Kevin Simm Explained

Kevin Simm should not be confused with Kevin Simms.

Kevin Simm
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Kevin Ian Simm
Birth Date:1980 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Chorley, Lancashire, England
Years Active:2001–present
Current Member Of:Wet Wet Wet
Past Member Of:Liberty X

Kevin Ian Simm (born 5 September 1980) is an English singer and songwriter. He was a member of Liberty X (2001–2007) and is the vocalist of Wet Wet Wet. Simm also won The Voice UK in 2016.

Early life

Simm was born on 5 September 1980 in Chorley, Lancashire, England. He attended St Anne's Primary School and then St. Mary's Catholic Technology College in Leyland between 1991 and 1996, where he performed Elton John's "Daniel" in the school's annual show. Simm decided to concentrate on music and formed the indie-pop band called AnAlien in 1996. In 1999, he applied to go on the ITV talent show, Stars in Their Eyes, where he appeared as Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene. In 2000 he sang in the pop band Force 5 with James Fox.

Career

2001–2007: Liberty X

In 2001, Simm auditioned for the ITV reality television music competition Popstars, a show intended to form a new group from individual contestants, becoming one of the finalists. While the five winning contestants formed Hear'Say, the five runner-up contestants – Simm, Tony Lundon, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young and Michelle Heaton – formed the group Liberty X and signed a multimillion-pound record contract with Richard Branson and V2 Records. Liberty X released three studio albums and enjoyed seven Top 10 singles from 2001 to 2005: Their biggest hit, "Just a Little", reached number one in May 2002; "Thinking It Over", "Got to Have Your Love", "Song 4 Lovers", and "Holding on for You" all reached the top 5 in the UK Singles Chart. They split up in 2007 after selling over 3 million records worldwide.

During this time, Simm appeared on The Games, in 2005, winning a silver medal.[1] [2] [3] [4]

2008–2015: Brand New and Liberty X return

In 2007 Simm signed with the independent label Jamdown Records and started recording his first solo work.[5] On 3 October 2008 he released his debut studio album, Brand New, first only in Japan and two years later in Europe.[6] The title song was released as the lead single and had a music video directed by Fatty Soprano.[7] From 2009 to 2012 Simm performed live at festivals and pubs.[8]

In 2013 Simm reunited with Liberty X for ITV2's reality show The Big Reunion, along with other pop groups of their time – B*Witched, Honeyz, 911, Five and Atomic Kitten – to solve past problems and do a live performance at the London Hammersmith Apollo on 26 February.[9] [10] Due to the success, Liberty X returned for a full tour between 2013 and 2014.[11] In 2017, Heaton, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young reformed Liberty X again, but as a three-piece girl group, without Kevin and Tony.[12]

2016–2017: The Voice UK and Recover

In 2016, Simm auditioned for the fifth series of The Voice UK singing a soulful version of Sia's "Chandelier".[13] All four coaches – will.i.am, Ricky Wilson, Boy George and Paloma Faith – turned their chairs for him and he chose to join Faith's team.[13] Simm lost against Faith Nelson in the battle rounds and was nearly eliminated from the competition, but was stolen by Wilson, joining his team for the knockout rounds. He won the season of The Voice UK on 9 April.[14]

Performed! scope="col"
SongOriginal artistResult
Blind Audition"Chandelier"SiaAll judges turned and joined team Paloma
Battle Rounds"Spotlight" (against Faith Nelson)Jennifer HudsonLost, joined team Ricky
Knockout rounds"Wings"BirdyFast pass
Quarter-final"I'm Kissing You"Des'reeFast pass
Semi-final"The Power of Love" (as part of Team Ricky)Huey Lewis and the NewsSafe
"Rolling in the Deep"Adele
Live final"Stay"RihannaWinner
"Mr. Brightside" (with Ricky Wilson)The Killers
"All You Good Friends"Original song

In the same month, Simm signed with Universal and released his new single as The Voice winner, "All You Good Friends"; the song peaked at number 24 in the UK and 3 in Scotland. On 28 October 2016 it was released his second studio album, Recover, the first by Universal, and chosen "Wildfire" as single.[15]

2018–present: Wet Wet Wet

On 25 September 2018, it was announced that Simm would join Scottish band Wet Wet Wet as the new lead singer, replacing original member Marti Pellow.[16] He debuted with the band in November.[17] On 5 November 2021 they released their first album with Simm as vocalist, The Journey, peaking at number 29 in UK.[18]

Personal life

Simm married Laura Simm in June 2008, after 7 years of dating. They have two children: Charlie, born in October 2011, and Oliver, born in November 2013.

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetailsPeak chart positions
UK
Brand New
  • Released: 3 October 2008
  • Label: Jamdown
Recover
  • Released: 28 October 2016
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: CD, digital download
114

EPs

TitleDetails
Love & Pain[19]
  • Released: 3 November 2017
  • Label: Tristar Records
Unplugged Acoustic[20]
  • Released: 12 October 2018
  • Label: Tristar Records
  • Format: Digital download
Snow & Flakes[21]
  • Released: 15 November 2019
  • Label: Tristar Records
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As main artist
Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[22]
SCO
[23]
"Brand New"2008Brand New
201624 3
"Wildfire"[24] Recover
"Strangers"[25]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
As featured artist
TitleYearAlbum
"Tennessee Whiskey"[26]
2020rowspan="3"
"Stay Another Day"[27]
"Freedom"[28]
2022

Songwriting credits

Filmography

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1999Stars in Their EyesContestantSeries 10
2001PopstarsContestantSeries 1
2005The GamesContestantSeries 3
2013The Big ReunionHimself
2016The Voice UKContestantSeries 5

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ITVS to reform pop bands for The Big Reunion. Thursday, 18 October 2012 . Broadcast . 18 October 2012 . 18 October 2012.
  2. Web site: The Games. UK Game Shows. 4 May 2019.
  3. Web site: Kevin Simm premieres Wildfire music video. The Telegraph. Clive. Morgan. 30 September 2016. 4 May 2019.
  4. Web site: Simm-Ply Does It: An ode to Kevin Simm. Vada Magazine. Jonathan. Dahl. 6 December 2016. 4 May 2019.
  5. Web site: Kevin Simm admits failure on The Voice would mean the 'end' for his career. 5 March 2016 . Morro.co. 12 April 2023.
  6. Web site: Brand New - Kevin Simm. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  7. Web site: Kevin Simm. musicandbands.co.uk. 12 April 2023.
  8. Web site: Where are Tony Lundon and Kevin Simm from Liberty X now?. 21 May 2022 . ok.co.uk. 12 April 2023.
  9. Web site: Atomic Kitten, 5ive, B*Witched, 911, more to reunite for ITV2 show . Goodacre . Kate . Digital Spy . 18 October 2012.
  10. Web site: Atomic Kitten, 5ive, Liberty X, 911, B*Witched and The Honeyz are all to reunite for ITV2 show The Big Reunion. Harvey. Joanna. Daily Mirror. 18 October 2012.
  11. Web site: Atomic Kitten and 5ive set to reform for ITV2's The Big Reunion . Metro. UK . 18 October 2012.
  12. News: Liberty X are reforming as a girl band. Bychawski. Adam. NME. 2017-01-18. 2022-11-13.
  13. News: Can Kevin Simm WIN The Voice? Former Liberty X singer puts the coaches in a spin. Walker. Danny; Cooper, Lorna. 30 January 2016. Daily Mirror. 13 April 2016.
  14. News: Liberty X's Kevin Simm has only gone and won The Voice. Copson. Josie. 10 April 2016. Cosmopolitan. 13 April 2016.
  15. Web site: Recover - Kevin Simm. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  16. News: Binding . Lucia . Wet Wet Wet announce Liberty X star Kevin Simm as new frontman . 10 February 2019 . Sky News . 25 September 2018 . en.
  17. News: Kitchener . Shaun . Wet Wet Wet announce comeback WITHOUT Marti Pellow: Guess who's replaced him? . 10 February 2019 . Express.co.uk . 25 September 2018 . en.
  18. Web site: Cooper . Louise . Wet Wet Wet coming to Buxton Opera House in 2019 . www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk . 10 February 2019 . en . 4 December 2018.
  19. Web site: Love & Pain. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  20. Web site: Unplugged Acoustic. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  21. Web site: Snow & Flakes. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  22. Web site: UK Charts > Kevin Simm. Official Charts Company. 12 April 2023.
  23. Web site: Scottish Singles Chart - 15 April 2016 - 21 April 2016. Official Charts Company. 12 April 2023.
  24. Web site: Wildfire. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  25. Web site: Strangers. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  26. Web site: Tennessee Whiskey. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  27. Web site: Stay Another Day. iTunes. 12 April 2023.
  28. Web site: Freedom. iTunes. 12 April 2023.