HE was already a star but a failed trouser seam would soon make him a notorious one.

He was all set to play McIlroys but then he said he wouldn’t.

He was PJ Proby and the story of his Swindon no-show was told in the Adver exactly 50 years ago.

“PJ Proby, the swinging Texas beat singer, whose record ‘Hold Me’ is riding high in the record charts, has refused to appear in Swindon tonight,” we said.

“News of the singer’s sudden refusal came today after the promoters of the show at McIlroys Ballroom announced they were suing Proby, real name James Marcus Smith, for breach of contract and loss of goodwill.

“Proby was due to appear with his backing group, The Diamonds, and 400 advance tickets at 8s 6d (42.5p) each had been sold to teenagers eagerly looking forward to the singer’s only appearance in the West Country.”

Hold Me was at number five and on its way to number three when the story broke. It was the first of several successful singles he recorded after coming to England.

In his native USA he’d had some minor acting roles and cut some minor discs, but a British TV appearance on a show hosted by the Beatles helped to change his fortunes. He was – and still is – noted for his deep voice, enigmatic stage presence and uniquely dramatic delivery.

Early in 1965, though, his trousers split while he was on stage in Croydon. In those days that was enough to cause a scandal, but he would probably have ridden it out had the same thing not happened at another show shortly afterwards. Many bookings were cancelled.

Proby went on to have a patchy career ranging from acclaimed theatre roles to stints without work, but he still tours successfully at 75.

Several of his recordings, notably Maria and Somewhere from West Side Story, are regarded as idiosyncratic classics.

All of that was still in the future when the Swindon show was cancelled – something we reported as stemming from the singer’s decision to sack his agent and manager and announce that contracts signed under their auspices were cancelled.

He was to have received £300 for the Swindon show, which was no mean sum at a time when a three-bedroom semi in Lawns could be had for £3,500 and a four-bedroom Old Town Terrace for £1,950.

The management of the ballroom pledged refunds to those who had bought tickets.

If you want to find out what the singer’s up to these days, visit pjproby.net