Since then there have been wild and wonderful tales of on-stage satanic rituals, sex with dogs, nudity, homosexual acts, the sacrifice of animals, raping of young girls and heavy open drug use.

Some of the more outlandish claims that made it on to the internet included a story that he lowered a cage full of children into the audience which was then ripped to shreds.

And that he cut off his own penis in the middle of the show and kept on singing, blood dripping all over the stage.

– Simon Wilson. “Any scream will do…” article from Seven52 (The Evening Post, Nottingham) May 23-30.