Shakin’ Stevens: ‘When I played Elvis, I was told to colour my hair black. It went down well, so I kept doing it’

Born in Cardiff, Shakin’ Stevens, 74, was the UK’s biggest-selling singles artist of the 1980s, with songs such as This Ole House, Green Door and Merry Christmas Everyone. In 2016, he released the album Echoes of Our Times, and last year he toured with Status Quo. His latest single is It All Comes Round and his album Re-Set is out on 28 April. He has three children and lives in Buckinghamshire with his manager and second wife, Sue Davies.

What is your greatest fear?
A world without music.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Bullying, whether face to face or online.

What was your most embarrassing moment?
I was in the musical Elvis, and after a costume change I went below stage to be raised up on a platform. As I was raised up, I blanked and couldn’t remember the first line of the song King Creole. I mumbled the first few lines and hoped nobody would notice.

Describe yourself in three words:
Down to earth.

What or who is the greatest love of your life?
Sue, the woman sitting next to me. We don’t just work together, we’re married. We’re a good partnership.

Would you choose fame or anonymity?
Obviously fame – every time.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?
You have to accept how you are. My one exception is my hair, which I still colour. When I played Elvis, I was told to colour my hair black. The audience got used to seeing my hair like that and it went down well, so I kept doing it.

What scares you about getting older?
It’s life, don’t stress. That said, I have tried to look after myself – I packed up smoking and I don’t drink.

What makes you unhappy?
Stress.

What does love feel like?
Ups and downs.

Have you ever said “I love you” without meaning it?
No, you’ve got to mean it.

What has been your biggest disappointment?
I never dwell on them.

When did you last cry, and why?
When I was recording a track called May, about my mum.

How often do you have sex?
That’s for me to know.

What is the closest you’ve come to death?
I had a cardiac arrest in 2010. I also had a close call in the early days in Cardiff when I was in a band called the Denims. We were in a van driving along a narrow mountain road. Somebody wanted to go to the toilet, so we stopped, and afterwards the driver took a wrong turn and we went careering down the mountain. Everyone was screaming, it was like a nightmare. At the bottom was the railway line, but the van stopped just in time. We were very lucky.

What single thing would improve the quality of your life?
More green tea – I’m addicted.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Giving people enjoyment.

What keeps you awake at night?
Nothing.

How would you like to be remembered?
It would be nice just to be remembered.

What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
You only get out what you put in. Karma – it all comes round.

What happens when we die?
Nothing, so make the most of your life and enjoy it.