Quotes from Shakin' Stevens

I've been using slide guitar, banjo, stuff like that for yonks. But if people haven't seen me live on stage, they wouldn't have heard me with these instruments.

I was in several bands, and we just started off doing the clubs and dancehalls in the valleys - and eventually moved on to the colleges and universities.

I came out of the punk era in the late Seventies. There were the Stray Cats, Matchbox and myself. I was able to hang on and it makes you think how I fitted in with your Spandau Ballets and Kraftwerk.

All families have lies and secrets, I don't mind sharing ours.

I did feel a bit of an outsider in the Eighties. But there was a market for me out there. New Romantics were totally different.

I was a 17-year overnight success really. I think I earned it.

When I started we were travelling in vans, at that time we couldn't afford B&Bs, so after the gig the band would all climb in the back of the van with our fish and chips and then wake up in the morning - six sweaty musicians, all the gear around us, and you'd think 'oh god.'

I've been asked that question lots of time before, why wasn't I on Live Aid? And quite frankly I don't know. I was riding high in the charts and the styles of music they had were quite varied from Adam Ant to Status Quo to Queen. I would have definitely fitted in.

Look at Kylie. She's changed and adapted but still kept her fans. That's what I want to do.

Artists have different stages in their career, from George Michael via Wham! to people like Kylie. A change of perception is what's needed.