Velvet voiced Gnarls Barkley vocalist Cee Lo Green is riding high in the singles charts with new single ‘F**K You’, but it may come as a surprise to fans to learn that when he was growing up one of his music heroes was more sneer than soul.

He revealed to bemused onlookers at last month’s Reeperbahn Festival that when he was growing up he couldn’t get enough of Billy Idol.

“I’d definitely do a cover of ‘Flesh for Fantasy’,” he said, before breaking out in to an impromptu acapella cover of the 80s rock hit.