JIMMY CONSTABLE IN THE NEXT ROOM
James Michael (Jimmy) Constable
was born on 21 st September 1971 in Toxteth, Liverpool
where he grew up with his mother (Margaret) father,
(Ronnie) and sister, (Nicola). As a kid Jimmy was heavily
into sport as well as music, especially football and
even played for Wrexham FC as a teenager. But it was
his passion for music, even being babysat by Dave from
the band 'The Real Thing' that would see him eventually
live many a child's dream of becoming a star.
Jimmy's musical roots have
always been in Soul, R'n'B and Motown classics and his
early influences include Luther Vandross, Stevie Wonder,
Michael Jackson, Boyz to Men and George Michael. However
Jimmy's first taste of musical success came at just
9 years old when he won a talent contest performing
as another of his childhood idols, Shakin' Stevens.
Having tried his hand at
boxing, car mechanics and even being a lifeguard, Jimmy
became a dancer for the late night TV show 'The Hitman
and Her' where he met fellow band member Spike Dawbarn
and the boyband '911' was born. The boys then auditioned
the third member of the band Lee Brennan, met their
manager in Glasgow and spent the next year touring schools
around the UK.
Having released two singles
911 struck lucky and signed a record deal with Virgin.
The next five years saw the boys rocket to fame, releasing
four albums, including a greatest hits, achieving 10
top ten hit singles, including 2 number one's and selling
over 7 million records world wide. 911 also toured the
UK three times playing major arenas and sold out two
stadium dates in Asia.
It was whilst playing gigs
in Malaysia, exhausted by years of constant touring
that Lee and Spike announced to Jimmy that they'd had
enough and wanted to quit the band.
The boys were also involved
in litigation with their management company over breaking
a contract and were watching the money they had earned,
living their dream, disappear. Drained and disillusioned
with fame and the music industry Spike, Lee and Jimmy
announced the split up of 911 in February 2000 on Chris
Moyles Radio 1 show.
Jimmy himself now talks openly
about how hard it was for him to take the sudden and
unexpected break up of his band at the height of their
success.
The shock of the break up
sent Jimmy into deep depression and he turned to drink
and drugs for the first two years. "I think I was looking
for answers I didn't know. I escaped on breaks to Spain
and Portugal to get away". Jimmy recalls his lowest
point being "sat on the edge of my bed with a handful
of pills thinking 'shall I end it now'. I can't say
there was a reason why I didn't do it but something
stopped me".
Jimmy's wake up call came
when he almost died in a road accident. His car spun
off the motorway, hit some steps and rolled back down
into the path of some heavy trucks. "I thought it was
the end. My survival was a miracle and it helped me
kick-start my life".
Bouncing back with new found
strength Jimmy is now firmly in control of his career.
He has co written his solo album with Simon Ellis (East17,
S-club7, Brand New Heavies), Simon Tauber (Gina G, Atomic
Kitten), Bob and Rich at The Next Room studios (Robbie
Craig, Conner Reeves, Shameless, Lauren, Medusa), Gary
Barlow (Take That) and Jonny Douglas (George Michael).
There is a maturity and bravery
in his song writing that echo's the sincerity and emotions
of singer / songwriters like George Michael and Robbie
Williams. "I have found it very easy to write this album.
When the time came, to start creating music again, it
helped me deal with everything that had happened and
it is a channel for my feelings and thoughts about my
life."
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