Blue Simon: Help kids like me at school
BLUE singer Simon Webbe has spoken of his traumatic childhood battle with dyslexia – and called on education chiefs to do more to recognise the problem.
Simon, now 39, revealed he struggled so badly at school he had to copy pals’ homework.
Yet he still managed to co-write the boy band’s biggest hits – using his skill for crafting music by ear.
He said: “I’m dyslexic but at school I hid it really well. I write songs, I’m very melodic – that end of the spectrum.
“It’s only recently I found out what a syllable was. Now I know the science behind songwriting. It’s like a big light has come on.”
The Manchester-born singer, who was runner-up three years ago on Strictly Come Dancing, added: “Teachers and psychiatrists need to recognise whether someone is academic or creative and stop putting us all in the same box. These things need to be implemented into schools. Society has changed so much.
“I look at kids today and they don’t have what I had growing up.
“I built tree houses, played football – nowadays kids are all about hanging around street corners, who’s the alpha male and being accepted because of looks.”
Simon has previously told how taking part in Strictly saved his life, after a long battle with depression saw him contemplate suicide. Following the end of a run of tour dates with Blue in 2013, the star, who had been made bankrupt, turned to alcohol.
But things are looking much brighter for him now, with the group working on a new album.
His third solo album Smile will be released on August 25 and he plans to marry girlfriend Ayshen Kemal next year.
Of his new album he said: “I hope the vocals are smooth enough to get lost in my world, forget your own – and smile.”