Born in Middlesbrough during 1977, Alistair Griffin took to the stage while still young and later busked along the streets of York as he pursued an English Literature degree. Once he completed his studies, he joined a fresh configuration of the late-'90s pop group Ultra for a short spell and also performed with Pulse. That same period saw him advance to the semi-finals of the British selection process for the 2002 Eurovision Song Contest with his composition “Fade Away.” Although he was eliminated at the audition round of the BBC’s initial Fame Academy series, he secured a publishing agreement with Trevor Horn’s Perfect Songs and, the following year, progressed to the live stages of the program’s second season. Despite judges labeling his vocal style and persona “unoriginal” and “boy band-ish,” Robin Gibb championed the Middlesbrough performer, who emerged as the competition’s surprise contender and ultimately finished runner-up to Alex Parks. Griffin inked a recording contract with UMTV in 2004, reached number five with the single “Bring It On,” and issued his debut album of the same title, which blended his own material with renditions of songs by John Lennon, The Calling, and Bread. After the follow-up “You And Me Tonight” underperformed, the label ended the arrangement, prompting Griffin to front several ensembles over the ensuing years, among them Albion and Blue Nun. In 2007 he attracted international notice with a tribute to footballer Mark Viduka set to Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” and in 2010 his track “Just Drive” unexpectedly returned him to the Top 40 after it accompanied footage from the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix. Griffin has also supplied songs to Phixx and Cascada and wrote former manager Terry Venables’ 2002 World Cup anthem “England Crazy.”
