WAYNE Hussey has obviously calmed down since his days as the wild man of Goth.

Not only is The Mission lead singer now a happily married man and a father of two daughters, he even professes a liking for old-time crooners such as Frank Sinatra.

"Actually, I like to think of myself as the Goth Dean Martin," he says.

It seems a long time since he appeared on live television so drunk he could barely stand up, then proceeded to lob his shoes at presenter James Whale and tell him to "f*** off" .

Wayne, who is now living in Brazil, is happy to reminisce about that infamous incident.

"It was after a show in Sheffield and yes, I was very drunk, and no, I can't remember too much," he said.

"However, I do remember Yorkshire Television doing a very silly thing - after I had been escorted from the TV studio, they put me in the telephone room and let me answer the phones," he says.

"Now, most of the calls were complaints from viewers ringing up to complain about the bad language on the show.

"Needless to say, they got another earful down the phone.

"James Whale loved it, though. He invited me back six months later and this time he presented me with a bottle of wine on air, so there were no hard feelings."

Wayne first made his name with seminal Goths The Sisters of Mercy, but after falling out with lead singer Andrew Eldritch, left to form The Mission with bassist Craig Adams.

The Mission had great tunes, like Tower of Strength and attracted an army of famously die-hard fans who would frantically throw ripped up paper and confetti into the air at the band's gigs.

And those fans are still coming to his gigs today.

"Yes, you would have thought we'd all grown out of it by now though, wouldn't you?" he laughs.

If you want to see Wayne play live, you don't have to go as far as Brazil, as he is playing Worcester's Marr's Bar on Saturday, May 17 - though without his Mission mates.

And you could get on to his first solo album if you're there, because the gig is being recorded for release later this year.

"I've never played in Worcester before but I have been through it several times, as I used to live in Bristol and Hereford," he says.

"I'm looking forward to it."

Wayne says he has been playing solo shows for about a year and people don't know what to expect when they see him live.

"The solo shows are just me with either a guitar or sat at the piano," he says.

"There are one or two songs I play where I use backing tracks.

"The songs I play are a mixture of Mission songs, new songs, and various cover versions.

"Most of the stuff I play is stuff I have never had the opportunity to play live with The Mission, although I do sometimes play some of the hits.

"I think the majority of people go away having thoroughly enjoyed themselves and with sore throats from having sung along so enthusiastically."

Wayne still plays with The Mission and says the band should be playing their next batch of gigs in October.

Wayne is not the only big 80s and 90s name to hit the Marr's Bar. The Pierpoint Street venue is also hosting fellow 80s Goth scene stalwarts All About Eve next Friday.

You can catch singer Julianne Reagan's amazing voice next Friday.