
Paul Francis Gadd (born 8 May 1944), known by the stage name Gary Glitter, is an English former glam rock singer-songwriter and musician who achieved great popular success between the early 1970s and mid-1980s. He was known for his extreme glam image of glitter suits, makeup and platform boots, and his energetic live performances. He sold over 20 million records, spent 168 weeks in the UK charts and had 21 hit singles placing him in the top 100 UK most successful chart acts. From 1997, he returned to public notice for committing sex offences, being imprisoned for possession of child pornography in 1999, and child sexual abuse and attempted rape in 2006 and 2015.
Links To Peel[]
Peel was not a fan of Gary Glitter's music in the 70's, when he described the artist in an article on the Listener published on 7th June 1973: [1]
"I'm ready to bet in a few shillings that Yes and ELP will have vanished from the memory of all but the most stubborn and that the Gary Glitters and Sweets of no lasting value will be regarded as representing the true sound of the 1970s."
In the mid-70's, Peel played an early Glitter track called 'All Grown Up' from the 60's, when Gary was using the pseudonym of Paul Raven. During the 80's, Glitter's 'Hello Hello I'm Back Again' was played on Peel's show and the Undertones did a cover of his song Rock 'n' Roll as part of JP's session: John later commented on this.
"I was thinking you know as that was playing how interesting it is that the little snobberies that one is guilty of, however hard you try not to be, I would never have played the original of that, by Gary Glitter, because it would have been dead uncool, but it's alright to play it by the Undertones....Odd that, really. I should be ashamed of meself." [2]
Peel also saw Gary Glitter perform in 1986, when he was the support act to Wham!. Peel took his daughter Alexandra to that event, as she was a fan of Wham! at that time.
After Peel's death, the band Trouserdog's Apocalypse For Gary Glitter made no. 28 in the 2007 Festive Fifty.
Shows Played[]
Gary Glitter - Hello! Hello! I'm Back Again
- 1975
- 24 February 1975: All Grown Up (7" b-side Walk On Boy) Parlophone (under the name of Paul Raven)
- 1980
- 16 July 1980: mentions that the Glass Torpedoes are on tour with Glitter
- 25 August 1980: Hello Hello I'm Back Again (7" EP - I'm The Leader Of The Gang) GTO
- 1981
- 29 July 1981: When I'm On I'm On (7") Eagle ERS 009
Cover Versions[]
The list below was compiled only from the Cover Versions page of this site. Please add more information if known.
Artist | Track | First Known Play
- Undertones: Rock 'N' Roll (Peel Session) 23 January 1980
- Human League: Rock 'N' Roll 09 April 1980