Kevin Simm
Encyclopedia
Kevin Ian Simm is an English pop
singer
and former member of the group, Liberty X
.
, Lancashire
, England
. He attended St Anne's Primary School then St. Mary’s Catholic Technology College in Leyland
between 1991 and 1996, where he showed promise as a junior footballer. In his last year in secondary school, he performed Elton John
's "Daniel
" in the school's annual show. Simm decided to concentrate on music and joined a local indie
band called AnAlien where he began writing
his own material
. His aunt applied secretly for him to go on the ITV
talent show, Stars in Their Eyes
, where he appeared as Simon Fowler
of Ocean Colour Scene
. After a few years of writing and performing on the northern pubs
and clubs circuit, and spending a summer season in a band called Force 5 with James Fox
, Simm auditioned for the ITV
reality TV show, Popstars
. Ultimately, he made it into the final 10, but was not chosen to get into the winning group, Hear’Say
.
The remaining five “losers”, including Simm, then formed the band Liberty X
. They subsequently went on to gain more success than Hear’Say
, including three albums and a UK
number one single
and Brit award for their track Just A Little. In 2005, Simm took part in the Channel 4
reality TV show, The Games, where he came second to Philip Olivier
. He later appeared in the Channel 4
reality TV show, The Games: Champion Of Champions in 2006. The following year, Liberty X
officially split up. Simm later stated, “It gave me a chance to break free from a career that had become more like a day job. I’m now able to concentrate on getting back to the roots of why I had wanted to be an artist in the first place.”
Following Liberty X
’s split, Simm began focusing on his solo career. He has created his own Myspace music profile, uploading demo tracks for his fans to hear his progress as a solo artist. In a March 2008 interview, he stated, “I’ve been very busy in the studio recording new solo tracks which I’ll hopefully be able to share with people very soon.” Simm has signed to JamDown Music, which his track Brand New is featured on their official website’s music player.
On 3 October 2008, Simm's debut album, titled "Brand New", was released in Japan.
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
and former member of the group, Liberty X
Liberty X
Liberty X were a British pop vocal group formed by the five contestants eliminated from the final ten qualifiers from the 2001 ITV show Popstars. The group consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
.
Biography
Simm was born on 5 September 1980 at ChorleyChorley
Chorley is a market town in Lancashire, in North West England. It is the largest settlement in the Borough of Chorley. The town's wealth came principally from the cotton industry...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. He attended St Anne's Primary School then St. Mary’s Catholic Technology College in Leyland
Leyland, Lancashire
Leyland is a town in the South Ribble borough of Lancashire, England, approximately six miles south of the city of Preston.Throughout the 20th and 21st century, the community has seen a large growth in industry, population and farming, due to the establishment of Leyland Motors, housing...
between 1991 and 1996, where he showed promise as a junior footballer. In his last year in secondary school, he performed Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's "Daniel
Daniel (song)
"Daniel" was a major hit song by Elton John. It appeared on the 1973 album Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player. It was written by John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin. In the United States the song reached #2 on the pop charts and #1 on the adult contemporary charts for two weeks in the spring...
" in the school's annual show. Simm decided to concentrate on music and joined a local indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band called AnAlien where he began writing
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
his own material
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
. His aunt applied secretly for him to go on the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
talent show, Stars in Their Eyes
Stars In Their Eyes
Stars in Their Eyes is a British television talent show that ran on Saturdays nights from 21 July 1990 until 23 December 2006 in which contestants impersonate showbiz stars...
, where he appeared as Simon Fowler
Simon Fowler
Simon Fowler is the lead vocalist and acoustic guitarist in Ocean Colour Scene.-The Fanatics:Simon Fowler commenced his music career as the lead singer and songwriter for Birmingham band The Fanatics, which consisted of Simon Fowler , Damon Minchella , Paul Wilkes and Caroline Bullock...
of Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene
Ocean Colour Scene are an English Britpop band formed in Moseley, Birmingham in 1989. They have had five Top 10 albums and six Top 10 singles to date.-Early days :...
. After a few years of writing and performing on the northern pubs
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
and clubs circuit, and spending a summer season in a band called Force 5 with James Fox
James Fox (singer)
James Fox, real name . is a pop music singer, songwriter, pianist and guitarist. He represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 in Istanbul...
, Simm auditioned for the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
reality TV show, Popstars
Popstars (UK series 1)
Popstars was a UK talent show series that was broadcast on ITV in early 2001. It was the first UK series of the international Popstars franchise, and was billed as a documentary on the formation of a modern pop group. The series began with audition rounds of aspiring singers performing songs...
. Ultimately, he made it into the final 10, but was not chosen to get into the winning group, Hear’Say
Hear’Say
Hear'Say were a British manufactured pop group created in February 2001 from the winners of Popstars, an ITV reality TV show based on a New Zealand show of the same name. They enjoyed huge success with their debut single "Pure and Simple", helped by the publicity surrounding Popstars, the first of...
.
The remaining five “losers”, including Simm, then formed the band Liberty X
Liberty X
Liberty X were a British pop vocal group formed by the five contestants eliminated from the final ten qualifiers from the 2001 ITV show Popstars. The group consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
. They subsequently went on to gain more success than Hear’Say
Hear’Say
Hear'Say were a British manufactured pop group created in February 2001 from the winners of Popstars, an ITV reality TV show based on a New Zealand show of the same name. They enjoyed huge success with their debut single "Pure and Simple", helped by the publicity surrounding Popstars, the first of...
, including three albums and a UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
number one single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
and Brit award for their track Just A Little. In 2005, Simm took part in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
reality TV show, The Games, where he came second to Philip Olivier
Philip Olivier
Philip Olivier is an English actor, model and stage performer best known for playing the role of Tim O'Leary in the soap opera Brookside.-Early life:...
. He later appeared in the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
reality TV show, The Games: Champion Of Champions in 2006. The following year, Liberty X
Liberty X
Liberty X were a British pop vocal group formed by the five contestants eliminated from the final ten qualifiers from the 2001 ITV show Popstars. The group consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
officially split up. Simm later stated, “It gave me a chance to break free from a career that had become more like a day job. I’m now able to concentrate on getting back to the roots of why I had wanted to be an artist in the first place.”
Following Liberty X
Liberty X
Liberty X were a British pop vocal group formed by the five contestants eliminated from the final ten qualifiers from the 2001 ITV show Popstars. The group consisted of Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Michelle Heaton, Kelli Young and Jessica Taylor...
’s split, Simm began focusing on his solo career. He has created his own Myspace music profile, uploading demo tracks for his fans to hear his progress as a solo artist. In a March 2008 interview, he stated, “I’ve been very busy in the studio recording new solo tracks which I’ll hopefully be able to share with people very soon.” Simm has signed to JamDown Music, which his track Brand New is featured on their official website’s music player.
On 3 October 2008, Simm's debut album, titled "Brand New", was released in Japan.
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales and certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
JAP Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
|||
| Brand New Brand New (Kevin Simm album) Brand New is the debut solo album released by Liberty X formerly Kevin Simm. The album was officially released on October 3, 2008 in Japan.- Track listing :-Charts:-Release History:... |
|
— | 12 |
|
| TBA |
Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... , digital download Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
— | — | |
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
JAP Oricon , established in 1999, is the holding company at the head of a Japanese corporate group that supplies statistics and information on music and the music industry in Japan. It started as , which was founded by Sōkō Koike in November 1967 and became known for its music charts. Oricon Inc... |
|||
| "Brand New" | 2008 | 115 | 25 | Brand New |
| "It's About Us" | — | 96 | ||
| "Hot Summer's Day" | 185 | — | ||
Record tracks
- Again
- The Boat
- Chasing Shadows
- Drunken Fool
- I Like It
- Kick Start
- Life's Design
- Never Stop Dreaming
- Not For Sale
- Say The Word
- Shed This Skin
- The Story Of My Life