BRYAN'S people are deeply sorry but he won't have enough time to be interviewed by me. In fact, he's so busy he hasn't even done one of those syndicated interview things we sometimes get, when celebs are too rushed off their proverbials to talk to us in person.

I kind of see their point. Because you don't stay in the Business Of Show for 45 years solid unless you are totally in demand and producing the kind of stuff which people pay good money to listen to and see performed live. The old smoothie brings his rescheduled solo tour to the Poole Lighthouse tomorrow night with a few tickets still available.

Ever since Bryan, his floppy fringe and iconic band Roxy Music hopped onto the Top of the Pops stage in 1972 to perform their unforgettable debut single 'Virginia Plain' he's rarely been out of demand. According to Bryan's people, Roxy Music are a group which “appeared to have taken the history of modern popular music, from French chanson to Elvis to progressive rock, by way of soul and the avant-garde, and fused their different inspirations into a seamless and glittering pure pop moment.”

I don't know about that but what I do know is that Bryan is one of those true front men; the person you can't take your eyes off when he's performing on stage. No wonder he was asked to do Glastonbury last year and its US equivalent and is currently packing 'em in on a UK tour, showcasing his latest album, Avonmore, which features eight new tracks plus two covers.

Bryan's an unashamed coverer of other people's tracks. His first solo album, 1973's 'These Foolish Things' introduced what he's described as his 'ready-mades' - cover versions of recordings by artists whom he admires, which he then interprets in his own style.

This style is breathlessly described as his 'peerless ability to merge and where necessary mutate musical styles - from hyper-stylised cabaret chanson, through classic soul crooner to hard edged rock - creating the sheen and pure drama that has become his artistic signature'. That's as maybe but there's another reason that Bryan Ferry has continued to intrigue his army of fans and that's his interesting private life.

In 1975 he started dating the model Jerry Hall - she appeared on Roxy Music's Siren album cover and on the song Let's Stick Together. Unfortunately Jerry didn't, famously leaving him for Mick Jagger who allegedly quipped that he had to rescue her - from becoming Jerry Ferry.

Bryan moved on, marrying model Lucy Helmore in 1982 and having four children, including the pro fox-hunting campaigner, Otis, before they divorced in 2003. He remarried in January 2012. The glitter and the glitz - he always dressed to the nines and, indeed, was the face of M&S's Autograph range for men in 2006, is a far and intriguing cry from his origins, the son of Polly and Fred the farm labourer, who attended a school on the prosaically-known Spout Lane in Washington, County Durham.

Possibly this is why he is as at home playing Southend and Bridlington, as well as the Royal Albert Hall. Wherever he's playing, fans will be treated to music whose album editions featured Johnny Marr, Nile Rodgers and Marcus Miller as well as Flea, Ronnie Spector and Mark Knopfler. They may also be forgiven for wondering what is the secret of his enduring success.

After all, he turned 70 years young last month. Perhaps it lies in the answer he gave to a question posed ten years ago. When asked what was the best moment of his career, Bryan gave this touching answer: “I'm not really sure what it was, the best moment. You always hope it's to come.”

: For more information about tickets and times, call 0844 406 8666 or visit lighthousepoole.co.uk