Noughties pop band star admits he worked as a fencer after solo career flopped

26 November 2023 , 19:57

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Kevin struggled with his solo career after Liberty X split (Image: Redferns)

Former Liberty X star Kevin Simm admitted he felt “embarrassed” performing gigs for just £150 after the hugely successful pop band split up.

The Lancashire-born singer rose to fame in Liberty X alongside Michelle Heaton, Tony Lundon, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young after finishing as runner up in the ITV talent show Popstars in 2001. The group had 10 UK Top 20 singles, including Just A Little, and released three studio albums, but just six years later, Liberty X was no more after the band parted ways.

Despite enjoying huge success, Kevin’s solo career failed to take off, and he confessed he was reduced to pleading with pubs and clubs to book him as he became frustrated with his lack of success. “It was embarrassing and a bit demeaning going around saying I’m available for bookings but I had to suck it up and swallow my pride,” he told The Sun.

Kevin found fame with :Liberty X after appearing on Popstars in 2001 (Getty Images)

“It was strange coming out of a big pop group and having to start again. I was singing in pubs and clubs for £150 a gig but there wasn’t a lot of work going around and typically it was only Friday or Saturday night,” Kevin explained.

The singer, who shares two children - Charlie, 12, and Oliver, 10 - with wife Laura, revealed he also worked as an electrician, a fencer, and a wedding photographer because he needed to pay the bills. “I had a family so it was doubly important to put food on the table,” he shared.

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Liberty X briefly reunited in 2013 after taking part in ITV’s The Big Reunion, but the band fizzled out, and Kevin was left wondering how to launch his own solo career. He took a chance on The Voice in 2016, and after a nerve-wracking audition, Kevin went on to win the talent show with mentor Ricky Wilson.

He won The Voice with mentor Ricky Wilson in 2016 (Guy Levy/BBC/PA)

“I didn’t want to be famous again, I just wanted a challenge and to bump up my gig money,” he candidly shared, but was relieved his “massive, massive gamble” paid off. Now, he’s turned his career around, and just two years after being crowned champion on The Voice he was offered the chance to replace Marti Pellow as frontman of Wet Wet Wet.

Now, Kevin is relieved all his hard work has “finally paid off”, and shared his excitement over how he has achieved his dreams. “I loved my time in Liberty X and Wet Wet Wet has been an amazing experience – I guess there are not many people who get to be in two big bands in their lifetime. I’m very lucky,” he gushed.

Emma Wilson