“I despised being famous,” states Samuel Preston. “I absolutely, thoroughly detested it.” Two decades ago, Preston, who adopted his surname to echo Morrissey, was thrust into an extreme form of public scrutiny. He had already achieved cult status with his Worthing band, The Ordinary Boys, whose socially aware, ska-infused indie-punk garnered a dedicated following known as the Ordinary Army, propelled by hits like “Boys Will Be Boys.” However, his participation in the 2006 Celebrity Big Brother, and the widespread fascination with his developing relationship with fellow contestant Chantelle Houghton – the fabricated “celebrity” introduced to deceive the established stars – catapulted his fame to unprecedented levels.
Upon exiting the show, he admits, “I was heavily medicated with Prozac. I was in a strange state.” Now, following periods living intermittently in the US, establishing himself as a sought-after songwriter for artists such as Kylie Minogue, Cher, Olly Murs, Liam Payne, and Jessie Ware, and overcoming a life-threatening incident and OxyContin dependency, Preston is making a return with The Ordinary Boys. The band’s latest single, “Peer Pressure,” marks their first new music since 2015, excluding a Christmas collaboration with Olly Murs.
English Translation:
“I hated being famous,” says Samuel Preston. “I hated, hated, hated it.” Twenty years ago, Preston, who presented himself by his surname to emulate Morrissey, was experiencing a very intense type of notoriety. He had been NME-famous with Worthing band the Ordinary Boys, whose socially conscious ska-influenced indie-punk had a strong cult following known as the Ordinary Army, thanks to hits such as Boys Will Be Boys. But his stint in the 2006 edition of Celebrity Big Brother, and the national interest in his will-they-won’t-they relationship with fellow contestant Chantelle Houghton – the fake “celebrity” sent in to dupe the B-listers – was what sent his profile through the roof. After leaving the show, he says, “I was on loads of Prozac. I was in a weird space.” Now, after years living on-off in the US, becoming a successful songwriter for hire (to the likes of Kylie Minogue, Cher, Olly Murs, Liam Payne and Jessie Ware), and surviving a near-death experience and OxyContin addiction, Preston is making a comeback with the Ordinary Boys. The band’s new single Peer Pressure is their first music since 2015 (not counting a Christmas single with Olly Murs).