Post by rachel on Mar 7, 2008 0:55:26 GMT 5
From a Magazine you get free with a sunday paper
here it is ;D :
Richard Rocks
Former soap star Richard Fleeshman has always wanted to be a musician and now, with a UK tour underway, his dream has come true.
There is no denying that Richard Fleeshman has the ‘X’ factor or should that be quadruple XXXX? The former Corrie star, famous for his role as teenage heart-throb Craig Harris, can act; he can sing as last year’s victory in Soapstar Superstar proved; he’s good looking (voted British soaps sexiest Male in the Inside soap Awards 2006); and has now embarked on a whole new musical career, releasing his debut album Neon at the end of last year. If offered the choice, he confesses he would rather give four X for a BRIT than a BAFTA any day.
“I’ve wanted to be a musician for as long as I can remember – acting is secondary at the moment,” Richard tells me before the start of a UK tour which kicked off at Kings Tut’s in Glasgow on February 26. “It’s all really exciting as it’s taken such a long time to do the album and now it finished and I’m on the road with the band. Playing live is great fun and people have been so supportive.”
Coming Down, his catchy first single, received a lot of airplay and was Radio 2 Record of the Week – perhaps surprising audience for the young, six foot two pin-up.
“It doesn’t really matter what kind of audience is listening, just as long as they enjoy the music,” Richard says “I’ve had a great response on Myspace and it’s brilliant to get such a immediate reaction.”
Richard’s musical talents first became evident when he won the Stars In Their Eyes celebrity special in 2003 with his impersonation of Will Young. He was then crowned Soapstar Superstar in 2006 and donated £200,000 prize money to the Kirsty Appeal.
The charity contest was where he met his former girlfriend Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallett, although the TV soaps’ golden couple recently went their separate ways. Rumours abounded alleging everything from the long-distance commute since he moved south to the four-year age gap between the pair as the reason for the split, but Richard won’t be drawn, saying that they are still “very good friends”.
Yet the answer lies in the fact that he confesses his devotion to forging a new musical career has left very little time for any social life. After leaving Coronation Street, he locked himself away to write almost all of the songs and also plays guitar and piano on the album that was recorded at the Kensal Town Studios in London, famous for such artistes as K T Tunstall and Take That.
“My life’s been on hold working 24/7 making this album and I don’t really have time for anything else,” the 18-year-old admits. “When I do get the chance to relax, I enjoy chilling out in my London flat. I’m a northern lad so I like to get home to Manchester as much as I can, but I’m happy in my own company and enjoy a lazy day, watching TV, eating good food, maybe going to the gym and early to bed – that’s about it!”
Hardly rock ’n’ roll, although this fledgling music star admits being on the road with the band is like a non-stop party. Before he went on tour, it hadn’t crossed his mind that theee may be screaming fans out there waiting for him, although the vast majority of comments on his Myspace website are from young women.
“Right now, I think my mum is probably my number one fan! We started the tour in Scotland where I did some Radio interview recently and had a great time. The country’s really lovely and the people are friendly, too.”
Richard was born into an acting family – his dad David Fleeshman. Mum (former Brookside star Sue Jenkins), and older sister Emily are all actors. Both his parents appeared in Corrie and Richard was even on the cobbled street even before he was born as his mum, who played barmaid Gloria Todd, was pregnant with him during that time!
However, he went through a gruelling six-month audition with a lot of other young hopefuls before landing the part of Craig Harris at the age of 12. The lad saw more than most his age – to recap, his family first appeared when they were on the rum from violent gangsters, against whom his mum Angela was giving evidence. Then his sister Katy had an affair with Martin Platt and it all ended in tragedy when his dad was killed by a wrench wielded by his very own daughter, before she committed suicide, leaving mum to be wrongly sent to jail.
No wonder Craig turned into a moping Goth, last seen on a train heading to Berlin while his girlfriend Rosie backed out of running away with him at the eleventh hour. However, at least he didn’t meet with a fatal accident, so there is always the chance that he could be back…
In the meantime, Richard has shelved acting to give his music career his undivided attention.
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been and I’m trilled with the album,” Richard says whose favourite artistes include Bob Dylan, the Arctic Monkeys and Elton John. “I like all sorts of music, including rock and blues, so there is a diverse range of influences.
“I’ve learned not to plan anything in this business because if you do, it’ll never come about. Certainly this is career that I’ve always wanted to follow and if 2008 is half as much fun as 2007 was, I’ll be over the moon!”
here it is ;D :
Richard Rocks
Former soap star Richard Fleeshman has always wanted to be a musician and now, with a UK tour underway, his dream has come true.
There is no denying that Richard Fleeshman has the ‘X’ factor or should that be quadruple XXXX? The former Corrie star, famous for his role as teenage heart-throb Craig Harris, can act; he can sing as last year’s victory in Soapstar Superstar proved; he’s good looking (voted British soaps sexiest Male in the Inside soap Awards 2006); and has now embarked on a whole new musical career, releasing his debut album Neon at the end of last year. If offered the choice, he confesses he would rather give four X for a BRIT than a BAFTA any day.
“I’ve wanted to be a musician for as long as I can remember – acting is secondary at the moment,” Richard tells me before the start of a UK tour which kicked off at Kings Tut’s in Glasgow on February 26. “It’s all really exciting as it’s taken such a long time to do the album and now it finished and I’m on the road with the band. Playing live is great fun and people have been so supportive.”
Coming Down, his catchy first single, received a lot of airplay and was Radio 2 Record of the Week – perhaps surprising audience for the young, six foot two pin-up.
“It doesn’t really matter what kind of audience is listening, just as long as they enjoy the music,” Richard says “I’ve had a great response on Myspace and it’s brilliant to get such a immediate reaction.”
Richard’s musical talents first became evident when he won the Stars In Their Eyes celebrity special in 2003 with his impersonation of Will Young. He was then crowned Soapstar Superstar in 2006 and donated £200,000 prize money to the Kirsty Appeal.
The charity contest was where he met his former girlfriend Emmerdale star Roxanne Pallett, although the TV soaps’ golden couple recently went their separate ways. Rumours abounded alleging everything from the long-distance commute since he moved south to the four-year age gap between the pair as the reason for the split, but Richard won’t be drawn, saying that they are still “very good friends”.
Yet the answer lies in the fact that he confesses his devotion to forging a new musical career has left very little time for any social life. After leaving Coronation Street, he locked himself away to write almost all of the songs and also plays guitar and piano on the album that was recorded at the Kensal Town Studios in London, famous for such artistes as K T Tunstall and Take That.
“My life’s been on hold working 24/7 making this album and I don’t really have time for anything else,” the 18-year-old admits. “When I do get the chance to relax, I enjoy chilling out in my London flat. I’m a northern lad so I like to get home to Manchester as much as I can, but I’m happy in my own company and enjoy a lazy day, watching TV, eating good food, maybe going to the gym and early to bed – that’s about it!”
Hardly rock ’n’ roll, although this fledgling music star admits being on the road with the band is like a non-stop party. Before he went on tour, it hadn’t crossed his mind that theee may be screaming fans out there waiting for him, although the vast majority of comments on his Myspace website are from young women.
“Right now, I think my mum is probably my number one fan! We started the tour in Scotland where I did some Radio interview recently and had a great time. The country’s really lovely and the people are friendly, too.”
Richard was born into an acting family – his dad David Fleeshman. Mum (former Brookside star Sue Jenkins), and older sister Emily are all actors. Both his parents appeared in Corrie and Richard was even on the cobbled street even before he was born as his mum, who played barmaid Gloria Todd, was pregnant with him during that time!
However, he went through a gruelling six-month audition with a lot of other young hopefuls before landing the part of Craig Harris at the age of 12. The lad saw more than most his age – to recap, his family first appeared when they were on the rum from violent gangsters, against whom his mum Angela was giving evidence. Then his sister Katy had an affair with Martin Platt and it all ended in tragedy when his dad was killed by a wrench wielded by his very own daughter, before she committed suicide, leaving mum to be wrongly sent to jail.
No wonder Craig turned into a moping Goth, last seen on a train heading to Berlin while his girlfriend Rosie backed out of running away with him at the eleventh hour. However, at least he didn’t meet with a fatal accident, so there is always the chance that he could be back…
In the meantime, Richard has shelved acting to give his music career his undivided attention.
“I’m happier than I’ve ever been and I’m trilled with the album,” Richard says whose favourite artistes include Bob Dylan, the Arctic Monkeys and Elton John. “I like all sorts of music, including rock and blues, so there is a diverse range of influences.
“I’ve learned not to plan anything in this business because if you do, it’ll never come about. Certainly this is career that I’ve always wanted to follow and if 2008 is half as much fun as 2007 was, I’ll be over the moon!”
