The Lip Up Fatty star – who used to own a hotel for fat people and once gulped down 29 Big Macs in a row – thought his health woes were behind him after a 2004 op reduced his weight from 31st to 13st.
But, now 64, Buster Bloodvessel has piled on the pounds again ahead of a 26-gig UK tour kicking off in Coventry on October 14.
READ MORE: Lewis Capaldi ‘forced’ out of ‘hell hole’ £1.6m home Ed Sheeran ‘told him to buy’
His plight has not been helped by a new-found love of Bulgarian spirit rakia – a fruit brandy which can be 50% proof.
Fans love his exploding waistline and taunt him with chants of “you fat b******” at every show.
(Image: Getty Images)
But he has not been able to get a check-up with a doctor and fears he may not live to finish his forthcoming tour.
Buster, who at his heaviest weighed in at 34st, told the Daily Star: “A couple of times in my life I’ve been told I’m close to death.
“But during the Covid period I put weight back on, cooking three meals a day and not caring ‘cos I’d lost so much weight.
(Image: Redferns)
“I still can’t resist a proper fry-up breakfast and really like a good curry. As for alcohol, I’m absolutely obsessed with a drink from Bulgaria called Rakia. I feel heavier than I was before.
“Unfortunately getting to see a doctor lately is like finding a piece of gold.’”
Buster – whose real name is Douglas Woods – said he had always been a “big lad”.
“I was bullied at school and being called fat did offend me occasionally. But I could stand up for myself. My tongue could be quite vicious.”
He used his looks to his advantage when he formed a band with eight school pals called Stoop Solo And The Sheet Starchers.
(Image: Redferns)
Club bosses loved their “bunch of nutters” act and – after changing its name to Bad Manners and his to Buster Bloodvessel after a character from The Beatles’ film Magical Mystery Tour – they were signed by Magnet Records.
They had four hit singles, two smash albums, famous fans included Princess Diana and the Kray Twins and they were seen as rivals to fellow London ska stars Madness.
He added: “I will bop til I drop definitely. I don’t know how long I’ve got left but I don’t worry about that. I just carry on.”
Bad Manners’ UK tour starts at the HMV Empire Coventry on October 14 and runs until February 24.
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
READ MORE:
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
