Charlie Simpson Vinyl Records
Gravel-voiced vocalist Charlie Simpson is perhaps the only pop star to make the convincing transition from fresh-faced boy bander to authentic hard rock frontman. In 2001, he answered an advertisement James Bourne and Matt Willis had placed in the NME to find a new guitarist, and successfully auditioned to form punk-pop trio Busted. The band enjoyed tremendous success, but Simpson soon became discontent with their teeny-bopper direction, and in 2003, he formed post-hardcore quintet Fightstar. Following a group hiatus in 2010, Simpson began work on an acoustic solo record and released an EP. The debut album, Young Pilgrim, was finished a few months later and appeared in August 2011.