Eccentric artist Marc Almond first shot to fame in the 1980s as half of the synthpop/new wave band Soft Cell, with his friend David Ball.
The duo enjoyed many hits, most memorably the 1981 single Tainted Love. Southport-born Marc, 62, has a critically acclaimed new album out.
He lives in London with his long-term partner, two parrots called Fruity and Casper, and a rescue jackdaw called Dawkins. In his own words, Marc tells us about his childhood, his rise to fame and getting older: I grew up with young parents.
They were only 18 when I arrived and the radio was always on at home. My father, Peter, liked jazz and my mother, Sandra, liked pop.
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