Most people know the glittering glove and the glam-rock swagger of Alvin Stardust, but few realise the same man had a whole earlier life as a 1960s teen idol. Born Bernard William Jewry, he first found fame as Shane Fenton, fronting the Fentones with four Top 40 singles before the Beatles changed everything. Then, a decade later, he reinvented himself completely — and that second act made him a legend.
Full legal name: Bernard William Jewry ·
Born: 27 September 1942 ·
Died: 23 October 2014 ·
Stage name as Shane Fenton: 1961–1963 ·
Stage name as Alvin Stardust: 1973–2014 ·
UK number-one single as Alvin Stardust: My Coo Ca Choo (1973)
Quick snapshot
- Real name: Bernard William Jewry (Wikipedia)
- Born 27 September 1942 in Limerick, Ireland (Gold Radio)
- Died 23 October 2014 aged 72 from a heart condition (BBC News)
- Married Liza Goddard in 1974 (Wikipedia)
- Exact number of children (sources vary between two and more)
- Specific reason for first wearing the black glove (no definitive statement found)
- Whether he was raised in England or elsewhere (accounts differ on early upbringing)
- Early recordings available on streaming as The Early Years 1961-1962
- Legacy as dual-icon of 1960s and 1970s music continues through reissues
Six key facts, one pattern: the same man lived two completely different music careers, each tied to a distinct era and audience.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Real name | Bernard William Jewry |
| Born | 27 September 1942, Limerick, Ireland |
| Died | 23 October 2014, England |
| Spouse | Liza Goddard (m. 1974–1982) |
| Children | At least two |
| Scottish connection | Raised in England, born in Limerick |
Who is Shane Fenton?
What was Shane Fenton’s real name?
- Shane Fenton was the first stage name of Bernard William Jewry (The Guardian obituary photo gallery).
- He was an English rock singer (BBC News obituary).
When was Shane Fenton born and died?
- Born 27 September 1942 in Limerick, Ireland (Gold Radio biography page).
- Died 23 October 2014 in England (BBC News obituary).
The implication: Jewry’s real name is the thread connecting two very different music eras. Knowing his birth identity explains why the same man could convincingly shift from clean-cut teen idol to leather-clad glam star.
What is Shane Fenton known for?
What music did Shane Fenton release?
- He was the lead singer of Shane Fenton and the Fentones (The Independent obituary).
- His early 1960s period produced four UK Top 40 singles in 1961–62, including “Cindy’s Birthday” and “It’s Gonna Take Magic” (Wikipedia discography section).
- Spotify album The Early Years 1961-1962 collects 17 songs from that period.
How did he become known?
- He signed his first record deal in 1961 as the frontman of Shane Fenton and the Fentones (BBC News obituary).
- He later became Alvin Stardust in 1973 (Wikipedia career section).
Shane Fenton’s early success was genuine but modest — four Top 40 hits in a pre-Beatles landscape. Yet his fame as Shane Fenton was eclipsed entirely by his later glam-rock persona. The early work is a footnote, but it’s the foundation that made the reinvention possible.
The pattern: most artists who reinvent themselves leave the old identity behind. Jewry didn’t just leave it — he buried it so completely that casual fans of Alvin Stardust often don’t know Shane Fenton existed.
Did Shane Fenton change his name to Alvin Stardust?
Why did he change his stage name?
- Yes, he adopted the name Alvin Stardust in 1973 (Wikipedia career section).
- He recalled in 2010 that the name began as “Elvin Starr” before becoming Alvin Stardust (BBC News interview excerpt).
- The name change marked a shift from early 1960s pop to glam rock (Wikipedia genre section).
When did the name change happen?
- The transformation happened in 1973, a full decade after his early band period ended (Wikipedia timeline).
- His debut single as Alvin Stardust, “My Coo Ca Choo”, was released that year (BBC News obituary).
What this means: the name change wasn’t a whim — it was a deliberate rebranding that let Jewry escape the shadow of a dying era and step into a new one.
What songs did Shane Fenton sing?
What are some of Shane Fenton’s best songs?
- “Cindy’s Birthday” and “It’s Gonna Take Magic” are among his best-known Shane Fenton recordings (Wikipedia discography section).
- His recordings were released in the early 1960s through the Fentones era (The Independent obituary).
Which songs did he record with the Fentones?
- The album The Early Years 1961-1962 collects 17 songs from the Shane Fenton and the Fentones period.
- As Alvin Stardust, he is best known for “My Coo Ca Choo”, “Jealous Mind”, “Pretend”, and “I Feel Like Buddy Holly” (Wikipedia discography section).
The catch: the Shane Fenton catalog is small and obscure today. His Alvin Stardust songs are the ones that charted higher and last longer in memory. For fans exploring his early work, the streaming album is the best starting point.
Why did Alvin Stardust wear a glove?
What was the glove’s significance?
- Alvin Stardust wore a black glove as part of his glam rock image (Wikipedia image section).
- The glove was an iconic visual trademark that helped define his stage persona.
The exact reason for starting to wear the glove remains unclear — no definitive statement from Jewry himself has been found. But the effect was unmistakable: the glove became as synonymous with Alvin Stardust as the glitter and the leather.
The glove is the single most recognisable visual element of the Alvin Stardust persona. For fans fascinated by 1970s glam rock, understanding the glove’s role helps explain how a visual gimmick can become a career-defining trademark.
How many children did Alvin Stardust have?
Was Alvin Stardust married to Liza Goddard?
- He was married to actress Liza Goddard from 1974 to 1982 (Wikipedia personal life section).
- He had children from his marriages, though the exact number is not definitively confirmed across sources.
The trade-off: Jewry’s personal life is less documented than his professional one. Fans looking for details about his family will find scattered information, but the core fact — his marriage to a well-known actress — is solid.
Shane Fenton death: what happened?
When did Shane Fenton die?
- He died on 23 October 2014 (BBC News obituary).
- He was 72 years old.
What was the cause of death?
- He died from a heart condition after a short illness (BBC News obituary).
The implication: his death at 72 cut short a career that had seen a remarkable resurgence in later years, with his early work rediscovered by a new generation through streaming.
Timeline
- 1942: Born Bernard William Jewry in Limerick, Ireland
- 1961: Adopted stage name Shane Fenton, formed Shane Fenton and the Fentones (BBC News)
- 1961-1962: Released songs such as “Cindy’s Birthday” and “It’s Gonna Take Magic” (Wikipedia)
- 1963: Early band period ended
- 1973: Reinvented as Alvin Stardust, released “My Coo Ca Choo” (BBC News)
- 1974: Married actress Liza Goddard (Wikipedia)
- 2014: Died at age 72 from a heart condition (BBC News)
Confirmed facts vs. what’s unclear
Confirmed facts
- Born 27 September 1942 in Limerick, Ireland
- Changed stage name to Alvin Stardust in 1973
- Died 23 October 2014
- Married Liza Goddard
- Wore a black glove as part of his glam rock image
What’s unclear
- Exact number of children (some sources indicate two, others more)
- Specific reason for first wearing the glove (iconic visual, no definitive statement found)
- Whether he had more than two children (sources vary)
Quotes from reliable sources
Alvin Stardust, the glam rock singer who died aged 72, was originally known as Shane Fenton and born Bernard William Jewry.
He first signed a record deal in 1961 as the frontman of Shane Fenton and the Fentones.
BBC News obituary
His early 1960s musical debut was with Shane Fenton and the Fentones.
He was an English rock singer and stage actor.
Wikipedia Alvin Stardust page
For the casual music fan curious about the man behind the glove, the choice is clear: explore the early Shane Fenton recordings on streaming to hear where it all began, or stick with the Alvin Stardust hits that defined an era. Either way, the story of Bernard Jewry is a reminder that sometimes the best second act is the one you never saw coming.
reallifestories.org, 45-rpm.org.uk, imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, sv.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, cityreporter.co.uk, australianbrief.org
Frequently asked questions
Where was Shane Fenton born?
Limerick, Ireland.
What was Alvin Stardust’s biggest hit?
“My Coo Ca Choo” (1973), which peaked at number two on the UK singles chart.
Did Alvin Stardust wear a glove on both hands?
No, he wore a single black glove on one hand as part of his glam rock image.
How did Shane Fenton die?
He died from a heart condition after a short illness on 23 October 2014.
Is Alvin Stardust the same person as Shane Fenton?
Yes, they are the same person — Bernard William Jewry performed under both names.
Related reading
- Paul Weller: Biography, Age, Net Worth, Children, Wife & Sobriety — Another English rock singer who underwent significant career reinvention.
- Robert Plant: Partner, Kids, Net Worth, and Life After Zeppelin — A biography of a legendary British rock singer from a similar era.
George Harry Howard Bennett is a staff writer for Public Journal UK, specializing in UK news, policy analysis, and public affairs coverage. He works under Editor-in-Chief Margaret Ellison, maintaining high standards of sourcing, verification, and fact-checking. Bennett reports on Westminster, government policy, and societal issues, providing balanced and accurate journalism with timely insight.