Declan Bennett
Encyclopedia
Declan Bennett is an English singer/songwriter, from 2001 to 2006 appearing under the name Sumladfromcov, now performing under his own name. As a teenager he was a member of pop/rock band Point Break
, and he has also performed lead roles in shows in London's West End
and throughout the United States.
, including appearances in Willy Russell’s Our Day Out in September 1996, and in Boy Band, which featured a number of his own compositions. He also performed with the National Youth Music Theatre
, in The Kissing-Dance 1999.
in a feature that put together a boy band.
Following his appearance, he was contacted in the studio by another band, Point Break
, which featured Brett Adams and David ‘Ollie’ Oliver from UK children’s TV programme Byker Grove
, who were signed to Warner Music, and who were looking for a new member.
The band released five singles, four of which made the UK top 20, and an album,which was number one in three countries in southeast Asia, including Japan, and made the UK top 40. Declan left the band in December 2000.
In January 2002, Declan was given the part of Guru Dazzle in Boy George
’s West End show Taboo
which received four Olivier Award nominations and he later took over one of the lead roles, Billy, playing alongside Matt Lucas
, Boy George, and Julian Clary
among others till the show closed in London in April 2003.
Declan also played the role of Billy in the UK tour of the show from December 2003 to 2004.
In January 2005, Declan released his first solo album The Painters Ball under the pseudonym Sumladfromcov on his own record label Covboy Records. This was followed by a limited-edition EP The Kitchen in May 2006.
In September 2006, Declan took over the role of Roger Davis in the American national tour of Broadway rock opera Rent
. He completed a nine-month tour of the United States from September 2006 to May 2007.. He would reprise the role on Broadway from October 2007 till May 2008.
Now performing as a singer-songwriter under his own name, in March 2007, Declan released a five-track iTunes-only EP 10 Nelson Road.
His second full-length album, entitled An Innocent Evening Of Drinking, was released on 14 April 2008.m An iTunes-only single "Therapy" packaged with two remixes (Olivia's Mix and New York Live Studio Mix) was released in the USA on 27 April 2009, in the rest of the world on 23 March 2009.
On January 31, 2010, Declan performed on the Grammy Awards with Green Day
as a cast member of American Idiot
the musical. The rock opera opened on Broadway on April 20, 2010. Declan was a member of the ensemble, understudying the roles of Will and Rock and Roll Boyfriend.
Declan released his latest album record:BREAKUP on April 25, 2011.
Solo releases
Point Break (band)
Point Break were a British pop group who found brief success between 1999 and 2000. Launched as a new boy band in 1999, the group featured Brett Adams, Declan Bennett and David "Ollie" Oliver who had acted in TV's Byker Grove. Within a year, they clocked up five UK Top 30 hit singles and an album...
, and he has also performed lead roles in shows in London's West End
West End of London
The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the city's major tourist attractions, shops, businesses, government buildings, and entertainment . Use of the term began in the early 19th century to describe fashionable areas to the west of Charing Cross...
and throughout the United States.
Early life
As a teenager, Declan performed with the Belgrade Youth Theatre and the Coventry Youth Operetta Group (YOG) CoventryCoventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
, including appearances in Willy Russell’s Our Day Out in September 1996, and in Boy Band, which featured a number of his own compositions. He also performed with the National Youth Music Theatre
National Youth Music Theatre
The National Youth Music Theatre or NYMT is a UK organisation for young people in the field of musical theatre, based in London. It runs acting auditions, workshops, and musical theatre productions...
, in The Kissing-Dance 1999.
Subsequent career
In May 1999, Declan was one of nine teenagers chosen to sing live on the British morning TV show This MorningThis Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
in a feature that put together a boy band.
Following his appearance, he was contacted in the studio by another band, Point Break
Point Break (band)
Point Break were a British pop group who found brief success between 1999 and 2000. Launched as a new boy band in 1999, the group featured Brett Adams, Declan Bennett and David "Ollie" Oliver who had acted in TV's Byker Grove. Within a year, they clocked up five UK Top 30 hit singles and an album...
, which featured Brett Adams and David ‘Ollie’ Oliver from UK children’s TV programme Byker Grove
Byker Grove
Byker Grove was a British television series which aired between 1989 and 2006 and was created by Adele Rose. The show was broadcast at 5.10pm after Newsround on CBBC on BBC One...
, who were signed to Warner Music, and who were looking for a new member.
The band released five singles, four of which made the UK top 20, and an album,which was number one in three countries in southeast Asia, including Japan, and made the UK top 40. Declan left the band in December 2000.
In January 2002, Declan was given the part of Guru Dazzle in Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
’s West End show Taboo
Taboo
A taboo is a strong social prohibition relating to any area of human activity or social custom that is sacred and or forbidden based on moral judgment, religious beliefs and or scientific consensus. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent by society...
which received four Olivier Award nominations and he later took over one of the lead roles, Billy, playing alongside Matt Lucas
Matt Lucas
Matthew Richard "Matt" Lucas is an English comedian, screenwriter and actor best known for his acclaimed work with David Walliams in the television show Little Britain; as well as for his portrayals of the scorekeeping baby George Dawes in the comedy panel game Shooting Stars, Tweedledee and...
, Boy George, and Julian Clary
Julian Clary
Julian Peter McDonald Clary is an English comedian and novelist, known for his deliberately stereotypical camp style, with a heavy reliance on innuendo and double entendre.-Early life and education:...
among others till the show closed in London in April 2003.
Declan also played the role of Billy in the UK tour of the show from December 2003 to 2004.
In January 2005, Declan released his first solo album The Painters Ball under the pseudonym Sumladfromcov on his own record label Covboy Records. This was followed by a limited-edition EP The Kitchen in May 2006.
In September 2006, Declan took over the role of Roger Davis in the American national tour of Broadway rock opera Rent
Rent (musical)
Rent is a rock musical with music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson based on Giacomo Puccini's opera La bohème...
. He completed a nine-month tour of the United States from September 2006 to May 2007.. He would reprise the role on Broadway from October 2007 till May 2008.
Now performing as a singer-songwriter under his own name, in March 2007, Declan released a five-track iTunes-only EP 10 Nelson Road.
His second full-length album, entitled An Innocent Evening Of Drinking, was released on 14 April 2008.m An iTunes-only single "Therapy" packaged with two remixes (Olivia's Mix and New York Live Studio Mix) was released in the USA on 27 April 2009, in the rest of the world on 23 March 2009.
On January 31, 2010, Declan performed on the Grammy Awards with Green Day
Green Day
Green Day is an American punk rock band formed in 1987. The band consists of lead vocalist and guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong, bassist and backing vocalist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tre Cool...
as a cast member of American Idiot
American Idiot (musical)
American Idiot is a one-act, through-sung stage musical. The show is an adaptation of punk rock band Green Day's concept album of the same name. Additional Green Day songs were interpolated from other sources, including 21st Century Breakdown, American Idiot b-sides, and an unreleased song called...
the musical. The rock opera opened on Broadway on April 20, 2010. Declan was a member of the ensemble, understudying the roles of Will and Rock and Roll Boyfriend.
Declan released his latest album record:BREAKUP on April 25, 2011.
Discography
With Point BreakPoint Break (band)
Point Break were a British pop group who found brief success between 1999 and 2000. Launched as a new boy band in 1999, the group featured Brett Adams, Declan Bennett and David "Ollie" Oliver who had acted in TV's Byker Grove. Within a year, they clocked up five UK Top 30 hit singles and an album...
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1999 | Do We Rock | Warner Music, single. |
| 1999 | Stand Tough | Warner Music, single. |
| 2000 | Freaky Time | Warner Music, single. |
| 2000 | You | Warner Music, single. |
| 2000 | Apocadelic | Warner Music, album. |
| 2000 | What About Us | Warner Music, single. |
Solo releases
| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2005 | The Painters Ball | Covboy Records, album. Released under the name Sumladfromcov, ref COVBCD01, on 24 January 2005. |
| 2006 | The Kitchen | Covboy Records, EP. Limited release under the name Sumladfromcov and sold at gigs and through the official website only. |
| 2007 | 10 Nelson Road | Covboy Records, EP. Download-only release through iTunes on 5 March 2007. |
| 2008 | An Innocent Evening of Drinking | Covboy Records, album, ref COVBCD002. Released on 14 April 2008. |
| 2009 | Therapy | Covboy Records, single. Download-only release through iTunes on 23 March 2009. |
| 2011 | record:BREAKUP | Covboy Records, album, ref COVBCD003. Released on 25 April 2011. |
External links
- Reviews of Our Day Out on Willy Russell's Official-Unofficial website
- Article on Boy Band on website CWN News & Information for Coventry & Warwickshire
- Article and reviews about The Kissing-Dance on the composer's official site
- Theatre's webpage about Taboo London production
- Official Declan Bennett website
- Official Declan Bennett myspace page