Why happily Simon's still singing the blues
Sarah Walters
2/ 5/2007
WHEN Simon Webbe broke from massive boy band Blue, people were surprised to find him making a bid for solo stardom.
"People don't realise I wrote All Rise, Blue's first hit, and Fly By and that I had 46 per cent of Blue's writing credits," says the 28-year-old Manchester boy as we talk about life after Blue. "I don't know whether people just didn't want to believe it."
It's two years on from Simon's departure and he still misses the old Blue `team'.
"All my life I've been a team player; coming from a sporting background, so joining Blue was second nature to me because it was a team thing."
But it's not for altogether altruistic reasons. "When you're in a team, you're not the only one getting the blame when things go wrong," laughs Simon.
"I'd say that being in Blue has been my training ground into stepping into solo territory. Looking at the history of boy bands and the solo artists that have come out of them, you can count them on one hand: Lionel Richie, Michael Jackson, Robbie Williams, Justin Timberlake and George Michael.
"When I thought of it like that and I was offered a record deal, I thought, `I dunno man, I'm never gonna do as well as any of these guys'. But then, I've been number one in Germany and Holland, and No Worries has been in the top 10 for 41 weeks in Portugal. I'm breaking territories Blue didn't even break."
Solo life, then, is proving to be a better move than Simon ever anticipated, netting him a multi-platinum album and arena gigs up and down the country. And yet, he's still humble about his origins, even with millions in his back pocket and a string of wise business investments to boot.
Chicken legs
"I'm just this boy from Manchester thinking, 'How come it's happening to little old me?' When I was younger, I used to have a pot belly and these chicken legs - bwwckk," he squawks.
"I do feel blessed. Coming from Moss Side, people have got to do things that they don't wanna do just to survive; I've gone out there and I'm telling my story."
His words have come from the mean streets and many refer to his difficult teenage years in the suburbs of Manchester. Musically though, says Simon, his roots are harder to pin down.
"Musically, I was never inspired - life inspired me - but I've always been melodic. In my house, the radio didn't work so there was no music. I used to walk past the TV and Top of the Pops was on, and I'd hear a melody and end up humming the tune but make it into my own. I wouldn't know the words and not remember the melody, so I'd hum something similar.
"For this album (Grace) I suppose I turned towards Bill Withers because he gave me pictures when I'd listen to him, like Lean On Me or," he pauses before breaking into song, "Just the Two of Us, or Lovely Day. He inspired the last two albums."
Album three is already in the pipeline and Simon says the only way to get a sneak preview is by going to his MEN Arena show on June 9. He adds: "If there's any rockers out there, they'll enjoy my rock section. Ever since I did the cover of The Killers, I've decided I like doing rock tracks. And since I'm coming home to the MEN it's only right I do Oasis' Wonderwall. I'm doing Supermassive Black Hole by Muse too.
"I'm not a one trick pony - I don't want people thinking they're just going to get No Worries; they will get that, but there's gonna be an up-tempo section and there's definitely going to be a Blue medley."
Simon Webbe plays the M.E.N. Arena on Saturday, June 9. £23.50. Call the Box Office on 0870 060 1768 to book or click here .
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et puis je lui souhaite que ça continue hein