Gary Glitter – Bio, Net Worth, Wife, Family, Facts, Songs, Career

Gary Glitter is a former English glam rocker singer who had a stellar career in the 1970s and 1980s. He was known for his energetic live performances and glam rock image. After performing as Paul Raven in the 1960s, Gadd changed his stage name to Gary Glitter in the early 1970s and had a string of solo hits in the UK, including “Rock and Roll (Parts 1 and 2)”, “Do You Wanna Touch Me”, “I Love You Love Me Love”, “I’m the Leader of the Gang (I Am)” and “Hello, Hello, I’m Back Again”. He has sold over 20 million records and had 26 hit singles. However, his career came to an abrupt end when he was imprisoned for downloading child pornography in 1999. He was later convicted of child sexual abuse and other sexual offenses including attempted rape , in 2006 and 2015, respectively.

Glitter’s fall from grace was described as “spectacular” by BBC News, and his image was irreparably tarnished following his conviction and imprisonment. He was deported from Cambodia for child sexual abuse in 2002, moved to Vietnam where he was convicted of lewd acts with minors in 2006 and was arrested again in 2012 in connection with the Operation Yewtree. In 2015, he was found guilty of several sex offenses and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was released on license in February 2023 after serving half his sentence in prison but was called back to prison in March of the same year after violating the terms of his licence.

Where is Gary Glitter from?

Gary Glitter, born Paul Francis Gadd, was born on May 8, 1944. He is from Banbury, Oxfordshire. He was raised by his mother, who was cleaner and single, with the help of his grandmother. At the age of 10, he and his brother were taken into the care of local authorities due to his difficult behavior. He is British by nationality and has a British-White ethnicity race. In 2022, he turned 78.

Although he was educated in a Catholic school, Glitter was a nominal Protestant. As a young boy, he frequently fled to London where he visited nightclubs, an experience that would shape his future career. His time in London exposed him to the world of music, and he would later become a glam rock icon in the 1970s with hits like “Rock and Roll (Part 2)” and “I Love You Love Me Love “.

The musical career of Gary Glitter

  • Gary Glitter, then known as Paul Raven, began his career performing in London clubs when he was just 16 years old. He got his first break when film producer Robert Hartford-Davis financed a recording session for him, and he released his first single, “Alone in the Night”, under his stage name Paul Raven. However, his recording career came to a halt and he found himself working as an assistant and doing warm-up numbers for British music television programs. It wasn’t until he met arranger and record producer Mike Leander that his career was reignited. He joined the Mike Leander Show Band in 1965 and later formed Boston International with saxophonist John Rossall.
  • During his time with Boston International, Gary Glitter, still using the name Paul Raven or Paul Monday, toured the UK and West Germany and recorded several singles, including a cover of “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles. He even sang the role of a priest in the original 1970 concept album of “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Despite some success, his recording career remained largely unsuccessful until he changed his name to Gary Glitter and released the single “Rock and Roll, Part 2” in 1972.
  • In 1971, as the glam movement took off, he adopted his new stage name by playing alliteratively with the letters of the alphabet, working backwards from Z. Other options included Terry Tinsel, Stanley Sparkle and Vicky Vomit. Gary Glitter’s name stuck and in 1972 his single “Rock and Roll, Parts 1 and 2” was released, Part 2 becoming the most popular side in many countries. It reached the Top Ten in the US, making it one of the few British glam rock records to do so, and reached number two on the UK Singles Chart.
  • In the early 1970s he had several hits in the UK with his backing band, the Glittermen/the Glitter Band. He became known for his extravagant sequined suits and platform boots. He had eleven consecutive Top 10 singles, including “I’m the Leader of the Gang (I Am)” and “I Love You Love Me Love”, both of which reached number one. Despite its success in the UK, it never had a significant impact in America, where glam rock was considered a curiosity. After a string of unsuccessful singles, he retired from the music industry in 1976 and released a hits package.
  • In 1976, his musical career went into decline and he decided to go into exile for two years, living in France and Australia. He returned to the UK in 1978 and made a comeback. However, his career took a new turn in the late 1970s, leading him to declare bankruptcy in 1977 and again in the 1990s due to unpaid taxes.
  • Despite financial pressures, his music continued to influence post-punk, new wave, Britpop and glam metal, and he remained a niche artist with a following that led to hits such as “Dance Me Up” and “Another Rock and Roll”. Christmas.” In the 1980s, he collaborated with other pop/rock luminaries like Sandie Shaw, Tina Turner and Girlschool, and his music was sampled by various bands, including Oasis.
  • Glitter also became a Buddhist and a vegetarian in the 1980s, opened a restaurant in Leicester Square and launched his label, Attitude Records. He spent the next decade primarily as an in-demand live performer, and his catalog of recordings proved durable enough for several successful compilations to be released.
  • His music enjoyed a resurgence in popularity in the early 2000s, with reissues of his old albums and singles. Although he was convicted of child sexual abuse in the UK in 1999, he continued to release new music, including the album “On” in 2001. However, in 2004 his behavior was in the news again and he moved to Vietnam. In 2013, it was reported that Glitter had earned over £1,000,000 in royalties from the use of his song “Hello, Hello, I’m Back Again” in the Oasis song “Hello”, and in 2014, “Rock and Roll Part 2”, a song co-written by Glitter, was estimated to earn around $250,000 a year in royalties due to its use in the NHL.
  • In 2019, controversy arose over the use of “Rock and Roll Part 2” in the movie “Joker”, as Glitter, as the song’s co-writer and performer, could potentially receive royalties. However, it was later revealed that Glitter had sold the rights to the song and had not received payment for its use, as the US rights to the song now belong to Universal Music Publishing Group. Despite the controversy, the song charted in the United States in October 2019.
  • Gary has toured extensively throughout his career, his first tour being in the Middle East in 1967. He has performed in various countries including Cyprus, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Armenia. Glitter’s concert at the London Palladium in 1973 was sold out, and her performance at the Rainbow Theater was recorded and released as a live album. He toured around the world during this period, including Europe, Scandinavia, Australia and New Zealand. Upon returning in the 1980s, Glitter mainly toured Britain but also performed in Ireland, Germany, France, America and Bahrain. He continued touring until his temporary retirement in 1976 and his final tour, titled “A Night Out with the Boys: Could This Be for the Last Time?” took place in 1997. In 2005, he was found alive in Vietnam after offering to sing in local bars in Vũng Tàu.

What is Gary Glitter net worth?

Gary Glitter is an English musician known for his hit songs such as “Rock and Roll”, “I Love You Love Me Love” and “Hello, Hello, I’m Back Again”. He has released seven studio albums and over 15 live or greatest hits albums, with three UK Top 100 No. 1 hits. His main source of wealth comes from his success as an actor and singer-songwriter.

In 2023, his net worth is estimated to be around £6.5m. However, he no longer receives royalties for his songs as he no longer owns the rights to them. Despite his success, Gary’s career took a downturn towards the end of the 1970s and he declared bankruptcy in 1977, owing £170,000. His songs are now blacklisted on all UK radio stations, but some US stations are still playing them. He is believed to own a flat in London worth around £2million, but is controlled by a former associate through a corporation. However, the musician currently leads a lavish life.

Who is Gary Glitter’s wife?

Gary Glitter was a married man. He tied the knot with his wife, Ann Murton in July 1963. Their marriage was blessed with two children, a son named Paul born in 1964 and a daughter named Sarah born in 1966. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1972. After his divorce, he had another son named Gary Jr. with his Cuban girlfriend Yudenia Sosa Martínez in February 2001. He was living with her in Cuba at the time.

Despite her family, Glitter has had a tumultuous personal life. He was banned from driving for 10 years in 1986 after being convicted of drunk driving for the third time. In 1997 he was arrested for possession of child pornography and was later convicted and imprisoned. He was released in 2008, but his reputation was badly damaged and he was unable to revive his music career.

In 2012, after allegations of sexual misconduct against Jimmy Savile were aired in a documentary, Gary Glitter was accused of raping a 13 or 14-year-old girl in the BBC dressing room at Savile. He was later arrested and charged with eight counts of sexual offenses against two girls aged 12 to 14 between 1977 and 1980. Glitter was convicted of attempted rape, four counts of indecent assault and sex with a girl under 13. in 2015 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. He was released on license in February 2023 but was called back to prison in March 2023 for violating the terms of his license. His performances on BBC’s Top of the Pops are no longer repeated due to his beliefs.

How tall is Gary Glitter?

Gary Glitter is often described as a handsome man with an alluring personality. He has a striking appearance, with a pair of black eyes and gray-white hair that complements his features. His beaming face and charming smile are known to attract viewers to him. Additionally, he possesses a healthy body, which adds to his overall appeal.

His physical attributes include height of 5ft 6in or 1.68m or 168cm, body weight of 65kg or 143lbs and measurements of 36-33-35in. He also has a bicep size of 13.5 and wears a shoe size of 7.5 UK. Overall, his impressive physical appearance has been a defining aspect of his personality. Her magnetic presence and good looks have undoubtedly contributed to her success and her fans throughout her career. In January 2008, he allegedly suffered a serious heart attack, although this information has been denied. He was later diagnosed with heart problems while serving a prison sentence in Vietnam for child sex abuse.