Charlie Simpson

For the 7 year old fundraiser, see Charlie Simpson (fundraiser). For the football player, see Charlie Simpson (footballer).

Charlie Simpson
Simpson performing live in 2011.
Background information
Birth name	Charles Robert Simpson
Born	7 June 1985 (1985-06-07) (age 26)
Origin	Woodbridge, England
Genres	Post-hardcore, alternative rock, pop-rock, acoustic, indie rock
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, guitarist
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, keyboard, piano, harmonica, drums
Years active	2001–present
Labels	Search and Destroy, Pledge Music, Trustkill, Gut, Deep Elm, Island
Associated acts	Fightstar, Busted
Website	charliesimpsonmusic.com

Charles Robert Simpson (born 7 June 1985 in Woodbridge, Suffolk),^[1] is an English musician, singer and songwriter. He was the youngest member of multi BRIT Award-winning band Busted, and is the lead vocalist, guitarist and co-lyricist in alternative rock band Fightstar.^[2][3][4] Allmusic have noted that Simpson is perhaps "the only pop star to make the convincing transition from fresh-faced boy bander to authentic hard rock frontman."^[5] Simpson is a multi-instrumentalist, skilled at playing the guitar, keyboard, piano and drums.^[6][7] Following three successful studio albums and subsequent tours, Fightstar initiated an extended hiatus in 2010, allowing Simpson to focus on his solo career. Working with the fan funding platform Pledge Music, 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.

Early life and family

Simpson attended Uppingham School. He has two older 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 a British pianist, conductor, and composer, a notable figure in the musical life of his time.^[8]

Career

The three Simpson brothers (Charlie, William and Edward) are all musicians. Charlie first shot to fame with pop act Busted as a result to responding to an advertisement placed by Matt Willis and James Bourne in NME magazine in 2001.^[9] Busted consisted of Charlie on lead guitar and occasionally drums, Willis on bass guitar and Bourne on rhythm guitar, with all three providing vocals. Over a short period of two years, the trio had major success and sold over 3 million records,^[10] won two BRIT Awards,^[11] and also won Record of The Year in 2004.^[12]

However, Simpson was growing increasingly discontent with the pop star lifestyle and the music he was performing.^[13] As an avid fan of rock music, he felt unfulfilled by the commercial pop songs of Busted.^[13] He had met Alex Westway in late 2003 and Fightstar were formed shortly afterwards. For over a year he would lead a secret "double life", as by night he would attend rehearsal sessions with his new band after completing obligated media work and concert performances with Busted.^[13] During 2004, he and Westaway wrote Fightstar's debut EP, They Liked You Better When You Were Dead, a post-hardcore record, that differed greatly to the music of Busted.^[14] The EP was recorded during November with Mark Williams in London.^[13] During this time, speculation began to grow about the frontman's future, and he finally announced he was leaving Busted to pursue his career full time with Fightstar in January 2005.^[15] In a 2009 interview Charlie explained "It was a fun thing to be doing, and I got on well with everyone I was doing it with, but on the other side, the music just wasn’t fulfilling me in any way. I have good memories of the time, because we were travelling the world and doing some amazing things, but then as far as self-fulfilment goes, Fightstar was all I wanted to do." ^[16] Initially the band were faced with much scepticism during their emergence, due to Simpson's pop background. However, they began to receive positive reactions to early live shows and upon release, their debut EP was a critical success.^[17]

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'.^[18] Fightstar went on to record their debut full-length studio album with renowned rock producer, Colin Richardson. Grand Unification was released on March 13, 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".^[17] Scottish music publication, The Fly also lauded the album as "one of the 21st Century’s ultimate rock debuts".^[19] Shortly afterwards the band went on to receive nominations at the Kerrang! Awards for "Best British Newcomer" and "Best British Band".^[20] After leaving Island Records due to a disagreement over the bands artistic direction,^[21] the band signed to an independent label called Institute Records which was a division of Gut Records to release their second album.^[22] One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours (2007), peaked at #27 on the UK Album Chart,^[23] before releasing a b-sides compilation album titled, Alternate Endings (2008). The four-piece then funded and co-produced third album, Be Human (2009), which became their highest charting album after peaking at #20 in the UK.^[24]

On the 29 July 2009, he made a Myspace page for his acoustic solo work. There are currently 3 songs on the page, 'Dead Man Walking', 'Empty Guns (Demo)', and 'Carry Her'.^[25] 'Carry Her' was previously available on The Suffolk Explosion. The four members of the band are currently involved in a low-budget production called, In God We Trust, an upcoming horror film (previously known as Human Instrumentality Project). It is to be directed by Alex Gingell and Philip Koch alongside Fightstar's own Dan Haigh and Alex Westaway, who will also appear in the movie. Charlie Simpson and Omar Abidi will also feature and Fightstar will be providing the score for the film. A release date is yet to be revealed.^[26]

Solo career

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.^[27]

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 Pledge Music 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 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 is titled 'Young Pilgrim' and was released on 15th August 2011.^[28] The second single to be taken from the album was called Parachutes and was released on 7 August 2011. The track listing for the album has been released as it was available to pre order. Charlie announced a 4 date tour in June/July 2011.

Discography

Studio Albums

Album Title	Album details	Peak chart positions
		UK [29]	UK Indie [30]	SCO [31]
Young Pilgrim	Released: August 15, 2011 Label: PIAS Recordings Format: CD, digital download	6	3	7

Extended Plays

• 2010: When We Were Lions (EP)

Singles

Title	Year	Chart Positions			Album
		UK	UK Indie	SCO
"Down Down Down"	2011	65	9	—	Young Pilgrim
"Parachutes"		44	5	39
"Cemetery"		—	32	—

With Busted

Main article: Busted discography

• 2002: Busted
• 2003: A Present for Everyone
• 2004: A Ticket for Everyone: Busted Live

With Fightstar

Main article: Fightstar discography

• 2005: They Liked You Better When You Were Dead (EP)
• 2006: Grand Unification
• 2007: One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours
• 2008: Alternate Endings
• 2009: Be Human

References

1. ^ "Biography for Charlie Simpson (V)". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1387384/bio. Retrieved 2009-11-22. 
2. ^ (2005) Album notes for They Liked You Better When You Were Dead by Fightstar [Digipack]. Sandwich Leg Records (CID887).
3. ^ (2006) Album notes for Grand Unification by Fightstar [CD]. Island Records (CID8165).
4. ^ (2007) Album notes for One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours by Fightstar [CD]. Gut Records (INSRECCD04).
5. ^ O'Brien, Jon (15 June 2011). "Biography: Charlie Simpson". Allmusic (Rovi Corporation). http://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-simpson-p598273/biography. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
6. ^ Steele, Heather (17 August 2011). "Charlie Simpson: Interview". Gigwise. http://www.gigwise.com/features/65975/Charlie-Simpson-Interview. Retrieved 22 August 2011. 
7. ^ (2009) Album notes for Be Human by Fightstar [CD]. Search & Destroy Records (SADCDA002).
8. ^ "Brigade - Interview". Designer Magazine. http://designermagazine.tripod.com/BrigadeINT1.html. Retrieved 2009-11-22. 
9. ^ Johann Hari. "Busted: An Interview". http://www.johannhari.com/2003/12/22/busted-an-interview. Retrieved 2009-11-22. 
10. ^ America Or Busted Episode 2
11. ^ "Busted Confirm Split". NME. http://www.nme.com/news/busted/18956. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
12. ^ "Busted Win Record Of Year". Sky. http://showbiz.sky.com/Busted-Win-Record-Of-Year. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
13. ^ ^{a b c d} "I Am Fightstar...". Archived from the original on 2009-09-08. http://thisiswhoiam.kerrangradio.co.uk/Celebrities/View/Fightstar. Retrieved 2009-08-05. 
14. ^ "Fightstar Biography". All Music. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p756622/biography. Retrieved 2009-01-29. 
15. ^ "Boy band Busted split". London: Daily Mail. 2005-01-13. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-333986/Boy-band-Busted-split.html. Retrieved 2009-07-29. 
16. ^ "This is who I am Orange Exclusive". Kerrang!. http://thisiswhoiam.kerrangradio.co.uk/Celebrities/View/Fightstar. Retrieved 2009-11-01. 
17. ^ ^{a b} "INTERVIEW: Fightstar". Yorkshire Evening Post. http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/music-gigs/INTERVIEW-Fightstar.4925133.jp. Retrieved 2009-01-29. ^{[dead link]}
18. ^ Amazon.co.uk: The Suffolk Explosion: Various Artists: Music
19. ^ "Fightstar 'Be Human' (Search & Destroy)". The Fly. http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/album-reviews/4711/fightstar. Retrieved 2009-04-27. 
20. ^ "Fightstar up for best band award". CBBC. 2006-08-10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4780000/newsid_4781000/4781007.stm. Retrieved 2009-07-15. 
21. ^ "Fightstar end Island Records contract". Digital Spy. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a36783/fightstar-end-island-records-contract.html. Retrieved 2006-09-08. 
22. ^ "Fightstar Biography". NME. http://www.nme.com/artists/fightstar#biography. Retrieved 2009-07-15. 
23. ^ "One Day Son This Will All Be Yours". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=5669. Retrieved 2009-09-08. 
24. ^ "Be Human". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/albuminfo.php?id=13946. Retrieved 2009-09-08. 
25. ^ "Charlie Simpson on Myspace Music". Myspace. http://www.myspace.com/charliesimpsonmusic. Retrieved 2009-07-15. 
26. ^ "IMDb - In God We Trust (2009)". IMDb. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1247392/. Retrieved 2009-09-09. 
27. ^ "Fightstar Interview". Norwich Gigs. Archived from the original on 2010-04-15. http://norwichgigs.co.uk/interviews/fightstar-2/. 
28. ^ http://itunes.apple.com/gb/preorder/young-pilgrim-deluxe-edition/id442837303
29. ^ "Top 40 Official UK Albums Archive". The Official Charts Company. 21 August 2011. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/3/2011-08-27/. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
30. ^ "Top 40 Independent Albums Archive". The Official Charts Company. 21 August 2011. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/13/2011-08-27/. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 
31. ^ "Top 40 Scottish Albums Archive". The Official Charts Company. 21 August 2011. http://www.theofficialcharts.com/archive-chart/_/23/2011-08-27/. Retrieved 21 August 2011. 

External links

• Official website
• Charlie Simpson at Allmusic
• Charlie Simpson on Myspace
• Charlie Simpson on Facebook
• Charlie Simpson on Twitter

Persondata
Name	Simpson, Charles Robert
Alternative names
Short description	English musician
Date of birth	7 June 1985
Place of birth	Woodbridge, Suffolk, England
Date of death
Place of death