Lana Del Rey appears to be now back on the market after splitting from Barrie-James O’Neill, the singer’s boyfriend/rumoured fiancee. Whilst the split has probably been the cause of some summertime sadness for superstar Lana, what about poor Barrie? Despite dating the headlin-making Lana, Barrie managed to spend most of the couple’s three year relationship flying under the showbiz radar. So since it might be goodbye for good, just who is Barrie-James O’Neill?
A couple no more? Lana Del Rey and Barrie-James O’Neill
Before he starting dating Lana, Scottish Barrie-James O’Neill (who has very luscious hair and apparently goes by just Barrie) was the frontman of Kassidy, a folk-rock-indie band. He was first rumoured to be dating Lana in 2011 when the couple attended the Tartan Clef Awards together in November. The following February they then confirmed they were indeed an item, with Barrie telling The Sun he had “no idea” how he ended up bagging pop star Lana.
More: Lana Del Rey Responds To Frances Bean Cobain Criticism
Barrie’s band Kassidy, who had released their debut album Hope St in 2011, began gaining more attention thanks to their frontman’s romance, and even began covering Lana’s ‘Video Games’ at their live shows. A year later they released their second album One Man Army and in 2013 they’d provide the support for Lana during the European leg of her Paradise Tour. Barrie would also appear as Lana’s love interest in her video for ‘Summer Wine’ a cover of Lee Hazelwood’s 1967 single.
When Lana set about recording her second album, Ultraviolence, Barrie joined her in the studio, helping to write the track ‘Brooklyn Baby’. But their romance gained more publicity in early 2014 when tabloids began reporting that the couple had become engaged over the summer but had wanted to keep things quiet. Neither Barrie nor Lana ever confirmed the engagement rumours.
More: Lana Del Rey – Ultraviolence Album Review
In February of this year, it seemed as if Barrie might be putting his own musical aspirations aside when he announced his departure from Kassidy. The four piece became a trio after O’Neill announced he was leaving the group, reportedly in order to move to America and be with his girlfriend. But Barrie would later tells fans via a video message that he had left the group for “purely artistic” reasons and apologised to those who were left upset and disappointed over his sudden departure.
Lana is said to be now flying solo
Barrie now records as Nightmare Boy and has released two singles, ‘Mary’ and ‘Para^noid’. He also frequently uploads new material to Youtube and keeps fans updated via Twitter where he describes himself as an “Archaic singer and tuner of broken guitars.” Oh and we’re guessing he’s also now currently single. On the plus side, we presume he still has very lovely hair.
Contactmusic Ltd | Entertainment Headlines with Pictures
