View source for Charlie Simpson

{{short description|British musician (born 1985)}}
{{for multi|the fundraiser|Charlie Simpson (fundraiser)|the footballer|Charlie Simpson (footballer)}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name              = Charlie Simpson
| image             = Charlie Simpson 2016 (7).jpg
| image_size        = 
| caption           = Simpson performing in 2016
| birth_name        = Charles Robert Simpson
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1985|6|7|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Woodbridge, Suffolk]], England
| instrument        = {{flatlist|
* Vocals
* guitar
* drums
* piano
* keyboards
* harmonica
* bass guitar 
}}
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Pop-punk]]
* [[post-hardcore]]
* [[hard rock]]
}}
| occupation        = {{flatlist|
* Singer
* songwriter
* musician
}}
| years_active      = 2001–present
| current_member_of =  
* [[Busted (band)|Busted]]<!--Do not add President to this list-->
| past_member_of = {{flatlist|
* [[Fightstar]]
* [[Once Upon a Dead Man]]
}}
}}
'''Charles Robert Simpson''' (born 7 June 1985) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician from Suffolk. He is a member of the [[pop-punk]] band [[Busted (band)|Busted]] and the [[post-hardcore]] band [[Fightstar]].<ref name="TLYBWYWD">{{Cite AV media notes |title=They Liked You Better When You Were Dead |author=[[Fightstar]] |year=2005 |type=Digipack |publisher=[[Island Records|Sandwich Leg Records]] |id=CID887}}</ref><ref name="GU">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Grand Unification |author=[[Fightstar]] |year=2006 |type=CD |publisher=[[Island Records]] |id=CID8165}}</ref><ref name="ODSTWABY">{{Cite AV media notes |title=One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours |author=[[Fightstar]] |year=2007 |type=CD |publisher=[[Gut Records]] |id=INSRECCD04}}</ref> [[AllMusic]] has noted that Simpson is "perhaps the only pop star to make the convincing transition from fresh-faced [[boy band]]er to authentic [[hard rock]] frontman".<ref name="AMG">{{Cite web |last=O'Brien, Jon |title=Biography: ''Charlie Simpson'' |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-simpson-p598273/biography |access-date=22 August 2011 |publisher=[[Allmusic]] ([[Rovi Corporation]])}}</ref> Simpson is a multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, bass, keyboards, drums and the harmonica.<ref name="GW">{{Cite web |last=Steele, Heather |title=Charlie Simpson: Interview |url=http://www.gigwise.com/features/65975/Charlie-Simpson-Interview |access-date=22 August 2011 |publisher=[[Gigwise]]}}</ref><ref name="BH">{{Cite AV media notes |title=Be Human |author=[[Fightstar]] |year=2009 |type=CD |publisher=[[PIAS Recordings|Search & Destroy Records]] |id=SADCDA002}}</ref>

Simpson has achieved eleven [[UK Albums Chart]] top 40 releases across his musical career – six of which entered the UK top 10. He has also had four UK number-one singles with Busted, as well as two top-20 singles with Fightstar and two UK top-10 solo albums. Between Busted, Fightstar and his solo projects, he has sold over five million records worldwide, winning two [[Brit Awards]], a Rock Sound Award and being nominated for two [[Kerrang! Awards]].

==Early life and family==
The youngest of three boys, Simpson was born in [[Woodbridge, Suffolk]].<ref name="AMG" /><ref name="IMDb">{{Cite web |title=Biography for Charlie Simpson (V) |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1387384/bio |access-date=22 November 2009 |publisher=IMDb}}</ref> He has two brothers, Will (born 1980) and Edd (born 1981). Will is the vocalist and guitarist in [[Brigade (band)|Brigade]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mostowfi |first=Mo |date=2009-02-09 |title=Interview: Brigade |url=https://xyzbrighton.com/interviews/interview-brigade/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Brighton Events & News Magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> and Edd is the lead singer and guitarist in an alternative band called Union Sound Set.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Union Sound Set - To The Wolves - Rockfreaks.net |url=https://www.rockfreaks.net/albums/7060 |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=www.rockfreaks.net}}</ref> Simpson's musical maternal heritage dates back to [[William Sterndale Bennett|Sir William Sterndale Bennett]], who was a notable 19th century English pianist, conductor, and composer.<ref name="Designer">{{Cite web |title=Brigade – Interview |url=http://designermagazine.tripod.com/BrigadeINT1.html |access-date=22 November 2009 |publisher=Designer Magazine}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=28 January 2016 |title=Charlie Simpson – Busted. If Busted were the anti-boy band, Charlie Simpson was the anti-lead singer. The well-bred multi-instrumentalist (a direct descendant of Sir William Sterndale Bennett, no less), had enough of singing suggestive lyrics over pop-punk riffs after three years in the Brit Award-winning trio, & left in 2003. Fightstar, his deliberately emo post-hardcore spin-off band, followed, before he took up a solo career. The unthinkable happened in 2015, with news of a full Busted reunion the next year. &#124; From George Harrison to Zayn Malik: the pop stars who left their bands - Music |work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/pop-groups-solo-careers--gallery/charlie-simpson--busted-if-busted-were-the-anti-boy-band-charlie |access-date=10 March 2020}}</ref>

Simpson was educated at Framlingham College Prep School in Suffolk and then at [[Uppingham School]], where his great-grandfather, Robert Sterndale Bennett (1880–1963), had been a Director of Music between 1908 and 1945.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 March 2022 |title=Robert Sterndale Bennett |url=https://www.olduppinghamian.co.uk/news/2022-03-16/music-schools |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=www.olduppinghamian.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==Career==

===Busted (2002–2005; 2015–present)===
Simpson first gained fame with pop rock/pop punk act [[Busted (band)|Busted]] as a result of responding to an advertisement placed by [[Matt Willis]] and [[James Bourne]] in ''[[NME]]'' magazine in 2001.<ref name="Int">{{Cite web |last=Hari |first=Johann |title=Busted: An Interview |url=http://www.johannhari.com/2003/12/22/busted-an-interview |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918002638/http://www.johannhari.com/2003/12/22/busted-an-interview |archive-date=18 September 2010 |access-date=22 November 2009 }}</ref> Busted consisted of Simpson on lead guitar and occasionally drums, Willis on bass guitar and Bourne on rhythm guitar and piano; all three members provided vocals. Over a period of two years, the trio had major success and sold over 5 million records,<ref>{{Cite web |title=America Or Busted Episode 2 |url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1190211476102534875&q=source:005516884258547837579&hl=en |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604164446/http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1190211476102534875&q=source:005516884258547837579&hl=en |archive-date=4 June 2011 |access-date=7 December 2011 }}</ref> won two [[BRIT Awards]],<ref name="brit">{{Cite web |title=Busted Confirm Split |date=14 January 2005 |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/busted-17-1355207 |access-date=27 July 2009 |publisher=NME}}</ref> and also won [[The Record of the Year]] in 2004.<ref name="recordoftheyear">{{Cite web |title=Busted Win Record of Year |url=http://showbiz.sky.com/Busted-Win-Record-Of-Year |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715061710/http://showbiz.sky.com/Busted-Win-Record-Of-Year |archive-date=15 July 2012 |access-date=27 July 2009 |publisher=Sky }}</ref>

Simpson left Busted in 2005 to concentrate on post-hardcore band Fightstar.

On 10 November 2015 Busted announced they would be reforming with Simpson back in the original line-up and would embark on an 18 date arena tour around the UK and Ireland. The band sold 100,000 tickets in the first hour of the tour going on sale.<ref name="bustedreunion">{{Cite news |last=Mark |first=Savage |date=10 November 2015 |title=Busted announce reunion tour and new music for 2016 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-34775180 |access-date=10 November 2015 |work=BBC News}}</ref> Busted's third studio album ''[[Night Driver (album)|Night Driver]]'' was released in November 2016. In 2018, Busted announced their fourth album ''[[Half Way There]]'', along with arena tour dates in March 2019. 

After another four year hiatus, whilst the band focused on other projects, in May 2023 Busted announced they would be returning for a 20 Year Anniversary Greatest Hits tour, which went on to become the biggest selling UK arena tour of 2023. They also released a Greatest Hits album which went to number 1 in the UK album charts.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carter |first=Emily |date=2023-07-28 |title=Busted announce Greatest Hits 2.0 album featuring You Me At Six,… |url=https://www.kerrang.com/busted-announce-greatest-hits-2-0-album-featuring-you-me-at-six-dashboard-confessional-and-loads-more |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=Kerrang! |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Pollitt |first=Alicia |date=2024-03-12 |title=Ollie Horner reflects on BUSTED: 20th Anniversary & Greatest Hits Tour |url=https://www.tpimagazine.com/busted-20th-anniversary-greatest-hits-tour/ |access-date=2024-09-23 |website=TPi |language=en-GB}}</ref>

===Fightstar (2003–present)===
[[File:Fightstar2010(nowatermark).jpg|thumb|right|Simpson performing with Fightstar in 2010]]
Despite the huge success of Busted, Simpson began to grow increasingly discontented with the pop star lifestyle and the music he was performing.<ref name="IamFS">{{Cite web |title=I Am Fightstar... |url=http://thisiswhoiam.kerrangradio.co.uk/Celebrities/View/Fightstar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090814180144/http://thisiswhoiam.kerrangradio.co.uk/Celebrities/View/Fightstar |archive-date=14 August 2009 |access-date=5 August 2009 }}</ref> As an avid fan of rock music, he felt unfulfilled by the commercial pop songs of Busted.<ref name="IamFS" />

He met [[Alex Westaway]] in late 2003, forming what became [[Fightstar]] shortly afterwards. For over a year he would lead a secret "double life": by night he would attend rehearsal sessions with his new band after completing obligated media work and concert performances with Busted.<ref name="IamFS" /> During 2004, he and Westaway wrote Fightstar's debut [[Extended play|EP]], ''[[They Liked You Better When You Were Dead]]''. The EP showcased a heavier [[post-hardcore]] influenced sound that differed greatly to Busted's material.<ref name="amg">{{Cite web |title=Fightstar Biography |url={{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p756622/biography|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=29 January 2009 |publisher=All Music}}</ref> The EP was recorded during November with Mark Williams in London.<ref name="IamFS" /> During this time, speculation began to grow about Busted's future. He announced he was leaving Busted to pursue his career full-time with Fightstar in January 2005.<ref name="brit" />

Simpson then funded and put together a [[compilation album]] called ''The Suffolk Explosion'', which was released through his own label Sandwich Leg Records. It showcased a number of unsigned bands from Charlie's home county of Suffolk, including [[Brigade (UK Band)|Brigade]] and Prego, as well as a solo acoustic track written by him called "Carry Her".<ref>{{Cite web |last=~ Charlie Simpson |title=The Suffolk Explosion: Various Artists: Music |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0008E4IAG |access-date=7 December 2011 |publisher=Amazon.co.uk}}</ref> 

Fightstar went on to record their debut full-length [[studio album]] with [[rock music|rock]] producer [[Colin Richardson]]. ''[[Grand Unification (Fightstar album)|Grand Unification]]'' was released on 13 March 2006, and further proved the initial cynics wrong by receiving widespread positive reviews. In particular, Paul Brannigan of ''[[Kerrang!]]'' magazine stated the album was "one of the best British rock albums of the past decade".<ref name="York">{{Cite web |title=INTERVIEW: Fightstar |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/music-gigs/INTERVIEW-Fightstar.4925133.jp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215021024/http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/music-gigs/INTERVIEW-Fightstar.4925133.jp |archive-date=15 February 2009 |access-date=29 January 2009 |publisher=Yorkshire Evening Post}}</ref> Scottish music publication ''[[The Fly (magazine)|The Fly]]'' also lauded the album as "one of the 21st Century's ultimate rock debuts".<ref name="Fly">{{Cite web |title=Fightstar 'Be Human' (Search & Destroy) |url=http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/album-reviews/4711/fightstar |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805015628/http://www.the-fly.co.uk/words/reviews/album-reviews/4711/fightstar |archive-date=5 August 2009 |access-date=27 April 2009 |publisher=The Fly}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, the band went on to receive nominations at the [[Kerrang! Awards]] for "Best British Newcomer" and "Best British Band".<ref name="CBBC">{{Cite news |date=10 August 2006 |title=Fightstar up for best band award |publisher=CBBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_4780000/newsid_4781000/4781007.stm |access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> After leaving [[Island Records]] due to a disagreement over the band's artistic direction,<ref name="digitalspy">{{Cite web |date=8 September 2006 |title=Fightstar end Island Records contract |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a36783/fightstar-end-island-records-contract.html |access-date=8 September 2006 |publisher=Digital Spy}}</ref> the band signed to an [[independent label]] called Institute Records which was a division of [[Gut Records]] to release their second album.<ref name="NME">{{Cite web |title=Fightstar Biography |url=http://www.nme.com/artists/fightstar#biography |access-date=15 July 2009 |publisher=NME}}</ref> ''[[One Day Son, This Will All Be Yours]]'' (2007), peaked at No. 27 on the [[UK Album Chart]],<ref name="ChartStatsODS">{{Cite web |title=One Day Son This Will All Be Yours |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/archive/official-albums-chart/ |access-date=8 September 2009 |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> before releasing a [[B-sides]] compilation album titled ''[[Alternate Endings]]'' (2008). The four-piece then funded and co-produced their third album, ''[[Be Human (album)|Be Human]]'' (2009). Fightstar released their fourth full length album ''Behind The Devils Back'' (2015), which would be their most critically acclaimed album, making Rock Sound magazine's Top 50 Albums list for 2015.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

On 6 November 2023, Fightstar announced they would be returning for a headline show at Wembley Arena to mark the band's twenty year anniversary.{{Citation needed|date=September 2024}}

===Solo career (2010–present)===
On 29 July 2009, he made a Myspace page for his [[acoustic music|acoustic]] solo work. There were three songs on the page, "Dead Man Walking", "Empty Guns (Demo)", and "Carry Her".<ref name="MySpace">{{Cite web |title=Charlie Simpson on Myspace Music |url=https://www.myspace.com/charliesimpsonmusic |access-date=15 July 2009 |publisher=Myspace}}</ref> "Carry Her" was previously available on ''The Suffolk Explosion''.

Fightstar announced a hiatus at the beginning of 2010, stating that they were "taking some time off" for the remainder of 2010–11 to work on separate projects before regrouping in 2012 to begin working a new record.
Simpson has started working on a solo acoustic album, while Westaway and Haigh will be completing [[post-production]] on the bands film and working on some [[music videos]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fightstar Interview |url=http://norwichgigs.co.uk/interviews/fightstar-2/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110613053834/http://norwichgigs.co.uk/interviews/fightstar-2/ |archive-date=13 June 2011 |website=Norwich Gigs }}</ref>

Simpson went into the studio in June 2010 to start recording his full-length debut album with producer Danton Supple, whose previous work includes Coldplay and The Cure. The album was funded through [[PledgeMusic]] and as one of the main incentives for the campaign, fans received an EP called ''When We Were Lions'' on Christmas Day 2010. The full-length album was finally finished in February 2011 and was mastered by John Davis at Metropolis Studios in London. The first single to be taken from the album was called "Down Down Down" and it had its first radio airplay on 11 April, as Radio 1 DJ Fearne Cotton's Record of the Week. The single was officially released on 16 May, though it was made available to buy on iTunes straight away. The album, titled ''[[Young Pilgrim]]'' was released on 15 August 2011. It went straight into the UK album chart at number 6, having been at number 5 in the midweeks. Simpson signed to PIAS Records in Germany and the album was released in Europe in August 2012.

On 2 February 2013, it was reported that Simpson had finished writing the follow-up to his 2011 solo debut 'Young Pilgrim' and he would be heading into the studio with producer Steve Osbourne ([[U2]]/[[Placebo (band)|Placebo]]) to start recording in early March.

Simpson spent the summer of 2013 playing on the [[Vans Warped Tour]] in the US, which was the first time he has played live as a solo artist in America. During October 2013, Charlie went on a tour of the UK supporting rock band, [[Deaf Havana]]. He previewed two new tracks from the forthcoming album "Winter Hymns" and "Ten More Days". In 2014, he undertook a small run of solo shows in the UK in the lead up to the release of his second solo album.

Simpson announced on 28 April 2014 that his second solo album is to be called ''[[Long Road Home (Charlie Simpson album)|Long Road Home]]'' and will be released later that year, since revealing the release date would be 4 August 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Simpson |first=Charlie |title="HAUNTED" AVAILABLE NOW |url=http://www.charliesimpsonmusic.com/haunted-available-now/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606205807/http://www.charliesimpsonmusic.com/haunted-available-now/ |archive-date=6 June 2014 |access-date=2 June 2014|website=charliesimpsonmusic.com }}</ref>  

In October 2014, Simpson announced that he would play a 13 date UK solo acoustic tour in January/February of the following year.<ref>[http://www.charliesimpsonmusic.com/uk-tour-2015/ UK Tour 2015 Announcement] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622234856/http://www.charliesimpsonmusic.com/uk-tour-2015/ |date=22 June 2015 }} Retrieved 3 June 2015</ref>

On 5 May 2016, Simpson released his third solo album, ''[[Little Hands (Charlie Simpson album)|Little Hands]]'', a compilation of rare tracks from 2010 though 2016. The first single was a stripped-down version of "Emily". The album also included the track from the [[W (UK TV channel)|Watch UKTV]] series ''Singing In the Rainforest'', "Walking With the San", which first aired in 2015. The song was recorded as part of the show in which Charlie travelled to Namibia to spend time living and playing music with the [[San people]]. After the show aired, an edit was made to act as a music video for the song and was uploaded to Facebook, the track has since gone viral and has been viewed over 14,000,000 times.

On 23 October 2020, Simpson released the first track from his upcoming album ''I See You'', which peaked at 39 on the iTunes chart in its first week.<ref>[http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/artists/music/charlie-simpson/songs/i-see-you/ I See You by Charlie Simpson] iTunes Charts</ref> In late 2021, Simpson announced his upcoming fourth studio album ''[[Hope Is a Drug]]'', scheduled for release in March 2022. He also revealed the dates of the accompanying promotional tour.<ref>{{Cite tweet |number=1460552424658288642 |user=CharlieSimpson |title=I'm delighted to announce my new album and tour HOPE IS A DRUG. Pre-order the album now on my official store to get… |date=16 November 2021}}</ref> The tour was later postponed, citing delays to album supply chains and shipping caused by the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{Cite Instagram |author=Charlie Simpson |user=charliesimpson |postid=CahEdmcKE8K |date=28 February 2022 |title=*ALBUM/TOUR RESCHEDULE ANNOUNCEMENT* |language=en-UK |access-date=26 June 2025 |link=https://www.instagram.com/p/CahEdmcKE8K/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/qmebS/https://www.instagram.com/p/CahEdmcKE8K |archive-date=26 June 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Other works===
In 2015, Simpson released an EP with a side project called [[Once Upon a Dead Man]] alongside his two brothers Will and Edd Simpson, and friend Simon Britcliff.

Outside of his main musical activities, Simpson also has frequently collaborated with other musicians, which include [[This Is Menace]], [[Gunship (band)|Gunship]] (the side project of his Fightstar bandmates, Alex Westaway and Dan Haigh), alternative rock band Two Year Break, as well as indie band, The Travis Waltons. With Gunship, he co-wrote and lent his voice for their highly critical acclaimed single, "Tech Noir", of Gunship's debut album.<ref>[http://io9.gizmodo.com/tech-noir-is-your-fantastic-80s-mashup-music-video-of-t-1727542092 Tech Noir Is Your Fantastic '80s Mashup Music Video Of The Day] Retrieved 20 September 2015</ref> In 2018, he contributed to [[Bullet for My Valentine]]'s sixth album ''[[Gravity (Bullet for My Valentine album)|Gravity]]'', receiving a songwriting credit on the track "Breathe Underwater". He also co-wrote the song Can't Escape The Waves on Bullet For My Valentine's 2022 self titled album.

Charlie has also been involved in film scoring, stating in an interview that this was something he was keen to pursue later in his career. He wrote the score for an independent British film '[[Everyone's Going To Die]]', which debuted at the SXSW Film Festival in March 2013.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

In 2023, Simpson won the [[The Masked Singer (British series 4)|fourth series]] of ''[[The Masked Singer (British TV series)|The Masked Singer]]'' as "Rhino", making him the first male winner in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bashforth |first=Emily |date=18 February 2023 |title=Who won The Masked Singer 2023 as Rhino is unmasked? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2023/02/18/the-masked-singer-who-won-as-rhino-is-revealed-18306430/ |access-date=18 February 2023 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref> After his victory, he released the EP ''Kifaru'' containing songs he performed on ''The Masked Singer''.<ref>[https://www.kerrang.com/charlie-simpson-releases-new-ep-after-winning-the-masked-singer Charlie Simpson releases new EP after winning The Masked Singer] Kerrang! Magazine. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.</ref>

In 2023, Simpson appeared on Gunship's third album "Unicorn", lending his voice to "Tech Noir 2", the sequel to "Tech Noir" from the first album. with film director John Carpenter and Tim Cappello from [[Tina Turner]] (1939–2023) and the film ''[[The Lost Boys]]'' (1987) on Saxophone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Crumlish |first=Callum |date=2023-03-31 |title=Busted star Charlie Simpson confirms second Gunship collaboration |url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/music/1753420/busted-charlie-simpson-gunship-tech-noir-2 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> In 2024, Simpson was cast as The Sung Thoughts of the Journalist in The Spirit of Man tour of ''[[Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds – The New Generation|Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gumushan |first=Tanyel |date=2024-12-02 |title=Casting announced for The War of the Worlds musical arena tour |url=https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/casting-announced-for-the-war-of-the-worlds-musical-arena-tour_1656062/ |access-date=2024-12-03 |website=WhatsOnStage.com |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025, multiple reports stated Simpson was behind the anonymous metal band [[President (band)|President]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/is-it-really-charlie-simpson-fans-share-theories-after-unmasking-in-new-president-video-fearless-3868394|title=Is it really Charlie Simpson? Fans share theories after unmasking in new President video 'Fearless'|first=Liberty|last=Dunworth|website=[[NME]] |date=June 9, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/new-music/who-is-president-and-where-the-hell-did-they-come-from|title=Who Is PRESIDENT – And Where The Hell Did They Come From?|first=Isabella|last=Ambrosio|date=May 17, 2025|website=Metal Injection}}</ref><ref name="blab">{{Cite web|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/masked-mystery-band-president-releases-first-single-in-the-name-of-the-father|title=Masked Mystery Band PRESIDENT Releases First Single 'In The Name Of The Father'|date=May 16, 2025|website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Simpson married his long-time girlfriend Anna Barnard in June 2014, following the announcement of their engagement the week earlier.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.reveal.co.uk/showbiz-celeb-gossip/news/a585957/charlie-simpson-shares-beautiful-wedding-picture-best-day-of-my-life.html|title=Charlie Simpson shares beautiful wedding picture: 'Best day of my life'|website=[[Reveal (magazine)|Reveal]]|last=Martin|first=Lara|date=23 July 2014|access-date=17 June 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729005401/http://www.reveal.co.uk/showbiz-celeb-gossip/news/a585957/charlie-simpson-shares-beautiful-wedding-picture-best-day-of-my-life.html|archive-date=29 July 2014}}</ref> During a show on his 2015 UK Tour at London's Islington Assembly Hall, Simpson announced that he and his wife were expecting their first child together. On 21 July that year, Simpson's wife gave birth to their first son, Arlo Simpson. In February 2018, their second son, Jago, was born.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/charliesimpsonmusic/posts/995887863788821?fref=nf|title=Today was an amazing day... I became a dad!|publisher=[[Facebook]]|last=Simpson|first=Charlie|date=21 July 2015|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref>

Simpson is an [[association football]] fan and  supports [[EFL Championship]] club [[Ipswich Town F.C.]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21273788.5-celebrities-ed-sheeran-support-ipswich-town/|title=5 celebrities other than Ed Sheeran who support Ipswich Town|publisher=[[East Anglian Daily Times]]|last=Sullivan|first=Oliver|date=26 August 2021|access-date=17 June 2025}}</ref>

In 2004, Simpson was quoted in ''[[Tatler]]'' magazine as saying he supported the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], stating that he'd "grown up with their views" and "way of doing things".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Jemima |date=10 October 2004 |title=Hey, cool! They vote Tory |work=The Daily Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/3611850/Hey-cool-They-vote-Tory.html |access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> According to ''[[The Guardian]]'', Simpson "was pilloried just like [[Phil Collins]] and [[Geri Halliwell]] before him".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lynskey |first=Dorian |date=28 August 2007 |title=Party For Your Right To ... Life? |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2007/aug/28/partyforyourrighttolife |access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref> He later denied a political allegiance to the Conservatives, saying, "The [[Tory]] thing is complete bullshit! It came out of Matt's mouth in an interview taking the complete piss, and it was on the front cover of a newspaper. He was like laughing when he said it. Matt's [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]! He said something like, 'Now I've got loads of money I'm a fucking [[Tory Boy|Tory boy]],' laughing."<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 February 2005 |title=Simpson: 'I'm No Tory' |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/charlie-simpson/news/simpson-im-no-tory |access-date=7 August 2015 |website=Contact Music}}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Busted discography|Fightstar discography}}

===Studio albums===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;"| Details
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Peak chart positions
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Albums Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK">{{Cite web |title=Charlie Simpson |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/6862/charlie-simpson/ |website=Officialcharts.com/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Indie Chart|UK Indie]]<br /><ref name="UKIndieAlbums">Peak positions for Indie albums in the UK:
* For ''Young Pilgrim'': {{Cite web |title=Chart Archive > 21 August 2011 - 27 August 2011 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20110821/131/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}
* For ''Long Road Home'': {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20140810/131/|title=Chart Archive > 10 August 2014 - 16 August 2014|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}
* For ''Hope Is a Drug'': {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20220429/131/|title=Chart Archive > 28 April 2022 - 4 May 2022|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Scottish Albums Chart|SCO]]<br /><ref name="SCOAlbums">Peak positions for albums in Scotland:
* For ''Young Pilgrim'': {{Cite web |title=Chart Archive > 21 August 2011 - 27 August 2011 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20110821/40/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}
* For ''Long Road Home'': {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20140810/40/|title=Chart Archive > 10 August 2014 - 16 August 2014|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}
* For ''Hope Is a Drug'': {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20220429/40/|title=Chart Archive > 28 April 2022 - 4 May 2022|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Young Pilgrim]]''
|
* Released: 15 August 2011
* Label: [[PIAS Recordings]]
* Format: [[Music download|Digital download]], CD
| 6 || 3 || 7
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Long Road Home (Charlie Simpson album)|Long Road Home]]''
|
* Released: 4 August 2014
* Label: Nusic Sounds / ADA Warner
* Format: Digital download, CD
| 10 || 1 || 13
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Little Hands (Charlie Simpson album)|Little Hands]]''
|
* Released: 6 May 2016
* Label: NUA Entertainment
* Format: Digital download, CD
| — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[Hope Is a Drug]]''
|
* Released: 22 April 2022
* Label: Komorebi Records
* Format: Digital download, CD
| — || 10 || 28
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.
|}

===Extended plays===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:10.3em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:18.5em;"| Details
|-
! scope="row"| ''[[When We Were Lions]]''
|
* Released: 25 December 2010
* Label: Independent
* Format: CD
|-
! scope="row"| ''Kifaru''
|
* Released: 20 February 2023
* Label: Independent
* Format: Digital
|}

===Singles===
;As lead artist
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:19em;"| Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col" colspan="3"| Chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br /><ref name="UK" />
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[UK Indie Chart|UK<br />Indie]]<br /><ref name="UKIndieSingles">Peak positions for Indie singles in the UK:
* For "Down Down Down": {{Cite web |title=Chart Archive > 15 May 2011 - 21 May 2011 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-chart/20110515/130/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}
* For "Parachutes": {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-chart/20110814/130/|title=Chart Archive > 14 August 2011 - 20 August 2011|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}
* For "Cemetery": {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-singles-chart/20111106/130/|title=Chart Archive > 06 November 2011 - 12 November 2011|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| [[Scottish Albums Chart|SCO]]<br /><ref name="SCOSingles">Peak positions for singles in Scotland:
* For "Down Down Down": {{Cite web |title=Chart Archive > 24 April 2011 - 30 April 2011 |url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20110424/41/ |publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}
* For "Parachutes": {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20110814/41/|title=Chart Archive > 14 August 2011 - 20 August 2011|publisher=[[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref>
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Down Down Down]]"
| rowspan="3"| 2011
| 65 || 9 || 58
| rowspan="4"| ''[[Young Pilgrim]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Parachutes (song)|Parachutes]]"
| 44 || 5 || 39
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Cemetery (Charlie Simpson song)|Cemetery]]"
| — || 32 || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Farmer & His Gun"
| 2012
| — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Haunted"
| rowspan="2"| 2014
| — || — || —
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Long Road Home (Charlie Simpson album)|Long Road Home]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "Comets"
| — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "Walking with the San"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(featuring San Bushmen tribe)</span>
| 2015
| — || — || —
| ''[[Little Hands (Charlie Simpson album)|Little Hands]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "I See You"
| 2020
| — || — || —
|  rowspan="4"| ''Hope Is a Drug''
|-
! scope="row"| "Blameless"
| rowspan="2"| 2021
| — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "One of Us"
| — || — || —
|-
! scope="row"| "All the Best"
| rowspan="1"| 2022
| — || — || —
|-
| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;"| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.
|}

;As a featured artist
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! scope="col" style="width:19em;"| Title
! scope="col" style="width:1em;"| Year
! scope="col"| Album
|-
! scope="row"| "[[Do They Know It's Christmas?]]"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(As part of [[Band Aid 20]] with Busted)</span>
| 2004
| {{n/a|Non-album single}}
|-
! scope="row"| "Avenue of Heroes"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">([[This Is Menace]] featuring Charlie Simpson)</span>
| 2007
| ''[[The Scene Is Dead]]''
|-
! scope="row"| "Souvenir from Italy"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">([[Cry for Silence]] featuring Charlie Simpson)</span>
| 2008
| ''The Glorious Dead''
|-
! scope="row"| "Separation Season"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(The Travis Waltons featuring Charlie Simpson)</span>
| rowspan="2"| 2015
| ''Separation Season''
|-
! scope="row"| "Tech Noir"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">([[Gunship (band)|Gunship]] featuring Charlie Simpson)</span>
|Gunship
|-
! scope="row"| "Tech Noir 2"<br /><span style="font-size:85%;">(Gunship featuring [[John Carpenter]], [[Tim Cappello]], Charlie Simpson)</span>
| 2023
| ''Unicorn''
|}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{AllMusic|id=p598273|label=Charlie Simpson}}

{{Charlie Simpson}}
{{Busted}}
{{Fightstar}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, Charlie}}
[[Category:Charlie Simpson| ]]
[[Category:1985 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Busted (band) members]]
[[Category:Brit Award winners]]
[[Category:English rock singers]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English lyricists]]
[[Category:English pop keyboardists]]
[[Category:English rock guitarists]]
[[Category:English rock keyboardists]]
[[Category:English male guitarists]]
[[Category:English multi-instrumentalists]]
[[Category:Fightstar members]]
[[Category:Island Records artists]]
[[Category:Masked Singer winners]]
[[Category:PIAS Recordings artists]]
[[Category:People educated at Framlingham College]]
[[Category:People educated at Uppingham School]]
[[Category:People from Woodbridge, Suffolk]]