A BIT INTO THE LIFE OF TOM CHAPLIN

 A BIT INTO THE LIFE OF TOM CHAPLIN

Tom Chaplin is a quite famous but yet to be discovered by many British musician best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band Keane.

         Tom Chaplin was born Thomas Oliver Chaplin on March 8, 1979, in Hastings, East Sussex, England. He attended Vinehall School and later Tonbridge School, where he met future Keane bandmates Tim Rice-Oxley and Richard Hughes. Tom Chaplin is known for his powerful and distinctive voice, often praised for its emotional depth and range. He has been open about his struggles with addiction and mental health issues, using his experiences to raise awareness and advocate for recovery.

Formation of Keane (1995-1997)

Tom Chaplin, along with Tim Rice-Oxley and Richard Hughes, formed the band Keane in 1995 while studying at Tonbridge School. They initially called themselves "The Lotus Eaters" before settling on the name "Keane”. The band later added bassist Jesse Quin, completing their lineup.

Keane's Rise to Fame (2000s)

In late 1999, and without a record deal, Keane recorded their first promotional single "Call Me What You Like". Released on CD format through Keane's label Zoomorphic, it was sold after live performances at the pubs where Keane used to play in early 2000.                                                                                       

Keane gained widespread recognition with their debut album, "Hopes and Fears," released in 2004. Tom Chaplin's emotive vocals were a hallmark of the band's sound. The album featured hit singles like "Somewhere Only We Know," "Everybody's Changing," and "Bedshaped.” Keane won the Brit Award for Best British Breakthrough Act in 2005 and continued to release successful albums like "Under the Iron Sea" (2006) and "Perfect Symmetry" (2008).

 

Personal Struggles (2000s-2010s)

Tom Chaplin faced personal challenges during this time, including struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism, which led to rehab stints. He embarked on a solo career during this period, releasing his debut solo album, "The Wave," in 2016, which addressed his battles with addiction. He has sung about it too: “Buried in the rubble there’s a boy in trouble reaching for a piece of the sky,” he sings on, “Still Waiting”, “Clawing at the wreckage sending out a message dying to get back to the light.”

                    The record, entitled The Wave, does not stray too far from Keane territory: Chaplin’s multi-octave range, the heart-on-sleeve sentiment, the yearning for understanding.

                    Chaplin is not only a veteran of “several” rehab programmes reaching back over the last decade, he is now also an advocate for the power of talking therapy. “Rehab can be very helpful,” he says. “It gave me structure and support. But coming from my education and the way my character developed in my formative years, I was very good at getting on with it, and feeling as though I did not really have a problem. Having said that he intended to make a solo record during Keane's hiatus, Chaplin stated in January 2016 that he was recording his debut solo album in Los Angeles, California, with 40 songs written and whittled down to an album's worth. He announced in late June that the album was complete and that it would be out soon.

Reunion with Keane (2010s)

Chaplin had an ongoing battle with drug addiction, which contributed to the band's breakup in 2013. "Eventually, I knew it was going to completely ruin me," he said. "It really became my whole life.

Keane went on a hiatus, but Tom Chaplin, Tim Rice-Oxley, and Richard Hughes reunited and released their fifth studio album, "Cause and Effect," in 2019. The album marked their return to the music scene, featuring tracks like "Love Too Much" and "The Way I Feel.” ‘Cause and Effect' peaked at Number 2 in the UK, proving that their reunion was well worth it. With five studio albums now under their belt, 2024 will mark 20-years since the release of their debut 'Hopes and Fears'.

 

 

2016–2017: The Wave

The album name The Wave was announced via Twitter and Facebook on 10 August 2016. The same day, “Hardened Heart” was released with a music video. On 26 August 2016, "Quicksand" was released as the first single from the album. On 6 September 2016, Chaplin announced he would be playing eight intimate solo shows across the UK in October 2016. These were his first solo gigs for four years. The Wave was released on 14 October 2016 by Island Records. Four singles were released from the album: "Quicksand", "Still Waiting", "Solid Gold" and "See It So Clear". The release of The Wave was followed by the announcement of the Carried by the Wave Tour, a longer set of dates running between January and September 2017. The tour consisted of four legs: first in the United States and Canada, then across Europe, a third leg in the UK during May 2017 and a last leg in Latin America.

2017–present: Twelve Tales of Christmas and The Masked Singer

On 13 October 2017, Chaplin announced that he had recorded his first solo Christmas album, entitled Twelve Tales of Christmas, to be released on 17 November 2017. Simultaneously the first single from the album was released, entitled "Under a Million Lights". The album consists of eight original tracks and four cover versions: "Walking in the Air" (written by Howard Blake), "2000 Miles" (originally by The Pretenders), "River" (originally by Joni Mitchell) and "Stay Another Day" (originally by East 17). It was also announced that Chaplin would be performing three gigs to accompany the release of the album; at the Palace Theatre in Manchester on 10 December 2017, at The Forum in Bath on 11 December and at the Royal Festival Hall in London on 12 December.

In January 2022, Chaplin appeared on the third series of The Masked Singer as "Poodle". He was fifth to be unmasked. Following that event, he said in an interview that he was working on his third solo album, that would be coming out later in 2022.

In July 2022, he announced that his third album, Midpoint, would be released on 2 September 2022.

 

 

Tom Chaplin's life has been marked by musical success, personal challenges, and a determination to overcome adversity. His contributions to Keane's music have left an indelible mark on the rock music landscape, and his journey to recovery has inspired many.