Saturday Night Nostalgia: The otherworldly tale of Alvin Stardust

It’s rare that you get a second chance in the entertainment business.  Some do get the chance, like actor John Travolta or musical acts like Fleetwood Mac.

Bernard Jewry got that chance, but it’s unlikely that you actually know him by his birth name. The English rocker enjoyed great success in the “Pre-Beatles” music scene as Shane Fenton. Shane Fenton and the Fentones rocked the 60s with such hits as I’m a Moody Guy, It’s all Over Now, and their biggest hit Cindy’s Birthday.

The story behind Jewry taking the name Shane Fenton is a bit of a sad one.  The Fentones where an unknown teenage band about to sign with a big label when their lead singer 17-year-old Johnny Theakstone suddenly died from complications created by a childhood bought of rheumatic fever.  Theakstone was using the name Shane Fenton, and his mother begged the rest of the band to stay together and use the name as a tribute to her son.  Jewry was the roadie for the band and took on the persona of Shane Fenton to honour her wishes.

After Shane Fenton and the Fentones had broken up in April of 1963, Jewry took some time away from the spotlight.  He worked behind the scene as a producer and manager. He only came back into the spotlight when another persona needed to be filled.

Peter Shelley of Magnet Records was cashing in on the glam rock style of the 70s with a character named Alvin Stardust.  Shelly wrote, recorded, and performed in the role but had no interest in performing live or touring.  So when Stardust’s first massive hit My Coo Ca Choo shot up the charts, he knew he had to do something.  Jewry died his hair black and took on the role of Alvin Stardust. His first spot was to lip sync My Coo Ca Choo on the music program Top of the Pops.

My Coo Ca Choo was a massive hit in Australia as it dominated the charts this week in 1973. Jewry enjoyed a long and successful career as Alvin Stardust and scored a few more hits in the 80s, as well as taking the character to TV and the theatre stage.

Jewry sadly passed away in 2014 due to complications with prostate cancer.  He had passed just a short time before his first big album in 30 years was about to be released. 

Do you remember Alvin Stardust?  Did you love My Coo Ca Choo?