S Club 7’s Paul Cattermole dies ‘unexpectedly’ aged 46
S Club 7’s Paul Cattermole has died at the age of 46.
The singer, whose cause of death is currently unknown, was found dead on Thursday afternoon at his home in Dorset.
S Club 7 pictured in 1999 (L-R): Jo O’Meara, Rachel Stevens, Jon Lee, Tina Barrett, Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt and Paul Cattermole
His unexpected death comes just weeks after the group announced it was going on a major reunion tour.
A statement from his family and S Club 7 said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the unexpected passing of our beloved son and brother Paul Cattermole.
“Paul was found yesterday, 6th April 2023 at his home in Dorset and was pronounced dead later that afternoon.
“While the cause of death is currently unknown, Dorset Police has confirmed that there were no suspicious circumstances.
“Paul’s family, friends and fellow members of S Club request privacy at this time”.
A statement on the S Club social media accounts said: “We are truly devastated by the passing of our brother Paul. There are no words to describe the deep sadness and loss we all feel.
“We were so lucky to have had him in our lives and are thankful for the amazing memories we have.
“He will be so deeply missed by each and every one of us. We ask that you respect the privacy of his family and of the band at this time.”
Read more:
Tributes paid to ‘gentle and shy’ S Club 7 star
S Club 7 pictured earlier this year
The band – made up of original members Rachel Stevens, Bradley McIntosh, Hannah Spearritt, Jo O’Meara, Jon Lee, Tina Barrett and Cattermole – was due to be reuniting in October for an 11-date 25th anniversary tour of the UK and Ireland.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the seven-piece pop group, which was created by former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller, had hits including Reach, Don’t Stop Movin’ and Bring It All Back.
The band was also known for the BBC children TV shows Miami 7 and LA 7, which saw the seven bandmates play fictionalised versions of themselves.
Spearritt and Cattermole dated for five years
Cattermole had twice been in a relationship with his fellow band member Spearritt, first in 2001 for five years, then again in 2015 for several months.
The band was together from 1998 until 2003 when they disbanded, but Cattermole left the band in the summer of 2002, forming a nu metal band with old school friends. However, his new band split the following year after failing to sign with a record label.
During S Club’s five years together they produced four studio albums and topped the charts with singles including Never Had A Dream Come True and Have You Ever.
Following the band’s break-up, McIntosh, O’Meara and Cattermole became members of the spin-off group S Club Allstars, previously S Club 3, with Barrett joining them in 2014.
Cattermole in 2018
The same year, the full band briefly returned to the spotlight with a medley of their best-known songs for a 2014 BBC Children In Need appeal.
In 2015 they again reunited for their Bring It All Back tour, with Cattermole saying he used earnings from the tour to pay off bankruptcy debts.
He had spoken openly about the financial difficulties he had faced after leaving the band, selling the Brit award he won for best newcomer for £66,000 on eBay in 2018, saying he had “bills to pay”.
Later speaking about the sale of his Britannia statuette, he told NME he had struggled to find work after a back injury which he said he’d suffered while touring the UK with The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
While some of Cattermole’s S Club bandmates had gone on to appear in reality shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing On Ice, he said despite approaching producers he had been turned down.
He said: “I’m not famous enough, apparently… I’ve been told this by many of these reality TV shows – they just don’t want me.”
Paying tribute, television presenter and DJ Vernon Kay said Cattermole “always had time for a chat” and the news was “so very sad”.
He had spoken of wanting to record a Motown album
Kay, who will take over Ken Bruce’s Radio 2 slot later this year, wrote on Twitter: “From when I first started in TV all the way through CBBC, T4, TOTP, smash hits poll winners Paul and [S Club] were always there.”
Former S Club manager Simon Fuller also paid tribute, saying he was “deeply shocked and saddened” by news of Cattermole’s death, and calling him “a beacon of light for a generation of pop music fans,” adding “he will be greatly missed”.
Away from the pop he was famous for, Cattermole, who was originally from St Albans, Hertfordshire, had spoken of wanting to record a Motown album.
Entertainment
Snoop Dogg becomes co-owner and investor of Swansea football club saying it’s ‘an underdog just like me’
Police are taking no further action over Kneecap’s performance at Glastonbury.
Officers said they had investigated “comments about a forthcoming court case made during Kneecap’s performance” at the festival on 28 June.
However, after Crown Prosecution Service advice, they decided there is not enough evidence “to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for any offence”.
The Avon & Somerset force started investigating the Irish group’s show last month, as well as comments by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan.
It said they were looking at a possible public order incident.
Police said on Friday that the investigation into Bob Vylan’s performance was ongoing.
The London duo were widely criticised – and caused a BBC crisis – after leading on-stage chants of “death to the IDF” (Israel Defence Forces).
Kneecap’s Liam Og O Hannaidh appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June. Pic: PA
Kneecap posted a photograph on Instagram, which the group said was an email from police announcing the case was being dropped.
They said their packed Glastonbury gig was a “celebration of love and solidarity” and reporting used “wildly misleading headlines”.
Fears over what Kneecap might do or say during the performance had prompted the BBC not to show it live.
The group said: “Every single person who saw our set knew no law was broken, not even close… yet the police saw fit to publicly announce they were opening an investigation.”
“There is no public apology, they don’t send this to media or post it on police accounts,” they added.
The police statement on Friday said they had informed Kneecap of their decision to drop the case.
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One of the group’s members appeared in court in June charged with a terror offence.
Liam Og O hAnnaidh is accused of displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah, a proscribed organisation in the UK, at a gig last year.
He was released on unconditional bail ahead of a second court appearance in August.
Entertainment
Tomorrowland: ‘Devastating’ blaze destroys main stage at major festival – two days before it was due to begin
A huge fire has destroyed the main stage of a major festival in Belgium – two days before it was due to begin.
Tomorrowland is a dance music event as big as Glastonbury – and David Guetta was due to perform.
Footage showed flames and thick plumes of black smoke engulfing the stage and spreading to nearby woodland on Wednesday.
The fire gutted the main stage
Fire crews attempt to bring the blaze under control
The annual festival in the town of Boom, north of Brussels, is one of the biggest in Europe and attracts about 400,000 people over two consecutive weekends.
It is famous for its immersive and elaborate designs and attracts big names within dance music – including Guetta, best known for tracks When Love Takes Over and Titanium.
Dutch DJs Martin Garrix and Charlotte de Witte were also due to perform, along with the likes of Swedish House Mafia, Eric Prydz and Alok.
Black smoke could be seen rising into the sky
The festival’s website described the creative elements which went into the elaborate main stage.
The theme, described as Orbyz, was “set in a magical universe made entirely out of ice” and “full of mythical creatures”.
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Organisers said no one was injured in the blaze but confirmed “our beloved main stage has been severely damaged”, adding they were “devastated”.
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen added: “We received some truly terrible news today. A fire broke out on the Tomorrowland site … and our main stage was essentially destroyed there, which is truly awful.
“That’s a stage that took years to build, with so much love and passion. So I think a lot of people are devastated.”
Spokesperson Debby Wilmsen told reporters ‘a lot of people are devastated’
Despite the fire, Tomorrowland organisers said they were still expecting 38,000 festivalgoers at DreamVille, the event’s campsite.
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