Throughout the 1970s he became famous for adopting a number of different characters and personae, from glam-rock king Ziggy to the so-called Thin White Duke.
Even teenagers, with their boundless enthusiasm for looking ridiculous, have to draw the line somewhere, and the artificial fabrics and science-fiction design of glam rock's outfits, which make the costumes in the closing credits of "Mamma Mia!"
The best TV shot mixing glam and government reform was of a grizzled Japanese rock star with flowing white hair and out-sized sunglasses handing flowers to her at a committee hearing, swooning in adulation over a clearly embarrassed Renho.