The Martians - David, John, Gerry, Harry, Gibby at Edinburgh Festival 2002.

'We used to do lots of wee venues, busking and stuff and it was fun. We played at the Edinburgh Festival last year(2002) and that was when things kinda started to happen with us, it was great.'

The Edinburgh festival and the fringe, is one of the biggest festivals in the world, attracting millions of visitors each year. The Martians played the People's festival. A new venture to bring back the ethos of a celebration of the arts in 1951 and a festival for the people by the people.

Fame Academy October - December 2002

  SongWriting - David was the academy's most prolific songwriter, writing at least one song a week.
He was voted by fellow students as the most inspirational & original writer.‘"

Don't listen to what other people tell you. I've always wanted to be a singer-songwriter. The celebrity side of it, I take with a pinch of salt. You've got to keep believing in yourself. I just keep writing. Even though I've written my first album, I have another three or four albums' worth of songs. And don't believe the hype.

I'll keep level-headed because I won't believe the hype. The one thing I am confident about is my music and I'm going to let that do the talking.
‘My humble beginnings have made me a very level–headed person. I know where I’ve some from and I know the person I am

 There’s a mischievous twinkle as he says this, as if he knows – and is playing around with – those clichés about spending sprees a la Elton John, one of his declared role models, albeit only musically. “Of course it’s fantastic – the flat, the car, being able to jump the queue because people know who you are. But fame’s a strange beast. And hand on heart, it hasn’t really changed me. I’m still the same person I was before and the same things are still important to me: my family and friends. And the music.” Glasgow Herald 5/03

Famous Quotes
Even if Kylie offered me sex, I would say no!
I just take it on the chin and get on with it
Interviewer - what does winning mean to you?
David - it means winning! what does it mean to you!
Pudsey has had the same eye injury for years. You'd think with all the money they make we could get him some treatment.
You think a student leaves each week because they are out of the academy. This is just a cover up to hide serious injury that has occured! Malachi has only one ear and is now wearing one of those joke rubber ones - it's very noticeable but people are too polite to say!

That's not too shabby!

BIO *1978 - 2003
DAVID SNEDDON grew up in Paisley near Glasgow. At Primary school a teacher suggested a Youth drama group called PACE, and it was one of the best experiences and gave him confidence to perform. He attended PACE for 12 years from the age of 8.
He enjoyed performing in musicals from a young age, and when his parents bought him a piano he discovered he loved writing songs, and taught himself to play. David was inspired by his Dad's record collection of the Beatles, Sinatra, Van Morrison, Elton John and more. He cites the Beatles as one of his biggest influence. He studied music at school, won several talent competitions, and played lead roles in musicals both at school and at PACE Youth drama.  'The person who has inspired me the most is Elton I love the Beatles, but as I was growing up, I always wanted to play the piano like him. I've never had any lessons, so he has been my only teacher.'
In 1997 David studied at Paisley Univeristy for a year, after which he decided to pursue a career in music. He was offered several opportunities - a new musical in London, a young boy band (Arena), and he performed lead roles in Musicals and sang with bands in Scotland for several years. David continued writing and recording demos. He also presented 'Inside Out' a children's show on Scottish TV.
 *The Herald described him as ' star in the making...He was the Prince in Cinderella and the audience was full of young misses keen to try on more than the slipper with him.'  The MARTIANS- While acting Romeo he met John Kielty, who was playing Juliet's father. After doing some acoustic nights at the Arches in Glasgow, doing their own songs, they decided to start a band and called themselves The Martians. They recorded a 4-track CD. The Martians performed at the Edinburgh Festival 2002. For Martian info - www.themartiansfansite.co.uk

David decided to enter the BBCs Fame Academy show when he read that the show was for aspiring songwriters, in the summer of 2002. He auditioned in Glasgow, and was selected for the final auditions in London. He made it to the first TV show and had to sing to secure a place. In an ill-fitting brown suit he sang UpTown Girl, a song he hardly knew! Even so it confirmed to him that this was what he wanted to do.
Against the Odds! - David was not in the final line up for the Fame Academy show, but when one contestant became ill David was offered a surprise place. He took the gamble and was quickly put up for many tests. Playing catch up to the other contestants David worked hard, and each showdown week he won the Public vote. David surprised singing coach Carrie when he took to the piano to play his own songs, after she made the comment that he was ‘too boyband.’ It was a big thrill for him to be able perform his own song, Stop Living the Lie, on the TV show.
He showed he was a talented songwriter, and recorded his first video with one of his own songs at the Apple Recording Studios in London.

::WINNING FAME ACADEMY!
David sang an amazing cover of Elton John's 'Don’t let the Sun Go Down On Me' and made it through to the final.
Competing with Sinead Quinn and Lemar Obika in the Final,
David WON the TV show in December 2002 with 3 & half million votes, beating over 36,000 other applicants!
He sang 'I Don't Want to Talk About It', 'I Guess That's Why They Call it the Blues' and 'Stop Living The Lie;'
The prize was a Record Deal - and for one year a luxury flat, an Audi TT, tickets to everything and champagne and flowers!
On January 13th David had a number ONE Chart hit with his own song, ‘Stop Living The Lie’ and performed four times on the BBCs famous show Top of the Pops. David made appearances at HMV Glasgow, HMV Oxford St London.

::2003
*DISCOGRAPHY* - David was signed by Mercury as part of his prize, in December 2002. His debut single 'Stop Living The Lie' went straight to #1 in the singles chart on it's release in January 2003. Stop Living The Lie was in the top 40 for nine weeks
This was followed by second single 'Don't Let Go' released in April and made #3.
David's debut album -'Seven Years Ten Weeks' was released in April and entered the UK album chart at #5, and shipped Gold in the UK. The day of the album release SLTL was #36 and DLG #3.
SYTWs is a highly personal album with songs about David's experiences looking for direction in life. Four songs are co-writes with John Kielty, and includes final track John's soulful 'Long Time Coming.' It was produced by respected producer Hugh Padgham, recorded with Elton John's band and received excellent reviews. There was a Scottish album launch, for the release on 27th April, when David did 7 gigs in 10 hours all over Scotland.
David released his third single 'Best Of Order' in August and it charted at #19. In October David released his fourth single 'Baby Get Higher' which made the #39 in the charts. This song has subsequently achieved success on the dance floor for Belle Lawrence and has been a chart hit for Dutch artist Van Velsen in 2006. To date he is the only artist from a reality TV show to have a Number One hit single with a self-written song.

::2003::
was to prove and incredible whirlwind of live shows, interviews, presenting and more.
After winning the show David did many interviews and TV and Radio appearances.
He sang live at the Scottish Hogmanay show. In January he performed on the BBCs Top of the Pops live, singing his No 1 hit Stop Living The Lie live on the show. He was given a Reception at his hometown at Paisley Town Hall to screaming crowds before his HMV signing in Glasgow - when he sang 'Without You' and 'Stop Living The Lie'.. David brought Scottish mate John Kielty down to write with him in London and play with his band. He then began writing and recording for his album Seven Years Ten Weeks.
:GIGS 2003 :: In April David took part in the successful Fame Academy TOUR, which was the most successful of it's kind and took in dates, including Glasgow SECC the highlight for David, where he had seen Wet Wet Wet and Travis live.
David sang his best song from the FA show 'Dont' Let the Sun Go Down on Me' and 'Stop living the Lie' and Lennon's 'Imagine' - sitting on the staircase.
David toured with his band and did a Uni tour, the Box Live and Summer XS tour, and supported Bryan Adams at Bristol and Elton John at Hull.
He performed on the BBC's famous Top of the Pops show, a childhood dream, nine times in all. He also performed & presented the Glasgow Children in Need appeal. He sang the Scottish National anthem at Murrayfield before the Ireland Scotland game.
He performed on TV many times; Top of the Pops, BBC Hogmanay show, the Lottery show, and GMTV. David was also a guest presenter on The Saturday Show, & appeared on Avid Merrion's ' Bo Selecta' on Channel 4.

2003 was a very exciting year but also an overwhelming media circus of events, interviews, with much travelling and little time for music. David's fourth single 'Baby Get Higher' was released in October. However his Label saw him as a 'new solo Westlife' of ballad-style pop, while David was keen to do his own music his way. David has always said his first love is his songwriting and he entered the show thinking it was for aspiring songwriters.
He was offered a songwriting deal with Universal Music in September 2003, and has been working there the last years writing for other artists.
'I've loved all the music side of it, it's everything I hoped it would be - the recording, the studio, writing, but the other stuff......??'    (Updated Jan 2008)