NEW YORK (AP) - Disgraced star Gary Glitter is planning a comeback with a new album, prompting calls to that the new CD is blocked. But the government and the music industry have admitted they are powerless to stop the release of the record.
The release is Glitter's first new album since he was jailed for collecting thousands of pornographic pictures of young children on his computer.
Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, told BBC News Online that he would be writing to the home secretary asking him to block the release.
"I think it's disgraceful that a convicted paedophile should be able to peddle his wares to young children, especially when young people are the biggest buyers of pop music," he said.
Inspired
"At worst, he should be handled with care, and at best he should be stopped from promoting and distributing his records," he said.
The album includes songs inspired by his court case and his two-month spell in prison, according to the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. Mr Watson has also written to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) to ask them to block the record.
But a spokesman for the Home Office said there was no action they could take unless the content of the album was extreme enough to come under legislation like the obscene publications act.
"I'm not aware of any powers that are at the disposal of the home secretary for banning a record in general terms," the spokesman said.
The BPI said they could not put pressure on record companies or distributors. "He was convicted, he served his time and he's a free man now," a spokeswoman told BBC News Online. "We're pro any freedom of expression and against any censorship."
Glitter's official fan club website says he is considering making Lost on Life Street available only to fan club members. There could also be a video release featuring all the music videos from Glitter's career, the site says. And the singer, real name Paul Francis Gadd, is planning a small-scale UK tour at Christmas time, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Conviction
Glitter was jailed at the end of 1999 after he admitted 54 charges of possessing child pornography downloaded from the internet.
The singer admitted making indecent images of children under 16 between January and November 1997. He had downloaded material from the internet that included images of girls as young as two being abused.
It was thought that the conviction ended his pop career, and he has been living in Cuba with his Cuban girlfriend since being released.
Glitter had 12 UK top ten hits, including I'm the Leader of the Gang, I Love You Love Me Love and Always Yours, since beginning his career in the early 1970s.
Glitter's manager was unavailable for comment.
