bimm student SUCCESS STORIES
Check out the latest success stories + news from BIMM students - both past + present.
(Click on images for enlargements + icons for downloads)

	All Success Stories Top 10 Success Stories Archive

		The Kooks – No.1 album & 2 million album sales worldwide ! Congratulations to The Kooks who have now sold an incredible 2 million albums worldwide. Their second album ‘Konk’, produced by Tony Hoffer (The Thrills, Beck, Air) went straight into the album chart at 1 in April 2008. The band’s triple platinum debut album ‘Inside In, Inside Out’ entered the UK charts at No.2 in January 2006. The band were also nominated for a Brit Award in 2006 and were winners of an MTV Europe Music Award for Best UK Act in 2006.

		Beth Rowley – Brit Nominated Graduate has Top 10 album success BIMM graduate Beth Rowley debut album “Little Dreamer” reached number 6 in the UK Top 40 Album Chart. Beth studied Professional Diploma Vocals at BIMM during which time she supported backing vocals for artists such as Ronan Keating and Enrique Iglesias. After her studies she went on to be signed to major label Universal. Beth has collaborated with Crowed House on their track “Transit Lounge”, Duke Special and more recently with Burt Bacharach on BBC Electric Proms. Her music was also featured in the film “The Edge of Love” (Keira Knightly, Sienna Miller) and she supported David Gray on his tour in March 2008. Other TV appearances include Parkinson, Top of the Pops, This Morning, The Charlotte Church Show and GMTV.

		Kate Walsh - First unsigned act to have a No.1. album in the UK on iTunes BIMM songwriting graduate Kate Walsh stormed the UK iTunes chart topping Elton John and Take That! Kate’s second album “Tim’s House” was released under Kate’s own label ‘Blueberry Pie’ and soon became the No. 1 album on the download chart. Her most popular song on the album “Your Song” has received critical acclaim from BBC Radio 2. Kate’s influences include Claude Debussy, Tori Amos and Joni Mitchell.

		BIMM Musicians - Record label signings BIMM Bristol musician Steve Sparrow has signed to Parlophone Records/EMI with his band Morning Parade. Ghost Of A Thousand signed to Epitaph. The Kooks signed to Virgin Records (EMI). Beth Rowley signed to Blue Thumb (Universal Music). Kate Walsh signed to Mercury Records (Universal). Paul Steel signed to Polydor Records (Universal Music). Cat the Dog signed to Virgin Records. Will and The People signed to RCA Records (Sony Music). Ross Martin’s band Absent Elk signed to Sony Music UK. Stiff Dylans signed to Columbia Records (Sony Music UK). Laura Cyganik signed to Peakhour USA. Dani Wilde signed to Ruff Records. Dan Grace and Dave Delgado in Tiffany Page’s band signed to Mercury Records (Universal). James Watts in Karen Overton’s band signed to Columbia Records (Sony Music UK). The K’s signed to Candelion Records. Sweet Sweet Lies signed to Dumb Angel. Elliott Andrews in Kate Nash’s band signed to Fiction Records (Universal Music). Ghost Of A Thousand (pictured).

		BIMM graduate wins Total Guitar ’Guitar Wars’ final and a place at Download! BIMM Brighton graduate Ben Poole has won the final of Total Guitar magazine’s ’Guitar Wars’ competition. Readers were voting for their favourite three up-and-coming guitarists and the final took place at BIMM’s ’Night of Guitars’ show at Mr Wolfs in Bristol in February. The competition was judged by Ozzy Osbourne’s new guitarist Gus G and Steve Lawson - Total Guitar’s editor. Joe Tighe, another BIMM graduate from Brighton also reached the final. The event included special performances from Guthrie Govan and Adrian Legg. Ben wins a slot at this year’s Download Festival. The winner Ben Poole is pictured here with Gus G.

		Koopa – First unsigned act in history to enter the Top 40 single chart! Ollie Cooper and his band Koopa released debut album “Blag, Steal and Borrow” to critical acclaim. The band made music history when they became the first unsigned band to reach the UK official Top 40. Their single “Blag, Steal and Borrow” reached number 31! Consequently the band was invited to open Isle of Wight festival 2007 on the main stage. Something of a rarity for an unsigned band! The guys have previously toured with Space, played a packed Arsenal Stadium and recorded for the BBC Peel sessions at Maida Vale studios. This band is tipped for big things so look out for them and make sure you check out their killer live gigs.

		BIMM musicians join Mercury Records Tiffany Page’s band - on tour with Hole ! BIMM Graduates, bass player Dave Delgado and guitarist Dan Grace have joined up and coming artist Tiffany Page’s band after successfully auditioning at BIMM for the positions. Within two weeks, Dave and Dan were already performing live on the road with Tiffany, supporting Juliette Lewis and The Licks! Tiffany is signed to Mercury Records in the UK and is a priority act for the label in 2010. As well as recently shooting the video for the new single in the L.A. desert, they have also recently toured with The Noisettes are now confirmed to support Courtney Love’s band ’Hole’ in May 2010. Well done to Dave and Dan!

		Natasha Bent working for The Agency - Booking Agent for Noisettes & Amy MacDonald Graduate Natasha Bent has been very successful since leaving BIMM in 2003. She now works as a booking agent for The Agency in London. Natasha is the worldwide agent (excluding North America) for Amy MacDonald, Noisettes, Cage The Elephant, The Antlers, Tiffany Page and Foals.

		Graduate Ben Thompson on world tour with Two Door Cinema Club (March 10) BIMM graduate Ben Thompson is the live drummer for a world tour with Two Door Cinema Club (signed to Kitsune Records/Universal). Ben has been busy touring Europe and Japan with the band since October 2009 and continues throughout this summer across the USA, Canada, Australia, China, Japan and UK. Their recent UK dates have taken them to the stage at O2 and MEN supporting the likes of Lily Allen and Dizzie Rascal. The band have a busy summer ahead performing at major festivals Reading, Glastonbury, Leeds, T in The Park, V, Oxygen (Ireland), Summersonic (Japan), Splendour In The Grass (Australia) with more appearances confirmed in Europe and the USA. UK TV appearances confirmed include Jools Holland in May plus many others worldwide. Two Door Cinema Club performed at the NME Awards this year and have completed the Shockwaves tour with The Maccabees. Endorsed by Vic Firth and Zildjian Ben said he “couldn’t have done it without the inspiration from the team at BIMM!”

		Successful BIMM Musician Placements (Jan 10) Robbie William’s management ie:Music have partnered with BIMM to offer two long term internships to BIMM musicians and graduates. Congratulations to Andrej Presern and Thomas Beck who will be working on the Robbie Williams website and the brand new Jimmy Page website. BIMM musician Ed Jacobs has successfully completed a four week work placement with Eagle Rock Entertainment in New York. BIMM Brighton musicians Liam Lidbetter and Izzy Philips have been selected to work with Some Friendly PR who represent The Charlatans, Badly Drawn Boy and Lady Hawke. All work placements were applied through BIMM’s Head of Work Based Learning Mel Thomas. BIMM Brighton degree graduate Sandy Buglass successfully auditioned at BIMM for the session agency FIXX Music. Since joining their books Sandy has now secured a job providing session guitar for up and coming Xenomania artist Florrie (pictured). Sandy will tour throughout February performing around the UK, Ireland and France.