Shaky is still rockin’ three decades on

Sep 15 2011

SHAKIN’ Stevens is happy to admit that climbing up the scenery isn’t a big part of his act these days.

As he gets ready to embark on the second-leg of a solo tour, 30 years since his first UK No 1, the rock-and-roll star spoke to the Solihull News.

“When I first started in a band we were pretty wild,” he says. “We’d get on stage and we’d be clambering up on things every night.

“These days I don’t attempt to climb up the lighting stack – I think it’s important that the act changes as you get older. You’ve got to move on.”

And health and safety presumably wouldn’t approve. “Yeah,” he agrees. “Absolutely right”.

Though it’s been three decades since he found chart success with hits like This Ole House, the Welshman says that his music is still finding new fans.

“There’s always the die-hard fans but there’s a lot of younger people who come to the shows. I think the average age is between 30 and 35. My music has always been a bit set apart from other acts of my era. I was never in the same bracket as the Boy Georges and Spandau Ballets.”

The tour is a mix of old and new material, but Shaky denies it’s a “greatest hits package”.

“You can get that on Youtube or Top of the Pops easily enough. The hits are there and some album tracks,but a lot of the stuff in the show I’ve never performed before and there will be a few surprises along the way.

“I finish this tour in December and then I’ll be back writing again. It’s always nice to be working on some new material.”

Shakin’ Stevens is on at Wolverhampton Civic Hall on November 25. Tickets on 0870 320 7000.