Tim Booth

All Music Guide:

In the mid-'80s, James singer Tim Booth was often compared to Morrissey of the Smiths. While the folksy guitar pop of the Smiths and James exhibited similarities, Booth didn't wallow in Morrissey's anguished observations about life and love. Booth formed James in 1982 with Paul Gilbertson (guitar), Jim Glennie (bass), and Gavan Whelan (drums). Throughout the '80s, the band received airplay on college stations, gradually developing a cult audience. In 1991, James re-recorded "Sit Down"; the track was James' breakthrough hit on American alternative rock stations. With the uplifting "Sit Down," often the highlight of James concerts, the group distanced itself from criticisms of being a Smiths clone. Three years later, the song "Laid" became a smash on MTV and U.S. radio stations; James even performed at Woodstock '94.

During the summer of 1994, Booth collaborated with composer Angelo Badalamenti on Booth and the Bad Angel, a project that was initially suggested in the early '90s. On the British TV series Friday Night at the Dome, Booth expressed interest in working with Badalamenti. However, Badalamenti was unfamiliar with Booth's work, and it wasn't until 1993, after a James gig in London, England, that they finally saw one another in person. Booth and the Bad Angel was released in 1996. After Booth and the Bad Angel, Booth began recording again with James, releasing Whiplash in 1997 and Millionaires in 1999.

As the new millennium dawned, Booth left James to pursue his own projects. He devoted time to dance and meditation, and then he returned to acting -- most notably appearing in Christopher Nolan's 2005 movie Batman Begins -- and released his solo debut, Bone, in 2004. Three years later, Booth joined James for a tour that later expanded into a full-fledged reunion beginning with 2008's Hey Ma. A pair of EPs by James followed in 2010, and then Booth released his second solo album, Love Life, in the spring of 2011.

Wikipedia:

Timothy John Booth (born 4 February 1960) is an English singer, dancer and actor best known as the lead singer from the band James.

Career

1980s

Booth was born in Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, England and attended Shrewsbury School. Whilst a student at Manchester University studying drama, Booth encountered Jim Glennie, Paul Gilbertson and Gavan Whelan in 1981 in the cellar bar of the university's students' union. Impressed by Booth's distinctive dancing style, Gilbertson invited Booth to join their band as a dancer. Booth accepted the offer, and was soon promoted to lead singer and lyricist of James. (Maconie, 2000)

1990s

After a struggle for success and recognition throughout the 1980s, James finally achieved commercial success in the early 1990s with the rise of the Madchester music scene, and their single "Sit Down" reaching number 2 in the UK Singles Chart.

During 1995, Booth took a break from James and recorded an album with film composer Angelo Badalamenti, entitled Booth and the Bad Angel. He then returned to James to complete the recording of the album Whiplash, and stayed with the band until 2001 when he announced his departure to concentrate on other projects.

2000s

After leaving James, Booth spent time concentrating on teaching the dance practice known as the 5Rhythms, a movement meditation practice. In 2004, together with record producer Lee Muddy Baker and songwriter KK (Kevin Kerrigan), he released his first solo album, Bone, to general critical acclaim, though he referred to it as a collaborative effort and preferred to credit the album to 'Tim Booth & the Individuals' as opposed to taking sole credit. He also began taking acting lessons during this time, and appeared in a small role as Victor Zsasz in the 2005 film Batman Begins, having previously starred in a production at Bolton's Octagon Theatre. Zsasz is a longtime Batman villain in the comic books and the role was expanded in the video game adaptation of the film, for which Booth also provided his voice.

On Good Friday, 14 April 2006, he appeared as Judas in the Manchester Passion – a musical style show in the middle of Manchester, using music from the region to tell the story of Easter. Booth sang a version of the Smiths's "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now", and although the James song "Sit Down" was used, it was not sung by Booth himself (he did, however, sing it in an encore after the cameras had stopped rolling).

Booth has also contributed to MTV's search for the greatest song lyrics in April 2006 as a critic.

In January 2007, it was announced that Booth would be rejoining James. The band played an eight date tour in April 2007 and made appearances at several music festivals throughout 2007. This was followed by a new James album, Hey Ma in April 2008 which coincided with a UK tour.

He has also stated that, despite the reunion of James, he still plans to release further solo material.

On 17 April 2010, Booth appeared on Soccer AM and is a fan of Leeds United.

2010s

In 2010, Booth continued his acting career with a role in the independent film Poor Wee Me, the debut feature from Salford film director Simon Powell, in which he played the role of Gabriel De Souza, the shady boss of a debt collection agency.

Booth released a new solo album, Love Life, in April 2011; again with Lee 'Muddy' Baker producing, co-writing and playing guitar. The release of the album was accompanied by a tour of the UK and then Europe, with Tim's backing band featuring Baker as well as Saul Davies, violinist with James.