo Speer. The screenplay was written by Simon Beaufoy...
, Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore
Happy Gilmore is a 1996 sports comedy film directed by Dennis Dugan and produced by Robert Simonds for Universal Studios. It stars Adam Sandler as the title character, an unsuccessful ice hockey player who discovers a talent for golf. The screenplay was written by Sandler and Tim Herlihy...
, Meet the Fockers
Meet the Fockers
Meet the Fockers is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Jay Roach and the sequel to Meet the Parents. The film stars Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand, Blythe Danner and Teri Polo. It was followed up by a sequel, Little Fockers, in 2010.-Plot:Nurse Gaylord "Greg"...
and The Replacements with Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Charles Reeves is a Canadian actor. Reeves is perhaps best known for his roles in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Speed, Point Break and the science fiction-action trilogy The Matrix...
.
Career moves since 2000
In 2002, Snapper records re-promoted The Ultimate Gary Glitter, a two-CD anthologyAnthology
An anthology is a collection of literary works chosen by the compiler. It may be a collection of poems, short stories, plays, songs, or excerpts...
of Glitter's music first issued in 1997, days after his arrest (see below), which covers his commercial breakthrough in 1972 up to that point; again it was moderately successful.
In September 2001 he released a new album, On, that included material written before his 1999 British conviction. That material was to have been part of a project called Lost on Life Street until that album's release was cancelled following his arrest. By December 2004, after releasing a new single, "Control", Glitter was in the news again concerning his behaviour; NGOs had been petitioning the government with their own evidence aimed at arresting Glitter. Glitter moved to Vietnam.
In 2005 Remember Me This Way, the documentary filmed at Glitter's career peak in 1973 (and originally released in 1974), was issued for the first time on DVD. Glitter's music itself still had an audience, further demonstrated by three new album releases, although all of them contained past recordings from the vaults, rather than new product. The first two new albums were issued at the same time, The Remixes and Live in Concert (the latter of which was a 1981 recording). These were only for sale on the Internet. A new collection of Glitter's chart hit singles followed, The Best of Gary Glitter. In 2006 his back catalogue was made available via the Internet from sites such as iTunes and eMusic
EMusic
eMusic is an online music and audiobook store that operates by subscription. It is headquartered in New York City with an office in London and owned by Dimensional Associates. As of September 2008 eMusic has over 400,000 subscribers....
.
Influence on other musicians
Gary Glitter was very influential on many musicians and genres from the 1970s onwards, especially British punk, post-punkPost-punk
Post-punk is a rock music movement with its roots in the late 1970s, following on the heels of the initial punk rock explosion of the mid-1970s. The genre retains its roots in the punk movement but is more introverted, complex and experimental...
, new wave
New Wave music
New Wave is a subgenre of :rock music that emerged in the mid to late 1970s alongside punk rock. The term at first generally was synonymous with punk rock before being considered a genre in its own right that incorporated aspects of electronic and experimental music, mod subculture, disco and 1960s...
, gothic rock
Gothic rock
Gothic rock is a musical subgenre of post-punk and alternative rock that formed during the late 1970s. Gothic rock bands grew from the strong ties they had to the English punk rock and emerging post-punk scenes...
, Britpop
Britpop
Britpop is a subgenre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom. Britpop emerged from the British independent music scene of the early 1990s and was characterised by bands influenced by British guitar pop music of the 1960s and 1970s...
and hair metal.
- Mark E. SmithMark E. SmithMark Edward Smith is the lead singer, lyricist, frontman, and only constant member of the English post-punk band The Fall.-Early life:...
was a Glitter fan. "I was really into Gary Glitter, and I used to get bad-mouthed for it. It was like 'You've got to be into David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
or YesYes (band)Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
– Gary Glitter's just tripe'. And I was going 'It's fuckin' great. It's avant-gardeAvant-gardeAvant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
... Well, two drummers and all that – it was really percussive. It was the only decent thing around", The Fall frontman said in 1993, speaking to NMENMEThe New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
. - "Glam was fairly good at the time; also it was almost all we had. It could look ridiculous but musically it was often alright. Sometimes when you listen back bits of it sound quite punk. I liked Gary Glitter, HelloHello (band)Hello is a Bell Records label, teen appeal glam rock band, based in England.-Career:The core of Hello was founded in about 1969, originally being called The Age. The band was started by Bob Bradbury, previously of The Flashback Berries, with Jeff Allen , Keith Marshall and Vic Faulkner...
, SladeSladeSlade are an English rock band from Wolverhampton, who rose to prominence during the glam rock era of the early 1970s. With 17 consecutive Top 20 hits and six number ones, the British Hit Singles & Albums names them as the most successful British group of the 1970s based on sales of singles...
; they were all laying the roots to punk. Some of Bowie and Lou ReedLou ReedLewis Allan "Lou" Reed is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his successful solo career, which has spanned several decades...
were very good and BolanMarc BolanMarc Bolan was an English singer-songwriter, guitarist and poet. He is best known as the founder, frontman, lead singer & guitarist for T. Rex, but also a successful solo artist...
of course. I suppose it had a bit of influence, but not a lot." Knox from the VibratorsThe Vibrators- Early career:The Vibrators were founded by Ian 'Knox' Carnochan, bassist Pat Collier, guitarist John Ellis, and drummer John 'Eddie' Edwards. They first came to public notice at the 100 Club when they backed Chris Spedding in 1976. On Spedding's recommendation, Mickie Most signed them to his...
citing glam rock acts, including Glitter, as an influence on punk.
Early life
Paul Francis Gadd was born in Banbury, Oxfordshire. His mother, a cleaner, was unmarried, and initially brought him up with the help of her mother; he never knew his father. He was hard to control and at the age of 10, along with his brother, he was taken into local authority care. Although a Protestant, he was educated at a Roman Catholic school. He would frequently run away to London, to the clubs that would be the launching ground of his career.In July 1963, Gadd married Ann Murton. The following year they had a son, also called Paul, and in 1966 a daughter, Sarah. They divorced in 1972. In February 2001, he had another son, Gary Jr, with Yudenia Sosa Martínez, born 1973, with whom he was then living in Cuba.
Cardiovascular disorder
On 20 January 2008, the News of the WorldNews of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
reported that the singer had suffered a severe heart attack. These reports were denied, although it was confirmed that he had been diagnosed with heart problems. "Glitter was admitted to our hospital with acute diarrhoea," said Nguyen Huu Quang, the director of the hospital in Binh Thuan Province
Binh Thuan Province
Bình Thuận is a province of Vietnam. It is located on the country's South Central Coast, not far from Ho Chi Minh City. It is sometimes seen as part of the Southeast Region. Binh Thuan is known for its scenery and for its good beaches...
, near the prison where the singer was serving out his sentence. "While we were treating him, we found out that he also has a cardiovascular disorder."
TV mockumentary
In November 2009, the UK's Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
showed a drama (or 'mockumentary
Mockumentary
A mockumentary , is a type of film or television show in which fictitious events are presented in documentary format. These productions are often used to analyze or comment on current events and issues by using a fictitious setting, or to parody the documentary form itself...
') called The Execution of Gary Glitter
The Execution of Gary Glitter
The Execution of Gary Glitter is a ninety-minute 2009 mockumentary that follows the imaginary trial and execution by hanging of Gary Glitter for 'offences against children'...
. Set in an imaginary Britain in which the death sentence has been re-introduced, the drama examines the possible consequences of capital punishment when Glitter is put on trial as a paedophile
Pedophilia
As a medical diagnosis, pedophilia is defined as a psychiatric disorder in adults or late adolescents typically characterized by a primary or exclusive sexual interest in prepubescent children...
under imagined Capital Crimes Against Children legislation. The drama was written by Rob Coldstream and starred Hilton McRae
Hilton McRae
Hilton McRae is a Scottish actor in the fields of theatre, television and film.-Career:McRae was part of the radical theatre group 7:84 before graduating from Edinburgh University, and by 1977 he had joined the Royal Shakespeare Company. His most mainstream American film was his role as Green...
as Glitter.
Drinking driving charges
During the 1980s, Glitter was convicted three times for drunk driving, one of which led to a 10-year driving ban; he narrowly escaped a prison term.Child pornography arrest and conviction
In November 1997, Glitter was arrested after pornographic images of children were discovered on the hard drive of a ToshibaToshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
laptop that he had taken to the Bristol Cribbs Causeway branch of PC World
PC World (retailer)
PC World is OWNED BY THE GOVERNMENT one of the WHER MA MEMORY STICK ?!?!??! United Kingdom's largest chains of mass-market computer superstores. It is part of Dixons Retail plc. PC World operates under the brand name PC City in Spain, Italy and Sweden....
for repair. As a result, he was castigated in the media over the allegations. Additionally, his appearance in the Spice Girls
Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a British pop girl group formed in 1994. The group consisted of Victoria Beckham , Melanie Brown, Emma Bunton, Melanie Chisholm and Geri Halliwell. They were signed to Virgin Records and released their debut single, "Wannabe" in 1996, which hit number-one in more than 30...
' film Spiceworld The Movie
Spiceworld (film)
Spice World is a 1997 British musical comedy film directed by Bob Spiers, written by Kim Fuller and Jamie Curtis, and starring the best-selling pop girl group the Spice Girls...
was cut. Nevertheless, a truncated edit of the scene, featuring a version of Glitter's "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)", was still included in the film. In the months before his conviction, he thanked audiences for their support at his last show before his trial.
In 1999, Glitter was sentenced to four months' imprisonment and listed as a sex offender
Sex offender
A sex offender is a person who has committed a sex crime. What constitutes a sex crime differs by culture and by legal jurisdiction. Most jurisdictions compile their laws into sections such as traffic, assault, sexual, etc. The majority of convicted sex offenders have convictions for crimes of a...
in the UK following conviction for downloading thousands of items of child pornography
Child pornography
Child pornography refers to images or films and, in some cases, writings depicting sexually explicit activities involving a child...
.
He was also charged with having sex with an underage girl, Alison Brown, around 20 years earlier, when she was 14 years old. She had had a relationship with Glitter for some years. Glitter was acquitted of this charge. It was later revealed that Brown had sold her story to the News of the World
News of the World
The News of the World was a national red top newspaper published in the United Kingdom from 1843 to 2011. It was at one time the biggest selling English language newspaper in the world, and at closure still had one of the highest English language circulations...
and stood to earn more money from the newspaper should Glitter be convicted.
Following a rejection by the British public and facing scrutiny from the press following his arrest and conviction, Gary Glitter fled on his yacht to Spain. Upon being discovered there, he set sail again, ultimately travelling to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
, Cuba, Mexico, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Colombia, Portugal, Brazil, Venezuela, and Thailand, before settling in Cambodia.
Cambodia
Glitter lived in Cambodia until 2002, when he was permanently deported from there to Vietnam, due to suspected child sexual abuseChild sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
.
Vietnam underage sex conviction
From March 2005, Glitter resided in Vũng TàuVung Tàu
Vũng Tàu is a city in southern Vietnam. Its population in 2005 was 240,000. The city area is including 13 urban wards and one village. It is the capital of Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, and is the crude oil extraction center of Vietnam. It is also known as one of the most beautiful cities of tourism...
, Vietnam. In late 2005, at age 61, Gary Glitter was arrested by Vietnamese authorities and charged with molesting two underaged girls, aged 10 and 11, at his home in Vũng Tàu. He initially faced possible child rape charges carrying the death penalty, but prosecutors did not find enough evidence for those charges, so Glitter was instead tried for lesser child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
charges. Early in 2006, he was convicted of committing obscene acts with minors and sentenced to three years imprisonment. On one of two appeals, in 2007 this was reduced by three months.
He was released from prison on 19 August 2008 and returned to London three days later, after being refused entry into Thailand and Hong Kong.
Arrest and trial
Despite having applied for permanent residence in Vietnam, Gary Glitter fled his home on 12 November 2005. Three days later, he was arrested in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
while trying to board a flight to Thailand. Six Vietnamese females, aged from 11 to 23, claimed that Glitter had had sex with them; the age of consent
Age of consent
While the phrase age of consent typically does not appear in legal statutes, when used in relation to sexual activity, the age of consent is the minimum age at which a person is considered to be legally competent to consent to sexual acts. The European Union calls it the legal age for sexual...
in Vietnam is 18.
After his arrest, Glitter was turned over to provincial police from Ba Ria-Vung Tau and returned to Vung Tau and held on suspicion of having sex with the two under-age girls. Glitter was held in jail throughout the criminal investigation, which was completed on 26 December 2005. The charge of rape was dropped for "lack of evidence" (according to Glitter's lawyer), although the singer admitted that an 11-year-old girl had slept in his bed. Glitter could have faced execution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad
Execution by firing squad, sometimes called fusillading , is a method of capital punishment, particularly common in the military and in times of war.Execution by shooting is a fairly old practice...
if convicted of child rape. After having received compensatory payments from Glitter, the families of the girls appealed to the courts for clemency for him.
On 2 March 2006 Glitter was tried on charges of committing obscene acts with two girls, aged 10 and 11, facing up to 14 years in prison if convicted. The following day he was found guilty and sentenced to three years in prison. He was also forced to pay compensation of $320 to each girl's family, as well as court fees. Judge Hoang Thanh Tung: "He sexually abused and committed obscene acts with children many times in a disgusting and sick manner."
The sentence included mandatory deportation
Deportation
Deportation means the expulsion of a person or group of people from a place or country. Today it often refers to the expulsion of foreign nationals whereas the expulsion of nationals is called banishment, exile, or penal transportation...
at the end of his sentence, and payment of 5 million Vietnamese dong (US$315) to his victims' families. Glitter continued to deny any wrongdoing, saying he believes he was framed by British tabloid newspapers. He announced he planned to spend part of his sentence writing an autobiography, which he had already begun during his pre-trial.
Glitter, in his first interview in more than eight years to BBC News
BBC News
BBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
in May 2006, denied any wrong-doing and claimed not to have knowingly had sex with anyone under 18. He also said "I know the line [not] to cross". When asked what he thought of adults having sex with children he said "It certainly is a crime ... I would be very angry about that." Christine Beddoe, director of End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking, criticised Glitter and said he was trying to "minimise what he has done" and added "We must allow children to tell their story and not just have the words of Gadd."
In his interview, Glitter denied that he was a paedophile. He said that he had hoped that there was even a slim chance he could put his life back on track and have a career after he left prison in England. However, the people around him felt that the media had already made a sensation about the paedophile allegations. He continued to blame the press for his downfall and called them "the worst enemy in the world", alleging 'entrapment
Entrapment
In criminal law, entrapment is conduct by a law enforcement agent inducing a person to commit an offense that the person would otherwise have been unlikely to commit. In many jurisdictions, entrapment is a possible defense against criminal liability...
' by them by paying local girls in a bar to arrange a photo-scoop. Glitter did not comment about his previous conviction for possession of child pornography several years earlier.
Appeal
On 15 June 2006, in a closed hearing, the People's Supreme Court of Appeals heard Glitter's appeal for a reduced sentence. The three-judge panel rejected the appeal four weeks later. Although he was calm throughout the 40-minute reading of the verdict, upon leaving the courthouse, he shouted angrily to reporters and denounced Vietnamese justice for not hearing the defence arguments. On 7 February 2007, it was announced that his sentence had been reduced by three months. In anticipation of his release, the Philippines barred Glitter from entering that country as of 16 May 2008.
Release
Glitter's Vietnamese lawyer, Le Thanh Kinh, said that his client intended to return to the UK, although he had also expressed interest in moving to either Hong Kong or Singapore. In the UK it was reported that he would be placed on the Sex Offenders Register
Violent and Sex Offender Register
In the United Kingdom, the Violent and Sex Offender Register is a database of records of those required to register with the Police under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, those jailed for more than 12 months for violent offences, and unconvicted people simply thought to be at risk of offending...
on his return. British Home Secretary
Home Secretary
The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the Home Office of the United Kingdom, and one of the country's four Great Offices of State...
Jacqui Smith
Jacqui Smith
Jacqueline Jill "Jacqui" Smith is a member of the British Labour Party. She served as the Member of Parliament for Redditch from 1997 until 2010 and was the first ever female Home Secretary, thus making her the third woman to hold one of the Great Offices of State — after Margaret Thatcher and...
said he should be given a Foreign Travel Order (FTO) banning him from overseas travel: "We need to control him, and he will be [controlled] once he returns to this country."
Glitter was released from Thu Duc prison in southern Binh Thuan Province
Binh Thuan Province
Bình Thuận is a province of Vietnam. It is located on the country's South Central Coast, not far from Ho Chi Minh City. It is sometimes seen as part of the Southeast Region. Binh Thuan is known for its scenery and for its good beaches...
on 19 August 2008. He was escorted under police guard to Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
and put on board a flight to London via Bangkok. At Bangkok he claimed that he had tinnitus
Tinnitus
Tinnitus |ringing]]") is the perception of sound within the human ear in the absence of corresponding external sound.Tinnitus is not a disease, but a symptom that can result from a wide range of underlying causes: abnormally loud sounds in the ear canal for even the briefest period , ear...
and a heart condition, and refused to board the flight to London despite the efforts of British police sent to escort him, although they had no jurisdiction to take action. He was refused entry to Thailand and threatened with deportation to the UK. On the evening of 20 August he took a flight to Hong Kong, where he requested medical treatment saying he was suffering a heart attack. The Hong Kong authorities also refused to admit him and he returned to Thailand the next day.
At least 19 countries, including Cuba, Cambodia and the Philippines, announced that they would refuse to admit Glitter, and on 21 August the Thai authorities stated that he had agreed to return to the UK. He arrived back in the UK at Heathrow Airport at 7:10 am on 22 August 2008, where he was met by British police officers.
On his return to the United Kingdom, Glitter was ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register
Violent and Sex Offender Register
In the United Kingdom, the Violent and Sex Offender Register is a database of records of those required to register with the Police under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, those jailed for more than 12 months for violent offences, and unconvicted people simply thought to be at risk of offending...
for life, and stated an intention to appeal against this decision; on 16 January 2009 it was announced that he had abandoned this move.
Plans after prison release
On 25 June 2008 The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
reported that Gary Glitter planned to record a new album on his prison release. He was quoted as saying "I have an incomplete album that I want to finish. I have been thinking about the plan during my days in jail, I have sung rock'n'roll for 40 years. After jail, I will continue to rock'n'roll." After his release from prison, Glitter said that he was planning to write a book to prove his innocence.
Concert tours
During his long career as a singer, Glitter undertook many tours to various venues around the world. His first tour was of the Middle East, as Paul Raven and the Boston International in 1967. He toured amongst other places, Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Armenia.In 1973, Glitter undertook a world tour to celebrate his new-found fame. He toured Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, and New Zealand.
He continued to tour until 1976, and his retirement from music, he visited Australia some twenty times, and toured Europe and America several times.
During his comeback period of the 1980s, he did fewer tours, and mainly toured Britain. However he did shows in Ireland, Germany, France, America and Bahrain. During the 1990s, he toured America several times, finally gaining the significant popularity he sought in the 1970s. In 1995, he undertook his last major tour, he visited Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Bangkok and Singapore. It is unclear if he toured Japan or India, but this was an intention. His last tour was in 1996, when he toured with The Who across America. During his residence in Vietnam, he sang in local bars and clubs in Vung Tau.
Discography
The discography of Gary Glitter displayed below is not complete, and it is a selective overview.Studio albums
- (1972) GlitterGlitter (Gary Glitter album)Glitter was an album released in 1972 by British glam rock singer Gary Glitter, produced by Bell Records. Two tracks, "I Didn't Know I Loved You " and "Rock And Roll", the latter a song in two parts, achieved success as singles; each spent time amongst the top forty singles in both the United...
No. 8 UK; No. 2 Australia – Re-issued 2009 on Airmail records AIRAC-1492 - (1973) Touch MeTouch Me (Gary Glitter album)Touch Me was Gary Glitter's second album, released in 1973. It includes the top 5 hits "Do You Wanna Touch Me? " and "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again"...
No. 2 UK; No. 2 Australia – Re-issued 2009 on Airmail records AIRAC-1493 - (1975) G. G.G. G.G.G. is the title of Gary Glitter's third studio album, which was released in 1975.The album was an attempt by Glitter to change his musical direction from the usual heavy glam rock he had been recording. It was produced by Mark Munro, unlike Glitter's previous efforts which were done by Mike...
– Re-issued 2009 on Airmail records AIRAC-1495 - (1977) Silver StarSilver Star (Album)Silver Star is the title of Gary Glitter's fourth studio album, released in 1977, the other three being Glitter , Touch Me , and G. G....
– Re-issued 2009 on Airmail records AIRAC-1496 - (1984) Boys Will Be BoysBoys Will Be Boys (Gary Glitter Album)Boys Will Be Boys is a 1984 album by English musician Gary Glitter. It features two top 30 hits; "Dance Me Up" and "Another Rock 'n' Roll Christmas"...
- (1991) Leader 2
- (2001) On
Live albums
- (1974) Remember Me This WayRemember Me This Way (album)Remember Me This Way is a 1974 album by Rock singer Gary Glitter. It features live concert performances from Glitter's 1973 Christmas show at The Rainbow in London and was released in conjunction with the movie/documentary of the same name that showed Glitter preparing for the tour...
No. 5 UK (live/soundtrack); No. 8 Australia – Re-issued 2009 on Airmail records AIRAC-1494 - (1988) Gary Glitter's Gangshow: The Gang, the Band, the Leader
- (1990) Live and Alive
- (2005) Live in Concert
Compilation albums
- (1976) Greatest Hits No. 33 UK
- (1977) I Love You Love Me Love
- (1979) Always Yours
- (1980) Leader
- (1981) Golden Greats
- (1987) C'mon, C'mon ... It's the Gary Glitter Party Album
- (1992) Many Happy Returns No. 35 UK
- (1995) 20 Greatest Hits
- (1997) The Ultimate Gary Glitter (also known as 25 Years of Hits) No. 112 UK
- (1998) Rock and Roll – Gary Glitters Greatest Hits
- (2003) The Early Years
- (2005) The Remixes
- (2006) The Best of Gary Glitter
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| U.K. UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
||
| 1972 | "Rock and Roll (Parts 1 and 2) Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song) "Rock and Roll", also known as "The Hey Song", is a song performed by British glam rocker Gary Glitter that was released in 1972 as a single and on the album Glitter. Co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander, the song is in two parts: Part 1 is a vocal track reflecting on the history of the genre,... " |
2 |
| 1972 | "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Til I Saw You Rock 'n' Roll)" | 4 |
| 1973 | "Do You Wanna Touch Me Do You Wanna Touch Me "Do You Wanna Touch Me", also referred to as "Do You Wanna Touch Me? " is a glam rock song performed by Gary Glitter. The song reached Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1973, his third successive UK hit. The song represented something of a departure from the "trademark" of the Glitter... ? (Oh Yeah)" |
2 |
| 1973 | "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again" is a 1973 hit single performed by Gary Glitter and co-written by Glitter and his producer Mike Leander. The title of the song is only sung once and as a result other more frequent sung lines have become alternative titles, these include "It's Good to Be Back" and "Did... " |
2 |
| 1973 | "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" | 1 |
| 1973 | "I Love You Love Me Love I Love You Love Me Love "I Love You Love Me Love" was a popular song by Gary Glitter.Written by Gary Glitter and Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander, "I Love You Love Me Love" was Glitter's second number one single in the UK, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in November 1973, and establishing itself as... " |
1 |
| 1974 | "Remember Me This Way Remember Me This Way (Gary Glitter song) "Remember Me This Way" is a song released in 1974 by British Glam Rock singer, Gary Glitter. It was co-written by Glitter and his record producer, Mike Leander. Unlike Glitter's previous singles this was a slow ballad that surprised many at the time. Nevertheless, it went on to reach Number 3 in... " |
3 |
| 1974 | "Always Yours Always Yours "Always Yours" was a popular song by Gary Glitter.Written by Glitter and Mike Leander and produced by Leander, "Always Yours" was Glitter's third and final number one single in the UK, spending a single week at the top of the chart in June 1974.... " |
1 |
| 1974 | "Oh Yes! You're Beautiful" | 2 |
| 1975 | "Love Like You and Me" | 10 |
| 1975 | "Doing Alright with the Boys" | 6 |
| 1975 | "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow "Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" is a 1962 novelty nonsensical doo-wop song by The Rivingtons. The song peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #35 on the Cashbox charts.-Cover versions:... " |
38 |
| 1976 | "You Belong to Me" | 40 |
| 1977 | "It Takes All Night Long" | 25 |
| 1977 | "A Little Boogie Woogie in the Back of Mind" | 31 |
| 1977 | "I Dare You To Lay One On Me" / "Hooked On Hollywood" | – |
| 1978 | "Oh What a Fool I've Been" / "365 Days (Hurry on Home)" | – |
| 1979 | "Superhero" | – |
| 1980 | Gary Glitter EP | 57 |
| 1980 | "When I'm On, I'm On" | – |
| 1980 | Gary Glitter EP | 57 |
| 1980 | "What Your Mama Don't See" | – |
| 1981 | "All That Glitters" | 48 |
| 1981 | "And Then She Kissed Me" | 39 |
| 1982 | "Dedicated Man" | – |
| 1982 | "Ball Of Confusion/Suspicious Minds" | – |
| 1984 | "Dance Me Up" | 25 |
| 1984 | "Shout Shout Shout" | – |
| 1984 | "Another Rock n' Roll Christmas Another Rock N' Roll Christmas "Another Rock And Roll Christmas" is a popular 1984 Christmas song by Gary Glitter. It was written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago.... " |
7 |
| 1985 | "Love Comes" | 91 |
| 1985 | "Rock'N'Roll/ Oh No, Im not just a Pretty Face" | – |
| 1985 | "Mega Star Disc" | – |
| 1987 | "Rock & Roll Part 3" | 107 |
| 1987 | "Gary Glitter & Girlschool Girlschool Girlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years... – I'm the Leader of the Gang" |
– |
| 1988 | "Frontiers of Style" | – |
| 1989 | "Mega Glitter Rock A Live – Be Bop A Lula/Rock'n'Roll Pt.1/" | – |
| 1990 | "Red Hot (Reputation)" | 87 |
| 1991 | "Ready to Rock" | – |
| 1992 | "Rock On" | 58 |
| 1992 | "Through the Years" | 49 |
| 1995 | "Hello, Hello I'm Back Again (Again!)" | 50 |
| 1996 | "House of the Rising Sun" | 81 |
1970s
- (1972) "Rock and Roll (Parts 1 and 2)Rock and Roll (Gary Glitter song)"Rock and Roll", also known as "The Hey Song", is a song performed by British glam rocker Gary Glitter that was released in 1972 as a single and on the album Glitter. Co-written by Glitter and Mike Leander, the song is in two parts: Part 1 is a vocal track reflecting on the history of the genre,...
" No. 2 UK; No. 7 U.S.; No. 1 France; No. 1 Australia; No. 4 Ireland; No. 7 Netherlands; No. 4 Germany; No. 3 Canada; No. 4 Switzerland - (1972) "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Til I Saw You Rock 'n' Roll)" No. 4 UK; No. 35 U.S.; No. 5 Ireland; No. 19 Netherlands; No. 12 Germany; No. 3 France
- (1973) "Do You Wanna Touch MeDo You Wanna Touch Me"Do You Wanna Touch Me", also referred to as "Do You Wanna Touch Me? " is a glam rock song performed by Gary Glitter. The song reached Number 2 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1973, his third successive UK hit. The song represented something of a departure from the "trademark" of the Glitter...
? (Oh Yeah)" No. 2 UK; No. 3 Australia; No. 9 Ireland; No. 4 Netherlands; No. 16 Germany; No. 7 France - (1973) "Hello, Hello, I'm Back AgainHello, Hello, I'm Back Again"Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again" is a 1973 hit single performed by Gary Glitter and co-written by Glitter and his producer Mike Leander. The title of the song is only sung once and as a result other more frequent sung lines have become alternative titles, these include "It's Good to Be Back" and "Did...
" No. 2 UK; No. 6 Australia; No. 2 Ireland; No. 22 Netherlands; No. 10 Germany; No. 8 France - (1973) "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)" No. 1 UK; No. 2 Australia; No. 2 Ireland; No. 12 Netherlands; No. 6 Germany; No. 9 France; No. 6 Norway
- (1973) "I Love You Love Me LoveI Love You Love Me Love"I Love You Love Me Love" was a popular song by Gary Glitter.Written by Gary Glitter and Mike Leander and produced by Mike Leander, "I Love You Love Me Love" was Glitter's second number one single in the UK, spending four weeks at the top of the chart in November 1973, and establishing itself as...
" No. 1 UK; No. 2 Australia; No. 2 Ireland; No. 10 Netherlands; No. 8 Germany; No. 9 France; No. 4 Norway; No. 6 Austria - (1974) "Remember Me This WayRemember Me This Way (Gary Glitter song)"Remember Me This Way" is a song released in 1974 by British Glam Rock singer, Gary Glitter. It was co-written by Glitter and his record producer, Mike Leander. Unlike Glitter's previous singles this was a slow ballad that surprised many at the time. Nevertheless, it went on to reach Number 3 in...
" No. 3 UK; No. 9 Ireland; No. 50 Germany; No. 31 Australia - (1974) "Always YoursAlways Yours"Always Yours" was a popular song by Gary Glitter.Written by Glitter and Mike Leander and produced by Leander, "Always Yours" was Glitter's third and final number one single in the UK, spending a single week at the top of the chart in June 1974....
" No. 1 UK; No. 11 Australia; No. 1 Ireland; No. 14 Germany - (1974) "Oh Yes! You're Beautiful" No. 2 UK; No. 10 Australia; No. 1 Ireland; No. 28 Germany
- (1975) "Love Like You and Me" No. 10 UK; No. 11 Ireland
- (1975) "Doing Alright with the Boys" No. 6 UK; No. 3 Ireland
- (1975) "Papa-Oom-Mow-MowPapa-Oom-Mow-Mow"Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow" is a 1962 novelty nonsensical doo-wop song by The Rivingtons. The song peaked at #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #35 on the Cashbox charts.-Cover versions:...
" No. 38 UK; No. 20 Ireland; No. 9 France - (1976) "You Belong to Me" No. 40 UK
- (1977) "It Takes All Night Long" No. 25 UK; No. 19 Netherlands
- (1977) "A Little Boogie Woogie in the Back of Mind" No. 31 UK
- (1977) "I Dare You To Lay One On Me" / "Hooked On Hollywood"
- (1978) "Oh What a Fool I've Been" / "365 Days (Hurry on Home)"
- (1979) "Superhero"
1980s
- (1980) Gary Glitter EP No. 57 UK
- (1980) "When I'm On, I'm On"
- (1980) "What Your Mama Don't See" No. 23 UK Independent Chart
- (1981) "All That Glitters" No. 48 UK
- (1981) "And Then She Kissed Me" No. 39 UK
- (1982) "Dedicated Man" (Australia only)
- (1982) "Ball Of Confusion/Suspicious Minds"
- (1984) "Dance Me Up" No. 25 UK; No. 25 Ireland
- (1984) "Shout Shout Shout"
- (1984) "Another Rock n' Roll ChristmasAnother Rock N' Roll Christmas"Another Rock And Roll Christmas" is a popular 1984 Christmas song by Gary Glitter. It was written by Glitter with Mike Leander and Eddie Seago....
" No. 7 UK; No. 14 Ireland - (1985) "Love Comes" No. 91 UK (charted for 3 weeks)
- (1985) "Rock'N'Roll/ Oh No, Im not just a Pretty Face No. 31 UK Independent Chart
- (1985) "Mega Star Disc"
- (1987) "Rock & Roll Part 3" No. 107 UK
- (1987) "Gary Glitter & GirlschoolGirlschoolGirlschool are a British heavy metal band originating out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal scene in 1978 and frequently associated with contemporaries Motörhead. They are the longest running all-female rock band, still active after more than 30 years...
– I'm the Leader of the Gang" No. 12 Australia - (1988) "Frontiers of Style"
- (1989) "Mega Glitter Rock A Live – Be Bop A Lula/Rock'n'Roll Pt.1/"
1990s
- (1990) "Red Hot (Reputation)" No. 87 UK (charted for 1 month)
- (1991) "Ready to Rock"
- (1992) "Rock On" No. 58 UK
- (1992) "Through the Years" No. 49 UK
- (1995) "Hello, Hello I'm Back Again (Again!)" No. 50 UK
- (1996) "House of the Rising Sun" No. 15 NZ; No. 81 UK
2000s
- (2001) "You" fan club single – mail order only
- (2004) "Control" fan club single – mail order only
- (2005) "Field of Dreams" fan club single – mail order only
Covers/samples
- (1974) "I'm the Leader of the Gang" by Brownsville Station No. 48 U.S.
- (1980) Holiday 80 EP by The Human LeagueThe Human LeagueThe Human League are an English electronic New Wave band formed in Sheffield in 1977. They achieved popularity after a key change in line-up in the early 1980s and have continued recording and performing with moderate commercial success throughout the 1980s up to the present day.The only constant...
(includes cover of "Rock and Roll" as part of a medley with Iggy PopIggy PopIggy Pop is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Though considered an innovator of punk rock, Pop's music has encompassed a number of styles over the years, including pop, metal, jazz and blues...
's "Nightclubbing") - (1982) "Rock N' Roll Part 2" covered by hardcore punkHardcore punkHardcore punk is an underground music genre that originated in the late 1970s, following the mainstream success of punk rock. Hardcore is generally faster, thicker, and heavier than earlier punk rock. The origin of the term "hardcore punk" is uncertain. The Vancouver-based band D.O.A...
band D.I. - (1983) "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Til I Saw You Rock 'n' Roll)" by Rock Goddess
- (1983) "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Til I Saw You Rock 'n' Roll)" by Planet Patrol R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart No. 62 U.S.
- (1984) "Do You Wanna Touch Me" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts No. 20 U.S.
- (1987) "A Little Boogie Woogie (In the Back of My Mind)" Shakin' Stevens UK No. 12
- (1988) "KLF – Doctorin' the Tardis" by The Timelords Featuring Gary Glitter No. 1 UK (features samples of "Rock and Roll (Parts 1 and 2)")
- (1989) "Let's Party" Jive Bunny and the MastermixersJive Bunny and the MastermixersJive Bunny and the Mastermixers were a 1980s and early 1990s novelty pop music act from Rotherham, Yorkshire, England. The face of the group was Jive Bunny, a cartoon rabbit who appeared in the videos, and also did promotional appearances for them...
UK No. 1 (features a sample of Glitter's "Another Rock 'N Roll Christmas") - (1989) "Rock N' Roll" by the UndertonesThe UndertonesThe Undertones are a punk rock/new wave band formed in Derry, Northern Ireland, in 1975.The original line-up of the Undertones released thirteen singles and four studio albums — The Undertones , Hypnotised , Positive Touch and The Sin of Pride — before disbanding in July 1983.Music guide Allmusic...
, cover of Rock N' Roll (Part 1), The Peel Sessions Album (Undertones) - (1993) "I'm the Leader of the Gang" Hulk Hogan with Green Jelly UK No. 25
- (1995) "Hello" by OasisOasis (band)Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
(uses elements of and quotes the chorus of "Hello, Hello, I'm Back Again")
Further reading
- Glitter, Gary Leader: The Autobiography of Gary Glitter (Ebury Press, 1991). ISBN 0-85223-977-7.
External links
- The Ganghouse Gary Glitter Facebook fan page
- Profile: Gary Glitter BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- I am the Leader of the Gary Glitter Gang, actually … by John Battles