Preston (singer)
The Ordinary Boys frontman who rode a wave of mid-2000s indie rock into the surreal spotlight of reality television celebrity.
Born 1982 (age 44)·English singer·Birthday: January 16·Millennials
Biography
Samuel Preston, who performs under his surname, carved a path that intertwined guitar-driven pop with the glare of tabloid fame. As the vocalist for The Ordinary Boys, he channeled a mod-inspired, Britpop-inflected sound that found success with hits like 'Boys Will Be Boys.' The band's momentum, however, was irrevocably altered when Preston entered the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house in 2006, a move that amplified his public profile but also created a lasting association with reality TV. After the band's initial split, he worked behind the scenes as a songwriter before orchestrating a reunion and new album in the 2010s. Preston's story is a quintessential narrative of the 2000s, examining the collision between authentic music subculture and the burgeoning, all-consuming world of televised celebrity.
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.
Preston 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 Preston Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Preston'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
- Led The Ordinary Boys to a UK Top 10 hit with the single 'Boys Will Be Boys' in 2005.
- Achieved a #1 UK album with the band's second studio album, 'Brassbound,' in 2006.
- Finished in fourth place on the fourth series of 'Celebrity Big Brother,' significantly raising his public profile.
- Co-wrote the song 'He's a Tramp' for the 2012 film 'The Inbetweeners Movie.'
Did You Know?
He was married to television presenter Chantelle Houghton, whom he met on 'Celebrity Big Brother.'
Preston has cited The Specials and Madness as major musical influences on his style.
He made a cameo appearance in the British comedy film 'Run for Your Wife' in 2012.
“We were just four lads making a racket, and suddenly it was pop stardom.”
