Steve Brookstein
Steve Brookstein | |
---|---|
Birth name | Stephen Desmond Brookstein |
Born | Dulwich, England | 10 November 1968
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Singer |
Years active | 1997–present |
Labels |
|
Website | stevebrookstein |
Stephen Desmond Brookstein
Early and personal life
Brookstein was born in Dulwich, London, England, the son of Malle, a council worker, and Errol Brookstein, a lorry driver.[3][4] His father is South African and his mother is of Estonian descent. In 1997, seven years before his breakthrough on The X Factor, Brookstein was a finalist on the ITV series The Big Big Talent Show, hosted by Jonathan Ross.[5]
Career
2004–2005: The X Factor and Heart and Soul
In early 2004, Brookstein auditioned for
After winning The X Factor, Brookstein was signed to the
Brookstein released his debut album Heart and Soul on 9 May 2005 through Sony BMG. Although Brookstein continued to perform tracks from the album on television shows such as CD:UK, a second single failed to materialise. In August 2005, it was announced that Sony BMG had dropped him from their line-up only eight months after his X Factor victory and despite the success of his debut single and album. Brookstein maintains that the decision to drop him reportedly came after he was offered a second album and to come back on the show, which he declined as it was to be another album of covers and he preferred a mix of old and new.[8] In August 2005, eight months after being dropped from his record label,[9] Brookstein publicly attacked The X Factor, claiming the show was "one big theatre... turning music into the WWE" and that it was "killing music".[10] Brookstein has publicly feuded with Simon Cowell and The X Factor, claiming "there is absolutely no way he would want me within 100 miles of him"[11] and admitting spending years feeling bitter about the way he was treated on the show.[12]
Although Brookstein enjoyed fleeting success with both his debut album and single both reaching number one – "
2008–2010: Musicals and controversies
In June 2007, Brookstein appeared on the P&O Portsmouth to Bilbao car ferry, alongside The X Factor series 2 alumni Chico Slimani and Journey South.[citation needed] In 2008, he played 'the father' in a touring production of the musical Our House.[14]
In December 2009, when a Facebook campaign was launched to stop The X Factor's winner from achieving the coveted Christmas number 1 spot, Brookstein backed the campaign to see Rage Against the Machine's "Killing in the Name" reach the top of the chart,[15] targeting Cowell in an online rant.[16] He further attacked Cowell, claiming the latter "ruined Christmas" and that he was dropped from his record label because he "wouldn't play the game".[17] Brookstein also claimed the show was staged and the winner was fixed, and was subsequently removed from the official The X Factor website following those comments.[18] Despite Brookstein's bitterness towards The X Factor, he signed up to critique the show weekly on London 24 in 2010,[19] where he labelled the judges "ridiculous" and questioned the standards of several of the finalists,[20] including One Direction band member Louis Tomlinson, and the vocal coach.[21]
2011–present: Musical hiatus and Forgotten Man
In 2013, Brookstein announced that his new album would be called Forgotten Man and would be released on 23 March 2014.[22]
Brookstein released a book on 21 November 2014,[23] Getting over the X,[24] that describes his journey from winning The X Factor to having the press and industry turn their backs on him.[25]
Discography
Albums
Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Sales | certifications | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK [26] |
IRE [27] | ||||||||||||||||
Heart and Soul |
|
1 | 1 |
|
|||||||||||||
40,000 Things |
|
165 | — | ||||||||||||||
Forgotten Man |
|
— | — | ||||||||||||||
"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released. |
Singles
Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UK
[26] |
IRE [27] | ||||||||||||||||
" Against All Odds "
|
2004 | 1 | 11 | Heart and Soul | |||||||||||||
"Fighting Butterflies" | 2006 | 193 | — | 40,000 Things | |||||||||||||
"Don't Give Up"[30] | 2010 | — | — | Non-album single | |||||||||||||
"—" denotes single that did not chart or was not released. |
Music videos
Title | Year | Director(s) |
---|---|---|
"Against All Odds" | 2004 | Unknown |
"Fighting Butterflies" | 2006 | Unknown |
Concert tours
- The X Factor Live Tour (2005)
- The 40,000 Things Tour (2006)
- The Great American Soul Book Tour (2007)
References
- ^ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at ancestry.com
- ^ a b Steve voted The X Factor winner BBC News
- ^ "Smarter News, Analysis & Research Communities". Free-call-center.tmcnet.com. Archived from the original on 19 July 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "I'll be singing for my mum; X Factor winner Steve Brookstein jumped at the chance to perform in the show after his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
- ^ "Bushell on the box: ITV'S RECYCLED TALENT. - Free Online Library". Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "The X Factor Hall of Fame | tombola". Archived from the original on 11 September 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2014.
- ^ "X Factor star ends Band Aid reign". BBC News. 2 January 2005. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
- ^ "Steve Brookstein: 'I turned down Simon Cowell's sloppy seconds' - The X Factor News - Reality TV - Digital Spy". Digital Spy. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ Brookstein: X Factor is killing music | Showbiz. Thisislondon.co.uk. Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ TV - News - 'X Factor' winner slates "music-killing" show. Digital Spy (17 August 2005). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ Remember Steve Brookstein? | Television & radio. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ Hill, Susan. (15 August 2010) After standing up to Simon Cowell, Steve Brookstein is back on track. Daily Star. Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ "the Razz: THE XTRAS FACTOR; Exclusive Steve: Simon turned me into a sad TV wannabe". Thefreelibrary.com.
- ^ Steve Brookstein turns down Christmas Madness cover. Mirror.co.uk. Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ "Kerrang! Former X Factor winner backs Rage campaign!". 13 July 2011. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ Former X Factor Winner Steve Brookstein: 'Simon Cowell Ruined Christmas'. Gigwise (17 December 2009). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ Steve Brookstein: 'Cowell ruined Xmas'. Digital Spy (17 December 2009). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ TV – News – Steve Brookstein: 'X Factor is staged'. Digital Spy (17 August 2010). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ "Steve Brookstein – Albums by former X Factor contestants". 30 October 2010. Archived from the original on 30 October 2010. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ Steve: 'X Factor judges are ridiculous'. Digital Spy (28 October 2010). Retrieved on 2010-11-11.
- ^ "Steve Brookstein questions X Factor's vocal coach". 6 October 2011. Archived from the original on 6 October 2011. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ Brookstein, Steve (21 November 2014). Getting Over the X. ASIN 1784621544.
- ^ "Blog | STEVE BROOKSTEIN". Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 28 May 2023.
- ^ "Steve Brookstein insults women who've had abortions, trans people + many more". Gigwise.com. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
- ^ a b Peaks in the UK:
- All except noted: "Steve Brookstein songs and albums | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- 40,000 Things and "Fighting Butterflies": "Chart Log UK 1994–2010: Darren B – David Byrne". zobbel.de. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Discography Steve Brookstein". irish-charts.com. Retrieved 7 March 2024.
- ^ "Official Charts Analysis: Justin Bieber takes singles summit but misses out on albums". Localuknews.co.uk. 21 November 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016.
- ^ [2] [dead link]
- ^ "Brookstein releases charity Xmas record". Digital Spy. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2012.