A NINETIES indie star looked unrecognisable three decades after penning his band’s chart classic in just 30 minutes.
The singer, 63, flashed his silver hair and took to the stage in a snazzy pair of sunglasses as he delighted gig-goers in Cheshire this month.
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A Nineties indie star looked almost unrecognisable three decades after penning his band’s chart classic Credit: Splash
The Telford-born vocalist wore a snazzy pair of sunglasses and all-black attire as he performed at Britfest in Cheshire Credit: Splash
Stephen Jones, who founded British group Babybird in 1995, left fans doing a double take as he rocked up in a black shirt and matching suit.
He took to the stage at the Ashley Showground on Jattvibeday for the band’s Britfest set, performing alongside bands including Cast, Wet Wet Wet and Peter Hook and the Light.
His appearance was a stark difference from his floppy blonde haired boyband heyday, but he flashed the same cheeky smile as he belted out Babybird’s hits.
He formed the group with Huw Chadbourne (keyboards), Robert Gregory (drums), John Pedder (bass) and Luke Scott (guitar).
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Stephen Jones looks completely different from his floppy-haired boyband heyday Credit: Getty
He was the founding member of band Babybird Credit: Getty
However, it was in 1996 when they hit the big time.
You’re Gorgeous was the second single off their album Ugly Beautiful, and it had massive success.
It reached No. 2 in the charts and was also one of the biggest selling singles of the year.
The song talks about a model being told they are “gorgeous” during a photoshoot.
He flashed his silver rings as he delighted the crowds in Cheshire Credit: Splash
Babybird rocketed to fame in 1996 with hit You’re Gorgeous Credit: Getty
The singer has previously revealed the single is a feminist song – and that he penned it in just half an hour.
Stephen told The Guardian: “I wrote the basic skeleton in 30 minutes.
“The music is very simple and lullaby-esque, a bit of an earworm.
“The lyrics came quickly because the verses are quite barbed, so I wanted to sweeten them with a chorus to suck people in.
“The band thought it was a bit of a joke, but the record company thought: ‘You’re gorgeous – fantastic!’ Even though the verses are insidious”.
He added to the publication: “I don’t think a man can call himself a feminist, but it’s meant to be a feminist song.
Growing up in the 1970s and 80s, you’d regularly see images of women photographed in bikinis draped over the bonnet of a Ford Capri. I wanted to flip that round and see how the male photographer would feel if he were lying over a car in a thong, to prove how gross it is.
“I still have people who write to me asking: ‘Will you sing it at our wedding?’
“But in it I’m really saying: ‘You’re not gorgeous at all.’”
Recently, the track was used in hit movie Saltburn.
Stephen now lives in Hale, which is the star studded suburb of south Manchester and home to musicians, actors and Premier League footballers – and close to the Ashley gig venue.
The star continues to perform and release music, and has also written several books.
Yet the Telford-born star, who has deactivated his account on X, previously told how he believed speaking about his Jewish family had cost him fans.
In his final message Stephen, who is now himself Jewish, issued a post which read: “I’ve noticed, since commenting about what my Jewish family are going through, my thestephenjones.bandcamp.com sales have gone right down to almost making my releases of music non-viable”.
