HE was rocker in the in the 60s and a glam rock star in the 70s, but Alvin Stardust, now 70, has returned to Scotland for a one-off

HE was rocker in the in the 60s and a glam rock star in the 70s, but Alvin Stardust, now 70, has returned to Scotland for a one-off

performance in Giffnock.

Tonight's show at the Eastwood Theatre follows his 50

year career, with performances of classic hits such as, 'My

Coo Ca Choo', and, 'Jealous Mind', as well as tunes by his teenage idols, including Elvis, Buddy Holly, The Beatles and Billy Fury.

But if it hadn't been for a tragedy nearly 50 years ago,

we and the world would never have heard of Alvin.

Born Bernard Jewry, the singer was to undergo two name changes before finding real fame.

In the early 1960s, Shane Fenton and the Fentones were an unknown teenage band who recorded a demo tape and mailed it in to the BBC with the hope of being picked to appear on TV.

While awaiting a reply from the BBC, Fenton, the band's 17-year-old singer died as a result of the rheumatic fever he had suffered in childhood.

The rest of the band decided to break up, but then unexpectedly received a letter from the BBC inviting them to come to London to audition.

Their late singer's mother asked the band to stay together, and to keep his name.

Bernard Jewry, who was a roadie with the group at the time, was asked to become the new Shane Fenton.

The combo had a handful of UK hit singles before breaking up in the early 1970s.

With no backing band, Bernard changed his name again and Alvin Stardust was born.

He went on to amass seven top-10 hits in the UK.

Now 70, the star has spent the past year experiencing new activities and making the most of his time before he celebrates his 71st birthday next week.

"It's probably been one of the best years of my life," said Alvin.

"I thought I'd really go for it so I went on holiday with my daughter and my wife, and we went out on a speedboat and we found wild dolphins.

"Milly, my daughter and I went off the side and started swimming with the - it was the most amazing experience.

"The next day we went on a helicopter ride and flew into the mouth of a volcano, and the day after I took my daughter scuba diving."

He has also been performing around the UK and Europe at a string of festivals, including a recent stint at BMF Bikefest in Peterborough.

"I've always been a keen biker," he said.

"I got to ride in on a 1600cc turbo trike and when I got on it, it was like being on a jet-plane, it was such an exhilarating experience."

Alvin introduction to the rock 'n' roll life came courtesy of a birthday gift.

For his 12th birthday Alvin's parents gave him a three-quarter sized guitar, which he named Peggy Sue, after the Buddy Holly song of the same name.

From then on he was determined to become a performer and travelled far and wide to watch gigs by his favourite artists, never leaving his trusty guitar behind.

The guitar, which was bought for £1.10 in today's money, was signed by Buddy Holly, as well as The Beatles, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones and is now said to be worth more than £1 million.

As well as his musical successes, Alvin has expanded his repertoire into acting, playing a host of stage roles, including the Child Catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and a role in the hit musical Godspell.

Despite playing huge stadia, the glam-rocker enjoys playing smaller venues.

"Two weeks ago I was in Belgium playing a 25,000 seater stadium, which was full.

"But there's something about having the audience right in front of you that is very intimate.

"At the end of the night I go out front and chat with people, so they're suddenly not an audience, they become friends and it winds up the night nicely."

l Tickets for tonight's show, £12, are available from Eastwood Theatre on www.eastwoodparktheatre.co.uk/boxoffice or by calling 0141 577 4956.