The low-down on Hazel...
Name: Hazel O'Connor
Occupation: Post-punk singer, actress and author
Where and when in North Yorkshire next week: Selby Town Hall on Friday at 8pm, playing with Irish harpist Cormac De Barra.
Didn't she play there last year? Yes, nine months ago. Since played Glastonbury, Henley and Wasted festivals; sang on tour with Coventry's The Subterraneans and performed in Holland
Born: Coventry, May 16 1955
Early travels: Left home at 16, lived in squat in Amsterdam, travelled to Morocco, then worked as dancer in Japan and at The Crazy Horse in Beirut, Lebanon. Also fitted in singing, English teaching and nude modelling
Musical beginnings: At 21, by now living in London and drawing inspiration from punk movement, she tried her hand at song-writing "because singing made me happy". Signed to Albion label, 1978
Big break: Picked by director Brian Gibson to star in 1980 film musical Breaking Glass, alongside Phil Daniels and Jonathan Pryce. Wrote and performed film soundtrack, including top five hit Eighth Day; won Variety Club of Great Britain's 1980 Film Actress of the Year
Best known hit: Will You, the one about drinking tea and coffee, oh silly me. Number eight, 1981
Top Of The Pops moment: Stripping down to black bra and miniskirt when singing D-Days, 1981
Eighties albums: Sons And Lovers, 1980; Cover Plus, 1981; Smile, 1984
America beckons: After TV series Jangles, Howard Goodall's 1987 musical Girlfriends and BBC drama series Fighting Back, moved to Los Angles, where she married and continued career
First autobiography: Uncovered Plus
Homeward bound: Following skin cancer scare, moved to Ireland, home of her forefathers in 1990s. Nineties' albums: To Be Free; Over The Moon; Private Wars; Live In Berlin; Five In The Morning; Beyond Breaking Glass, from her Edinburgh Fringe show of the same name, based on her life story
DIY artist in 21st century: Hazel does her album artwork, sells her CDs, books gigs and drives the van
First ever compilation: A Singular Collection, on Invisible Hands Music, 2003
Coming next: New album With Love From Haze, released in April. Tracks will be previewed in Selby
In the pipeline: Putting finishing touches to new autobiography
Tickets for February 25 gig: £10.50 in advance from Abbey Leisure, tel 01757 213 758; £12.50 on door from 7.30pm.
Updated: 10:43 Friday, February 18, 2005
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