EXCLUSIVE: Windsor's X Factor star - 'We're in it to win it!'

Richard Cutcher • Published 14 Sep 2012 12:00 0 Comments

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GMD3 boys speak exclusively to The Observer

A FORMER Windsor Boys' School pupil has claimed his boyband are 'in it to win it' after they received a standing ovation on The X Factor.

Micky Parsons, 18, makes up one third of GMD3 who wowed judges with their performance of Boyz II Men's I'll Make Love To You, at the O2 Arena, aired on ITV on Sunday night.

The group, also comprising Greg West, 18, from Essex, and Dan Ferrari-Lane, 19, from Wales, received a 'yes' from all four judges and will next appear on the show for the Boot Camp episodes on Saturday, September 22.

Speaking to The Observer from a mystery location, Micky said watching the episode was a surreal experience and added: "It was a bit nerve-racking watching it. It did not seem real.

"It was a great experience at the time because we had never performed in front of an audience like that before, but looking back it wasn't our best performance. We definitely have more to give."

Veteran judge Louis Walsh compared them to the 2008 runners-up JLS and Take That star and national treasure, Gary Barlow OBE, said: "That was a terrific audition. Individually your voices are brilliant, but when you blend together it is like listening to a new sound."

Micky, who started at Windsor Boys' School, in Maidenhead Road, in Year 10 and lives with his parents in the town, also paid tribute to teachers James Fussey and James Manwaring.

The group, managed by Maximum Artist Management who put together The Wanted and The Saturdays, stopped performing for the last year to focus on writing and producing.

The three boys met at school in Marylebone, London, but began rehearsing in Windsor when Micky moved there.

He added: "Our musical influences are soul and R'n'B, but whatever songs we do we are going to try and put our own stamp on it.

"The X Factor can change lives and we want to follow in the footsteps of previous winners. We're in it to win it!"

Altwood School, in Maidenhead, had a success story in former pupil Daizy Dance. The 27-year-old was given the nod by the judges, but only a snippet of her audition was shown on Saturday.

She told The Observer: "It was a really emotional and stressful day and I let my emotions get the better of me. The judges were really nice and gave me the chance to perform two songs."

This article appeared in Royal Borough Observer 24 Sep 12

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