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Steve Desmond Brookstein (born 10 November 1968) was the winner of the first ever X Factor in 2004. He was mentored by Simon Cowell and was announced as the winner during the 11 December 2004 final after receiving over two thirds of the telephone votes.
On 8th January 2005 his cover of Against All Odds reached number 1 in the UK chart, although it only stayed there for one week. He donated all proceeds to the Thailand Tsunami Disaster Fund. His first album Heart & Soul debuted at the top of the UK album chart on May 16, 2005.
Before X-Factor
Prior to appearing on The X Factor, he had previously appeared on another talent show: The Big Big Talent Show, compered by Jonathan Ross and produced by LWT ITV1 where he came second.
Steve is infamous in Northern Soul circles for being the lead singer of a manufactured Soul group, the Four Vandals. This group was allegedly assembled in the 1990s by ex Blackpool Mecca deejay and record producer Ian Levine to record a soul record called The Wrong Side of Town. Levine then allegedly claimed that the new tailor- made record had been recorded in the 1960s and that only two copies were known to exist. The record became sought after by followers of Northern Soul and large sums of money changed hands before the hoax was discovered.
During X-Factor
His latest TV appearance was on reality show The Match, where he was joined by such names as Big Brother 6 winner Anthony Hutton and Philip Olivier from The Games. He survived a few matches but was eventually put on the bench with two other celebrities and voted off.
Steve parted company with his record label eight months after winning the competition when they could not reach a deal for a second album. Steve had already established himself as an accomplished song writer, liaising with some EMI signed artists and had stated publicly from the start that he didn't want to do an album of covers but was forced to compromise with his first album. He stood his ground over the second which ultimately cost him his contract.
In his own words he said
"The album went to No.1 and sold 150,000. The label accepted that they had waited too long to release it and without single support the sales figures were lower than expected, but still acceptable.
I felt isolated and unrepresented. My manager and PR representative had been appointed by Simon Cowell. I had to sign my publishing to Simon before I could proceed to the live finals. Yet he had no plans to use my songs. I was told not to worry, a new series would be on soon and I would be performing on that, but I was worried. I enquired why I wasn’t writing for my new album. The year was slipping by with no tour, no promotion and nothing but bad press. I knew I had a good fan base but was being publicly humiliated as merely a covers artist. I badly wanted to record my own songs. I was willing to compromise, but it wasn’t considered. We parted company in September 2005.
In the eight months prior to The X Factor I had sung over 200 hours of paid gigs and supported Dionne Warwick. Two of my songs were being covered and I was starting work on an album. In the same period after the show, I had sung for a mere 35 minutes and recorded an album of covers!
I’m forever thankful for the exposure that came from winning the show, though I am disappointed they haven’t invited me back to this years show. I’m also thankful to the millions that voted for me and to Simon for initially giving me the chance.
I am now recording my new album."
After X-Factor
In February 2006, Heart & Soul won the Naomi Award for Worst British Album. Brookstein accepted the award with his trademark, self effacing good humour and it now has pride of place in his downstairs toilet.
Brookstein released his new Single "Fighting Butterflies" on 25 September, 2006, from his new album "40,000 things" - due for release on 25 September. The new album is scheduled to feature mostly original material, with a couple of select covers, plus rumoured to contain a track featuring fellow X Factor contestants 4Tune, but the single missed the uk official top 100 and is rumored to have been dropped again.
Brookstein is scheduled to begin his UK tour in October
40,000 Things
- 1. Then There Were None
- 2. Fighting Butterflies
- 3. This Love is Alive
- 4. Won’t Last a Day Without You
- 5. All Turned Out Nice Again
- 6. Don’t Change
- 7. Take My Hand Be Mine
- 8. Every Kind of People (Featuring Maxi Priest and Sonna Rele)
- 9. Made of Stone
- 10. Gone Too Long
- 11. Smile
- 12. Can’t Get Any Worse Than This