Pop Idol Losers

OUT: Gareth Gates

IN: Darius Danesh

In an astonishing display of raw determination, Darius first recovered from national humiliation on Pop Stars to reach the Pop Idol finals, then overcame finishing third to forge a promising solo career - without his ponytail.

His self written single Colourblind rocketed to Number one and his album Dive in caused some reviewers to suggest that he, not £80 million man Robbie Williams, would break America first.

Darius Danesh is just as big a star as he always said he would be.

Radio 1 Article 21 December 2002

Last year, Darius was remembered for his famous rendition of Britney's 'Baby One More Time'. This year, he is celebrating two top ten hits and a top ten album. How things change... He told Radio 1 he's going home to Edinburgh for a well deserved break, and gave us a bit of a peek into the Danesh family Christmas. "Christmas is going to be a family time. Too much food, too much wine, a little bit of debauchery, a lot of giving and looking back on the year, and feeling excited about the future." Despite his new pop star status, it's not the flash cars and private jets that get Darius going. He reckons he's more into those 'time and effort' gifts to show he cares: "Do you know I actually think it's the more humble presents, I think. Writing a song, sticking it on a CD, and giving it to someone special. That's probably going to mean more than buying them a Ferrari or something like that. All I need now is to find the right kind of girl to do that for." And while he's looking for the right girl, you might find him at home listening to his favourite Christmas song, but don't expect him to be singing it - it seems he's learnt to leave the big artists well alone: "My favourite Christmas song would probably be…'Merry Christmas (War is Over)' by John Lennon. Wicked. I just love the kids singing in the background. I'm not even going to try and sing it because he was a legend..."

Waterman blasts Scot

Pop guru Pete Waterman has launched an astonishing attack on Darius Danesh and will tonight be seen labelling the Pop Idol star the "most self- destructive person" he's met.

Producer Waterman, who was among the judges on the show that propelled Bearsden boy Darius to stardom, accuses the chart star of over- estimating his talents.

He says: "Darius is the most self-destructive person I have ever met in 35 years in the business. He has amazing talent, but he does not channel it and he doesn't focus it.

"He hasn't worked out that this is quite a difficult job. He may think that he has everyone fooled, but he will find that he can only fool some of the people, some of the time."

Waterman is just one big name from the music biz appearing in a special EX:S documentary about Darius, to be screened on BBC1 Scotland tonight.

It charts the Scots singer's rise from obscurity, through his humiliation on Popstars, to his rise to fame on Pop Idol.

Footage of his early performances will be shown, including his notoriously cringe- making Hit Me Baby One More Time.

Since then, Darius has gone on to sign a deal with Mercury Records and has released two hit singles, including the No.1 Colourblind, and an album, Dive In. He is also set to perform sell-out concerts across the country in the New Year.

Waterman had previously championed Darius throughout Pop Idol, labelling him the "Comeback Kid", but he has now turned on his former protege, accusing him of being "manipulative".

He adds: "Darius knew exactly what he was doing when he sang Hit Me Baby One More Time. He made himself a laughing stock to become famous. Do not feel sorry for Darius.

"Darius, you ain't Bob Dylan. You came from Pop Idol, remember your background."

In the documentary, which follows Darius on a promotional tour in the run- up to the release of his debut album, he admits to "playing a game" on Pop Idol. He says: "I wasn't going to be bullied on national TV. Why should I take blows just so they could make a good television programme? At the end of Popstars, the very last minute of the audition when I was told that I was not good enough to make into their band, I realised that it was all just a game.

"I had to play the game and that's what I did in Pop Idol. I enjoyed doing it."

Darius adds: "If I had been in it for the money, I would have signed up with Simon Cowell and would be doing cover versions. I would be his lap dog - no thank-you."

Darius is on BBC1 Scotland tonight at 7.10pm.

In the world according to Homer Simpson: If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried. But what do you do when the evidence is witnessed by nine million people and involves a castrato interpretation of Britney Spears’s Hit Me Baby One More Time?

Those who voted for the use of a time machine and memory toxin have my sympathies. I too had a lonely childhood, one bereft of friends, and my sole companion was a dog-eared copy of the Collected Short Stories of Isaac Asimov. Unfortunately the ability to travel back through the space/time continuum was unavailable to a certain young man from Bearsden. He had no choice but to try again and succeed.

And succeed he did. Darius Danesh may not have entirely erased memories of him on Popstars with ponytail and goatee (and who knows what other animal parts), clicking his fingers, stamping his feet and crooning out how there was "a lotta lurve in the room", but at least he can enjoy the last laugh.

After softening the ground with a number1 single, his debut album currently sits at number5 in the charts, a tour beckons and, on Saturday night, he is the subject on a primetime documentary on BBC1 titled simply Darius. So for a noble display of resolution in the face of adversity, for defeating doubters with self-belief and well, frankly, just wielding a Bic razor against those whiskers, I appoint Darius as my Scot of the Year.

Traditionally this is a position hogged by a sportsman or a member of the disabled community, well, not this year. In a nation crippled with self-doubt, where a "can-do" culture is repeatedly mugged by "cannae", the story of Darius Danesh serves as an inspiration to us all. Whereas another charismatic young singer who failed to achieve success in an open audition (for TV rock band The Monkees), one Charles Manson, turned to more diabolical behaviour to achieve lasting fame, Darius had a crack at Pop Idol. Where the winners of that series appear as puppets to their management, singing songs someone else wrote, our champ scribbled his own and, according to Noel Gallagher, he of the monobrow but his own front teeth, they deserve "respect, man".

And so does Darius himself. He’s tall, good-looking and supremely confident. This probably comes from his Persian ancestry, but since he actually looks good in a kilt we’re claiming him as our own. I even liked his single, one of those catchy songs that even trepanation can’t remove from your head.

However, he does have his faults. Talk of "snuggling up" to your parents over Christmas is acceptable only among the hill country of Virginia and even then preferably from a Hillbilly called Darlene. Thumb rings are another pet hate, crying out, as they do, to be bent back. Yet in comparison to David Sneddon, the recent winner of BBC’s Fame Academy and thus our other ambassador to the world of light entertainment, Darius comes across as Cary Grant to Sneddon’s Rab C Nesbitt. The news from his mother that young David, despite his winnings, would be content with his traditional Christmas present, a case of his favourite lager, merely serves to perpetuate the image of the Scots as drunken chancers.

No. Darius is the chap to lead us to a brighter new tomorrow. Darius is the man to inspire this country’s younger generation to get up, dust themselves down and pursue their dreams no matter how many young children stop in the street and point.

Winston Churchill was once famously invited to give the graduation address at Oxford University. Instead of the sweeping oration and veritable tidal wave of words the students expected from such an eloquent and powerful speaker, Churchill restricted his advice on their future to just four words: "Never, ever give up."

The Greatest Britain would undoubtedly have approved of the attitude of tenacity shown by Darius Danesh: a young but still Great Scot.

POP Idol Darius will do a second gig in his hometown after his first date sold out within hours.
He will kick off his UK tour at the Armadillo, Glasgow, on May 2 next year.
But, after the 3000 tickets were snapped up by frantic fans when they went on sale last week, he'll also appear on May 3.
An Armadillo spokesman said: "Darius has been one of our quickest selling stars ever."
The 21-year-old topped the charts with single Colourblind and has broken into the top ten with debut album Dive In.
Tickets for the gigs cost £18.50. Phone 0870 040 4000

POPSTAR Darius Danesh is set to open his debut tour on home soil in Glasgow's Armadillo.

The 20-year-old, from Bearsden, will take a show on the road for the first time next summer taking his bow in the landmark venue.

Tickets for the May 2 gig go on sale tomorrow, priced £18.50 each, and are expected to sell out fast on the back of his recent chart success.

In the last 12 months, he has had a number one hit with his debut single Colourblind, had a top five smash with Rushes and this month his debut album Dive In made the top 10 in the album charts.

His 15-date 2003 tour gives fans their first chance to see him in live action and will take him to venues across the UK, from Glasgow to down to Brighton.

The singer came to the nation's attention on ITV's Popstars show in 2000, but despite not making the cut has forged his own showbiz career on the back of it.

Darius has revealed how he spent hours recording TRAINS for his new CD. The Scottish star needed help getting the sound right on a track from his album Sliding Doors.

So he joined soundmen at London's Victoria Station to make sure the perfect train door sounds were in place for the tune.

The Pop Idol reject, who made it big since finishing third in the ITV1 contest last year, said "I wanted to put on a couple of finishing touches.

"I hope you appreciate it when you listen becuase there's a 'beep, beep, chhhhh' of a tube door.

"It's for the Sliding Doors track. It is about meeting a girl and the question about fate.

"There's a twist at the end of the song, but you'll have to listen to find out."

Darius also confessed to getting giddy spells on stage due to his bad toothache.

After his latest gig in Maidstone, Kent, the singer said "When I stand up, I lose orientation."

The 22-year-old could strike it rich in the US after fans there complained they couldn't find his album in the shops.

Even toothache can't stop triumphant star wowing fans

Lesley Roberts

HUNKY Darius proved himself a super trouper when he struggled on stage in Glasgow this week.

The 22-year-old pop idol was in such excruciating pain with an impacted wisdom tooth that his management had advised him to cancel the free gig, staged by the Sunday Mail and SRH radio staions.

But the brave Bearsden boy refused to disappoint the 800 fans who'd packed into Glasgow's Merchant Square to see him launch his debut album, Dive In.

He showed not a trace of agony as he performed five tracks - including his Number One, Colourblind, and his current chart hit, Rushes.

The screaming crowd had no idea that the poorly pop star had thrown up just before before on going stage - and straight after the show ended.

"I'm suffering a bit," Darius told the Sunday Mail before striding out into the spotlight, resplendent in his kilt. "But I've got plenty of painkillers keeping me going."

Not that his fans guessed there was a problem. He seemed in sparkling form on stage, dedicating his song, Incredible, to the people of Glasgow. He even vowed to kick off next year's nationwide tour in his home town.

Darius had flown from London specially for the exclusive concert. Details of the venue had been kept secret and tickets were strictly limited to competition winners.

The singer's proud family - mum Avril, dad Booth and brothers Aria, 18, and seven- year-old Cyrus - were among the fans who arrived to see him in action.

But his GP mother could barely enjoy the gig for worrying about her son. "I really felt for him," she said afterwards. "I know him. I could tell by his face how much pain he was in. He's really feeling bad."

But brave Darius even kept his promise to have a pre-concert bite to eat with the lucky winners of our great contest. He laid on a buffet in his plush penthouse suite in Glasgow's Brunswick Hotel and chatted with his fans.

Laura McLaughlin, 23, from Greenock, won the Sunday Mail's top prize and took sister Lisa, 21, along to meet the star.

Supporting the release of his debut album with live shows around the UK has been 'the most exciting week' for Darius. 'It's great being on the road doing songs that you believe in' he enthused. 'It's been really special for me. When you write words and melodies yourself that mean something and then share them it is even more exciting.'

Songwriting is the easiest way Darius finds to express himself. 'Music is all about communicating' he says. 'I would like to see people communicating more with each other. Life is too short to worry about stuff. I have really enjoyed doing what I want this year. The public have supported me and through their encouragement I have been able to follow my dream.'

American fans of Darius are in a flap thinking they won't be able to buy Dive In so they are petitioning the record company for release! 'You're joking!' a shocked Darius replies when we tell him. 'I didn't know that. It is really flattering. I am pure flabbergasted. My most important market is at home though. The British public who have watched me grow up have my loyalty.

'The title of the album is an invitation to people to listen to the music' says Darius, speaking about his debut Dive In. 'I not only write and mix on the album but I produce as well. I dont know if last year I would have had the guts to take the plunge and do that. Having creative control is very important to me. I like being kept on my toes.'

As 2002 draws to a close people have at last seen Darius for what he is all about - good music and being true to himself - 'The best thing I can be is just me and not try and be something I am not' he explains. 'You should not have to fit into somebody's mould. 'To have been nominated for Record of the Year with Colourblind is very special. It's magic.'

SCOTS pop sensation Darius Danesh broke through the pain barrier last night to perform a low-key gig in Glasgow.

The singer has been diagnosed with an impacted wisdom tooth but refused medical treatment which would have prevented him from performing at Merchant Square.

Darius was promoting his debut album, Dive In, at the Up Close concert which will be broadcast at SRH radio stations such as Clyde Forth and Tay.

Wearing a kilt, he told the crowd of 800: "Glasgow, it's good to be home."

Before opening his short set with his current top five hit Rushes, he said: "This is a gig for my home town. I'm playing exclusive songs. I just want to say you are incredible."

Darius also performed tracks Incredible, his chart-topper Colourblind and Girl In The Moon.

He said: "I'm proud to be Scottish and I'm proud to wear the kilt. It's not a skirt."

But much of what was said was drowned out by the noise of screaming fans.

A megastar in the making.

Manchester Evening news 6 December 2002

POP Idol star Darius Danesh put on a performance at the Trafford Centre for hundreds of his fans - but hid an agonising secret.

The singer had put off an operation to have a wisdom tooth removed and was only passed fit by doctors hours before he was due to do a live concert at the giant shopping mall to promote his debut album, Dive In.

His smiling face as he belted out five tracks from the album gave the impression he was loving every minute of it, but his worried tour manager John Brosnan revealed that Darius was in agony throughout.

He said: "This was the first time Darius was doing a live performance with a full band to promote the album and he was determined to put on a good show.

"He was in a lot of pain from an infected wisdom tooth, but he refused to call off the show because he didn't want to disappoint the hundreds of fans who had turned up to see him."

SHOCK, horror- could Darius Danesh be on the road to world domination? Unbelievably he has fans all the way over in America and they are so desperate to get the scotsmans album that they're petitioning his record company because its not available in shops across the pond.

Scots Pop Idol finalist Darius is tonight entertaining lucky fans as he makes his debut performance in his home town.

Darius spoke to Scotland Today as he prepared for the show in front of 800 fans at Glasgow's Merchant City Square.

He said: "This is the week of my debut album, Dive In. I'm going to be performing a live set of songs from the album and looking forward to seeing the home crowd's reaction."

Asked what it meant to be performing his first solo gig in Glasgow, he said: "It means a tremendous amount. I've been performing gigs up and down the country now over the last year and it was great to do Colour Blind, but it means something much more for me, performing songs from the complete album in your hometown. I have travelled the world making this album- from LA to London - and now I'm back home again, it's great to be back."

Darius had a nasty surprise for TV studio staff after performing his song Rushes yesterday - he went into a corner and threw up. The singer, who was suffering from food poisoning, had spent all morning being ill but told bosses of ITV1's The Afternoon Show in Manchester he would definitely carry on for the cameras. A programme insider said later: "Darius was a star. He was determined he would sing."

11:00 - 03 December 2002

Pop singer Darius launched his new album in Bristol in front of hordes of screaming fans.

The singer, who took part in both PopStars and Pop Idol, chose The Mall at Cribbs Causeway to perform a number of hits last night from his first album, Dive In.

Darius, who was in Bristol last week to switch on the Christmas lights in Broadmead, came back to the city yesterday to sing tracks including Colourblind and Rushes during the performance.

The Mall was packed with onlookers, many of whom had come from miles around especially to catch a glimpse of the star.

He was accompanied by his threepiece backing band, which he put together after he failed to win Pop Idol.

Although Will Young won the contest, Darius - dubbed the comeback kid after he had been booted out of Popstars - has steadily climbed up the charts and has appeared on Top of the Pops and CD: UK recently.

The songwriter also handed over the keys of a Mercedes SLK 200 Kompressor - a sports car worth £25,000 - to the winner of a draw organised to mark The Mall's Christmas late opening hours.

American fans of Darius Danesh are petitioning his record company to release his album in the U.S. Darius who bagged a No.4 (wrong) on Sunday with new single Rushes, has a devoted band of supporters across the Atlan tic. Meanwhile Darius says he is glad to have finished the album Dive In - so he can get some nookie. He said I havent got a girlfriend because my only relationship has been with my album. Now Im looking forward to some female company. "