February 4 marks the 30th anniversary of the death of Alex Harvey, a Scottish singer who at the peak of his powers in the 1970s was one of rock music's greatest frontmen.
He also was a key interpreter of Jacques Brel, his version of Next introducing the Belgian's music to a whole new audience.
For those like myself who first heard Harvey's version of the song, it remains the definitive version of the track.
Brel's earthy but dramatic style suited Harvey down to the ground. Before hitting the big time with the Sensational Alex Harvey band in the 1970s, Harvey had been an solo artist whose career had been met with only limited success, and he had put in a lengthy period working in musical theatre in London, specifically with the hippie musical Hair, where he worked for five years.
But his fortunes changed when he hooked up with Scottish progressive band Teargas, becoming the Sensational Alex Harvey Band in 1972.
The band enjoyed a successful run in the 70s, including a hit single with Delilah in the UK. They combined a style that was both appealing to serious rock fans, lyrically literate and musically adventurous, and with Harvey the band had a commanding front man.
His work was shot through with humour, dark and soaked through with the blues, and sung with a proud Scottish accent.
Harvey left the SAHB in 1976, the band issued an album without him, although he got back together with them for a final album Rock Drill in 1978.
Harvey went on to work with other musicians, but never re-discovered the popularity or the critical acclaim that the Sensational Alex Harvey enjoyed, with health problems and drink-related issues plaguing his later years.
Harvey died of a heart attack on February 4 1982 in Zeebrugge, Belgium.
However, while he might never have attained the commercial success of some of the acts of the 1970s, he is remembered to this day as one of Scotland's greatest ever rock stars.
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