Ricky Wilson (English singer)

For the American musician of the same name, see Ricky Wilson (American musician).
Ricky Wilson

Wilson performing with Kaiser Chiefs in 2014
Background information
Birth name Charles Richard Wilson
Born (1978-01-17) 17 January 1978
Keighley, West Yorkshire, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Actor
  • musician
  • singer–songwriter
  • television personality
Instruments
  • Cowbell
  • harmonica
  • tambourine
  • ukulele
  • vocals
Years active 1997–present
Associated acts
Website twitter.com/rickontour

Charles Richard "Ricky" Wilson (born 17 January 1978) is a British singer-songwriter known as the lead singer of British band Kaiser Chiefs, a five-piece band from Menston and Guiseley in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Their successful songs include "Ruby", "I Predict a Riot", "Never Miss a Beat", "Oh My God", "Everyday I Love You Less and Less", and "Coming Home".

Before the formation of the Kaiser Chiefs in 2003, Wilson was a member of the band Runston Parva (later known as Parva) which consisted of members of Kaiser Chiefs.

On 19 September 2013, Wilson was confirmed as a coach on The Voice UK.

Life and career

Wilson was born in Keighley, West Yorkshire. He attended Leeds Grammar School after Ghyll Royd primary school. He later attended Leeds Metropolitan University and completed his BA (Hons) degree in Graphic Arts and Design in 2000.[1] He then taught at Leeds College of Art for a year before the band's big break.[2]

During the early days of Kaiser Chiefs, Wilson was well known for wearing stripy blazers, waistcoats, turn-up jeans, and winkle picker shoes, a style that won him the Shockwaves NME Award For Best Dressed Person in 2006.[3] Lately, he has adopted a more casual dress code.

Wilson is well known for his energetic stage presence, climbing scaffolding, standing on the safety barrier, and at times crowd surfing. Of crowd surfing, Wilson says he likes to "get out and see the crowd, see what they smell like".[4] Such exploits have occasionally resulted in injury, such as torn ankle ligaments after jumping off stage during a concert in Portugal.[5]

In May 2006, Wilson was involved in a hit-and-run accident in his home town of Leeds. He was hit by the car while attempting to walk over a pedestrian crossing, suffering only bruising and a broken toe owing to a 'Ricky trademark jump' which resulted in him hitting the windscreen and being flipped over the top of the vehicle rather than trapped underneath.[6]

Other works

Wilson has twice been a guest on the BBC Two television show, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, firstly in 2005 as a panellist and then as a guest host in 2006. He also featured on the panel of the BBC Television comedy series, Shooting Stars, in 2009.

In 2008, he appeared in Peter Kay's talent show parody, Peter Kay's Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice, in a duet with the show's protagonist, Geraldine McQueen.

Wilson had a minor role in St Trinian's 2: The Legend of Fritton's Gold, as the rock star boyfriend of Sarah Harding's character, Roxy.

In 2010, he appeared in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 in a background role as Dirk Cresswell in a scene at the Ministry of Magic. Between November 2012 and January 2013, Wilson took on the role of the Artilleryman in the staged musical, Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation.

On 19 September 2013, Wilson confirmed he would replace Danny O'Donoghue as a coach on the third series of The Voice alongside will.i.am, Tom Jones, and fellow new coach Kylie Minogue, who replaced Jessie J.[7][8] In February, Katy B also appeared on the BBC as Wilson's team mentor.[9]

On 4 April 2015, Wilson was named as the winning coach of The Voice when Stevie McCrorie won the fourth series.

Wilson and Simon Rix wrote and performed the theme tune for Zig and Zag.[10]

Wilson joined new radio station Radio X in September 2015. He currently presents the Sunday morning show from 10am–1pm.

In October 2015, Wilson became the host of Sky 1's music and comedy panel show Bring the Noise.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Former Leeds Met student and Kaiser Chiefs frontman, Ricky Wilson, to be coach on BBC1's The Voice". Leedsmet.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "Q&A". theguardian.com. Retrieved 21 August 2005.
  3. ↑ "ShockWaves NME Awards 2006". Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Interview with Ricky Wilson, Kaiser Chiefs – Enjoyment (Universal Island, DVD Video, 2005)
  5. ↑ "Kaiser Chiefs singer injures leg during gig". Retrieved 23 January 2012.
  6. ↑ "Kaiser Chiefs singer hit by car". Retrieved 23 May 2006.
  7. ↑ "'The Voice' UK: Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson confirmed as fourth coach". Digital Spy. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  8. ↑ "Kaiser Chiefs star Ricky Wilson joins The Voice". BBC News Online. Retrieved 19 September 2013.
  9. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (25 February 2014). "The Voice: Katy B, Tinie Tempah, more join as mentors – pictures". Retrieved 8 March 2014.
  10. ↑ Zig and Zag theme by Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson and Simon Rix on CBBC. YouTube. 16 August 2015.
  11. ↑ "Bring The Noise". Sky One. Sky UK. Retrieved 7 December 2015.

External links

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