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Dan Gillespie Sells
Performing in London, 2007
Background information
Birth name	Daniel Giles Gillespie Sells
Born	20 September 1978 (1978-09-20) (age 31)
Origin	London, UK
Genres	Power pop, pop rock
Occupations	Musician
Instruments	Guitar, Piano, vocals
Years active	1995–present
Labels	MCA Music, Inc./Island Records
Associated acts	Speedway (2001–2003) The Feeling (2005–present)

Daniel Giles Gillespie Sells (pronounced /ɡɨˈlɛspi/; born 20 September 1978 in London, UK) is a British singer-songwriter and guitarist, best known for his work with pop band The Feeling.

Biography

Sells attended The Ashmole School in London along with fellow students Amy Winehouse and Rachel Stevens (S Club 7). He studied at the BRIT School in which many new British groups originate from such as The Kooks in Croydon, and for a time was guitarist for Scottish pop rock band Speedway.

In early 2007, Sells was seen in an advertising campaign for the Autograph range at Marks and Spencer.^[1]

In addition to his work with The Feeling, he co-wrote several songs for Sophie Ellis-Bextor's third solo album, Trip the Light Fantastic. However, only two of the songs actually made it onto the tracklisting, "Only One" and "Love Is Here". Both tracks also feature his vocals, and "Love Is Here" includes his bandmate Richard Jones, Sophie Ellis-Bextor's husband, on bass guitar.

Dan is openly gay, and won the Stonewall Award for Entertainer of the Year in 2007. In an April 20, 2007 interview with the site Chart Rigger, Sells said he's had a boyfriend since New Year's Eve, and that he hadn't told any journalist before "because no one ever asked directly. This is really pathetic, but it's probably the first proper boyfriend I've really ever had, because I've just totally scuttered around the whole thing for so many years."^[2]

Sells also revealed on a catch-up session on The Feeling's official website that he is to feature on the cover of an issue of Attitude magazine in 2008, being the first cover shoot Sells has done. He appeared on the front cover of Attitude in March 2008, and was later on the front cover again on the September 2008 issue, alongside Alan Carr and Sir Ian McKellen. He also revealed that he had given input into a future issue of Gay Times and that his middle name is Giles.^[3]

Sells co-wrote and co-performed (both with Ian Masterson) the theme tune to the 2008 BBC comedy drama series Beautiful People, an adaptation of the memoirs of Simon Doonan. In addition, Sells also contributed another original track, entitled "Beautiful People", as well as a 2006 cover version of Hall & Oates's "She's Gone" with his The Feeling bandmates. All three tracks appeared on the Beautiful People soundtrack album released in October 2008.

Dan started a helicopter Private Pilot License, at Panshanger Aerodrome, during April 2009.

Influences

Sells believes that Karen Carpenter was "one of the greatest vocal technicians ever". He also likes Freddie Mercury for his "stage presence" and Neil Young for his "guitar playing".^[4]

References

External links

• The Feeling Official Website
• The Feeling MySpace