Peter Brame
Encyclopedia
Peter Charles Brame is an English
singer-songwriter
, pop
singer and guitarist, based in Colchester
, Essex
. He became well known through his appearances on television as a contestant on the second series of BBC talent show 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 Verve
, The Libertines
, Oasis
and Radiohead
.
's singing competition Fame Academy
. Although showing early promise, he failed to reach the final showdown and finished in fourth place. During the show he received mixed reviews for his performances and his songwriting but became notorious for his wild behaviour, which included getting drunk on evenings out, missing early morning songwriting sessions and dance practices, quarrelling with several classmates including 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.
and he was photographed many times looking drunk and dishevelled at parties and clubs. He began a relationship with TV presenter Fearne Cotton
Later, in 2004, following a number of chaotic solo gigs, (one of which ended prematurely when he fell off the stage ), Brame claimed to be determined to sober up and relaunch his stuttering musical career.
which they used instead of a van. Despite getting a favourable reception from audiences, Brame was declared bankrupt in May 2005 http://archive.thisisessex.co.uk/2005/5/27/115871.html 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.
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' was released on the 13th of October 2008, and is available to download from the iTunes store. It failed to chart, and Peter took some time off to consider whether he has the talent to sustain a serious music career.
Track 5: Massachusetts
Fame Academy - The Finalists (Polydor, 6 October 2003)
Track 13: In My Place
An Introduction (self published, 2005)
My Secret Suicide (Manic Records September 2008)
"Wake Up" (Manic Records, 21 August 2006)
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
singer and guitarist, based in Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
. He became well known through his appearances on television as a contestant on the second series of BBC talent show Fame Academy
Fame Academy
Fame Academy is a televised competition to search for and educate new musical talents. The winner received a chance to become a successful music artist. The prize consisted of a £1m recording contract with a major record company, plus the use of a luxury apartment in London and a sports car for one...
.
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
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
bands Ish whilst still at school and Hannahs Fallen during his University days. His musical influences include The Verve
The Verve
The Verve were an English rock band formed in 1989 in Wigan by lead vocalist Richard Ashcroft, guitarist Nick McCabe, bassist Simon Jones, and drummer Peter Salisbury. Guitarist and keyboardist Simon Tong later became a member. Beginning with a psychedelic sound indebted to shoegazing and space...
, The Libertines
The Libertines
The Libertines were an English rock band, formed in London in 1997 by frontmen Carl Barât and Pete Doherty . The band, centred on the song-writing partnership of Barat and Doherty, also included John Hassall and Gary Powell for most of its recording career...
, Oasis
Oasis (band)
Oasis were an English rock band formed in Manchester in 1991. Originally known as The Rain, the group was formed by Liam Gallagher , Paul "Bonehead" Arthurs , Paul "Guigsy" McGuigan and Tony McCarroll , who were soon joined by Liam's older brother Noel Gallagher...
and Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...
.
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 BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's singing competition Fame Academy
Fame Academy 2
This article is about the second series of the BBC's Fame Academy TV programme, first broadcast in the UK over thirteen weeks in July - October 2003. It was won by Alex Parks.- Changes to format :...
. Although showing early promise, he failed to reach the final showdown and finished in fourth place. During the show he received mixed reviews for his performances and his songwriting but became notorious for his wild behaviour, which included getting drunk on evenings out, missing early morning songwriting sessions and dance practices, quarrelling with several classmates including Alex Parks
Alex Parks
Alex Parks is an English singer-songwriter. She is best known for winning Fame Academy in 2003, for her singles, and for the albums, Introduction and Honesty.-Biography:...
and exchanging passionate kisses with fellow contestant Carolynne Good
Carolynne Good
Carolynne Poole is an English singer-songwriter and a founding member of the Carolynne Good Band, based in Leeds and London, and best known for finishing in third place in the second series of Fame Academy...
.
His recording of Massachusetts appears on the Fame Academy Bee Gees Special album, released in August 2003 and his cover of Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
's In My Place
In My Place
"In My Place" is a song by English alternative rock band Coldplay. The song was written collaboratively by all the band members for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. The track is built around thumping drums, chiming guitars and a chorus...
was included in the best selling Fame Academy - The Finalists album, released in October 2003.
Press notoriety
After the show ended he famously failed to get a recording contract, which left Peter disappointed. His excessive drinking and party lifestyle made him a target of the tabloid newspapers and paparazziPaparazzi
Paparazzi is an Italian term used to refer to photojournalists who specialize in candid photography of celebrities, politicians, and other prominent people...
and he was photographed many times looking drunk and dishevelled at parties and clubs. He began a relationship with TV presenter Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton
Fearne Cotton is an English television and radio presenter who is known for presenting a number of popular TV programmes such as Top of the Pops and the Red Nose Day telethon. In 2007, she became the first regular female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Chart Show...
Later, in 2004, following a number of chaotic solo gigs, (one of which ended prematurely when he fell off the stage ), Brame claimed to be determined to sober up and relaunch his stuttering musical career.
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 engineFire apparatus
A fire apparatus, fire engine, fire truck, or fire appliance is a vehicle designed to assist in fighting fires by transporting firefighters to the scene and providing them with access to the fire, along with water or other equipment...
which they used instead of a van. Despite getting a favourable reception from audiences, Brame was declared bankrupt in May 2005 http://archive.thisisessex.co.uk/2005/5/27/115871.html 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
Gay Dad
In 2001 the leading single from Transmission - "Now Always and Forever" - was released. It fell just short of the Top 40 in the UK Singles Chart. An extensive UK tour was followed by a limited edition single "Harder, Faster". The third single "Transmission" was released just before the album came...
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
Glam rock
Glam rock is a style of rock and pop music that developed in the UK in the early 1970s, which was performed by singers and musicians who wore outrageous clothes, makeup and hairstyles, particularly platform-soled boots and glitter...
band", "recalls early Primal Scream
Primal Scream
Primal Scream are a Scottish alternative rock band originally formed in 1982 in Glasgow by Bobby Gillespie and Jim Beattie and now based in London. The current lineup consists of Gillespie, Andrew Innes , Martin Duffy , and Darrin Mooney...
and Smashing Pumpkins" and "over-produced to a point where Pete Waterman
Pete Waterman
Peter Alan Waterman OBE is an English record producer, occasional songwriter, radio and club DJ, television presenter, president of Coventry Bears rugby league club and a keen railway enthusiast. As a member of the Stock Aitken Waterman songwriting team he wrote and produced many hit singles...
would probably blanche" however it failed to chart.
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' was released on the 13th of October 2008, and is available to download from the iTunes store. It failed to chart, and Peter took some time off to consider whether he has the talent to sustain a serious music career.
Albums
Fame Academy Bee-Gees Special (Polydor, 25 August 2003)Track 5: Massachusetts
Fame Academy - The Finalists (Polydor, 6 October 2003)
Track 13: In My Place
An Introduction (self published, 2005)
- Chasing
- Wake Up
- Smash
- Friday High
- Black Heart
- I Know, You Know
- Thanks 4 Nothing
- Wasted Love
- Ocean Park
- Breathing Down My Neck
- Chaos Is Beautiful
- Step Off
- You Don't Understand
- Catch You Around
- I'll Be Late
- Coming Down
- Girl Interrupted
- Dying For Your Art
- Cry Silver and Gold Horizon
- Undone
My Secret Suicide (Manic Records September 2008)
- Static Believer
- Alcoholic's Love Song
- Lost For Good
- Borrowed Time
- Long Time Blues
- Things
- Steal Away
- Wasting Time
- Missed My Chance Again
- My Secret Suicide
EP
Alcoholic Love Songs (Manic Records 17 April 2007)- Alcoholic's Love Song
- Static Believer
- Borrowed Time
- Wasting Away
- Missed My Chance Again
Singles
(Fame Academy Official Downloads, 2003)- MassachusettsMassachusetts (Bee Gees song)"Massachusetts" is a song written, recorded, and released by the Bee Gees in 1967 and later appearing on their 1968 album, Horizontal. It was their first Number 1 hit in the UK and eventually became one of the best selling singles of all times....
(Beegees cover) - In My PlaceIn My Place"In My Place" is a song by English alternative rock band Coldplay. The song was written collaboratively by all the band members for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head. The track is built around thumping drums, chiming guitars and a chorus...
(ColdplayColdplayColdplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...
cover) - Be Mine
"Wake Up" (Manic Records, 21 August 2006)
- Wake Up
- Waiting For....
Reviews
- Single review at Get Ready to Rock.com
- Single review at musicOmh.com
- Single review at Caughtinthecrossfire.com