HE has written some of the most popular songs of the last 30 years and turned a classic novel into a bestselling pop album and sellout live show.

Now star composer Jeff Wayne is bringing his eye-popping show to Scotland.

Wayne is the man behind the musical version of The War Of The Worlds, the 1978 concept album based on the 19th century HG Wells novel about an alien invasion.

The live show, filled with CGI effects, flaming alien heat rays and alien fighting machines, stars pop stars Jason Donovan, Liz McLarnon and former X Factor finalist Rhydian, as well as a giant hologram of the late Hollywood superstar Richard Burton.

The Welsh actor, who died in 1984, appeared on Wayne's original album as the narrator of the story.

Wayne, 67, has used the latest motion-capture technology to bring the acclaimed star back to life to take part in the new tour.

He appears as an 11ft high 3D hologram floating above the stage, telling the story, interacting with the live cast and attacking aliens for the show, which arrives at Glasgow's SECC tomorrow.

Jeff, who also appears live to conduct the orchestra, said he was delighted to have his old friend back working alongside him again, and competing for the limelight with the live performers on stage with him.

He said: "When the record came out, we always thought it would make a live tour.

"There were lots of offers to do concerts but I always wanted to do it properly with a visual representation and there was never the technology available to get it right.

"We got the idea to go touring when I was remixing the album for a remastered version, and the technology was there and the time was right.

"When we did the first tour back in 2006, we used some new technology but now we have real cutting-edge technology, used photographs of Richard from the right age range of the character and used motion capture to make the head move freely.

"He can now talk to the live actors and change angles. We're very lucky to have so many great performers working with us as well.

"We wanted Jason, Liz and Rhydian and they are great for the parts and they really wanted to take part and are excited about it. It's going to be something special."

His iconic album, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds, was one of the biggest hits of the 70s and has spent more than 330 weeks in the album charts since its release, selling millions of copies.

The story is based on the novel, which tells the story of an invasion in Victorian England by Martians and features themed songs and music, as well as the narrator played by Burton.

Featuring musicians Justin Hayward from the Moody Blues, David Essex and the late Phil Lynnot, the record was a labour of love for the American producer and composer, who sank his life savings into the project to get it off the ground.

He said: "In the 70s I was doing a lot of producing for people like David Essex but my dad reminded me that I had always dreamt of composing my own work on a grand scale and then, a short time after that, I was given a copy of the HG Wells novel.

"It just clicked for me and I decided to make that my project. I bought the rights and CBS records became interested and put in £70,000 but the total cost was around £240,000 and the rest came from every penny I had.

"It was a huge gamble but my wife and family supported my gamble, and we went for it. The house would have gone, everything, but we went for it because it was a once in a lifetime opportunity."

With star acts doing the music he was writing - including classics such as The Eve Of The War and Forever Autumn - the project needed a narrator to tell the story.

"Richard was at the top of the list and we had a bit of luck in that a friend had seen a play he was doing in New York, so I sent a copy of the script and a letter to the stage door and hoped he would get it and read it.

"A few days later, his manager called and said, 'Count him in.'

"His reputation did precede him. He was a hell-raiser, so when we went to California to record it, we didn't know what to expect but the man who walked through that door was the most charming and prepared professional I have ever worked with.

"We had him for five studio days. He had almost all of it done in the first day.

"I met him after the album's release and gave him some gold and platinum records and he loved it. His first idea that it was a hit was when people were asking him to sign copies and he said to me, 'I'm a pop star.'

"Then, in 1984, I was working with him on some readings of Dylan Thomas poems and he had commissioned me to do the score. He had to go to Switzerland with his wife but our work was all planned out. A week later, he died of a brain haemorrhage.

"He was a lovely guy and my last memory of him was him giving me this huge bear hug and saying he would see me again in a few weeks."

The new version of the show features Donovan as the artilleryman fighting the aliens, Rhydian as the parson, while ex-Atomic Kitten Liz McLarnon plays his wife.

She said: "This is one of the most exciting things I've ever been involved with, as I remember growing up with my dad playing the record all the time. It's one of his favourite albums, so for me to be part of it is amazing."

Donovan said: "I grew up listening to this album so it's very special to be performing one of the main roles. The Artilleryman is a key character and it lets me explore both the actor and singer within me.

"I can't believe I'll be performing live on the same stage as an 11ft high hologram of Richard Burton, giant screens, a Martian fighting machine, a band, an orchestra and, of course, Jeff."

HG Wells published The War Of The Worlds in 1898 but it has been remade and reimagined in dozens of formats.

The most famous versions include the 1953 film, which updated the story to fifties America, and Orson Welles' radio broadcast in 1938.

The Citizen Kane star recorded a radio version of the story which was so believable that listeners in the US stocked thought it was a news broadcast.

Other film and TV versions followed, but it was Jeff's hit album that brought it up to date in 1978.

The most successful adaptation of the story came from Steven Spielberg, who made a version starring Tom Cruise and Tim Robbins in 2005.

Jeff Wayne's Musical Version Of The War of the Worlds is at Glasgow's SECC tomorrow, and you can find out more or buy tickets on www.thewaroftheworlds.com.