Shakin’ Stevens has released a new album which draws on a number of personal storylines from his family chronicles and working-class background, from which the young Michael Barratt crafted his incredible career.

On Re-Set, those personal tales weave into an interconnected narrative about our collective place in the modern world, both real and virtual. There are songs about the plight of his ancestors, the uncle he never knew, and his own mother, who had a very difficult life, but nevertheless raised 13 children almost singlehandedly while also holding down a job.

I chatted to Shaky (as he is affectionately known by his fans) about his career and started by asking him if Re-Set was a new beginning?

I felt we all needed to reset and review our lives, especially after the pandemic, and for me, it feels like a fresh start, which,  I am sure, is also the same for others. It is also very personal, and listeners will hear a track about my uncle George, who, as a family, we never talked about; at the age of 16, he suffered anxieties and was confined to a lunatic asylum, where he spent the remainder of his life. I am very proud of the song.

You have had a long career; what have been the highlights?

It's the early stages that are still special. At the start, there were lots of ups and downs, though things took off after the producer Jack Good saw me performing at The Greyhound in London – he was looking for someone to play Elvis in his new West End musical.
 
I went for the audition, and after singing two songs, he said I was perfect for the role and offered me the job. I performed as Elvis for nine months; after singing in bands and on my own previously, the Elvis show was a whole new opening and, of course, something completely different from what I had done before.
 
After that, my recording career took off. I became one of the most successful singers of the eighties, with my songs becoming a regular feature on the singles charts and appearing on Top of the Pops frequently.
 
Did you enjoy appearing on Top of the Pops?

I did. I liked Top of the Pops especially as parents used to watch it with their children, and they are the ones who come to see me when I tour, they in turn bring their own children to one of my shows. It is a good balance.

Do you still perform your older songs when you tour?

I do; the fans expect that, and I probably would not be able to leave the venue if I did not sing them! Some of the tracks we do in a new style to keep it fresh, mixing the old songs with newer tracks, seem to work well.
 
What was it like touring with Status Quo last year – their audience is very different from yours?

You are right – it was a whole new audience for me. At first, I was worried that things might not go according to plan, but I have to say that the audiences went crackers every night, and we went down exceedingly well with the Quo fans. The supportive reaction we received even surprised Status Quo.
 
As it was Christmas, we did Merry Christmas Everyone, a track I had never sung live on stage until the Quo tour. It will always be special, as it was the Christmas Number One in 1985, managing to knock the Band Aid single off the top of the charts. 
 
Are there any plans for you to go on tour again?

Yes, we are just finalising dates at the moment. I still enjoy going out on stage and performing - once it is in your blood, it is difficult to remove it. My audience is still there and continues to grow, and I still have the motivation.