Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Charlie Simpson began his musical career in 2001, gaining critical acclaim and commercial success as the lead guitarist and vocalist for pop-punk band Busted and as the frontman of rock act Fightstar before going solo.
Busted had four UK number one singles, performed to sold-out arenas across the UK and went on to win two BRIT Awards for ‘Best Pop Act’ and ‘Best British Breakthrough’ in 2004. Over the course of their career, the group released four studio albums, two of which reached the UK Top 10, and have penned several mega hits including their debut single “What I Go To School For” (UK #2) and the follow up tracks “Year 3000” (UK #2), notably covered by the Jonas Brothers and 5 Seconds of Summer, “Air Hostess” (UK #2) and “Thunderbirds Are Go” (UK #1), amounting to over 5 million records sold in the UK alone.
Switching from pop to post-hardcore, Charlie formed Fightstar in 2003, incorporating metal, alternative rock and other genres into their sound. In 2005, the band achieved two Top 20 singles, “Paint Your Target” (UK #9) and “Grand Unification Part 1” (UK #20), from their debut LP ‘Grand Unification’. The following year, Fightstar received a nomination for ‘Best British Band’ at the Kerrang! Awards and in 2009, their record ‘Be Human’ entered the UK Albums Chart at number 20.
After a sold-out show at London’s O2 Kentish Town Forum, Charlie’s upcoming solo album ‘Hope Is A Drug’ can now be pre-ordered and is accompanied by his latest single, “Twice”, available on all streaming platforms. The majority of the album was self-produced at Charlie’s own recording studio, built from scratch during the global lockdown. With intimate ballads such as “I See You” and up-tempo pop songs including “Blameless” and the forthcoming single “All the Best”, the record showcases an artist confidently pushing the boundaries of a remarkable 20-year career. Additionally, Charlie has announced that the ‘Hope Is A Drug’ UK Tour in April and May this year comprises 15 headline shows including two dates at the new King’s Cross live music venue Lafayette.
Socials:
Twitter: @CharlieSimpson
Instagram: @charliesimpson
Facebook: Charlie Simpson