David Essex

David Essex brings his songs and stories to Symphony Hall in Birmingham on 1 September 2026. Born David Albert Cook in Plaistow and raised in Canning Town, he first cut his teeth as a drummer and singer in 60s groups before stepping into the spotlight with the stage version of Godspell in 1971. Film work followed with That’ll Be the Day, then Rock On in 1973 — the self-penned track that set his blend of glam touches, British pop and rock’n’roll, carried by a supple, narrative voice.

On stage, he draws from that early run of albums — Rock On (1973), David Essex (1974), All the Fun of the Fair (1975), Out on the Street (1976) and Imperial Wizard (1979) — where his writing shifted toward a more melodic pop rock. His path has always run alongside musical theatre: Tommy, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds in 1978, then the creation of Che in Evita the same year. Later chapters also feed in, from Be-Bop the Future (1981) and Cover Shot (1993) to a 2005 collaboration with Saint Etienne. An evening that connects decades of music with the ease of an artist equally at home in the studio and on stage.