Born in Wolverhampton, Kevin Rowland, 71, was a hairdresser before forming Dexys Midnight Runners. The band had their first hit in 1980 with Geno. In 1982, Come On Eileen was Britain’s bestselling single; the following year, it went to No 1 in the US. Over five decades, Dexys released six studio albums including The Feminine Divine in 2023. As a solo artist, Rowland released two albums, The Wanderer in 1988 and My Beauty in 1999. Bless Me Father, Rowland’s memoir, has just been published. He lives in London and has a daughter.
When were you happiest?
On stage – the Old Vic in 1981 and Glastonbury last year.
What is your greatest fear?
Insanity. I am on a recovery programme – clean from drugs and drink for many years – and if I stopped doing all that stuff I’d go crazy pretty quick and pick up drugs again, because I was a real fucking addict.
What is your earliest memory?
Going pretend fishing in County Mayo, Ireland, with a stick and a bit of string tied to it, when I was three or four.
Which living person do you most admire, and why?
Gerry Adams, because he’s got incredible integrity and vision, and he’s had to put up with so much flak.
What would your superpower be?
Eternal youth.
If you could bring something extinct back to life, what would you choose?
The Labour party.
Who is your celebrity crush?
Elizabeth Taylor when she was 40 years old.
What do you most dislike about your appearance?
Don’t get me started!
What is the worst thing anyone’s said to you?
My dad said, “You’re going nowhere.” I was seven or eight.
Would you choose fame or anonymity?
Knowing what I know now, I’d choose anonymity – it’s better for the soul.
What is your guiltiest pleasure?
I watch a lot of pranks on YouTube.
What has been your closest brush with the law?
I’ve been arrested about 15 times. In 1980, I was attacked by five youths. I ran into a building site and came out with a scaffold pole and hit one across the back. As I had two previous convictions for violence, it was looking like prison, but for a guilty plea, I got a nine-month suspended sentence.
after newsletter promotion
What did you dream about last night?
I was in a social situation but I didn’t have any trousers.
What is the worst job you’ve done?
I worked in the stores of Edgware hospital when I was about 17, and it was grey and depressing.
What has been your biggest disappointment?
My brother Pete passing on in 2005.
If you could edit your past, what would you change?
I’d have stuck with the original Dexys Midnight Runners look we started in 1978, which became known as the New Romantic look a couple of years later. Our management and record label talked us out of it. Later, Duran Duran and Spandau came out with that look and that made us look old-fashioned.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The contentment I have now.
Would you rather have more sex, money or fame?
Sex.
What is the most important lesson life has taught you?
Shakespeare said, “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – I think that’s true.
