YES, YOU CAN MAKE FEAR YOUR FRIEND

I spent a lot of my heyday in the eighties feeling anxious, and was physically ill before I went on stage. I have an alter ego who I call Frank and he sits on my shoulder and tells me I’m crap, or that something awful’s about to happen.

He was well and truly on my shoulder when I performed at Live Aid 35 years ago. that was the biggest gig I ever did. the fear of him being there and the fear of the fear of him being there made it totally debilitating.

It was all such a blur, that day. I remember chatting with sting and sitting in the Royal Box with Charles and Di, and the relief at the end of my set. Afterwards, I shared a minibus with David Bowie, and he was singing Do they Know It’s Christmas. I froze.

Bowie was the reason I got into the music business. I remember watching a film about him as Ziggy stardust in the seventies, at home in Ipswich while Mum was cooking tea. It transformed my life. I later jacked in my A-levels and told my parents I was off to be a pop star. Luckily, they were supportive.

When I was on a non- stop round of photo shoots and top Of the pops appearances, I could deal with the fear, when my career faltered it was harder. When I was on tour supporting elton John every night was a trauma. Writing for other people became preferable — it was lovely when the One And Only was a hit, Chesney got the anxiety, not me!

eventually, though, I got tired of being afraid, and made friends with Frank. I realised fear is there for a reason, it’s a primal thing to get you ready to run or fight or do whatever you have to do.

After saying no for years, I started touring with other eighties bands. It’s so much fun and we’re all friends. no one needs to be taken seriously any more. I’m releasing another album, and of course I want my fans to like it. But, ultimately, I’m doing it for me. now, I still get nervous performing, but I just take a deep breath and get on with it.

The Ep These Little Things by Nik Kershaw is out now.