10 September 2006
X SCANDAL 2
EXCLUSIVE Fix storm boyband star had own solo deal with Cowell Company
By Alice Walker
A SINGER with X Factor "fix" band Avenue had a solo record deal with judge Simon Cowell's record firm, we can reveal.
Jamie Tinker, 25, was signed last year by SonyBMG, Simon's own label - but under show rules only unsigned artists can compete.
The amazing new twist came after it also emerged that Avenue were formed specially for the ITV1 show by a rival pop mogul.
The five lads were accused of lying about their management deal to get on last night's show.
And X-Factor sources now allege Jamie has duped the judges TWICE.
One revealed: "The fact that Jamie had a record deal before X Factor has thrown the whole show into chaos. He didn't make it and was dropped earlier this year.
But anyone competing in X Factor is not meant to have a manager - let alone a record deal.
"How Simon didn't know about this is incredible. It makes the whole show a sham."
Middlesbrough-born Jamie boasted about his deal with Cowell's label in his Friends Reunited profile, posted on the internet site last November.
He said: "I have got a solo deal with SonyBMG and I will be releasing my first single in March.
"Been very busy and I hope I can carry on doing the job I love for many more years, to show all those who said I would never amount to anything. No names mentioned." Avenue won through to the show's bootcamp stage last night.
Simon was not impressed by their performance of Will Young's Leave Right Now, saying: "Sorry, I just don't get it."
But fellow judges Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh liked them. Louis said: "I think your personalities are better than your vocal talent."
Sharon added: "I think you would all scrub up well."
The band, Jamie, Scott, Max, Ross and Johnny, was put together by Ashley Tabor, who works alongside Louis at Global Talent Management.
Louis and Ashley also handle previous X Factor stars Shayne Ward, Maria Lawson, Chico and G4. Tabor sent Avenue to X Factor auditions in Manchester in June, knowing TV exposure would help to launch them.
Show sources claimed they failed to mention their management link at the auditions.
Louis and Simon were said to be furious when they learned.
Before trying his luck on X Factor, Jamie reached the last 50 of Pop Idol and was in a flop band called Pop! manufactured by Pete Waterman.
Pop! were meant to be the new Steps. But they failed to set the charts alight and were dropped in March 2005 after their first three singles all failed to reach the Top 10.
James was nearly thrown out of Pop Idol after plaguing female contestants with his saucy suggestions. The randy lad tried to bed a string of the wannabe stars and landed himself in hot water with show bosses.
Self-confessed womaniser Jamie lists blondes among his interests on Friends Reunited.
And he once boasted: "I have the voice that will melt the knickers off a nun, the looks to stun your mum - not forgetting the cute bum."
An X Factor spokesman said last night: "As long as an artist doesn't have a current recording contract, no rules have been broken.
"If they have had a deal in the past and it's expired, that is within the X Factor rules.
"What must be declared is any ongoing management contract."
alice.walker@
people.co.uk
