My life through a lens

Celebrities share the stories behind their favourite snaps. This week it’s veteran musician Paul Young, 64

1961 I was a dreamer as a kid. When I was given a tricycle, aged eight, I’d disappear for hours and do my own thing. I grew up in Luton, Bedfordshire, and joined the first of many bands when I was 16, initially as a bass player. When I left school, I joined Vauxhall Motors as an apprentice, like my dad. We’re a close family, particularly since Dad died. This is me with my older brother Mark [left] on a trip to the seaside.

1979[front, Here I am

right] with one of my early bands, The Q-tips, in Manchester – I was the lead singer. We had started out like The Beatles, doing soul covers, before writing our own material. We got radio play and toured incessantly, but our records didn’t sell. Musical differences split us up – that same year I launched my solo career and never looked back.

1983 The I appeared three times with Jools Holland on Tube. Jools [far right] is a nice guy and didn’t mind us using his musicians. On this particular show I performed Love Of The Common People and so many callers rang in, saying how much they liked the song, that I was the only performer ever to be invited back the next week. The single still flopped, but it reached No 2 in the UK charts when it was rereleased as a Christmas single.

1984 re-creating This is the closest we ever got to the Band Aid single line-up. I’m on the far left with Bob Geldof, Elton John, Boy George and George Michael [singing Do They Know It’s Christmas?] during a Culture Club gig at Wembley Stadium. Elton is larger than life. I attended one of his garden parties once, dressed as a musketeer. I got a couple of minutes with him before his eyes started wandering, but I also recognised that characteristic in myself. If you’re the host, you have to work the room. Boy George is like Bob Geldof – quick-witted and funny – and George Michael was warm-hearted and generous.

1985audience I performed at Live Aid in front of a worldwide TV

of 1.9 billion but I wasn’t nervous – the atmosphere was electric. When I came off stage, I knew I had ten minutes to get changed because the next act, Queen, needed my dressing room. But Cindy Crawford collared me for an interview and things descended into chaos as I ran out of time. It was Bob Geldof, one of the organisers, who’d asked me to take part in recording the Band Aid single the previous year, on which I sang the famous opening line.

1986 Prince Charles has always been my favourite royal because he knows his own mind, takes his position seriously and was ahead of his time when it came to organic farming. We’re chatting here at a gala concert at Wembley to celebrate The Prince’s Trust’s tenth anniversary. Princess Diana was also there, and she was lovely and approachable. We had a chat in the street once, near Harley Street, because we’d bumped into each other while racing for appointments.

1986 gig When I met David Bowie [far right] backstage at a in New York, I had to pinch myself. He was a gentleman. Years later, I was dining in LA and spotted him across the room. During dinner he tapped me on the shoulder and said hello – he had no airs or graces. I’d been introduced to David by the wild man of rock, Iggy Pop [second from left], who is quite unlike his stage persona. After a concert he’s calm and sweet. This was our first meeting – I’d gone to see him perform while I was touring the US.

2007 I turned down several reality TV shows before agreeing to appear on Hell’s Kitchen. I thought I would probably make a fool of myself but learn a new skill. I’d heard the show’s resident chef, Marco Pierre White, had mellowed and so I took a chance – and loved it. Here I am lying down next to my fellow competitor Jim Davidson while he was telling off Barry Mcguigan for helping the opposing team. Jim was cantankerous but a great cook, and he often had me in stitches. Barry Mcguigan ended up winning the contest.