Dougie Poynter
Background information
Birth name	Dougie Lee Poynter
Born	November 30, 1987 (1987-11-30) (age 19)
Origin	Corringham, Essex, England
Genre(s)	Pop
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instrument(s)	Bass guitar Vocals
Years active	2004–present
Label(s)	Island
Associated acts	McFly
Website	McFly website

Dougie Lee Poynter, commonly known as Dougie Poynter, born November 30, 1987, in Corringham, Essex, England and is the bass player and backing vocalist in the British pop band McFly, along with fellow band members Danny Jones, Tom Fletcher and Harry Judd. McFly rose to fame after former band Busted helped launch them by inviting them to tour in March 2004. He joined the band when he was fifteen.

Contents 1 Early life 2 McFly 3 External links 4 References

Early life

Poynter was born in Orsett Hospital; he was brought up in Corringham, Essex. Before joining McFly, Dougie lived with his mother Sam, younger sister Jazmine (more commonly called Jazzie, born in 1990), two lizards (Zukie and Jerry), two cats, two dogs (Fraser and Maggie), a hamster, and a frog (Ned). Two weeks before joining McFly his father, Gary, left Dougie and his family, and he hasn't talked to him since. He says he is very close to his mother and that he tells her everything. He used to breed lizards, earning himself the nickname 'Lizard King' at school (he was also known as 'Grunger', for his different music and fashion tastes as compared to the other students). He wasn't quite popular at school. He was in a punk rock band called Ataiz. His decision to leave for London was clearly taken with mixed sentiment amongst Poynter's friends. From the old Ataiz Website:

"Everything was beginning to look up for the band and they were on the brink of sending their demos off and seriously trying to get signed just after their East Thurrock gig when suddenly Dougie announced that he was leaving to join another band called mcfly [sic], who were well marketed and produced by a large, expensive label called Universal Island Records. This was a shock to the band and a shame as it was always assumed that if they'd make it, they'd make it together."

McFly

Poynter plays the bass guitar and also has solo vocals in songs such as "Too Close For Comfort" and "Nothing". He wrote the song "Silence Is A Scary Sound", which the band played on their 2005 arena tour, as well as "Transylvania", the double A-side with Baby's Coming Back. This will be the band's first single to feature Dougie on lead vocals.

Poynter is generally considered the shyest member of the band, despite a brief personality transformation in 2006 when he "stripped" in a video. However, recently it has been noted that Dougie is becoming more of a voice to the group during interviews. It has recently been said that the reason he was so quiet at the beginning of Mcfly was due to his parents divorce. However, the band has said that Dougie often says something without thinking, and therefore it is better that he does not talk.

Poynter has four tattoos - a star on each ankle, the word "Athletes" across the top of his foot (as in Athlete's Foot, the other McFly members have similar tattoos), and a large space-themed scene - complete with rocket and alien - over his upper right chest, which he got to celebrate his eighteenth birthday. It was recently extended down his right arm.

At the T4 Smash Hits Poll Winners Party in 2005, Dougie won the award for "Top Mop" and in 2006 he won the Virgin award for "Most Fanciable Male", with McFly winning "Best Group".

He plays a Mark Hoppus Signature Fender Bass as well as a customized Ernie Ball Sterling.

Poynter is highly shipped (internet term, as in fans link the two as a couple) with fellow band mate and drummer Harry Judd, they are aware of the fact and enjoy milking it. Both have claimed they are nothing more than friends, however. As of April 2007. Poynter's favourite band, Blink 182, provides an insight to the sometimes punk-based sound of McFly's music; his favourite song is Blink 182's "Don't Tell Me It's Over" His favourite male singer is Tom DeLonge, with Amy Lee from Evanescence being his favourite female singer.

Dougie Poynter's first gig was "Wet Wet Wet at Wembley." His most famous gig, and considered by many to be his best, was "New Found Glory, Finch, Starting Line."

He's played bass since "before he can remember" - McFly members Danny and Tom recall Dougie as being by far the best technical bassist they auditioned - and before McFly, was in a punk band called Ataiz. Poynter once did an Ataiz gig in just his boxer shorts.

Most people believe his birth name is actually Douglas, this is however wrong and Dougie's mum Sam has stated his name is infact Dougie & not Douglas.

He used to have his lip pierced but took it out because it came loose.

External links

• Official Band MySpace
• McFly official site

References