Brian Lee Harvey (born 8 August 1974) is an English singer from London. He was the lead singer of pop group East 17. The later incarnation of the band, E-17, had two top 20 singles on the UK Singles Chart between 1998 and 1999, with the album Resurrection peaking within the top 50 of the UK Albums Chart. After leaving E-17, Harvey signed a record deal with Edel Records and had two singles released in 2001, "Straight Up (No Bends)" and "Loving You (Ole Ole Ole)".
Career
Harvey's vocal style emulated R&B and new jack swing vocalists from the United States. His vocals put him into a position of the group's frontman, or main member, which was shared with the group's creator, songwriter, instrumentalist, rapper and singer Tony Mortimer.
In 1997, Harvey was sacked from East 17 after making comments in a radio interview that appeared to condone the use of the drug ecstasy, in which he claimed to have taken 12 pills in one night,[1] causing an uproar in the press and the matter being raised in the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[2] Mortimer left East 17 several months later. Harvey eventually rejoined the group under the rebranded name of E-17.[3] As E-17, the group had two top 20 singles on the UK Singles Chart between 1998 and 1999, with the album Resurrection reaching the UK Top 50.
After E-17, he signed a record deal with Edel Records and had two singles released in 2001, "Straight Up (No Bends)" (No. 26 UK) and "Loving You (Ole Ole Ole)" (No. 20 UK).
On 17 March 2007, Harvey performed a song entitled "I Can" for Making Your Mind Up, the United Kingdom's national final for the Eurovision Song Contest. The song was written by singer Conner Reeves. Harvey was eliminated after the first round of voting and the eventual winners were Scooch.[5]
In 2014, he released a new single, "Invisible".
In 2019, he was making music with rapper Cryptik Soul. He was featured in the song "A Ghetto Luv Story"[6] on Cryptik Soul's album Killer's Blood.[7] The album was supported by the singles "Come & Save Me"[8] and "Bang 'Em Up"[9] which also featured Harvey.
Personal life
Harvey was married to dancer Natasha Carnegie with whom he has a daughter.[10]
On 12 December 2001, Harvey was attacked with a knife in a club car park in Nottingham.[3] In May 2005, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, Harvey was hospitalised after an alleged suicide attempt.[3] On 31 May 2005, he was re-admitted to hospital in a critical condition after falling under the wheels of his own car.[11][12] In an interview with GMTV, Harvey described reversing his Mercedes-Benz and suddenly feeling sick as the result of eating too many jacket potatoes, and after opening the door to vomit he accidentally stepped on the accelerator pedal instead of the brake, which resulted in him being thrown under the moving car.[13]
^Barry Legg (16 January 1997). "Prime Minister's Questions". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 450. What is his reaction to the comments made today by Brian Harvey of East 17, who says that Ecstasy makes people feel better and that he takes up to 12 tablets a day? Nigel Evans (16 January 1997). "Business of the House". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 463. Brian Harvey and East 17 are idolised by many thousands of youngsters, some as young as 12. All the campaigning that has been done by voluntary bodies and others may now be jeopardised by the fact that Brian Harvey has come up with those stupid remarks. Barry Legg (17 January 1997). "Public Entertainments Licences (Drug Misuse) Bill". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). United Kingdom: House of Commons. col. 526. We heard some dreadful remarks from Mr. Brian Harvey of East 17. [...] However, there was also a promising sign yesterday. I spoke to a 12-year-old schoolgirl in my constituency, who said that she would be taking down the posters of East 17. [...] Incidentally, I was pleased yesterday to note that many radio stations and record companies said that they would ban the music of East 17.
