All Images Subject To Copyright
On this day, 4 April 1978, glam rock band The Heavy Metal Kids played Cardiff’s Top Rank.
The Heavy Metal Kids were formed in 1973 by the merger of two previous bands: Heaven and Biggles.
They took their name from a gang of street kids, featured in the novel Nova Express by William S. Burroughs.
Gary Holton, frontman of the band 1972–77 was probably better known for playing the part of Wayne in the UK television comedy Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983–85).
In December 1978, Holton stood in for The Damned vocalist Dave Vanian on a short Scottish tour; and he also recorded a solo single (which became a number one hit in Norway), a punk-country version of Kenny Rogers's "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town"
Holton died from an overdose of morphine combined with alcohol in 1985. He is buried at Maesgwastad Cemetery, Welshpool.
