Charles Robert Simpson (born 7 June, 1985 in Woodbridge, Suffolk, England), was the youngest member of the reasonably successful pop group Busted, and is now the vocalist and guitarist in post-hardcore band Fightstar. He has two older brothers, Will and Edd - Will is the vocalist and guitarist in Brigade and Edd is the lead singer and guitarist in an alternative band called Prego. Simpson has a very musical family dating back to Sir William Sterndale-Bennett (mother's maiden name) in 1826 who was a British pianist, conductor, and composer, a notable figure in the musical life of his time.

Simpson attended public school Brandeston Hall Preparatory School and Framlingham College in Suffolk before completing his studies at Uppingham, from which he obtained a drama scholarship. He left school after his GCSE exams. He achieved an A* for his GCSE music and, for his performance in the exam, he chose to play "Miss You Love" from Silverchair's Neon Ballroom album. The public school was also attended by Harry Judd (McFly), Ed Lamb, Stephen Fry, Johnny Vaughan, and Elliot Minor members. He plays guitar, piano, drums and bass, and sings vocals. In Busted he did the baritone vocals in place of James and Matt's tenor vocals. In Fightstar, he dramatically changed his appearance, so as to be unrecognisable as the 'kid from Busted' and does the low screams and the screaming baritone vocals. His singing style range from deep baritone vocals to high falsettos.

Music

Charlie first shot to fame with pop act Busted as a result to responding to an advertisement placed by Matt Willis and James Bourne in NME magazine in 2001. Busted consisted of Charlie on lead guitar and occasionally drums, Matt Willis on bass guitar and James Bourne rhythm guitar. They earned a place in the Guinness World Record by selling out London's Wembley Arena six nights in a row and achieving 4 UK number ones. Charlie formed Fightstar in late 2003 and has been with them ever since. Simpson has been the focus of mixed opinions from the media and fans alike, ranging from heavy criticism to high praise and respect. A lot of his support has come from the UK's biggest selling weekly rock magazine Kerrang!, in which the editor Paul Brannigan claims that Fightstar's first full length album "'Grand Unification' is one of the best British rock albums of the last decade". Fightstar were also nominated two years running at the Kerrang! awards for 'Best British Newcomer' and 'Best British Band'. .

Simpson has been a full time member of Fightstar since 2005, and has released a five track EP (They Liked You Better When You Were Dead) and two full length albums, (Grand Unification) and (One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours). Simpson has been doing extensive touring with Fightstar over the past three years and has just signed to Gut Records in the UK and Trustkill Records in the US. Fightstar also headlined the second stage at Give It A Name '07 in April.

Charlie funded and put together a compilation CD called 'The Suffolk Explosion' which was released through the bands' label Sandwich Leg Records. It showcased a number of unsigned bands from Charlie's home county of Suffolk, including Brigade and Prego, as well as a solo acoustic track written by him called 'Carry Her'.

Simpson has also featured as a guest vocalist on albums for British metal bands This Is Menace, Cry For Silence and for also for the charity single for Band Aid 20 whilst with Busted.

Miscellaneous

Charlie was asked to appear on 'The Scene Is Dead', the second full length LP of the band 'This is Menace', in which he wrote and performed the vocals on the track 'Avenue of Heroes'. The song was set to be the lead single off the record but was later pulled due to Fightstar's second album commitments.

Interestingly, both Busted and Fightstar have had to change the titles/postpone soon to be released singles due to reflecting current tragic events, i.e Busted had to change the title of "Crash and Burn" due to a recent American space shuttle Disaster, Fightstar had to change "Out Swimming in the Flood" to "Palahnuik's Laughter" due to the 2004 Tsunami and Fightstar delayed the release of single "Floods" due to floods in Britain happening at that time.

Charlie featured on the Band Aid 20 record 'Do They Know It's Christmas' singing and playing a small rhythm guitar part with his previous band, alongside the likes of Coldplay, Snow Patrol and Bono shortly before splitting.

Simpson is an official patron of disabled children's charity Out & About (http://www.out-and-about.org.uk), which supports disabled children in leisure activities in Norfolk and Suffolk (Charlie's home county). Simpson said,

“Growing up in Suffolk, I took part in all sorts of leisure activities and that should be how it is for all young people, whether they’re disabled or not. I’m looking forward to supporting Out & About and getting more involved.”

According to Caris Magazine, Simpson has recently taken the Alpha course and is now a practising Christian.

Notes

Headline text