Gary Glitter
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Gary Glitter (born May 8, 1944 in Banbury, Oxfordshire, UK) was a British rock and roll performer in the early 1970s, most notable for his hit songs "Rock and Roll", parts of which have become an almost ubiquitous anthem at many American professional sports events & "I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am)", which became his career anthem. In 1999, he was convicted of child pornography offences.
Born Paul Francis Gadd in 1944 (many sources erroneously give his year of birth as 1940) it was as a teenager, Glitter performed at various bars and pubs in London, eventually landing a deal with Decca Records. His first single as "Alone in the Night" (1960), released under the name Paul Raven. He signed with Parlophone Records in 1961, and Raven released two unsuccessful singles, appearing on Ready Steady Go, a television show, and working in several commercials. In 1965, Raven joined in the Mike Leander Show Band, also producing singles by Thane Russell and the Poets. After the collapse of the Mike Leander Show Band, Raven formed Boston International (later known as the Bostons) with John Rossall, a professional saxophonist. Boston International toured widely. Using the name Paul Monday, the singer released "Musical Man" and "Here Comes the Sun" (George Harrison), then "Soul Thing" and "Stand!" (Sly & The Family Stone) were released as Paul Raven. This was followed by "We're All Living in One Place" as Rubber Bucket.
Finally, Leander and Glitter decided that glam rock was the way to go, and began recording "Rock and Roll", a fifteen minute song that eventually became two parts ("Rock and Roll (Part 1)" and "Rock and Roll (Part 2)"). Before the song was released, Gary Glitter chose his modern name. "Rock and Roll" eventually became a huge hit in 1972 in the United Kingdom, though it took six months to enter the charts. This was followed by a series of singles, all successful, as were the first two albums, Glitter and Touch Me.
With his shows and persona becoming more and more outrageous, Glitter's fame showed no sign of stopping. "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)", "I Love You Love Me Love" and "Remember Me This Way" were all huge hits. Glitter's back up band, the Glitter Band, even became hit-makers by association. "Always Yours", "Oh Yes! You're Beautiful", "Doing Alright With the Boys" and "Love Like You and Me" were all successes, but "Papa Ooh Mow Mow", his next single, was only a moderate hit. His "Greatest Hits" album followed. In late 1975, he sang the album cut "Satan's Daughter" on Pop TV show "Supersonic." Glitter later announced in a Radio interview that public reaction was so good to the record that it was going to be his next single. However, it was never released.
He retired briefly in 1976, but by the end of 1977 he was back in the charts with "It takes all night long", from his album of that year "Silver Star".
In the 1980s, Glitter took a major part in The Rocky Horror Show in New Zealand. After "All That Glitters" (1981), a medley of past hits, re-launched a successful career as a performer, though his studio recordings were rare.
Active in several projects during the '80s and early 1990s, Glitter released a cover of the Animals' "The House of the Rising Sun", which was a major hit. His new career fell apart on November 18, 1997, after he took his computer to UK computer store PC World to be mended. The staff there found pornographic images of children on the hard drive and called the police. Glitter was arrested and, on November 12, 1999, was convicted on child pornography charges; he was sentenced to four months in prison. (This prompted his scene in the Spice Girls movie called Spice World: The Movie to be cut from the final release.)
After his release from prison, Glitter moved to Cuba in 2000. After his whereabouts were published in British newspapers, he relocated to Cambodia but was later expelled by the Cambodian authorities after a public outcry at his presence.
In September 2001, Glitter released a new album, called On, featuring new material alongside tracks recorded prior to his conviction. Many of these songs were originally written for the Lost On Life Street album, which was scheduled for release in 1998 but was cancelled following Glitter's arrest.
It was reported in December 2004 that Glitter was once again living in Cambodia, and had bought a house there, after he had issued the single "Control".
Hit singles
- 1972 "Rock and Roll (Parts 1 and 2)" #2 UK; #7 US; #1 France
- 1972 "I Didn't Know I Loved You (Til I Saw You Rock 'N' Roll)" #4 UK; #35 US
- 1973 "Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah)" #2 UK spent 3 months in the UK top 20
- 1973 "Hello Hello I'm Back Again" #2 UK, Spent 2 months in the top 10
- 1973 "I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am)" #1 UK 4 weeks at Number 1, Spent 2 months in the top 10
- 1973 "I Love You Love Me Love" #1 UK Spent 3 months in the top 10
- 1974 "Remember Me This Way" #3 UK Spent six weeks in the top 20
- 1974 "Always Yours" #1 UK Spent two months in the top 20
- 1974 "Oh Yes! You're Beautiful" #2 UK Spent two months in the top 20
- 1975 "Love Like You and Me" #10 UK
- 1975 "Doing Alright with the Boys" #6 UK
- 1975 "Papa Oom Mow Mow" #38 UK
- 1976 "You Belong To Me" #40 UK
- 1977 "It Takes All Night Long" #25 UK
- 1977 "A Little Boogie Woogie in the Back of Mind" #31 UK
- 1981 "And Then She Kissed Me" #39 UK
- 1984 "Dance Me Up" #25 UK
- 1984 "Another Rock and Roll Christmas" #7 UK
- 1992 "Rock On" #58 UK
- 1992 "Through The Years" #49 UK
- 1995 "House Of The Rising Sun" #15 NZ
- 2001 "You" Fan Club Single - Mail Order Only
- 2004 "Control" Fan Club Single - Mail Order Only
Alternative meaning
- "Gary Glitter" has become a well-known piece of vulgar Cockney rhyming slang. (Gary Glitter = shitter, meaning anus or toilet.)