STRINGY’S GREATEST MOMENTS
Stars pay tribute to babe-loving nightclub legend who died at 77
TRIBUTES flooded in last night for “King of Clubs” Peter Stringfellow who died after a secret year-long battle with cancer.
The lap dancing tycoon was known for his risqué outfits, army of A-list celebrity pals and thousands of beautiful lovers.
Stringy, 77, who married third wife
Bella in 2009 when he was 68 and she 27, had previously beaten lung cancer after being diagnosed in 2008.
His publicist, Matt Glass, said he had been battling a second cancer for the last year.
Peter has four children aged between three and 55 as well as four grandchildren and his devastated daughter Karen posted a touching tribute to her dad on Facebook.
Alongside a family picture, the 55-year-old wrote she was “heartbroken and devastated” by her loss.
Comedian David Baddiel led the celebrity tributes to the nightclub king who once boasted of women. The bedding 54-year-old 2,000 said: “I met Peter Stringfellow once.
“He had a sense of humour beyond the haircut.
“I asked him what he’d be doing if he hadn’t ended up running strip clubs. He said, ‘Two words, benefit fraud’.”
Boy George revealed he and his mum were once introduced Diana to thanks Princess to the Sheffieldborn lap-dancing magnate.
He added: “Wow, a big and finest. part one What of of our Sheffield’s a character. lives
“He introduced me and my mum to Princess Diana.”
Frank Bruno tweeted: “RIP Peter Stringfellow. A great guy & king of the discos.”
Ex-Page 3 model Helen Benoit, who dated Peter for three years in the 1990s, added: “Peter is the most charismatic gentleman and funny character I have ever known.
“I was devastated when I found out.
The UK has lost an icon.”
Entrepreneur’s Stringfellow’s life was a real rags-to-riches story.
Leaving school at 13, he spent three months in prison in 1962 for selling stolen carpets, an experience which he
later claimed had put him on the “straight and narrow”.
Afterwards he pursued a new career in nightlife, renting out a church every Friday for music acts. Among those he booked were The Beatles. Then he opened the Blue Moon and King Mojo clubs, hosting stars such as Rod Stewart and The Kinks. Later he moved to Leeds with Cinderellas and Rockerfellas, and then Millionaires in Manchester, before in 1980 he moved to London with Stringfellows, which he boasted was the world’s premier gentlemen’s club. He later became the first club owner to be granted a “fully nude” licence in Britain. He had successfully argued his dancers “shouldn’t have to wear Gstrings”. Other clubs followed in Paris, New York, Miami, and Beverly Hills. A host of A-listers visited his clubs over the years, including Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Prince and Tom Jones. Stephen joined He was by Hawking Prof also for dinner – but the wheelchair bound genius “just wanted to look at the girls”. But Stringy was most famous for his love of sexy women. When asked about his busy sex life, he answered: “I’ve been around a long time, man. “Just by the sheer weight of years you’re going to have a bunch of girls in your background.” He previously said about his first bout with cancer: “I do feel guilty about not telling the Press at the time. But I didn’t want to be known as ‘poor old Pete who had cancer’. “I think I just wanted to avoid all the sympathy.” His publicist Matt added: “He leaves behind his beloved wife Bella and four children, Karen, Scott, Rosabella and Angelo. Jaime, “He was Thomas also and grandfather Isabelle. to Taylor, “Peter will be remembered for his flamboyant style, charismatic personality and for being a magnet for celebrities across the planet.”
NOT many lived more colourful lives than Peter Stringfellow.
The “king of clubs” was a bastion of London’s nightlife for many years.
Almost always flanked by his army of celeb pals and a gaggle of gorgeous girls, he cut an unmissable figure.
He was almost the man that never seemed to grow up.
So news of his untimely passing from cancer is as much of a shock as it is sad.
Tragically, he leaves behind his wife and four children, two of whom are very young indeed.
Here’s a toast to you Peter – most likely having a great big party in the sky.