“This is me in the mid 1960s in the back garden of my house in Northern Moor M23 a couple of years after we moved in.
As you can see I’m ‘smoking’ my fave ciggie made out of 100% sugar… back in those days they were very popular amongs the kids in the UK.
Cult Addicts will know this pic as it appeared on the back cover of the ‘Star’ single in 1994. When we were working on the artwork for the album and singles the idea of using childhood photos of me and Ian was discussed, which I think was due to the much more personal nature of Ian’s lyrics and themes.
We ended up using a photo of Ian and his younger brother Brian on the album which most folks thought was me and Ian… which I thought was as funny as it was impossible given we didn’t meet until 1982!
Billy – Oct 2026