Peter Brame

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Cover of debut single "Wake Up" August 2006
Cover of debut single "Wake Up" August 2006

Peter Charles Brame (born 25 July 1979 in Chelmsford) is an English singer-songwriter, pop singer and guitarist, based in Colchester, Essex. He first became well known through his appearances on television as a contestant on Fame Academy.

Brame taught himself to play the guitar when he was 17, and performed in local pubs and clubs as a teenager, he also fronted the indie bands Ish whilst still at school and Hannahs Fallen during his University days. His musical influences include The Beatles, The Verve, The Libertines, Oasis and Radiohead.

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[edit] Fame Academy

In 2003, after obtaining a degree in history, he was working as a management trainee when he successfully auditioned for the second series of the BBC's singing competition Fame Academy. A favourite with the viewing public, he reached the penultimate showdown and finished in fourth place. During the show he was praised for his performances and his songwriting but became notorious for his wild behaviour, which included getting drunk on evenings out, quarrelling with Alex Parks and exchanging passionate kisses with fellow contestant Carolynne Good.

His recording of Massachusetts appears on the Fame Academy Bee Gees Special album, released in August 2003 and his cover of Coldplay's In My Place was included in the best selling Fame Academy - The Finalists album, released in October 2003.

[edit] Press notoriety

After the show ended he failed to get a recording contract (despite rumours that he was about to be signed by Simon Fuller), possibly due to his notoriety in the press. The Academy had not prepared its students for dealing with the consequences of fame and Brame appeared to struggle with the attention. His excessive drinking and party lifestyle made him a target of the tabloid newspapers and paparazzi [1] and he was photographed many times looking drunk and dishevelled at parties and clubs. He began a much publicised relationship with TV presenter Fearne Cotton, which ended after he admitted using illegal drugs.

Later, in 2004, following a number of chaotic solo gigs, (one of which ended prematurely when he fell off the stage [2]), Brame determined to sober up and relaunch his musical career.

[edit] Subsequent musical career

Initially singing with The Dolls in 2004, he went on to co-found a rock band called One Finger Zen with one-time Libertines guitarist Nick Gavrilovic. They started touring pubs and clubs in the UK, buying an old fire engine which they used instead of a van. Despite getting a favourable reception from audiences, Brame was declared bankrupt in May 2005 [1] and the band split later that year.

Still unsigned, he recorded a 17 track album of his own songs in 2005 titled An Introduction, having co-written one of the tracks "Smash" with former Gay Dad front-man Cliff Jones. This was made available from his website. He continued to write songs and began performing solo again, showcasing his own material at a number of acoustic gigs.

Early in 2006 he was signed to Double Impact Management. His debut single "Wake Up" was released on August 21 on their independent label, Manic Records. This received mixed reviews, being variously described as "like the Black Crowes jamming with a glam rock band", "recalls early Primal Scream and Smashing Pumpkins" and "over-produced to a point where Pete Waterman would probably blanche" however it failed to chart significantly.

Having decided to follow a new direction in his songwriting, based around his own experiences, Brame spent the rest of the year performing regular solo acoustic gigs, and writing and recording new material. Acoustic guitar and vocal demos of the new songs were recorded in his home county of Essex and then sent to Glasgow for the attention of upcoming Scottish producer Joe Hay. A five track EP, Alcoholic Love Songs, was released for download on April 17, 2007, also on the Manic label.

He continues to perform live regularly and appeared at several music festivals in the South East of England in summer 2007.

Peter Brame's debut album 'My Secret Suicide' is scheduled for release in 2008.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Fame Academy Bee-Gees Special (Polydor, August 25, 2003)

Track 5: Massachusetts

Fame Academy - The Finalists (Polydor, October 6, 2003)

Track 13: In My Place

An Introduction (self published, 2005)

  1. Chasing
  2. Wake Up
  3. Smash
  4. Friday High
  5. Black Heart
  6. I Know, You Know
  7. Thanks 4 Nothing
  8. Wasted Love
  9. Ocean Park
  10. Breathing Down My Neck
  11. Chaos Is Beautiful
  12. Step Off
  13. You Don't Understand
  14. Catch You Around
  15. I'll Be Late
  16. Coming Down
  17. Girl Interrupted
  18. Dying For Your Art
  19. Cry Silver and Gold Horizon
  20. Undone

[edit] EP

Alcoholic Love Songs (Manic Records April 17, 2007)

  1. Alcoholic's Love Song
  2. Static Believer
  3. Borrowed Time
  4. Wasting Away
  5. Missed My Chance Again

[edit] Singles

(Fame Academy Official Downloads, 2003)

Massachusetts (Beegees cover)
In My Place (Coldplay cover)
Be Mine

"Wake Up" (Manic Records, August 21, 2006)

  1. Wake Up
  2. Waiting For

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Tabloid article - TV Fearne's dating drug shame Pete", The Sun, , September 2003. Retrieved on 2007-04-28. 
  2. ^ "Girls scream for Academy's Peter", Billericay Weekly News, , October 20, 2003. Retrieved on 2007-04-29. 

[edit] Reviews

[edit] External links