James Andrew Stephen Hodcroft is a British singer and self-taught musician, born in Lincolnshire, UK. He was born on the set of "Little Lord Fauntleroy" in Barrowby, Lincolnshire, where the actor Ricky Schroder was asked to be his godfather, although there is no information on whether this invitation was accepted.
James' first paid job was working as a porter at Buckingham Palace for the Queen's garden parties, where he had the opportunity to meet many celebrated entertainers. He showed a flair for drama and music from a young age and attended Melton Mowbray College of Performing Arts, where he studied for 18 months and excelled in the subject of drama.
At the age of 17, James became the frontman of the rock band KickBack UK, which consisted of guitarist Graham Byron, guitarist Rob Holsman, bassist Steve Hopper, drummer Stuart Watson, and vocalist James Hodcroft. The band boasted several tours with notable acts such as Robin Black Love/Hate, Jizzy Pearl, and The Mudmen. KickBack UK was originally spotted by legendary crooner Vince Eager in 1997 and went on to regularly perform at some of the UK's largest venues.
In 1999, the band released their first EP, "This is not a Drill," which was named because of the band's strict budget, forcing them to record at unsociable hours. The EP's ballad "Until Tomorrow" was recorded between the bursts of a pneumatic drill outside Confetti Studios in Nottingham.
The band's best-known track, "Joker in the Pack," was recorded at The Barn studio in Ruskington, Lincolnshire, and became their signature tune, played at every live show during their seven-year career.
In 2000, James was seen with Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine at the Moathouse Hotel in Nottingham, UK. Shortly after, the band took a heavier direction with their music, which appealed to the metal audience.
The band separated due to creative differences in 2003, while still working on the album "Pulse." The album was never completed, and the showcasing single "Stronger" was only available for a limited time. Graham Byron and Rob Holsman went on to form The Skeleton Crew, while Steve Hopper and Stuart Watson's current projects are unknown. James went on to compose the soundtrack for the British thriller "The Pale Man" and announced his intention to self-produce his first solo work.
As yet, no official recordings have been released, although he has recently started showcasing acoustic versions of upcoming releases on YouTube, such as "Hold Me."
