Post by carol on Mar 28, 2014 17:47:23 GMT
This is a great interview focussing on just how in demand Gareth is, love it! 
love Carol xxx
Gareth Gates
There have been many highlights in Gareth Gates’s career.
But one stands tall above all others: the birth of his daughter Missy.
“The proper highlight for me is obviously becoming a dad,” Gareth, who is heading to Newcastle three times on as many tours, tells me.
“She is now four and is my whole world. It changes everything becoming a dad. I now live for someone else and every decision I make, be it work or personal, is all for her.
“She does watch daddy on TV. She came down to the Dancing on Ice studio a lot and watched me train and loved it. I’d be training and she would make bits of paper with the score 10 on it and hold it up after I’d performed, bless her.
“She is absolutely my biggest fan.”
2014 is gearing up to be Gareth’s busiest year since those heady days of Pop Idol, when he came in runner-up to Will Young in the final in February 2002.
Not only has he just released a greatest hits album, he is at the Metro Radio Arena twice this year – first with Dancing on Ice, from April 4 to 6, and then as part of 5th Story, the band formed for ITV2’s The Big Reunion, and its subsequent Boy Band tour, which arrives at the venue on October 30.
Add to that a solo gig at the O2 Academy Newcastle on June 23, and it looks pretty much like demand for Gareth is at an almost all-time high.
“My solo tour is only a few dates at various academies around the country. But I’m thrilled that we have released a ‘best of’ album. Sony, my old label, got in touch and said, as things are going so well, they would like to put out a greatest hits, so I was chuffed they wanted to do that.
“The 12 years since Pop Idol have flown by. The album is a mixture of the five number ones I’ve had and fans’ favourites from various albums over the years, plus three new tracks.
“I spent the last four or five years in musical theatre, doing various gigs here and there, and West End shows. I really enjoyed that side of things.
“Once you are in that world for too long, you start to miss being a recording artist. So I’ve been working for the past year or so and I’ve got some cracking songs ready to go.”
I ask Gareth, now 29, if he believes his years in musical theatre have strengthened his voice. “Absolutely, my voice has grown. Theatre helps with the voice and you have to be able to properly sing, and my voice has just got stronger and stronger.
“Trying to fill a theatre while acting and all that, it is hard work.”
His main focus now is Dancing on Ice. “We’ve had two weeks of rehearsals. We’re really looking forward to the tour, it lasts about a month and it’s just really nice to be a part of it.
“The last ever Dancing on Ice, the last ever tour, so to be part of that is a real honour. The skating came back, eventually. I was quite rusty at first. I was one of the ones who was just terrible when I first started back. I was holding on to the sides for dear life.
“To then be able to learn to skate while dancing, while lifting your partner, was a massive achievement for me and a skill I will forever have now.
“It’s a real challenge and you have to put the hours in every day otherwise you will crumble under the pressure of the audience watching you.
“It’s lots of work but a very fulfilling thing when you’ve achieved it. And good fun too.
“The pressure of the actual live show is massive, with millions of people watching you at home.
“You do the tour and interact with the audience there and interact with the people who have been watching you week in week out and there’s a nice atmosphere with slightly less pressure. Much more fun and enjoyable.”
This week saw the finale of The Big Reunion on ITV2, in which Gareth has become part of new ‘boy band’ 5th Story, alongside he likes of Dane Bowers and Kavanagh.
“I’ve known one of the producers for a while. He’s a friend of mine and he wanted a meeting and so I listened to what he had to say. I wasn’t sold on the idea whatsoever,” admits Gareth.
“I didn’t really want to do it, but then I met the lads and they seemed great so we formed 5th Story and it’s been fun.
“There’s been a lot of work and lots of banter on and off stage, and sharing the stage with other guys is very different.
“It’s great though, singing other people’s songs and going into the studio and creating the band version of these songs.
“Plus, I have been writing lots and so I have an album’s work of material. It’s just a case of wait and see what happens. 5th Story might take off, it might not, so we are open-minded about that. If it doesn’t take off I’ll pursue the solo stuff.
“There are lots of gigs here there and everywhere.
“I have been fortunate I have never stopped working – I am as busy as ever.
“2014 is going to be busy for sure.”
love Carol xxx
Gareth Gates
There have been many highlights in Gareth Gates’s career.
But one stands tall above all others: the birth of his daughter Missy.
“The proper highlight for me is obviously becoming a dad,” Gareth, who is heading to Newcastle three times on as many tours, tells me.
“She is now four and is my whole world. It changes everything becoming a dad. I now live for someone else and every decision I make, be it work or personal, is all for her.
“She does watch daddy on TV. She came down to the Dancing on Ice studio a lot and watched me train and loved it. I’d be training and she would make bits of paper with the score 10 on it and hold it up after I’d performed, bless her.
“She is absolutely my biggest fan.”
2014 is gearing up to be Gareth’s busiest year since those heady days of Pop Idol, when he came in runner-up to Will Young in the final in February 2002.
Not only has he just released a greatest hits album, he is at the Metro Radio Arena twice this year – first with Dancing on Ice, from April 4 to 6, and then as part of 5th Story, the band formed for ITV2’s The Big Reunion, and its subsequent Boy Band tour, which arrives at the venue on October 30.
Add to that a solo gig at the O2 Academy Newcastle on June 23, and it looks pretty much like demand for Gareth is at an almost all-time high.
“My solo tour is only a few dates at various academies around the country. But I’m thrilled that we have released a ‘best of’ album. Sony, my old label, got in touch and said, as things are going so well, they would like to put out a greatest hits, so I was chuffed they wanted to do that.
“The 12 years since Pop Idol have flown by. The album is a mixture of the five number ones I’ve had and fans’ favourites from various albums over the years, plus three new tracks.
“I spent the last four or five years in musical theatre, doing various gigs here and there, and West End shows. I really enjoyed that side of things.
“Once you are in that world for too long, you start to miss being a recording artist. So I’ve been working for the past year or so and I’ve got some cracking songs ready to go.”
I ask Gareth, now 29, if he believes his years in musical theatre have strengthened his voice. “Absolutely, my voice has grown. Theatre helps with the voice and you have to be able to properly sing, and my voice has just got stronger and stronger.
“Trying to fill a theatre while acting and all that, it is hard work.”
His main focus now is Dancing on Ice. “We’ve had two weeks of rehearsals. We’re really looking forward to the tour, it lasts about a month and it’s just really nice to be a part of it.
“The last ever Dancing on Ice, the last ever tour, so to be part of that is a real honour. The skating came back, eventually. I was quite rusty at first. I was one of the ones who was just terrible when I first started back. I was holding on to the sides for dear life.
“To then be able to learn to skate while dancing, while lifting your partner, was a massive achievement for me and a skill I will forever have now.
“It’s a real challenge and you have to put the hours in every day otherwise you will crumble under the pressure of the audience watching you.
“It’s lots of work but a very fulfilling thing when you’ve achieved it. And good fun too.
“The pressure of the actual live show is massive, with millions of people watching you at home.
“You do the tour and interact with the audience there and interact with the people who have been watching you week in week out and there’s a nice atmosphere with slightly less pressure. Much more fun and enjoyable.”
This week saw the finale of The Big Reunion on ITV2, in which Gareth has become part of new ‘boy band’ 5th Story, alongside he likes of Dane Bowers and Kavanagh.
“I’ve known one of the producers for a while. He’s a friend of mine and he wanted a meeting and so I listened to what he had to say. I wasn’t sold on the idea whatsoever,” admits Gareth.
“I didn’t really want to do it, but then I met the lads and they seemed great so we formed 5th Story and it’s been fun.
“There’s been a lot of work and lots of banter on and off stage, and sharing the stage with other guys is very different.
“It’s great though, singing other people’s songs and going into the studio and creating the band version of these songs.
“Plus, I have been writing lots and so I have an album’s work of material. It’s just a case of wait and see what happens. 5th Story might take off, it might not, so we are open-minded about that. If it doesn’t take off I’ll pursue the solo stuff.
“There are lots of gigs here there and everywhere.
“I have been fortunate I have never stopped working – I am as busy as ever.
“2014 is going to be busy for sure.”
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thank you for posting Carol
