Example (musician)
A British rapper and producer who turned underground electronic beats into chart-topping anthems, defining a sound for a generation of club-goers.
Born 1982 (age 44)·British musician·Birthday: June 20·Millennials
Biography
Elliot John Gleave, who performs as Example, didn't follow a traditional path to pop stardom. Emerging from London's vibrant underground scene, he initially built a reputation through mixtapes that blended sharp, narrative-driven rap with electronic textures. His breakthrough came not from chasing trends, but from a pivotal shift. Teaming with producer Feed Me, he fused his lyrical agility with the surging energy of big room house and dubstep, a move that catapulted him into the mainstream. The 2010 album 'Won't Go Quietly' was a seismic event, its singles becoming inescapable fixtures in clubs and on radio. Example became the voice of a specific moment in UK youth culture, a bridge between the grit of the rave and the polish of the pop chart, headlining festivals and selling out arenas by staying true to a high-energy, crowd-first ethos.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Example was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Example Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Example's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His 2010 album 'Won't Go Quietly' peaked at number four on the UK Albums Chart and number one on the UK Dance Chart.
- He scored two UK top 10 singles, 'Won't Go Quietly' and 'Kickstarts', from that breakthrough album.
- He has headlined major UK festivals including Creamfields and performed to sold-out arena audiences.
- He successfully transitioned from an underground mixtape artist to a mainstream chart presence in the early 2010s.
Did You Know?
His stage name 'Example' was chosen because his real initials, E.G., stand for 'exempli gratia', which means 'for example' in Latin.
He studied film at university before committing fully to music.
He is a passionate supporter of the English football club Fulham.
“I never wanted to be a pop star, I wanted to be an artist that had hits.”
