MUSICIAN Tom Chaplin has been back in the studio working on his recent Christmas album.
Here is what you need to know about the Keane frontman and his Twelve Tales of Christmas.
Handout Tom Chaplin, second right, is best known as Keane's lead vocalist
Who is Tom Chaplin?
Tom Chaplin, 38, is the singer-songwriter best known for providing the lead vocals for Keane.
The son of a head teacher, Tom was born in Hastings, where he played acoustic guitar in a band called The Lotus Eaters - which later changed its name to Keane.
After the name change, Tom switched from being a guitarist to lead vocalist, dabbling with an organ and piano on occasional tracks.
Now, after Keane announced they were taking a break, Tom has turned his attention to solo projects - releasing his debut solo album, The Wave, in October 2016 and his first Christmas album in November 2017.
Away from the studio, Tom has struggled with drugs, revealing in 2006 that he was being treated for drug abuse problems.
But after overcoming a relapse in 2014, Tom says he is now happier than ever with his wife and daughter.
Getty - Contributor Tom has a daughter with his wife Natalie, who he married in 2011
Who is Tom Chaplin's wife?
Tom married Natalie Dive in 2011, and the pair had a daughter together three years later.
He credits Natalie and his daughter with saving him from drugs - as it was only the realisation that he was losing them both which made Tom kick the habit for good.
What's Tom Chaplin's Twelve Tales of Christmas album? Where is he performing?
Released on 17 November, Twelve Tales of Christmas is Tom's first solo stab at a festive album.
The album features eight original singles and four covers - Walking in the Air, 2,000 Miles, River and Stay Another Day.
To accompany the album, Tom performed a trio of UK gigs in Manchester, Bath and London in early December.
AP:Associated Press Twelve Tales of Christmas will be accompanied by a short series of UK gigs
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What were Keane's biggest songs?
Keane confirmed their legend status when two of their albums, Hopes and Fears and Under the Iron Sea were voted by Q readers as among the best British albums ever.
Only The Beatles, Oasis and Radiohead join them in having two albums in the top 20.
Somewhere Only We Know, Everybody's Changing, Bedshaped and This Is The Last Time, all 2004 releases, are their peak position is number three.
Is It Any Wonder, Crystal Ball, Nothing In My Way, A Bad Dream and Spiralling also made it to the top 40.
Keane frontman Tom Chaplin fears slipping back into addiction if he is not writing music.
The singer-songwriter has followed up last year’s debut solo album with a Christmas record as he was determined to keep busy after beating his battle with drugs.
The musician told the Press Association he “didn’t want to stand still” after releasing The Wave in 2016.
He said addiction had “killed” him creatively, but added he had a “new lease of life” since recovery.
Tom Chaplin (Isabel Infantes/PA)
Chaplin, who will be three years sober in January, said: “It’s an odd paradox because not being creative and not having that outlet was also feeding the addiction … Writing is absolutely central to what I do … I can’t really go without it so it’s a bit of a chicken and egg.”
He added: “I hope that my life never exists without the writing process again because if that part of me is not being mined and tapped then I’ll be in trouble.”
Chaplin recalled the last dark period he endured was during Christmas 2014, when he said his life was “off the rails completely”.
“I was exhausted because I had just been on a succession of crazy benders … And so I was lost, I was really unhappy.
“My daughter was about nine months then and I felt like I was really slipping away from everyone. Even though I was physically with my family … emotionally and mentally I was miles away.”
The 38-year-old’s festive album, Twelve Tales Of Christmas, is a combination of original music with covers of hits including Walking In The Air and East 17’s Stay Another Day.
He compared getting into the Christmas music market as like “breaking into Fort Knox”.
In 2006, following the release of Keane’s smash-hit debut, Hopes And Dreams, Chaplin was treated for drug and alcohol addiction.
The band – who are currently on hiatus – were forced to cancel their North American tour while he recovered.
PA
Tom Chaplin talks about his struggles with addiction BelfastTelegraph.co.uk https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/tom-chaplin-talks-about-his-struggles-with-addiction-36429676.html https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/article36429678.ece/e585d/AUTOCROP/h342/2887475-1513927454739039_10.jpg
Keane frontman Tom Chaplin talks about his new Christmas album, Twelve Tales Of Christmas, and his former struggles with addiction. The singer reveals he feels that he is "in trouble" during times when he is not able to write.
