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Outrage at Gary Glitter song

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A mum-of four has called on the producers of hit '70s musical Hot Stuff to remove a song by convicted paedophile Gary Glitter. Anne-Marie Newland contacted the Leicester Mercury about the use of I'm the Leader of the Gang after watching the show at Curve last week. She said some theatre-goers walked out after the song was performed. Hot Stuff, a home-grown Leicester musical which started at the city's Haymarket theatre in 1992, features classic '70s and '80s hits including Dancing Queen, I Will Survive, Spirit in the Sky, Fame, We are the Champions, Blame it on the Boogie and Addicted to Love. Anne-Marie, of Stoneygate, Leicester, said although she enjoyed the production, she thought the use of Glitter's song was inappropriate. "Don't get me wrong, it's a brilliant show, absolutely fantastic," she said. "It was good fun, the dancers and singers were amazing and Ceri Dupree (who plays the lead role of Lucy Fur) was absolutely brilliant. "However, they do a medley of songs including one of Gary Glitter's. I sat there feeling very uncomfortable and, really, just couldn't believe what I was hearing." She said her brother, who saw the show on a different night, walked out after Glitter's song was played. "I didn't really know what to do when it came on," she said. "I just don't think they should be playing his songs. He's a convicted paedophile, it's inappropriate. "Surely it wouldn't be that hard to just use a different song? There are many other artists from the era with songs that are just as energetic. It wouldn't be that the show couldn't go on without it. "I don't know if it's a lack of sensitivity or awareness, but I don't think it's right. Especially if he's still making royalties from it." Anne-Marie is now a yoga teacher but used to freelance as a make-up artist in London when she was younger, and was once commissioned to work with Glitter. "I was asked to work on a video shoot with him in the early 1980s," she said. "After everything came out about him afterwards, I felt uncomfortable about that, that I'd worked with him. "I just think it's something that needs to be addressed. Everyone who's seen Hot Stuff knows it's an absolutely brilliant show, but this just gave it a bad feeling. I don't think it would spoil the show if the song was changed." Hot Stuff started its run at Curve on April 20 and finishes tomorrow night. Paul Kerryson, director and co-deviser of Hot Stuff, said: "Hot Stuff is a musical set in the '70s and the musical content of the production reflects the best and worst excesses of the era. "The song in question forms a small section of a glam-rock melody, which has been in Hot Stuff for 21 years."

Outrage at Gary Glitter song


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