Gary Glitter is a controversial rock star known for hits such as "Rock and Roll" and "Do You Wanna Touch Me?" Despite his musical success, his name is sometimes misspelled as "Garry Glitter." The proper spelling of his name reflects the way it is pronounced, with a hard "g" sound at the beginning. In IPA phonetic transcription, his name would be spelled /ˈɡer.i ˈɡlɪt̬.ər/, with the stress on the first syllable of "Gary" and a schwa sound in the second syllable of "Glitter."
Gary Glitter is a British singer and musician, who rose to prominence in the 1970s as a glam rock icon. Born as Paul Francis Gadd on May 8, 1944, he adopted the stage name of Gary Glitter, inspired by the popular American comic strip character "The Gumps." Glitter's flamboyant and energetic performances, coupled with his distinctive glam rock image, made him a significant figure in the music scene of that era.
However, the name "Gary Glitter" has become synonymous with controversy and scandal due to his criminal behavior. In 1999, Glitter was convicted of possessing child pornography in the United Kingdom, which led to a brief imprisonment. In 2006, he faced further legal troubles when he was found guilty of child sex offenses in Vietnam, resulting in a substantial prison sentence.
As a consequence of his actions, the name "Gary Glitter" has become emblematic of disgrace and notoriety. It is often used as a term to reference individuals who have committed or been associated with similar crimes involving exploitation of minors. In popular culture, the term is sometimes employed to describe public figures or individuals who have fallen from grace due to their unethical or illegal behavior.
Given his controversial past, the name "Gary Glitter" is now largely used to denote disgrace and criminal behavior, rather than being associated solely with his early musical career.