My life through a lens: Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri, 53, shares the stories behind her favourite snaps
Celebrities share the stories behind their favourite snaps. This week it’s Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri, 53
Texas lead singer Sharleen Spiteri, 53, (pictured) shared the stories behind a selection of her favourite photographs

1973: I’m six here with my mum Vilma in the living room of our one-bedroom flat in Glasgow – my younger sister Corinne and I had bunk beds in my mum and dad’s bedroom. Mum worked as a window dresser and was a great seamstress – she was always making clothes for me and Corinne. She had amazing style – here she’s wearing an Ossie Clark trouser suit.

1975: In this photo Corinne and me are at Goldbergs department store in Glasgow, where my gran took us at Christmas. My grandparents lived near us and once a month they’d throw a party – they had a proper bar with measures and Babycham glasses. Everyone had to do a turn – I loved singing country songs, which is funny as I ended up in a band called Texas!

1977: Here’s me and Corinne in Glasgow’s George Square when it was planted up for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee visit. My sister is three years younger than me and despite being the smallest person on the planet, if there’s a fight she’ll always step in. As a geeky, skinny kid I was badly bullied at school but Corinne stood up for me. I hated my school years because of the bullying, but home life was idyllic. My dad Eddie was a merchant seaman and so was away a lot, and Mum, Corinne and I were very close.
![1989: This photo of my band Texas was taken backstage in Belgium the year we released Southside, our first album. I was a hairdresser and met Johnny McElhone [far right, with Sharleen, Stuart Kerr, far left, and Ally McErlaine] the week before my 18th birthday. He knew I sang – someone he knew had seen me singing at a party. We formed Texas together and he’s my songwriting partner. When I was recording ideas for our single I Don’t Want A Lover, I remember thinking, ‘If I can write one song that people think is great, I’ve achieved the dream.’ We went on to have several hits and I never take them for granted.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/12/18/49086179-10085079-image-a-59_1634060437965.jpg)
1989: This photo of my band Texas was taken backstage in Belgium the year we released Southside, our first album. I was a hairdresser and met Johnny McElhone [far right, with Sharleen, Stuart Kerr, far left, and Ally McErlaine] the week before my 18th birthday. He knew I sang – someone he knew had seen me singing at a party. We formed Texas together and he’s my songwriting partner. When I was recording ideas for our single I Don’t Want A Lover, I remember thinking, ‘If I can write one song that people think is great, I’ve achieved the dream.’ We went on to have several hits and I never take them for granted.
![2000: Texas were at Abbey Road Studios and debating who should dance the tango in the video for our song In Demand, when my film composer friend Michael Kamen dropped by. He said, ‘I’ve just had Alan Rickman on the phone and he’s a fan of yours,’ then everyone said, ‘Yes! Alan Rickman would dance the tango.’ Alan was going away to Italy but he took time out to learn the tango and make the video [pictured].](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/12/18/49086177-10085079-2000_Texas_were_at_Abbey_Road_Studios_and_debating_who_should_da-a-61_1634060488977.jpg)
2000: Texas were at Abbey Road Studios and debating who should dance the tango in the video for our song In Demand, when my film composer friend Michael Kamen dropped by. He said, ‘I’ve just had Alan Rickman on the phone and he’s a fan of yours,’ then everyone said, ‘Yes! Alan Rickman would dance the tango.’ Alan was going away to Italy but he took time out to learn the tango and make the video [pictured].

2002: Shortly before I had my daughter Misty I saw David Bowie perform his album Low at the Royal Festival Hall. At the after-show party David came up and put his hand on my tummy. I’d met him once before and he was lovely but I didn’t know him well. It was an ‘Oh My God!’ moment – you can see how red my face is. I didn’t realise a photo had been taken until someone sent it to me and I put it in Misty’s baby book – what a start to life!

2014: Debbie Harry and I have known each other since the late 90s, and this photo of us was taken at The Advent Of Punk exhibition at Somerset House. She asked me if I wanted to borrow the dress she wore in the video for the Blondie hit Heart Of Glass – a black- and-white piece of chiffon – but I never had the guts to wear it. Debbie Harry’s been in it – how can I compete with her? Debbie is brilliant, funny and kind. There’s a reason why people last in this business – that’s usually because they’re really nice, and Debbie is a lovely person.
![2018: I met my future husband Bryn Williams on a night out with Mary McCartney. His restaurant Odette’s was my local in London. When we first started seeing each other 14 years ago I thought, ‘I want to be able to call this man my husband and not my boyfriend.’ Our wedding in Wales [pictured], with family and close friends like Mary and her sister Stella, was quite rowdy.](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2021/10/12/18/49086183-10085079-image-a-67_1634060664914.jpg)
2018: I met my future husband Bryn Williams on a night out with Mary McCartney. His restaurant Odette’s was my local in London. When we first started seeing each other 14 years ago I thought, ‘I want to be able to call this man my husband and not my boyfriend.’ Our wedding in Wales [pictured], with family and close friends like Mary and her sister Stella, was quite rowdy.
As told to Rosanna Greenstreet. Sharleen is an ambassador for National Album Day which is today and, this year, celebrates women in music. nationalalbumday.co.uk