Kevin Simm
Birth nameKevin Ian Simm
Born (1980-09-05) 5 September 1980
Chorley, Lancashire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2001–present
Labels
Member ofWet Wet Wet
Formerly ofLiberty X
Spouse(s)
Laura Simm
​
(m. 2008)​

Kevin Ian Simm (born 5 September 1980) is an English singer and songwriter. He is best known as former member of Liberty X (2001–2007) and current 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 then St. Mary's Catholic Technology College in Leyland between 1991 and 1996, where 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 finalist. 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 relesead 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]

Performances
Performed Song Original artist Result
Blind Audition "Chandelier" Sia All judges turned, joined team Paloma
Battle Rounds "Spotlight" (against Faith Nelson) Jennifer Hudson Lost, joined team Ricky
Knockout rounds "Wings" Birdy Fast pass
Quarter-final "I'm Kissing You" Des'ree Fast pass
Semi-final "The Power of Love" (as part of Team Ricky) Huey Lewis and the News Safe
"Rolling in the Deep" Adele
Live final "Stay" Rihanna Winner
"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 UK and 3 in Scotland.[15][16] On 28 October 2016 it was released his second studio album, Recover, the first by Universal, and chosen "Wildfire" as single.[17]

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.[18] He debuted with the band in November.[19] On 5 November 2021 they released their first album with Simm as vocalist, The Journey, peaking at number 29 in UK.[20]

Personal life

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

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
Brand New —
Recover
  • Released: 28 October 2016
  • Label: Universal
  • Format: CD, digital download
 114

EPs

Title Details
Love & Pain[21]
  • Released: 3 November 2017
  • Label: Tristar
  • Format: Digital download
Unplugged Acoustic[22]
  • Released: 12 October 2018
  • Label: Tristar
  • Format: Digital download
Snow & Flakes[23]
  • Released: 15 November 2019
  • Label: Tristar
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

As main artist
List of singles, with selected chart positions
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
UK
[15]		 SCO
[16]
"Brand New" 2008 —— Brand New
"All You Good Friends" 2016 243 non-album single
"Wildfire"[24] —— Recover
"Strangers"[25] ——
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
As featured artist
Title Year Album
"Tennessee Whiskey"[26]
(Amber Leigh Irish featuring Kevin Simm)		 2020 non-album single
"Stay Another Day"[27]
(Matt Johnson featuring Kevin Simm e John Adams)
"Freedom"[28]
(Paul Canning featuring Kevin Simm)		 2022

Songwriting credits

Title Year Artist
"U" 2006 Super Junior

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Stars in Their Eyes Contestant Series 10
2001 Popstars Contestant Series 1
2005 The Games Contestant Series 3
2013 The Big Reunion Himself
2016 The Voice UK Contestant Series 5

References

  1. ↑ Thursday, 18 October 2012 (18 October 2012). "ITVS to reform pop bands for The Big Reunion". Broadcast. Retrieved 18 October 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ "The Games". UK Game Shows. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  3. ↑ Morgan, Clive (30 September 2016). "Kevin Simm premieres Wildfire music video". The Telegraph. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Dahl, Jonathan (6 December 2016). "Simm-Ply Does It: An ode to Kevin Simm". Vada Magazine. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  5. ↑ "Kevin Simm admits failure on The Voice would mean the 'end' for his career". Morro.co. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  6. ↑ "Brand New - Kevin Simm". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  7. ↑ "Kevin Simm". musicandbands.co.uk. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Where are Tony Lundon and Kevin Simm from Liberty X now?". ok.co.uk. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  9. ↑ Goodacre, Kate (18 October 2012). "Atomic Kitten, 5ive, B*Witched, 911, more to reunite for ITV2 show". Digital Spy.
  10. ↑ Harvey, Joanna (18 October 2012). "Atomic Kitten, 5ive, Liberty X, 911, B*Witched and The Honeyz are all to reunite for ITV2 show The Big Reunion". Daily Mirror.
  11. ↑ "Atomic Kitten and 5ive set to reform for ITV2's The Big Reunion". Metro. UK. 18 October 2012.
  12. ↑ Bychawski, Adam (18 January 2017). "Liberty X are reforming as a girl band". NME. Retrieved 13 November 2022.
  13. 1 2 Walker, Danny; Cooper, Lorna (30 January 2016). "Can Kevin Simm WIN The Voice? Former Liberty X singer puts the coaches in a spin". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 April 2016.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ Copson, Josie (10 April 2016). "Liberty X's Kevin Simm has only gone and won The Voice". Cosmopolitan. Retrieved 13 April 2016.
  15. 1 2 "UK Charts > Kevin Simm". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  16. 1 2 "Scottish Singles Chart - 15 April 2016 - 21 April 2016". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  17. ↑ "Recover - Kevin Simm". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  18. ↑ Binding, Lucia (25 September 2018). "Wet Wet Wet announce Liberty X star Kevin Simm as new frontman". Sky News. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  19. ↑ Kitchener, Shaun (25 September 2018). "Wet Wet Wet announce comeback WITHOUT Marti Pellow: Guess who's replaced him?". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  20. ↑ Cooper, Louise (4 December 2018). "Wet Wet Wet coming to Buxton Opera House in 2019". www.buxtonadvertiser.co.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
  21. ↑ "Love & Pain". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  22. ↑ "Unplugged Acoustic". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  23. ↑ "Snow & Flakes". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  24. ↑ "Wildfire". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  25. ↑ "Strangers". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  26. ↑ "Tennessee Whiskey". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  27. ↑ "Stay Another Day". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  28. ↑ "Freedom". iTunes. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
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