James Blunt in 1983 and 2023. Later photograph: Amit Lennon/The Guardian. Styling: Andie Redman. Archive image: courtesy of James Bluntis a singer-songwriter. He studied at Bristol University and became an officer in the British army, serving with Nato forces during the Kosovo war in 1999. He left the military in 2002 and released his debut album, Back To Bedlam, in 2004. The record, featuring the global hit You’re Beautiful, sold 12m copies.
Because my father moved around all the time, and because the army helped pay for my fee, my parents sent me to boarding school at the age of seven. School gave me stability through education, but you also become emotionally stunted. Some may call it independent. I spent the first few days not knowing what was going on, and asked the matron: “Excuse me, when are my parents coming back?” She said Christmas time, which was a shock as it was September. I soon got used to it.
I decided to get into music to lead a different life from the one dictated by a disciplined system ordained by the army. I had a blind, naive conviction that I could do it, and after leaving declared to myself: “I’m going to become a rock god – one who lives in Ibiza and Verbier.” Instead I became a pop star who lived with Carrie Fisher in Los Angeles.
For the first month, I didn’t see her. I’d get up and her mother, Debbie Reynolds, would shout: “Hey Charlie – you wanna drink?’’ and I’d say: “No, I’m James, thanks very much,” then head to the studio. A month later, I started to see Carrie more. I came home one night and sat on the end of her bed and we talked until morning. After that, whenever I got back from the studio I’d go into her room to talk, no matter if it was 11pm or 3am. She became my best, best friend.