Quickfire with Brad Simpson
The Vamps’ lead singer Brad Simpson on stars, guitars and nonstop touring.
Singer Brad Simpson
Guilty pleasure? Listening to 1990s boy bands such as *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys.
Where is home? I still live with my parents in Birmingham, but I’m hoping to buy a flat in London.
Career plan B? A skateboarder.
Who would play you in a movie of your life? Elijah Wood.
As a child you wanted to be… A guitarist in a band – from the day I saw a video of AC/DC playing live at Donington when I was about 11. It’s not the kind of music we play, but I like all types of rock.
Earliest memory? Annoying my sister Natalie with the hose from a Fireman Sam backpack.
Secret to a happy relationship? Trust and humour. At the moment I’m single.
Your best quality? You’d have to ask someone else.
And your worst? Being late.
Biggest bugbear? Tangled headphones.
Last meal on earth? A Sunday roast with chicken and beef.
Dream dinner-party guests? David Attenborough, Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters and Mary Berry. Our drummer introduced me to this great salad dressing she does so I would love her to make it.
Advice to teenage self? Spend more time practising the piano. I’ve been teaching myself over the past few years and I’m not too bad. I play it on stage now and use it to write songs.
Cat or dog? I’ve got a golden retriever called Jesse.
Biggest fear? Wasps.
What do you see when you look in the mirror? Myself!
On a day off we’d find you… Writing songs.
Starstruck moment? Sharing a drink with Dave Grohl backstage at the Invictus Games in London in 2014, when we both played at the closing ceremony.
Big break? Our first single, ‘Can We Dance’, which went to number two.
Career highlight? Every one of our tours! We’ve done five in five years, which is just insane, and it’s like a continuing highlight.
Favourite tipple? Whisky.
Hangover cure? A fried egg sandwich.
What did you have for breakfast today? Honey, yoghurt and granola.
One thing that would make your life better? I’m pretty happy with the way things are.
Biggest lesson you’ve learnt about money? Spend it on people you love.
Biggest lesson you’ve learnt about women? Next question!
Where would you time-travel to? Twenty years into the future to see where we’re at in terms of technology.
First record you bought? My first proper CD was Nevermind by Nirvana.
Most extravagant purchase? A Gibson ES-330 guitar, which I bought recently.
Best ever present? My first guitar, an acoustic Big Baby Taylor, which my parents bought me when I was 11.
Celebrity crush? Zooey Deschanel.
Happiness is… Being with the people you love.
- The Vamps’ latest album, Night & Day: Day Edition, is out now on Virgin EMI
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