Tim Booth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Tim Booth (born Timothy John Booth, 4 February 1960, in Wakefield, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom) attended Shrewsbury School. He is a singer, dancer, and actor best known as the lead singer from the band, James.
[edit] Career
While a student at Manchester University studying Drama, Tim Booth encountered Jim Glennie, Paul Gilbertson and Gavan Whelan in 1981 in the cellar bar of the University's student union. The three members of local band Model Team International were watching Booth's erratic, chaotic dance style at the student disco, and then caught his attention when Gavan attempted to steal his drink. An altercation almost followed, but Gilbertson calmed the situation down by talking things over with Booth and inviting him to join their band as a dancer, feeling Booth's wild movements suited the band's music style. Booth joined them at their scout hut in Withington the following day and was recruited as dancer, shortly afterwards he was promoted to lead vocalist and lyricist. The band later renamed themselves James.
After a struggle for success and recognition throughout the 1980s, James finally achieved commercial success in the early 1990s with the rise of the Madchester music scene, their single "Sit Down" becoming the biggest hit of the era, reaching number 2 in the charts. Booth became recognised for his powerful, heartfelt vocal delivery and chaotic dancing style. He also caused a stir in the press with his left field philosophies on life and his attraction to alternative spiritual practices.
During 1995, Booth took a break from James and recorded an album with film composer Angelo Badalamenti, entitled Booth and the Bad Angel. He then returned to James to complete the recording of the album Whiplash, and stayed with the band until 2001 when he announced his departure to concentrate on other projects.
After leaving James in 2001, Booth spent much time concentrating on teaching the dance practice known as The 5 Rhythms, a movement meditation practice. In 2004, together with record producer Lee Muddy Baker and songwriter KK (Kevin Kerrigan), he released his first solo album, Bone, to general critical acclaim, though he refers to it as a collaborative effort and preferred to credit the album to 'Tim Booth & the Individuals' as opposed to taking sole credit. He also began taking acting lessons during this time, and appeared in a small role as Mr. Zsasz in the 2005 film Batman Begins.
On 14 April 2006, Good Friday, he appeared as Judas in the Manchester Passion – a musical style show in the middle of Manchester, using music from the region to tell the story of Easter. The James song "Sit Down" was used, but was not sung by Booth himself (although he did sing it in an encore after the cameras had stopped filming).
Booth has also contributed to MTV's search for the greatest song lyrics in April 2006 as a critic.
In January 2007 it was announced Tim Booth would be rejoining James; following a jam session with old bandmates Jim Glennie and Larry Gott which convinced him to rejoin. The band played a sell-out 8 date tour in April 2007 and will be making appearances at numerous festivals throughout Summer 2007. This will be followed by a new James album, expected in early 2008.
Booth will reprise his role as Mr. Zsasz in the sequel to Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, according to Booth in a radio interview[citation needed]. He has also stated that, despite the reunion of James, he still plans to release further solo material.
Booth currently lives in Hove, near Brighton, with his wife Kate and children Ben and Luca Blue.
[edit] Trademarks
Booth has many trademarks that make him stand out. He is known for eccentric, weird behavior. He also used to have really tight curly hair in a perm type style although now he appears to be bald and shaven with a different more prisoner type image.
[edit] External links
James | |
|---|---|
| Tim Booth • Jim Glennie • Larry Gott • David Baynton-Power • Saul Davies • Mark Hunter Adrian Oxaal • Paul Gilbertson • Gavan Whelan • Andy Diagram • Michael Kulas | |
| EPs | Jimone • James II • Village Fire • Chain Mail |
| Studio albums | Stutter • Strip-mine • Gold Mother • Seven • Laid • Wah Wah • Whiplash • Millionaires • Pleased to Meet You |
| Live albums | One Man Clapping • Getting Away With It... Live |
| Singles | See here |
| Compilations | The Best Of • B-Sides Ultra • The Collection • Fresh as a Daisy - The Singles |
| Videos | Come Home Live • Getting Away With It... Live • Seven: Live Concert • Fresh as a Daisy - The Videos |
| Record labels | Factory Records • Sire Records • Rough Trade Records • Fontana Records • Mercury Records • Sanctuary Records |
| Related articles | Brian Eno • Booth and the Bad Angel • Madchester |
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