Blue Crazy Crew

The second of a series of interviews with celebrities on their interior design preferences. We asked Simon Webbe, the successful solo artist formerly part of boy-band and currently appearing in the West End in Sister Act about his interiors style.

House or Apartment?

Apartment

Traditional interior or contemporary interior?

Contemporary

Fitted kitchen or Freestanding kitchen?

Fitted Kitchen

Traditional bathroom or Wet room ?

Both – but always ensuite to every bedroom

Neutral colours or Bold colours ?

Bold

Paint or Wallpaper?

Paint

Carpet or wooden flooring?

Wooden Floor

Curtains or Roman blinds?

Both

Central pendant lighting or halogen down lights?

Central Pendant

Radiators or underfloor heating?

Radiators

Patterned fabric or plain?

Plain

Original artwork or prints?

Original artwork

Walnut, Oak or Pine?

Oak

Favourite room in your home?

Bedroom

The favourite interior item/possession that you own?

King size Bed

Lee Ryan’s on the handsfree…

Lee’s got a record out, but what’s he got to say for himself?

THIS.

Hello Lee. You’re driving – where to?

I’m on my way to Leeds – I’ve got a gig up there which has just come in. It’s a little corporate event. Well they’re like your bread and butter.

More than record sales?

Well I don’t know – you can still make a lot of money through records sales, I think. You’ve got PRS and things like that. As a singer you’ve got a lot of streams of income that you could take from. I think what’s different these days is the structure of record labels, and how they make their money. Record sales are declining across the board but now they’re more into touring and merchandise. Touring’s very strong – you can’t download that experience, can you.

What are your live plans now?

I love playing live, I really do. At the moment I’m just waiting to see how this single does, to be completely honest. It’s such a nerve-wracking time. I’ve worked for four years to get to this place right now. I’m just so nervous about it. I’ve worked so long and so hard and taken different routes, and turned down a lot of other offers because they didn’t feel right… Then I got the right offer from Colin (Barlow, at Geffen Records) and it just felt right. But it’s taken me a long, long time to get here.

You say you’re scared about how many it sells. Obviously musicians talk a lot about ‘I’m just happy to have made the music, it doesn’t matter how it sells’, isn’t that something you feel?

That’s bullshit. Am I happy that I’ve made music? Yes – I’m happy and I’m really proud of it and I listen to my album all the time, and my family and friends like it. But I don’t make music because I want my family and friends to like it – I want to share it with the world.

The other point being that if a single does well, it makes it more likely that you’ll get to release another.

Yes. It means I get to release the album, which is more important for me. I want the album to come out, I want people to hear the body of work that I’ve done. The first album I did, I didn’t write any of it, I just got given a lot of songs and I didn’t even know how to promote it because it didn’t make any sense to me. This time round I’ve really walked the walk, I’ve been to America, come back, been through turmoil and stress and anxiety, thinking I’d never be able to come back into this industry again, and I’ve had the opportunity to really take four years out of my life to come up with this album, so it means a lot to me.

Presumably part of that period was spent coming to terms with the fact that you’re never going to be as big as Blue were.

This album is more about what I’m trying to say.

So what are you trying to say?

I think I’m the backbone of this album. I think a lot of people have a misconception of who I am. It’s people in the industry and it’s people in the street. I was out the other day and I was walking through Hyde Park with my guitarist and we sat down and just started jamming with these people who were queuing for a Kings Of Leon concert. And we were sitting and talking with them and I said, ‘I’ve got a new single out’, and they said, ‘play us your new single then’, so I just started playing it with my guitarist, and they all said ‘wow man you can really sing and I love that song’. And one bloke went, ‘and I’ve got to be honest with you, I thought you were a knob but you’re actually quite nice’. The thing is I say stupid shit but it’s normally in jest. I don’t know why people take me so seriously sometimes, like I mean everything I say, or something.

There is this perception, generally, of ‘Lee Ryan: Massive Twat’.

I see that. I totally see people going ‘Lee Ryan is a prick’. But why? I’m not arrogant, I don’t think I’m better than I am… I’ve seen people in this industry with far better reputations for being ‘cool and nice’ than me, who are far bigger arseholes. I just try to be nice to everyone.

This is slightly confusing, though, because in one hand you’re saying ‘stop taking me so seriously’, but on the other hand you’re saying ‘please take me more seriously’.

The thing is, when I’m being silly, or when I’m doing funny interviews… Well the thing is I don’t mind taking the piss out of myself. I take my music seriously, but my life? Life’s too crazy to take too seriously. How can anyone take this life seriously? The world is in turmoil! I find it hard to take life seriously, and if I did I think I’d go nuts. I like being silly, I like being funny, I’m a child at heart really. I suppose there’s two sides to me really.

We should get this out of the way because you’ve been talking about how important your music is to you and so on, but the single you’ve got out now is actually a cover version of a song by someone else, isn’t it. Perhaps can you just explain why it doesn’t matter than you didn’t write ‘I Am Who I Am’.

There’s two songs on this album that I chose to be on this album. I recorded ‘I Am Who I Am’ before (‘I Am Who I Am’ writer) Jamie Hartman put it on the Ben’s Brother album. I wrote a load of songs with him, one called ‘Mockingbird’, one called ‘In The Arms Of Your Love’ which is about God and it’s a beautiful song, and he played me ‘I Am Who I Am’ and I just related to it straight away. On this album there are a lot of songs that I’ve written and they feel personal to me, but this song feels just as personal to me even though I didn’t write it. So it makes sense to me in that way – it’s not like an instance of some song where I haven’t got a fucking clue what it’s about and the label have just given it to me to sing because they think it’ll be a hit. Do you know what I mean? I still feel like I can own that song.

Is the right answer.

Thank you!

Would you rather be trampled by a cow or eaten by a pig?

(Laughs) Are you trying to get me to be that silly person, now?

Your answer doesn’t have to be silly.

I’d rather be trampled by a cow because it’ll be quicker.

So Batman Begins was on TV the other night.

I was watching that as well.

We were watching it at the same time. That’s good. Anyway there’s a scene in which he’s sort of going off the rails a bit and dicking around and he’s coming out of a posh club covered in water because he’s been splashing around in the water feature and he’s obviously having a great time, then unexpectedly he bumps into his childhood sweetheart and is immediately embarrassed and explains that deep down he’s still the sensitive guy he was as a teenager. And the woman out of Dawson’s Creek says…

…”it’s not what’s deep down, it’s your actions”.

Yes. And that’s basically you isn’t it. There’s this defence you’ve always had of ‘deep down I’m really very thoughtful you know’, and you actually are quite thoughtful and complex, but really the fact is that externally you’re just Lee Ryan running rampage and doing weird things. And maybe that’s what matters. The question, really, being: did you watch Batman and think of yourself?

Well I don’t know if I’ve done anything weird recently. I mean when I was a kid I did some stupid shit but then who didn’t when they were at Sixth Form or University, which is the age I was when I was in Blue? I was having fun and being a teenager… But lately I don’t think I’m doing anything weird. I’m a dad! I stay at home with my missus. I enjoy cooking. I go to work and I come home and see my family. (Pause, and then with impeccable comic timing…) I mean I punched that taxi driver but the fucker deserved it.

That’s exactly the sort of Batman think we’re talking about, isn’t it. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a pensive album about your inner feelings if you end up punching taxi drivers.

But he started on me, and then he pushed me, and he got in my face, then he went to attack me and I punched him first and I got done for it. It was self defence, but the way it was reported was ‘violent Lee Ryan hits taxi driver’. But what was I supposed to do? I’m not going to let anyone hit me. So, erm… But since then, I don’t think I’ve done anything. Do you know what it was? I went to America and I stopped everything. I came out of my solo project, I was shit unhappy, I was doing a lot of stuff I shouldn’t have been doing, I was drinking a lot really badly and putting on a lot of weight. I was deeply unhappy. I got on a plane and just went to America. And I found myself there. I sat on the beach, watched the sun go down with the guitar in my hand. I became a bit like Jack Johnson. I forgot who I was.

Did you want to be Jack Johnson?

No, I don’t really love his music. But I did get on a surf board. It was a bit ‘Englishman in the water’. I wasn’t very good on the surf board.

Moving on, there’s something we need to discuss. In Blue it wasn’t there. When you had your first solo stuff out it wasn’t there. When you did Celebrity Come Dine With me it WAS there. It’s there now. Let’s discuss your odd half moustache.

A lot of people talk about that. I’m 27 but it’s the most I can grow! If I don’t shave it doesn’t fill up on my face properly. I’m lucky to have a baby face I suppose.

Do you shave the rest of your body, including Things That Shouldn’t Be Shaved, as per the Olde Laws of The Boyband Member?

I don’t shave anything else…

Do you think there should be a written test to be a popstar?

Simon Cowell would probably be the headmaster.

Media training is a bit like an aural exam. Have you ever had it?

They constantly try.

How did that go?

I’ve always hated it. All media training is, is for people with no personality who don’t know how to get their personality across. You know what? I enjoy being me. And sometimes I get taken the wrong way. I can’t help that. I think it’s just human nature. But the thing I’ve noticed about the press is that you can say what you like, but they’ll just print what they want. That’s one thing I’m not green about. A prime example is the way I met my fiancee – they say she’s a fan who sent me sexy pictures on MySpace, but she wasn’t a fan and you couldn’t even send pictures on MySpace when we met. I clear it up in every interview, but then the interview says ‘Lee, who got a fan pregnant’, and it makes me look so bad!

So how does one learn to deal with this, then? Because you know that by answering back or attempting to set the record straight it just makes it worse. How do you learn to allow people to say things that you know – and they often know – are untrue?

I don’t know… I mean I think the press like to think of me as ‘bad boy from Blue’ or ‘ladies man Lee Ryan’ but I’m not! When I was a kid I loved that little image I had, and it seemed fun, and I had no responsibilities. Now, ten years later… Well, I’d love for everyone to stand in line then write down all the things they got up to when they were a kid, then read it out to everyone. Everyone’s got shit they did.

What else are you working on at the moment?

I’m producing a film at the moment, which is brilliant. I wrote it too. It’s going to be a big up yours to everyone.

What’s it about?

Dyslexia. It’s based on a young boy who gets diagnosed with ADHD who gets given Ritalin. It’s set in the early 70s and follows him through all of his life. There’s massive interest in it now. I suppose people might think that I’d write some sort of gangster film but this is quite an intelligent – if I do say so myself – psychological thriller. It’s really good. Honestly. I’m so proud of it. We’re looking to shoot at the start of next year. I love music. I mean I’m doing my solo album this year – hopefully, if the single goes well – and I’m getting back in Blue next year, and I’ve got the film… And another film. It’s a horror!

What role do you play in the horror film?

It’s a film about cannibals. It’s a very good script. It’s the same guy who did The Heavy, the film I did with Vinnie Jones.

Do you get eaten?

Well let’s not go into it, but it’s about cannibalism.

There is one final question. You can pass on this if you like, it’s a bit of a shitty question but it’s quite interesting.

Go on then.

You know when you and Duncan were with groupies, you on one end, Duncan on the other? Did you know that he fancied blokes?

Oh dear, this is where my record label media training should kick in. Well I said that comment about that story… Actually do you really want to know the honest truth about that?

Go on then.

I was told to say that.

What do you mean?

The label and management were like, ‘you need to start being a bit more outspoken in interviews, you’re being too boring. Lee Ryan being a changed man isn’t really cutting it’. And I remember my press guy said to them, ‘don’t let him loose. He’ll say some shit and you’ll regret it’. Anyway I did that interview, and mentioned that whole thing, and got a phonecall straight after it came out, going ‘actually, let’s just stick to Lee Ryan being a changed man’. Ha! The thing is I’m quite truthful, and this isn’t a very truthful industry, so I’m always going to stand out. There’s a lot of red herrings out there, for sure!

If this interview were a herring, what colour would it be?

It would be luminous!

What’s interesting is that you say you didn’t learn anything from your media training, but what you’ve just done there – steered the conversation away from a tricky question having not actually answered it – is kind of ‘media training gold’.

(Laughs) Well that’s 11 years in the industry for you.

And you in fact did it so well that we’re going to let you off the hook.

Thanks!

Good old Lee Ryan. ‘I Am Who I Am’ is out now.

[Source: Popjustice]

I am very proud to present you this interview with Lee Ryan, the guy who made many teenage hearts –including mine- go wild back in the Blue days, but he is all grown up now and ready to conquer the music world all by himself with his second solo album “Confessions”

Today is also the day the his new single “I Am Who I Am / Secret Love” gets released so be sure you get your copy.

“Confessions” is coming this October, what is your favourite song of the album? Does the album differ a lot from your debut album?

I’m really looking forward to it coming out, can’t wait. There are lots of songs on the album that mean a lot to me in different ways and I hope that people can relate to many of the songs because I think it’s quite truthful and honest.

Back in 2007, there were rumours about an album to be released, as second album but eventually cancelled. Were any of the tracks “recycled” to be on the new album “Confessions”?

I understand what you’re saying there, there was an album that I did which was just part of the process of me getting to this album really. The album that you’re talking about I named bunazoot which was kind of a crazy name for an album. A lot of the fans loved a lot of the songs on that album but unfortunately none of the songs made this album.

What would be your favourite genre of film to direct and why?

If I was going to direct a film I’d like to do maybe a Victorian piece, that would be cool. I just love the style of the clothes. Like an Oliver Twist type film. I love the mood of that era, it was so harsh, there were no antibiotics. If you had a bad tooth you just drank some whiskey and yanked it out yourself. The average age of living was about 50 year old and that’s so young in comparison to these days so I think that would be a great era to explore with directing, with a great script of course!

How is Blue’s reunion coming along? When can we expect a new album?

It’s going great. We’re moving forward but as you know in this industry things move slowly. It’s going to happen but I’m just concentrating on my solo stuff right now and the other boys are doing their projects and then hopefully soon we’ll be coming back together.

If you wouldn’t have become a singer, what would you have become?

Do you know what I would have been, to be honest with you I really don’t know maybe an actor, I love acting and always wanted to be an actor.

You’ve performed in many places of the world, which concert is the one that you remember really well, where fans have gone the craziest?

I think Italy for me. Italy was just a great time for me in Blue and as a solo artist as well and I’d love to get back there as soon as possible.

Do you feel like the music business has gone tougher over the years? Does the internet and the illegal download really affect a lot?

Do you know what it’s probably ruined this industry so much that to be in this industry from ten years ago and seeing what it was like beforehand. Even TV and radio has been affected. It’s affected the whole industry. Music’s been affected, film’s been affected and I think if people could realise that illegal downloading is really stopping people creating music and I think that’s one thing in society that really provides a release so with people stealing music they’re actually stopping one of the few privileges we get as the human race.

You’ve already accomplished a lot during your years with Blue and your solo career, is there still a dream you have that you want to accomplish?

There is so much I want to accomplish in my life, I’m still only young, 27. I think that there is lots that I want to accomplish and dreams I want to fulfil like to become a film producer one day.

What type of music did you grew up with? Has it helped influence you?

I grew up with a lot of soul music, Motown and I think it has definitely influenced me.

What current artist has really blown you away recently?

I love Kings of Leon. I love their style of music, Lady Gaga has been great but I do think that she’s a carbon copy of Madonna and I think she’s taken it a bit too far, even though in the beginning I thought she was wow. I think she’s not that original.

Is there a song on the radio right now that you’ve heard, love, and wish you could have recorded?

I think that at the moment as it’s summer there are a lot of up tempo dance tracks out there. I don’t really know, I’d have to listen more to the radio but I love my old school music.

Message to the fans and the POP+Nation readers?

I just want to say thanks for supporting me for so many years. I’m still here and I’m still going and it’s because of you guys that I’m still here so I just want to say thank you and to all the Blue fans out there we’re going to be coming back soon so get ready

[Source: Pop+Nation]

One of my favourite boy band lead singers, Lee Ryan is absolutely back and he’s better than ever. He’s currently gearing up for the release of his official comeback single which is a double A-Side ‘Secret Love/I Am Who I Am’. The single – two different musical and lyrical content is firing up with angst, pop and vulnerability all at the same time. The stunning ballad, ‘I Am Who I Am’ is surely not to be missed. I’ve been in love with it for quite sometime now!

Our dearest Lee is quite generous to answer some questions about the new single, his new sound and being thrown with a bottle of fresh milk in his new video. Plus, he confirms Blue’s reunion too!

READ the CHINWAG below:

TBR: Good day Lee, how are you doing today?

LEE: Good Day. I’m good, how are you?

TBR: Absolutely fine! Anyway, You’ve got a new single coming out this July and it’s a double A-Side. Can you tell us more about it?

LEE: The two singles are I Am Who I Am and Secret Love. I Am Who I Am is a really cool ballad. Secret Love is an up- tempo Dance Track. I’m really looking forward to it coming out, can’t wait. I think it’s going to have a lot to offer for the single and you’re going to be getting a lot for your money.

TBR: ‘Secret Love’ was pushed back and will be released alongside the gorgeous ballad, ‘I Am Who I Am’. How come?

LEE: We decided to push back the release of ‘Secret Love’ back and release as a double A-side because we felt that I Am Who I Am was getting such a great response on the acoustic side when we were performing it live so it was just one of those decisions that has worked well for us and I’m really happy that it’s gone well and it’s given me a real chance to get back out there again, putting myself back out in the public eye and getting people to hear my new music.

TBR: I’ve seen the video for ‘I Am Who I Am’ are things being throwed at you hurt at all? I mean it’s kind of harsh right?

LEE: Yes it is a kind of harsh video but I wanted to make the video powerful, it was a conscious effort to do that and I prefer the I Am Who I Am Video to Secret Love. I didn’t really get Secret Love when we did the video, I was so much happier with the outcome of the I Am Who I Am Video.

TBR: Are you expecting any chart position as of now?

LEE: I don’t know how to see where we are with this chart position at the moment. It’s doing great at radio but then again it depends on how many people actually go out there and buy it or download it when it comes out but I pray that it gets into the top ten.

TBR: How do you think you’ve grown as an artist since the release of your first album?

LEE: I think the reason my first solo album didn’t do so well was, I always say that it wasn’t my album, it was quite upsetting to not be able to release an album that I 100% believed in and I even said that through the promotion of that solo album because I didn’t feel like I had the chance to actually express myself even though some of the songs on that album I really did enjoy I feel like as a solo artists I didn’t know what they meant which was quite frustrating so with this album I think is totally different as I’ve written the whole lot and I understand what it means and I can do great interviews and talk about my music whereas before I couldn’t.

TBR: We’ve been very excited about the Blue reunion tour since it came out on the news last year, are there any progress about that project that you can spill out?

LEE: Yes. We are getting back together. It’s going to be next year sometime but at the moment it’s early days with getting all the deal sorted with the record label but It’s going to happen, don’t worry.

TBR: I’ve seen on a previous interview about a comparison with JLS, how’d you feel about them?

LEE: JLS I think are an amazing group. I think with them coming from a reality TV programme like the X Factor you can’t compare then to Blue. Their success has been amazing but I kinda think would they have been so successful if they didn’t come from a massive platform such as the Xfactor. I love their songs, I think they’re great but I think Blue where a lot more mature even when we first came out with the sound we had. I don’t know. I would never put JLS down cos I know the boys and I think they’re great but I do think Blue and JLS are totally different.

TBR: Thanks Lee! You’re amazeballs!

Catch Lee with his new double A-Side single, ‘I Am Who I Am/ Secret Love’ out on July 5th in the UK. His new album, ‘Confessions’ will be out sometime this year!

[Source:The Beat Review]

How come you changed your single release to I am Who I Am?

It wasn’t really my decision. Before we released Secret Love we were going with I am Who I Am and then they said ‘we wanna do an uptempo one’. So then we started going with Secret Love but it was a real dance tune, and it didn’t truely represent the album and your first single has to be a good reflection. We decided to do a double A Side and it gives the fans so much, with the remixes and B-Sides and everything. Fans will get a lot of music from one CD.

Are you enjoying doing all the promo?

Yeah but you know what, there’s not as much as there used to be. I came out in the industry when there was so much you could go on, you could take your pick. There were so many ways to get yourself out there, no kids are just going online and so these music shows aren’t about any more. It’s just a sign of the times, it keeps moving forward. I am enjoying being back but it’s different to what i’ve ever know.

I finally saw your Come Dine with Me this week.

You know what, that was done three years ago!! I wish I got repeat fees though, cos i’d be extremely rich. I don’t wanna do other reality shows right now, I want to concentrate on my music career. Never say never, but not right now.

You’re into food and wine and watching dvds now aren’t you?

Oh yeah good food and a glass of wine, I love it. Having a family, that’s what me and the mrs do. I have a family so that’s what you do… it’s part of growing up.

Didn’t you go out on the town for your birthday last week?

Nah we didn’t go out out. All the boys (from Blue) came down to the Ivy, with my family too, for a great meal and I went home stone cold sober.

You’ve started writing for Blue haven’t you?

Yeah i’ve started but our project will be a while ago. I love writing so whether it works for me, or Blue or another group then it’s cool. Blue will be next year.

Have you seen Simon in Sister Act yet?

No I so want to go. Maybe next week. It’s Antony’s birthday this weekend but maybe Saturday night maybe. I’m not into West End for myself at this point in my career but maybe in the future. I really love Jesus Christ Superstar, that’d be something to get my teeth into it’s amazing.

A while ago I gave you Tom Cruises phone number for you to get your film script out there! What happened?

Oh yeah i’m going to Italy with the script. I’m going to give Fox the script. I’ve got a company interested in making it, some interested in financing it and so it is going to get made. I can’t wait to put my fingers up at all the fucking haters. I told you i’d make it! I’ll be in the film, but only a small part. I didn’t wanna do everything with it. I’ve written it, i’ll produce it and will do a small part.

Who would you cast in it?

There’s a cast we’re putting together now and it is pretty fantastic. If we can pull it off it’ll be massive.

What if your mates want a part?

My Mum wants to be in it.

She looks like a film star, she could pass that off.
Yeah i’ll have to see what her acting skills are like. I’d get in trouble if I said no.

Have you got any more live dates coming up?

I’ve got one this weekend, but I dunno. I’ve got radio shows and loads to do.

How do you find travelling around?

I love my job and being on the road. I’m better when i’m out on the road.

Your album’s out in October isn’t it?

Yeah we’ve mastered half of it, we’ve got another five songs to do and then i’m ready to go.

Cool, before we finish, some quickfire questions from some of your fans…

Who did you vote for the election?

Me and my Mrs were talking about Conservatives, but then we were like fuck that, they’re all corrupt so i’ll vote for Greenpeace.

What aftershave do you wear?

I love Clive Christian but at the moment i’m wearing Gucci by Gucci and it seems to be wearing.

What underwear do you wear?

CK’s.

Do you think Duncan James fancies you?

Definately! I’m too good looking for him not to!

Have you ever had to knock him back?!

No, of course not!

What was the last DVD you bought?

What was that Angry Citezen film with Gerrard Butler… Citezen something. I’m watching it tonight when I get in with a steak and a glass of red wine and I can’t fucking wait. That’s how exciting my life is now, I don’t go clubbing any more and I love it.

Would you ever pose naked?

Yeah, god’s suit that he gave me is better than any designer clothes label I could wear.

What’s your secret love?

Cheese and red wine. Stinky cheese like some really good french ones…fantastic.

I normally have Dairylea.

[Source: Celebritain]

FORMER Blue singer Lee Ryan says finding true love helped him get his life back on track.

Lee, who is re-launching his solo career, is engaged to Samantha Miller, who first seduced him on his MySpace page by sending sexy snaps.

The pair now have a 16-month-old son, Rayn.

Lee, 26, said: “If it wasn’t for Samantha I wouldn’t be alive today. It is as simple as that. You can say that she saved my life.

“I probably would not be around if it hadn’t been for the fact that she has helped me to find my place in the world.

“Now that I am a father, I am in a different head space.

“I’ve calmed down a lot and I enjoy being a dad. I do the nappies. I don’t get away with not doing anything like that.”

Lee is releasing his album, Confessions, later this year.

He has also recorded double A-sided single I Am Who I Am and Secret Love, the latter of which was co-written by Lee, alongside Johnny Douglas who has also worked with George Michael and Kylie. The single is out in July.

Lee has been warned by his management team to be careful in interviews after his gaffe in 2001 when he compared the 9/11 terrorist attack to the plight of endangered species.

He said: “I was just 17. I was asked the question and I answered it. Then it went all around the world. You don’t expect that when you are just a kid being asked your opinions.

“I’ve done things I’m not proud of. There was no shortage of girls throwing themselves at us and I was a young lad. I’m 26 now, a lot has changed.

“At first on this campaign to promote my record, my management told me I could be as outspoken as I wanted in interviews.

“But they didn’t like what I had to say so they told me to be careful. That’s what I hate about the industry. You’re not allowed to be yourself. I have never been comfortable being a pop star.

“I hate all that red carpet stuff. It just isn’t me.”

Lee revealed his self-destructive nature caused concern for his band-mates but insists they will reform.

The boyband formed in 2001 but split in 2005. They sold 15million records worldwide.

Lee is currently in discussions with Duncan James, Simon Webbe and Antony Costa to iron out the details for a Blue comeback.

“I was always the one who was getting into trouble,” he recalled. “I once downed three bottles of tequila at an MTV awards and went up to Linkin Park.

“I told them they thought they were hard but they weren’t. I got dragged away. Linkin Park probably thought I was just off my head and didn’t take me seriously.

“I was in a boyband but I drank and I took drugs, though never seriously hard drugs.

“I used to try to not go to sleep just to see what it was like. One time I stayed up for three nights solid. I was falling asleep in the studio and at TV interviews.

“The band would ask me what I was doing and I told them it was an experiment.”

He added: “Blue will reform. We’re talking about it. It will happen. We’ll tour. The discussions are taking place now.”

[Source: Daily Record]

Singer Lee Ryan was just 16 when he shot to fame as part of the boy band Blue, and now he’s back with a new album and a solo single. We caught up with him to chat about living in LA, dancing in his new video and why he’s so excited that Blue are getting back together.

So you’ve had a couple of years off and went to live in LA…

Yes. I went there to get away really, and to remember who I was. To find myself. Because from the age of 16, I had grown up in Blue. I was a little nipper and the band and the fame were quite hefty things to take on. I realise that now, but back then I just didn’t care. I was just having fun and I said and did some really stupid things.

Did you make your new album while you were there?

Some of the time I was working on it. The album took four years and I’m very proud of it. In my eyes, it’s my first album because it’s the first one I’ve written. It’s a journey. When I listened to it all together, I realised the general theme was wanting to get going again and I think that’s how I was at the time. There was a lot of anticipation and frustration and that’s what I get from the album. A sense of being quite lost.

Was it important to you to write the whole album?

Yes. For me, it was about the opportunity to write. I don’t mind if mine burns down in flames, or if nothing comes of it, as long as I can go: “I owned it and I did it my way.” It was the way I wanted to do it, and if people don’t feel it, at least you’ve listened to it and I’ve told you what I’m thinking.

The new single, Secret Love, is different from what people will have heard from you before!

 I know! And in the video I’m dancing. It’s not my strongest point. I’m not Justin Timberlake! I’m happy with the song. I don’t think it’s the best song on the album by a long shot. I don’t think it was what people were expecting. I’m keeping people on their toes and that’s what I want. I don’t want people to think: “Oh, I thought he’d do that, because it’s boring.” The album has some amazing ballads on it where I’m really using my voice. I don’t think Secret Love shows off my voice as well. I’m hitting some high notes, but there are more powerful songs on the album.

Are you happy to be back, doing interviews and talking to people?

 Yes I am. And the best thing is I love talking to the fans. I’m trying to get my Twitter account up to reach more people. Every day I’m getting more people saying: “Hi, I like your single.” I’m getting comments from everywhere, from Italy and America which is really cool.

You’ve also done some acting!

Yes, I did a film called The Heavy and I did the Italian voice-over for Eddie in Ice Age 2 and 3. I was a little possum. I didn’t understand what I was saying. I didn’t actually learn Italian, I was given all the sounds and I strung them together to make sentences in Italian. It was good fun, I’d definitely like to do more of it. It’s very busy in Lee Ryan world.

 You’re also talking about a Blue reunion!

 Yes, we’ve been talking about it and now we have some meetings coming up, so we’re going to sit down and discuss it. I’m definitely looking forward to it. I love those boys. I can’t wait for us to come out with a new album. We’ve got a new song which is amazing – it’s a smash.

What do you think about boy bands that are around now?

I love JLS and they’re the kind of band out there at the moment, they are younger than us, but we have a lot more depth. I think that’s what’s really cool about Blue, we can kind of take it there and sound all old school with our tunes and put our harmonies together and each one of us adds to that flavour.

When Blue started you were quite young, what advice would you give to kids who want to be in a band or be a pop star?

I think it’s brilliant for kids these days. You can reach so many people through Facebook and Twitter and different websites. I think that if you’re in a band, or you’re a solo artist and you’re trying to make it big, it’s far more accessible to build yourself from grassroots level. It is far more accessible than it ever was when I was starting out. You needed record labels back then, bands really relied upon them – now you can do all the work before they sign you. Kids aren’t really watching TV any more, it’s more about the internet!

First News is running a campaign called My Way! It’s about getting people to understand that everybody learns in their own way. For some people school is easy but, for others, it might be harder. The important thing we want everybody to understand is that the way you learn has nothing to do with how smart you are. Around six children in each class have learning challenges, which means that their brains work in a different way. But that doesn’t mean that they won’t be fantastically successful in whatever they choose to do. Here is singer Lee Ryan’s story…

I always get labelled as thick and I hate that. I’m not stupid, I’m dyslexic.

At school, being dyslexic was frustrating. I was always on the lower level books and I would still struggle. I went to drama school and they’d tell me to write down certain lyrics and I could never get them down quickly enough.

Even now, I can’t read or write things as fast as other people. I had to read something last year when I was on television and they said to me: “Lee, can you read that from the newspaper, live on TV?” And I couldn’t do it. I was stammering along and everyone was laughing like I was really stupid and I said: “It’s not because I’m thick, I just can’t read this!”

I look at the words and they don’t make sense and the more nervous I get, the harder it is for me to digest what the word says. I know I can understand its meaning, but when I get more and more nervous, it doesn’t register in my brain.

When I read, I stammer and it’s horrible. I know the words, they just don’t come out so easily. In my head it gets stuck and I can’t say it. I hated reading out loud in school and I still don’t like it now.

When I was at school, singing and acting really helped me become more confident with my speech and writing.

And I think that’s why I’m so creative: I’ve taught myself piano and guitar and I love cooking and painting. I’m dyslexic and I’m left-handed: they say that if you’re both, it’s pretty rare, so apparently I’m a borderline genius!

You can of course promote yourself now, on things like Twitter. How do you find doing that?

Before I came out, Myspace wasn’t out, Facebook and all that stuff… it was a lot different. I feel like a bit of a veteran in this industry because I came before all of that. I’ve had to get into all that stuff which has been weired.

Some celebs have had issues with stories coming out about them using Twitter etc to pull fans. Have you had experiences of that?

A lot of people think I met my Mrs on Myspace and she sent me sexy pictures, but it was all made up. A bunch of lies that came from newspapers and magazines. I don’t know where the fuck it ac taully came from. I have an idea that it was the one that normally bullshits. You have to constantly battle with that. I met my Mrs on Myspace and that’s the age we live in. She wasn’t a fan, she liked rock – Nirvana and Robbie, that kind of thing. I’d never do that, it’s wrong.

“Secret Love” is dancey – is the whole album like that?

No, it’s not. I went for that George Michael thing… a lot of honesty, a lot of diverse types of music that show off different aspects of me, and tried to make it fit into one. It’s taken me four years to write this album, so there was a massive catalogue for me to choose from. I picked the best. I’m really excited, it’s the best bit of work i’ve ever done and because i’ve written it, I own it and I can stand there and say this is what this song is about, and I know it.

A lot of people want to know when they can see you live. Any dates yet?

Because it’s early days, a lot of people are waiting to see what and how i’m going to do, so they’re pending booking me for gigs and summer shows. It’s like ‘we love you, but we want to see how you rock this right now’. I think i’ve got to prove myself a bit first, and I understand that, but I can’t wait to get out and do some live dates with this. I know i’m doing Capital FM’s Summertime Ball, and there’s another date when i’m performing with N-Dubz.

Cool, before we finish, some quickfire questions from some of your fans…

Who did you vote for the election?

Me and my Mrs were talking about Conservatives, but then we were like fuck that, they’re all corrupt so i’ll vote for Greenpeace.

What aftershave do you wear?

I love Clive Christian but at the moment i’m wearing Gucci by Gucci and it seems to be wearing.

What underwear do you wear?

CK’s.

Do you think Duncan James fancies you?

Definately! I’m too good looking for him not to!

Have you ever had to knock him back?!

No, of course not!

What was the last DVD you bought?

What was that Angry Citezen film with Gerrard Butler… Citezen something. I’m watching it tonight when I get in with a steak and a glass of red wine and I can’t fucking wait. That’s how exciting my life is now, I don’t go clubbing any more and I love it.

Would you ever pose naked?

Yeah, god’s suit that he gave me is better than any designer clothes label I could wear.

What’s your secret love?

Cheese and red wine. Stinky cheese like some really good french ones…fantastic.

I normally have Dairylea.

Former Blue star Lee Ryan tells us about his new album 'Confessions' and talks frankly about some of the mistakes he's made in the past.