Steve Ellis came back to Brighton with a vengeance, playing to a healthy crowd at the Concorde 2.

There was the expected crowd of 40-year-olds who remember Everlasting Love when it first came out, swaying and gazing nostalgically into their beer.

But there were also an unusually high number of girls in little tops transfixed at the front - the likely result of a raid on their dad's vinyl collection.

Two girls even came down from Edinburgh to see the East End boy who done good.

But the most noticeable thing about Steve Ellis's album launch gig was how much the band seemed to be enjoying themselves.

They all seemed relaxed and happy, although Ellis couldn't make up his mind about which guitarist to have.

Among the guest strummers were support band Taller Than's Mike Ross on slide guitar but blink and you missed him as another guest guitarist took his pace ... and another ... and another.

After a long and distinguished touring and album career, Ellis has earned his place in UK pop history.

Dressed as if he had just stepped out of a North Laine boutique with his crease-free trendy jeans, old school trainers and checked shirt, the singer graced the stage with two renditions of Everlasting Love.

After the gig, he was philosophical as he sipped a cup of tea. He said: "Same old, same old - I'm knackered."

Of the song that shot him to fame in 1969 at the age of 16 he said: "You've got to do it haven't you? Everyone wants to hear it."

Ellis's album, A Sort Of Innocence, is the product of the last year complete with new songs and an acoustic version of Everlasting Love.

Thursday's gig marked his musical return to his adopted home town after decades of international touring.

Fans can look forward to the launch of his autobiography - but there is one thing standing in the way of it.

Ellis says: "I don't know what to call it."