Tom Chaplin

Tom Chaplin
Chaplin performing at the January 2005 Tsunami Relief Cardiff concert
Background information
Birth name	Thomas Oliver Chaplin
Born	March 8 1979 (1979-03-08) (age 29) Battle, East Sussex, England
Genre(s)	Piano rock Rock Alternative rock New Age
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals Acoustic Guitar Organ Piano
Years active	1996-1997 1998-present
Associated acts	Keane

Thomas Oliver Chaplin (born March 8, 1979) is the lead singer of the English piano-rock band, Keane. He is from Battle, East Sussex.

Life and career

Chaplin was born to David Chaplin and Sally Taylor on March 8, 1979, the same day as future band mate Tim Rice-Oxley's brother, also called Tom. He started a friendship with both that remains today. His father was headmaster of Vinehall School in Robertsbridge, so both friends were schooled there. With Rice-Oxley, Chaplin then attended Tonbridge School. Studying there, they met Richard Hughes, who would later be their band mate and Dominic Scott (who was an original member of the line-up but left in 2001). During his time at Tonbridge, Chaplin acted in several school plays and was part of the school's choral group. In 1995, the three started their first band, "The Lotus Eaters". It was a cover band that played U2, Oasis and The Beatles at Sussex pubs.

Keane

In the meanwhile, Chris Martin had invited Rice-Oxley to join his band, Coldplay. Rice-Oxley had refused, being already committed to Keane, but Chaplin knew about this and decided to leave his studies to join the band. He was invited to join by Rice-Oxley in 1997, when the name "The Lotus Eaters" was changed to "Cherry Keane", after a friend of Chaplin's mother. Later "Cherry" was removed from the name. The name was used to represent eternal friendship since the band members all knew who Cherry Keane was. In July 1997, Chaplin went to South Africa for his gap year, during which the rest of the band members were preparing themselves for a gig. When Richard went to collect Tom a year later, on July 3, 1998, his first words were, "We've got a gig in ten days." This would be the band's first performance at the Hope & Anchor pub on July 13, 1998. Chaplin then began studying for a degree in art history at the University of Edinburgh, before leaving to pursue his music career in London. During their stint in London, Tom shared a flat with Tim in Stoke Newington and they tried to get money for rehearsal time. Tom worked at a publishing company where his chief responsibility was to carry boxes. With Scott in the line-up as the lead guitarist, Chaplin had to play the acoustic guitar. Since Scott left in 2001, he primarily takes lead vocal, but also plays the organ on "Hamburg Song" during some live gigs, as well as a distorted piano for newer songs on their second album. He also took part in Band Aid 20's re-recording of Do They Know It's Christmas? in November of 2004 doing a solo on the line "feed the world", something that hadn't been done on previous versions where all artists sang. He has been parodied on Irish music animation site Eyebrowy.com as being "The Bloke out of Keane".

Drug rehabilitation

On August 22 2006, Chaplin revealed that he was receiving treatment for alcohol and drug abuse problems. In the Clinic he met Pete Doherty from the band Babyshambles. However, he stated in an interview with Q Magazine that he did not meet Justin Hawkins, as had been thought.
He left the Priory Clinic in London on October 6 but is still receiving treatment.^[1]

Equipment

Chaplin uses a Hammond MK2 organ for "Hamburg Song" and "Nothing in My Way". Since May 2006 a Yamaha CP60M for the distortion piano riffs on "A Bad Dream", "The Frog Prince" and "Crystal Ball", is used. He also has been playing the acoustic guitar in songs like "Your Eyes Open" since the 2006 UK tour, and during 2007 an acoustic solo of "Broken Toy".

Known compositions

• "Call Me What You Like"
• "Duncan Elliot"
• "Closer Now"
• "The Silence Of An Alien"

Keane songs about his relationship with Rice-Oxley or the band

• "Hamburg Song"

About Rice-Oxley's hopes to be still a friend for Chaplin.

• "Broken Toy"

About Chaplin's indifference.

• "Thin Air"

Though not declared, strong lyrics make it obvious.^[2]

• "Maybe I Can Change"

Written by Rice-Oxley with forgiveness lyrics for Chaplin and one of the songs written the latter.

Footnotes

External links

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to:

Tom Chaplin

• Keane Official page
• "The Official Keane Myspace"