Ben Mills biography
Benjamin Collett Mills (born 1 March 1980 in Chatham, Kent, England) is a British singer who finished in third place in the third UK series of TV talent show The X Factor in 2006. He signed a five-album record deal with Sony BMG. His album, Picture of You, was released on 12 March 2007, the same date as the debut album from The X Factor runner-up Raymond Quinn. His debut single was advertised as "Beside You" and set to be released on 5 March 2007. However, the single was pulled by the record company at the last minute. The reason given was to concentrate on album sales.
Mills made an appearance on 30 November 2008 in Margate, Kent together with Sir Bob Geldof to switch on the Christmas lights. He also sang a rendition of Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" to around 2000 people.
Mills was a co-director of a marquee hire company in his home town of Whitstable before appearing on The X Factor.
He gained a diploma in music from the Academy Of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Surrey and has been singing since he was a child. He also plays piano and guitar. He was also a keyboard player in the tribute band to The Doors called The L.A. Doors and toured the pub and club circuit with his own band called Benzego.
Mills' audition song for The X Factor was "Bring It On Home To Me" by Sam Cooke, which impressed the panel of judges; Simon Cowell thought he sounded like a young Joe Cocker, whom, incidentally, Ben names as one of his musical influences along with Tom Waits, Rod Stewart and David Bowie. During his time on The X Factor he was mentored by Sharon Osbourne.
He performed at Pontins Holiday Camp in Prestatyn, Wales in May 2009
Personal life
On 24 August 2007, Mills was a celebrity guest in an episode of the live television programme
Doctor, Doctor broadcast on channel Five, in which he talked about his personal life and former drug-related problems with the presenter and general practitioner, Mark Porter. On live television Mills explained that he first took cocaine when he went on tour with a band, and from that moment he wanted to take more. He reported that the tour lasted for four years, that he became a heavy cocaine user, his social network became drug-orientated and he reached a nadir; he was having to borrow money, his girlfriend left him, he was not turning up for gigs, and he had lost his confidence. He said that he realised he had to change his life after spending three or four days on a beach in December, so he telephoned a counsellor who helped him to rehabilitate. After his recovery he successfully took part in
The X Factor.
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