It is 1980 and Kid Glover has been away in Scotland on Doctor's orders, recovering after a bit of a breakdown. Back in his home town in Yorkshire, he is struggling to fit back into the scheme of things. The Yorkshire Ripper has emptied the street and New Wave has exploded. It seems to be Ziggy Hero, a David Bowie impersonator from Halifax, who is marshalling the changes, and Kid quickly falls under his spell.
After an argument with his Dad, Kid moves into the Wigwam, the last remaining house on a condemned terrace occupied by Si, Ovo and Deeb, tragi-comic malcontents the lot of them. They are all looking forward to seeing Ziggy play. But when Ziggy suddenly disappears the week before his long-awaited public appearance it is Kid alone who continues to search for him long after everyone else has given up.