Charlie Simpson
Charlie Simpson | |
---|---|
![]() Simpson performing in 2011 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Charles Robert Simpson |
Born | 7 June 1985 |
Origin | Woodbridge, Suffolk, England |
Genres | |
Occupations |
|
Instruments |
|
Years active | 2001–present |
Labels | |
Website | www |
Charles Robert "Charlie" Simpson (born 7 June 1985) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He is the youngest member of multi-BRIT Award-winning band Busted, and is the lead vocalist, guitarist and co-lyricist in alternative rock band Fightstar.[1][2][3] AllMusic has noted that Simpson is "perhaps the only pop star to make the convincing transition from fresh-faced boy bander to authentic hard rock frontman".[4] Simpson is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, keyboard, piano and drums.[5][6] In February 2016 Simpson released the first single with his new band, Once Upon A Dead Man, which was formed alongside his brothers Will and Edd, and Simon Britcliffe.
Following three successful studio albums and subsequent tours, Fightstar initiated an extended hiatus in 2010, allowing Simpson to focus on his solo career. Simpson released his debut EP When We Were Lions on Christmas Day 2010. His debut full-length album entitled Young Pilgrim was released on 15 August 2011. Simpson signed to Nusic Sounds record label in 2011 and his second solo album Long Road Home was released on 4 August 2014. On 10 November 2015, Busted announced they would be reforming with Simpson back in the original lineup.[7]
Early life and family
The youngest of three boys, Simpson was born in Woodbridge, Suffolk.[8] He has 2 brothers, Will and Edd;— Will was born in 1980 and is the vocalist and guitarist in Brigade and Edd was born in 1981 and is the lead singer and guitarist in an alternative band called Union Sound Set. Simpson has a very musical family dating back to Sir William Sterndale Bennett (mother's maiden name) who was an English pianist, conductor, and composer, a notable figure in the musical life of his time.[9]
Simpson was educated at Framlingham College's prep school Brandeston Hall[10] – he is the fifth generation Simpson to attend Framlingham[11] – and Uppingham School, where he was schoolmates with McFly drummer Harry Judd.
Career
Busted (2002-2005) (2015-present)
Charlie first shot to fame with pop rock/pop punk act Busted as a result to responding to an advertisement placed by Matt Willis and James Bourne in NME magazine in 2001.[12] Busted consisted of Charlie on lead guitar and occasionally drums, Willis on bass guitar and Bourne on rhythm guitar; all three members provided vocals. Over a period of two years, the trio had major success and sold over 3 million records,[13] won two BRIT Awards,[14] and also won Record of The Year in 2004.[15]
On 10th November 2015, Busted announced they would be reforming after 10 years and will embark on a 13-day UK tour as well as recording a new album.[7]
Fightstar (2003-present)
Despite the huge success of Busted, Simpson began to grow increasingly discontented with the pop star lifestyle and the music he was performing.[16] As an avid fan of rock music, he felt unfulfilled by the commercial pop songs of Busted.[16]
He met Alex Westaway in late 2003, forming what became Fightstar shortly afterwards. For over a year he would lead a secret "double life": by night he would attend rehearsal sessions with his new band after completing obligated media work and concert performances with Busted.[16] During 2004, he and Westaway wrote Fightstar's debut EP, They Liked You Better When You Were Dead. The EP showcased a heavier post-hardcore influenced sound that differed greatly to Busted's material.[17] The EP was recorded during November with Mark Williams in London.[16] During this time, speculation began to grow about Busted's future. He announced he was leaving Busted to pursue his career full-time with Fightstar in January 2005.[18]
Simpson then funded and put together a compilation album called The Suffolk Explosion, which was released through his own label Sandwich Leg Records. It showcased a number of unsigned bands from Charlie's home county of Suffolk, including Brigade and Prego, as well as a solo acoustic track written by him called "Carry Her".[19] Fightstar went on to record their debut full-length studio album with rock producer Colin Richardson. Grand Unification was released on 13 March 2006, and further proved the initial cynics wrong by receiving widespread positive reviews. In particular, Paul Brannigan of Kerrang! magazine stated the album was "one of the best British rock albums of the past decade".[20] Scottish music publication The Fly also lauded the album as "one of the 21st Century's ultimate rock debuts".[21] Shortly afterwards, the band went on to receive nominations at the Kerrang! Awards for "Best British Newcomer" and "Best British Band".[22] After leaving Island Records due to a disagreement over the band's artistic direction,[23] the band signed to an independent label called Institute Records which was a division of Gut Records to release their second album.[24] One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours (2007), peaked at No. 27 on the UK Album Chart,[25] before releasing a B-sides compilation album titled Alternate Endings (2008). The four-piece then funded and co-produced their third album, Be Human (2009), which became their highest charting album after peaking at No. 20 in the UK.[26]
On 29 July 2009, he made a Myspace page for his acoustic solo work. There were three songs on the page, "Dead Man Walking", 'Empty Guns (Demo)', and 'Carry Her'.[27] 'Carry Her' was previously available on The Suffolk Explosion.
Charlie recently got involved with film scoring, stating in an interview that this was something he was keen to pursue later in his career. He wrote the score for an independent British film Everyone Is Going To Die, which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival in March 2013. [needs update]
Solo career (2010-present)
Fightstar announced a hiatus at the beginning of 2010, stating that they were "taking some time off" for the remainder of 2010–11 to work on separate projects before regrouping in 2012 to begin working a new record. Simpson has started working on a solo acoustic album, while Westaway and Haigh will be completing post-production on the bands film and working on some music videos.[28]
Simpson went in to the studio in June 2010 to start recording his full-length debut album with producer Danton Supple, whose previous work includes Coldplay and The Cure. The album was funded through PledgeMusic and as one of the main incentives for the campaign, fans received an EP called When We Were Lions on Christmas Day 2010. The full-length album was finally finished in February 2011 and was mastered by John Davis at Metropolis Studios in London. The first single to be taken from the album was called "Down Down Down" and it had its first radio airplay on 11 April, as Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton's Record of the Week. The single was officially released on 16 May, though it was made available to buy on iTunes straight away. The album, titled Young Pilgrim was released on 15 August 2011. It went straight into the UK album chart at number 6, having been at number 5 in the midweeks. Simpson signed to PIAS Records in Germany and the album was released in Europe in August 2012.
On 2 February 2013, it was reported that Simpson had finished writing the follow up to his 2011 solo debut 'Young Pilgrim' and he would be heading in to the studio with producer Steve Osbourne (U2/Placebo) to start recording in early March.
Simpson spent the summer of 2013 playing on the Vans Warped Tour in the US, which was the first time he has played live as a solo artist in America. During October 2013, Charlie went on a tour of the UK supporting rock band, Deaf Havana. He previewed two new tracks from the forthcoming album 'Winter Hymns' and 'Ten More Days'. In 2014, he will be undertaking a small run of solo shows in the UK in the lead up to the release of his second solo album.
Simpson announced on 28 April 2014 that his second solo album is to be called Long Road Home and will be released later that year, since revealing the release date would be 4 August 2014.[29] He also announced that he will be doing his biggest headline show to date at the London Roundhouse on 14 October.
In October 2014 Simpson announced through social media that he would play a 13 date UK solo acoustic tour in January/February of the following year.[30] It was also announced in the following month that he would be supported on this tour by Emma Blackery, Willow Robinson (for UK dates) and Pete Gardiner (for IE dates).[31]
On the 5th May, Simpson will release his 3rd solo album titled 'Little Hands' a compilation of rare tracks from 2010-2016. The first single release is set to be a stripped down version of 'Emily'.
Personal
Being from Suffolk, the singer is a lifelong Ipswich Town F.C. fan and was in attendance at the 2000 Division One play-off final between Ipswich and Barnsley F.C., the match finishing 4-2 to Ipswich. The singer also has shares in the club.[32]
Simpson married his long-time girlfriend Anna Barnard in June 2014, follow the announcement of their engagement the week earlier.[33] During a show on his 2015 UK Tour at London's Islington Assembly Hall, Simpson announced that he and his wife are expecting their first child together.[34] On July 22, Simpson's wife gave birth to their first son, Arlo Simpson.[35][36]
In 2004, Simpson was quoted in Tatler magazine as saying he supported the Conservative Party, stating that he'd "grown up with their views" and "way of doing things".[37] According to The Guardian, Simpson "was pilloried just like Phil Collins and Geri Halliwell before him".[38] However, he later denied this claim of a political allegiance to the Conservatives: "The Tory thing is complete bulls--t! It came out of Matt's mouth in an interview taking the complete p--s, and it was on the front cover of a newspaper. He was like laughing when he said it. Matt's Labour! He said something like, 'Now I've got loads of money I'm a f--king Tory boy,' laughing."[39]
Discography
Studio albums
Title | Details | Peak chart positions | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
UK [40] |
UK Indie [41] |
SCO [42] | ||
Young Pilgrim |
|
6 | 3 | 7 |
Long Road Home |
|
10 | 1 | 13 |
Little Hands[43] |
|
- | - | - |
Extended plays
Title | Details |
---|---|
When We Were Lions |
|
Singles
Title | Year | Chart positions | Album | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [40] |
UK Indie [44] |
SCO [45] | |||
"Down Down Down" | 2011 | 65 | 9 | 58 | Young Pilgrim |
"Parachutes" | 44 | 5 | 39 | ||
"Cemetery" | — | 32 | — | ||
"Farmer & His Gun" | 2012 | — | — | — | |
"Haunted" | 2014 | — | — | — | Long Road Home |
"Comets" | — | — | — | ||
"Walking with the San" (featuring San Bushmen tribe) |
2015 | — | — | — | Little Hands |
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that territory. |
References
- ^ They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (Digipack). Fightstar. Sandwich Leg Records. 2005. CID887.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ Grand Unification (CD). Fightstar. Island Records. 2006. CID8165.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours (CD). Fightstar. Gut Records. 2007. INSRECCD04.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ O'Brien, Jon. "Biography: Charlie Simpson". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ Steele, Heather. "Charlie Simpson: Interview". Gigwise. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
- ^ Be Human (CD). Fightstar. Search & Destroy Records. 2009. SADCDA002.
{{cite AV media notes}}
: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link) - ^ a b "Busted announce reunion tour and new music for 2016". BBC.com. Retrieved 10 November 2015.
- ^ "Biography for Charlie Simpson (V)". IMDb. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ "Brigade – Interview". Designer Magazine. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ "CHARLIE SIMPSON (S90-99)" (PDF). oldframlinghamian.com.
- ^ Simpson Family
- ^ Hari, Johann. "Busted: An Interview". Retrieved 22 November 2009.
- ^ "America Or Busted Episode 2". Video.google.com. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ "Busted Confirm Split". NME. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ "Busted Win Record of Year". Sky. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
- ^ a b c d "I Am Fightstar..." Archived from the original on 8 September 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Fightstar Biography". All Music. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
- ^ "Boy band Busted split". London: Daily Mail. 13 January 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2009.
- ^ ~ Charlie Simpson. "The Suffolk Explosion: Various Artists: Music". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: Fightstar". Yorkshire Evening Post. Archived from the original on 15 February 2009. Retrieved 29 January 2009.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Fightstar 'Be Human' (Search & Destroy)". The Fly. Retrieved 27 April 2009.
- ^ "Fightstar up for best band award". CBBC. 10 August 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ^ "Fightstar end Island Records contract". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 September 2006.
- ^ "Fightstar Biography". NME. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ^ "One Day Son This Will All Be Yours". Chart Stats. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ "Be Human". Chart Stats. Retrieved 8 September 2009.
- ^ "Charlie Simpson on Myspace Music". Myspace. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
- ^ "Fightstar Interview". Norwich Gigs. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Simpson, Charlie. ""HAUNTED" AVAILABLE NOW". www.charliesimpsonmusic.com. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
- ^ UK Tour 2015 Announcement Retrieved 3 June 2015
- ^ Solo Acoustic Tour Supports Retrieved 3 June 2015
- ^ http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/6107/busted-star-a-town-fan
- ^ Charlie Simpson Shares Wedding Picture Reveal.co.uk, July 23, 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2015
- ^ Busted's Charlie Simpson to be Father DailyMail.co.uk, 12 February 2015. Retrieved 24 June 2015
- ^ Today was an amazing day... - Charlie Simpson, Facebook. Retrieved September 21 2015
- ^ Baby & music news Charlie Simpson email update. Retrieved September 21 2015
- ^ Lewis, Jemima (10 October 2004). "Hey, cool! They vote Tory". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ Lynskey, Dorian (28 August 2007). "Party For Your Right To ... Life?". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ "Simpson: 'I'm No Tory'". Contact Music. 9 February 2005. Retrieved 7 August 2015.
- ^ a b "Charlie Simpson". Officialcharts.com/. Official Charts Company.
- ^ Peak positions for Indie albums in the UK:
- For Young Pilgrim: "Chart Archive > 21 August 2011 - 27 August 2011". Official Charts Company.
- For Long Road Home: "Chart Archive > 10 August 2014 - 16 August 2014". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Peak positions for albums in Scotland:
- For Young Pilgrim: "Chart Archive > 21 August 2011 - 27 August 2011". Official Charts Company.
- For Long Road Home: "Chart Archive > 10 August 2014 - 16 August 2014". Official Charts Company.
- ^ New Album: Charlie Simpson - Little Hand NUA Entertainment. Published 6 April 2016. Accessed 5 May 2016
- ^ Peak positions for Indie singles in the UK:
- For "Down Down Down": "Chart Archive > 15 May 2011 - 21 May 2011". Official Charts Company.
- For "Parachutes": "Chart Archive > 14 August 2011 - 20 August 2011". Official Charts Company.
- For "Cemetery": "Chart Archive > 06 November 2011 - 12 November 2011". Official Charts Company.
- ^ Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
- For "Down Down Down": "Chart Archive > 24 April 2011 - 30 April 2011". Official Charts Company.
- For "Parachutes": "Chart Archive > 14 August 2011 - 20 August 2011". Official Charts Company.
External links
- 1985 births
- Busted (band) members
- Living people
- People from Woodbridge, Suffolk
- Brit Award winners
- English rock singers
- English singer-songwriters
- English lyricists
- English guitarists
- English multi-instrumentalists
- Fightstar members
- Island Records artists
- People educated at Framlingham College
- PIAS Recordings artists
- Charlie Simpson