BOYZ - (May 2005)

"Ben Adams - From A1 to solo star"

Life's tough in a boy band. Only allowed to talk about your favourite colour or what biscuit you'd be, pretending you're not getting sucked off by groupies just to preserve the all-important clean-cut image... but that all goes out the window when you launch your solo career! Or so we discovered when Ben Adams, former curtain-haired member of A1, gave Lou Durham the lowdown...

Well, this whole album is about being me. When I was in the band I had to be this floppy-haired, cute kid who was winking and smiling and stuff, and towards the end I just felt a bit lost, I was dying to be myself. And now I get to be exactly me.

Do you think it'll be hard to shake off that boy band image?

I know there's going to be a lot of, "He used to be in a boy band", but if you listen to my album, you wouldn't have thought it would have come from a guy that was in A1. Even people who used to hate us with a vengeance and write awful things about us are going "This is actually really fucking cool!"

Do you still see the other band members?

Yeah I do. Things are fairly busy now, so I see them a little less, but they're all doing well. They're good guys, and they're so talented.

That's so dull. Was there never any fighting?

Of course you have days where you can't fucking stand each other, and other days where you can just about bear each other and other days where it's actually quite fun.

Did it ever come to blows?

Christian hit me once.

Why?

We actually didn't get on when we first met. I was a bit young and cocky, and he was from Norway where they have slightly different humour, so I'd be like "Oh fuck-off you wanker", and he'd think "Oh shit, he thinks I'm a wanker", rather than thinking "Oh, he's just having a laugh".

Do you still get recognised?

No one recognises me anymore. I've lost about three stone and obviously my hair's a lot different. I was on a plane at New Year and the stewardess turned to me and said "Oh, I love your album, can I have your autograph Mr. Cullum?"

So what do you think of the music A1 made?

I wrote a lot of the songs, so it's hard because they're like my little babies, but looking back, if I was stepping out of what I did and who I was, I probably wouldn't buy and A1 album. We did have some great tunes though.

And they must have earned you a lot of money?

I did very well, mainly because of the songwriting stuff. I think I earned more money out of writing "Caught In The Middle" than I did out of everything to do with A1 put together.

So were you sensible, or did it all go on hookers and cocaine?

No, I'm really sensible with money. Although I slept with a hooker in Thailand one time, "cause I think you've got to try everything once". I was in this fucking strip bar and all these naked girls were massaging my hands, and someone picked up my hand and put it inside her pussy! And I turned round and it was the fattest, most awful 50-year-old I've ever seen. But I just thought, "Oh well, I'll try it once", and went with this other girl. It didn't really do a huge amount for me. It's always like, if you can sleep with people without having to pay them, then why fucking bother!

I've heard that you wear thongs.

I used to, because I went through this stage were I was wearing flares and so I had boxer shorts lines and my stylist went apeshit about it, so it was either go commando or wear a thong.

Why not commando then?

Well, a thong is always quite nice because everything is packaged in the same place, so it actually looks like you have an enormous penis, when it could well be the size of your little finger! Not suggesting that it is of course.

Of course. So A1 played loads of gay clubs; can we expect more of that?

I think it depends if the gay audience latches on to this music. I think the reason why we did so well with the gay market before was high-energy, fresh pop. But I think the great thing about the gay audience is that they actually appreciate music, whereas you play to a bunch of kids and they'll just fucking want you to get your top off.

Which, of course, a gay audience wouldn't want at all...

Well, they can check out my arse too, that's fine.

Have you been much out on the gay scene?

Not really. If I went to a club and there was no girl I was going to end up with that night it would probably kill me! I'd be looking around going "Right, the music's great and I'm drunk, so who can I chat up?" It's always a nice bonus!

So are you a fan of one-night stands then?

Big fan! I think they're great. Although some people cut the grade more than others. Some are clearly one-night stands.

What would make her a good one-night stand?

I like people that look really well presented, but then if they're like that in bed that's just ridiculous because it's just so boring, like a flipping sack of potatoes. I get half-way through and I'm thinking "Do I really have to finish this?" Also, that whole tarty thing doesn't turn me on, I just think "Well, you look like anyone can have you, so why the fuck should I feel special about that?"

Have you ever gone to bed with someone and regretted it the next day?

Yeah, a few people I've woken up in the morning and I've just thought "Shit!"

Ever done a runner?

Yeah, I was actually in the middle of having a foursome. We were all kind of getting down to it, and I sobered up a little bit and I actually looked at the people that were there and I stood up, didn't say anything, put my trousers on and walked out the door. I just couldn't do it.

Was this just with girls?

Yeah.

Ever had one with a boy?

Yeah, but there was no touching. It was just kind of an unspoken agreement.

Have you ever been to bed with a girl who had an A1 poster on her wall?

No, but my friend's girlfriend still has a picture of me up! He thinks it's so fucking freaky, but she won't take it down. But hey, if people have pictures of me, great! I think I'd have to see how intoxicated I was as to whether I'd actually, you know, go there.

Back to top

Thanks to SarahJane for providing the scans from Boyz Magazine