Kevin Simm

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.

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. On 3 October 2008 he released his debut studio album, Brand New, first only in Japan and two years later in Europe. The title song was released as the lead single and had a music video directed by Fatty Soprano. From 2009 to 2012 Simm performed live at festivals and pubs.

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. Due to the success, Liberty X returned for a full tour between 2013 and 2014. In 2017, Heaton, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young reformed Liberty X again, but as a three-piece girl group, without Kevin and Tony.

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". 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. 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.

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.

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. He debuted with the band in November of that year. On 5 November 2021 they released their first album with Simm as vocalist, The Journey, peaking at number 29 in UK.

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

EPs

Singles

;As main artist

;As featured artist

Songwriting credits

Filmography

Television

References

References

1. Thursday, 18 October 2012. (18 October 2012). "ITVS to reform pop bands for The Big Reunion". Broadcast.
2. "The Games". UK Game Shows.
3. Morgan, Clive. (30 September 2016). "Kevin Simm premieres Wildfire music video". The Telegraph.
4. Dahl, Jonathan. (6 December 2016). "Simm-Ply Does It: An ode to Kevin Simm". Vada Magazine.
5. (5 March 2016). "Kevin Simm admits failure on The Voice would mean the 'end' for his career". Morro.co.
6. "Brand New - Kevin Simm". iTunes.
7. "Kevin Simm". musicandbands.co.uk.
8. (21 May 2022). "Where are Tony Lundon and Kevin Simm from Liberty X now?". ok.co.uk.
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. (18 October 2012). "Atomic Kitten and 5ive set to reform for ITV2's The Big Reunion". Metro.
12. Bychawski, Adam. (2017-01-18). "Liberty X are reforming as a girl band".
13. 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]].
14. Copson, Josie. (10 April 2016). "Liberty X's Kevin Simm has only gone and won The Voice". [[Cosmopolitan (magazine).
15. "Recover - Kevin Simm". iTunes.
16. (25 September 2018). "Wet Wet Wet announce Liberty X star Kevin Simm as new frontman". Sky News.
17. (25 September 2018). "Wet Wet Wet announce comeback WITHOUT Marti Pellow: Guess who's replaced him?". Express.co.uk.
18. (4 December 2018). "Wet Wet Wet coming to Buxton Opera House in 2019".
19. "Love & Pain". iTunes.
20. "Unplugged Acoustic". iTunes.
21. "Snow & Flakes". iTunes.
22. "UK Charts > Kevin Simm". [[Official Charts Company]].
23. "Scottish Singles Chart - 15 April 2016 - 21 April 2016". [[Official Charts Company]].
24. "Wildfire". iTunes.
25. (21 October 2016). "Strangers". iTunes.
26. "Tennessee Whiskey". iTunes.
27. "Stay Another Day". iTunes.
28. "Freedom". iTunes.