A former The Voice UK winner is now the frontman of a 80s band (Picture: PA)
A former winner of The Voice UK who was once in a pop group is now the lead singer of an 80s band.
After deciding to pursue a career in performing when he was a teenager, Kevin Simm formed the indie-pop band AnAlien in 1996.
Three years later he applied for the ITV talent show Stars in Their Eyes, where he appeared as Simon Fowler of Ocean Colour Scene.
Then, in 2001, Kevin auditioned for the series Popstars, where he was one of the finalists.
Although he didn’t win the series, alongside other finalists Tony Lundon, Jessica Taylor, Kelli Young and Michelle Heaton, they formed Liberty X.
Their group signed a multimillion-pound record contract with Richard Branson and V2 Records and released three albums, which featured seven Top 10 singles.
Kevin Simm won The Voice in 2016 (Picture: BBC/ Wall to Wall/ Guy Levy)
But after selling over three million records worldwide, they split up in 2007.
After releasing a solo album the following, Kevin, who is now 44, performed at festivals at pubs before Liberty X reunited six years later for a TV series and tour.
While the group did later re-form, it was as a girl group without the two men.
Although he was offered roles on reality shows like Celebrity Big Brother in the following years, Kevin said he ‘didn’t want to be a celebrity like that’.
‘I don’t want to be a celebrity like that,’ he added. ‘If people know me for my singing and music that’s what I want, and if a bit of fame comes with that that’s great but I wouldn’t want to be famous for going in a house,’ he told Metro in 2016.
Although he did appear on The Games in 2005, Kevin said he simply said yes to that as he had ‘got a bit tubby and it was a good way to lose weight’.
He initially appeared on Popstars in 2001 before forming Liberty X with other finalists (Picture: Nils Jorgensen/ Rex/ Shutterstock)
Last year Kevin spoke about having to turn to a string of jobs out of the spotlight during this time to support his wife Laura and their two children, Charlie and Oliver.
From working as an electrician, a fencer and a wedding photographer between occasional singing gigs, he said ‘it was strange coming out of a big pop group and having to start again’.
“I was singing in pubs and clubs for £150 a gig but there wasn’t a lot of work going around and typically it was only Friday or Saturday night.
‘Then sometimes I’d get a call the night before saying the gig was cancelled and that’s half of your income for the week gone,’ he told The Sun.
After ‘getting frustrated with the insecurity of singing’ Kevin was also told by some people who booked him for gigs they did so thinking ‘it would be hilarious if I was tone-deaf and couldn’t sing’, questioning his abilities …read more
Source:: Metro
