Dane Bowers

Dane Leon Bowers (born 28 November 1979) is an English singer, songwriter, DJ and record producer. He was a part of R&B boyband Another Level between 1997 and 2000 when he performed on seven Top 10 singles, before taking up solo projects with True Steppers and Victoria Beckham.^[1][2] He has made TV appearances on Celebrity Big Brother 7^[3] and the celebrity version of Come Dine With Me.^[4] and is now part of the pop supergroup 5th Story, set up for The Big Reunion.

Early life and education

Bowers was born in Sutton, London, England. He was educated at two independent schools for boys: at Cumnor House School in the town of Croydon in South London, followed by Trinity School of John Whitgift, at Shirley Park in the London Borough of Croydon. When he was fifteen years old, after leaving school, he enrolled at a Croydon-based performing arts college, the BRIT School.^[5]

Music career

After leaving the BRIT School, Bowers joined British boy-band Another Level, where he performed as a part of the group for three years, between 1997 and 2000, with fellow members Mark Baron, Wayne Williams and Bobak Kianoush.

Another Level gained seven Top 10 singles in two years in the United Kingdom, including 1998's UK number one "Freak Me"; and a platinum-selling self-titled debut album. Their follow-up album, Nexus, released in 1999, achieved gold-selling status, and was followed by a Brit Award nomination for Best British Newcomer^[6] in 1999.

Another Level also performed as the supporting act on the European leg of Janet Jackson's The Velvet Rope World Tour in 1998.^[7]

After Another Level split in 2000,^[8] Bowers wrote and fronted two UK Top 10 hits for the UK garage act True Steppers in 2000: "Buggin" and "Out of Your Mind". "Buggin" reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart in April 2000. The latter featured the first solo recording of Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, and reached number two; it was beaten to the number one spot by Spiller featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor with "Groovejet (If This Ain't Love)" in August 2000.^[2][9]

In 2001, two solo singles released under the moniker of 'Dane', "Shut Up and Forget About It" (allegedly written about his relationship with Jordan)^[10] and "Another Lover", both stalled at number nine on the UK Singles Chart,^[11] and an album, Facing the Crowd remained unreleased.

Bowers subsequently went on to focus on behind the scenes work, writing and producing, including a collaboration for Victoria Beckham's debut solo album in autumn that year.

In 2010, Bowers returned to making music and signed with independent record label Conehead UK to record a pop album, with the first single, "All She Needs", written by Jamie Scott, released in July 2010.^[12]

On 27 August 2013, Another Level were on the verge of signing up for the ITV2 documentary The Big Reunion,^[13] but Williams announced that he would not take part. In an interview with MTV UK, he said: "I decided not to participate in The Big Reunion because it wouldn't feel right to me...I'm in a totally different space in my life and I don't feel any need to look back."^[14] Also, Baron, who now works for Alan Sugar's company Amsprop, had been forced to pull out due to Sugar not allowing him time off work. Bowers told the Daily Star, "Another Level were supposed to do it but then Mark said he couldn't because of work. He's married to Alan Sugar's daughter and works for him. You don't say no to Alan Sugar. So Alan Sugar stopped Another Level taking part in The Big Reunion. I was a bit annoyed because he pulled out right at the end. Surely he would have known earlier. But his loss is my gain."^[15] Bowers instead joined The Big Reunion supergroup 5th Story, along with Kenzie from Blazin' Squad and former soloists Adam Rickitt, Kavana and Gareth Gates.

Television

Bowers began television presenting in 2002, co-hosting Popstars: The Rivals "Extra" show with the former Pop Idol contestant Hayley Evetts.^[16]

In 2004, Bowers wrote and starred in a TV sitcom pilot called Bow to the Bowers. It was a satirical look at the music industry, casting Bowers as an egotistical, vain version of himself. It also starred former Steps member Lee Latchford-Evans and ex-Brother Beyond star Nathan Moore, though it never made it to mainstream TV.^[17]

Bowers appeared in the follow-up TV show to Totally Scott-Lee, called Totally Boyband, in which five boyband members from past groups were modelled into a new singing act called Upper Street.^[18][19] The group featured him alongside Lee Latchford-Evans of Steps, Jimmy Constable of 911, New Kids on the Block's Danny Wood, and S Club's Bradley McIntosh. The series commenced on MTV in the UK in September 2006, but their first single only charted at #35 and the group subsequently disbanded.^[20]

In 2009, Bowers appeared in an episode of Celebrity Come Dine With Me alongside Bobby Davro, Laila Morse, and Dani Behr,^[4] where he served langoustines, beef tenderloin, and bread and butter pudding. Bowers' theme for the evening was 'funky, cool and fashionable'.^[21]

In 2010, Bowers made TV appearances on Loose Women on ITV1 and Live from Studio Five.^[22]

Celebrity Big Brother 7

On 3 January 2010, Bowers was the seventh contestant to enter Channel 4's seventh and final series of Celebrity Big Brother. He made it to the final on 29 January 2010, but finished as runner-up to Alex Reid.^[3]

DJing

Dane Bowers regularly plays DJ sets at established nightclubs and clubbing brands in the UK including Gatecrasher^[23] and Sintillate,^[24] and has performed many sets for the Luminar brand in various parts of the UK.^[25]

Bowers has also played many DJ sets abroad in Marbella^[26] and Tenerife,^[27] including the Eden and Es Paradis nightclubs, based in Ibiza.^[28] He also made a PA at the BBC Radio 1 Big Weekend in Ayia Napa at 'The Abyss Club' for 'Twice as Nice' in 2001 alongside DJ Luck & MC Neat.^[29]

Personal life

Bowers has a son Kai (born late 1997 in Sutton, London) by ex-girlfriend Emma-Jane North.^[30] From 1998 to 2000, Bowers was in a relationship with model Katie Price.^[31]

In 2007, Bowers married his agent Chrissy Johnston in Las Vegas; they separated in May 2009.^[32] Bowers lives in Coulsdon, London.^[33]

In June 2012 Bowers was accused of racially aggravated assault and harassment in connection with an incident in Norwich on 2 June 2012.^[33] In December 2012 Bowers admitted one count of assault and one of threatening behaviour during a drunken fight. He denied making racist remarks. The judge accepted his guilty plea, saying "It seems highly unlikely that you, given your background, would have made racist remarks." Bowers was sentenced to unpaid community work.^[34]

In October 2012, Bowers began playing football for the 3rd team of Cwmbran Celtic which plays in the Newport and District League. He made his match debut in a 3–1 home defeat to Marshfield AFC. The chairman of Cwmbran Celtic said he "hopefully will enjoy his stay with us. He’s a nice lad."^[35]

On 21 April 2013, Bowers was arrested and charged with two counts of assault by beating after a confrontation at Butlins Bognor Regis. The charges were later reduced to "using threatening or abusive behaviour likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress", to which Bowers pleaded guilty, and was given a conditional discharge.^[36]

Discography

Singles

(as Upper Street)

Albums

• Facing the Crowd (2001 promo – unreleased)

Other releases

• CD Collection (2001)
  • Given free with Smash Hits magazine in 2001 in conjunction with Little Chef. Contains "Shut Up and Forget About It" (original version and El B Vocal Mix).

References

External links

• Facebook