Peter Andre. Then And Now…

Before I get into the nitty gritty that is Peter Andre’s career, I just need to clarify that although I’m Scottish, please consider me in the thought group of 99.999% of our nation. We DID NOT and still DO NOT want the Lockerbie bomber to be free. The fault of his freedom lies in the hands of people with too much power and, ironically, no compassion at all. Also, our country is nice. You should visit sometime. You’ll be quick to see that no one other than Kenny MacAskill wanted to free Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi . Our castles are pretty cool to look at as well.

Now that’s sorted, lets move onto the second biggest story that shamefully dominates British media, Peter Andre. Sadly enough, every outlet of media dotes on this washed up 90’s icon since his split with ‘entrepreneur’ Katie Price.  Since May, there’s hasn’t been a day gone by without a mention of the now defunct couple. It has played to Andre’s advantage though. Painting himself as the caring, quiet father, talking to a select few magazines and only being pictured out with his kids has done him great favours in securing a high (ish) chart position with new single “Behind Closed Doors’” (peaking at number 4) He’s also just bagged himself a job as showbiz report for the great British institution that is This Morning. Overall, it seems like his divorce is doing him some favours.

Ten years ago however, all Peter needed was his washboard abs and a bottle of baby oil to secure UK top 10 hits. As a lover of 90’s pop music Bible ‘Smash Hits’, I had a look in my collection to compare how being in the pop business has changed since then. There weren’t any divorces or exclusives to OK magazine required to boost CD sales, just an extremely harsh management company.

The date is 27 February 1997. Peter graces the cover complete with American flag and the strap line “Pete Storms America.” The article follows him as he cruises around LA and talking about an array of pop star-affiliated topics. The break up of his then girlfriend (Charleen from the video “I Feel You”) takes centre stage. Apparently they finished because of his impossible schedule (which I’m sure has opened up a bit now) and his “focus on the music” (have you heard that new single? Seriously. Protools anyone? It doesn’t even sound like him!).

Also revealed in the exclusive are Pete’s desires to make a film. “I’d love to make an action or a comedy.” Does ‘Katie And Peter: Stateside’ count? It was pretty funny but for all the wrong reasons. The kind of funny that you want to punch yourself in the face for even laughing at anything in the program, and then punch yourself again for watching it. I think we can safely tick off this ambition from the to do list.

What’s striking about this article are the underlying layers of pop music manufacturing that are sub consciously revealed. They are only apparent to the eye now, 12 years on. When asked about a style change that Andre has been promising his fans, he goes on to say, “I was really determined to get my hair cut two weeks ago but my management and record company asked me very strongly to wait until after the next single. I suppose we are in no rush.”  He also comments on thinking about getting an eyebrow piercing before a record exec shoots him a razor sharp warning look. Controlled to the very last detail.

The article wraps up when we meet some of Pete’s songwriters for the next album. Ambition oozes as he talks of writing about events that happen to people other than himself. Although this sounds sincere and a genuinely hopeful answer, when we fast-forward 10 years on it’s pretty obvious that this never materialized. With lyrics such as “Had a wife two kids and a three story home, Got all these things but he’s still alone.” It’s quite obvious who the “he” is in there. Just say “I,” Pete, there is NO mystery here.

So did this trip back in time reveal anything about Mr. Andre? Only that he’s still doing pretty much the same thing 10 years on. Not that this is bad, but when it’s not progressed at all and relies on nothing more than snide gossip and paparazzi, it seems a bit worthless. I do genuinely hope he can turn it around.

*By Gina, whose next article is going to be about Boyzone – 10 years on.

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