Ed Simons Biography 

English musician Ed Simons, or Chemical Ed, is best known as one of the founding members of the electronic band The Chemical Brothers. An influential group in the electronic genre, Simons secured his place in music history for his contribution to the duo. He has made headlines recently, however, for his romantic involvement with another influential music figure.

Edmund Simons was born June 9, 1970 in Herne Hill, South London, England. His mother was a successful barrister, while his father was absent for much of Simon’s youth. As a child, Simons displayed an interest in both musicals and airplanes.

Simons obtained his education from Alleyn’s School as well as Dulwich College. It was during these school years that Simons really began developing his love of hip hop and rare groove music, which would later inform his own musical styling. From the age of fourteen on, Simons began attending The Mud Club in order to experience the latest in these genres of music.

Upon graduating, Simons cited his main musical interests as The Smiths and New Order.

Deciding that his musical interests could be put on hold until he completed his education, Simons attended the University of Manchester where he studied medieval history.

Taking the first inadvertent step in his musical career, Simons met Tom Rowlands as a child. They were classmates and instant friends.

After Rowlands left his current band, he and Simons began DJing at a club called Naked Under Leather in 1992. They went by the name The 237 Turbo Nutters.

Eventually beginning to create their own music rather than just spinning that of other bands, Simons and Rowlands went by the name “The Dust Brothers.” Their first song was created and distributed in October of 1992.

Despite a tepid reception by many, London-based DJ Andrew Weatherall was impressed and signed the men to his label. One year later, “Song to the Siren” was released.

By 1995, they officially changed the band name to The Chemical Brothers, and they never looked back. They went on to release several extremely successful and groundbreaking albums and singles.

They entered the mainstream through singles such as “Block Rockin’ Beats,” which earned radio airtime as well as exposure through films. In particular, it was featured in The Waterboy with Adam Sandler and Kathy Bates and Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle with the angel trio of Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, and Lucy Liu.

The Chemical Brothers are said to be the forerunners of such popular bands as Fatboy Slim, The Crystal Method, The Prodigy, and many others.

In his personal life, Simons has been romantically linked to fellow songbird and resident bad girl Lily Allen. They have reportedly been together since 2007.