WITH the death today (October 23) of the leather-clad rocker, Alvin Stardust, the Kempsey record producer Muff Murfin hasn't just lost a client from the old days, he has lost a friend.

Now Mr Murfin is left with memories of the days and weeks Alvin Stardust spent living as a family guest at The Old Smithy, and also several unreleased recordings of the singer.

Mr Murfin said he didn't know whether those recordings would be released, but he added: "He was fabulous, - a really lovely man; - just a nice guy.

"His death has really upset me, because he used to stay with us in the house, for two or three weeks at a time. My daughter used to play with his daughter. We had a lot of fun times."

Alvin Stardust, who was 72, clocked up a hit with Mr Murfin, - "Pretend", which reached number four in the UK charts, in 1981.

Mr Murfin said: "He was very good at what he did, and didn't waste time when he was in the studio, but worked hard. People loved him, - people still loved him, and he would tell such interesting stories about the old days."

One of the old tales concerns an unexpected expense when it came to maintaining the Alvin Stardust image.

When Alvin Stardust found international fame in the 1970s, with hits including My Coo Ca Choo and Jealous Mind, he found himself touring Germany in a black limousine, with an entourage of policemen on motorbikes, who would ride in a V-formation before the car, - moving from gig to gig.

Alvin Stardust assumed this impressive spectacle was being paid for by his then record company - only to find he was paying for the privilege himself, which soon put a stop to the extravagant practice.

The Glam Rock icon, known for his leathers, brooding presence and the curious angle to the way he held the microphone, was no stranger to Worcestershire.

He visited Malvern Parish CE Primary in November 2005, and thirty pupils joined him on stage the following month, at Malvern Theatres, for his Christmas tour.

The veteran rocker also performed at the Upton International Music Festival, in 2012.