Boyband find fame with bullying single

The trio have become school celebrities, appearing on TV and radio bulletins across the south east all week.

And Mark Carpenter, Ka Lok Li and Matthew Sullivan hope it's just the beginning of a long-term career in the music industry for Reality.

While most teen bands churn out a predictable musical fayre of slushy love and romance ballads, Reality have tackled head-on the difficult subject of bullying.

The lyrics to their professionally-produced single will strike a chord with anyone who has been picked-on for being different. The song is particularly poignant with the band's fellow students at St Mary's, many of whom have experienced prejudice and intolerance due to their learning difficulties.

The single sold 200 copies in the first week and it's hoped to shift another 300 at a Trade Fair at Priory Meadow Shopping Centre in Hastings tomorrow. That far outstrips the initial goal of selling 160.

Mark, Ka and Matthew may be the ones soaking up the adulation, but they owe a large chunk of their success to a dedicated team of back-room helpers who have publicised and marketed the single, copied hundreds of CDs and dealt with sales and finance.

The single has been produced as part of a Young enterprise Business Project and all the other key jobs in releasing the track have been carried out by fellow students Stephen Webb, Holly Bonner-Williamns, Lisa-Marie Harris, Frances Stuart, Alice Robertson, Jason Bloxham and Jack Hoskins.

Project managing director Stephen Webb said: "It's been a real team effort and wouldn't have been possible without everyone's hard work."

Band member Mark Carpenter said: "We want people to realise this is something we are serious about. we're not just three special needs kids having a go. We've written, produced and performed a really professional single and we're going to take things further. We're trying to write an album now."

And the message for anyone being bullied?

"Don't put up with it, stand up for yourself," said Mark. "Enough is Enough.

"There are people who can help and it's not something anyone should have to suffer with."

They've been helped by the musical talents of Lee Peters and Redhill-based producer Dom Boucher.

And one thing they will have over the vast majority of pop acts - the boys can sing and perform the single live.

The single is a snip at 2 and donations from any profits will be made to the NSPCC, The Children's Society and St Mary's Children's trust. And anyone buying a copy at tomorrow's trade fair can have it signed by the band.

Teacher David Magee said: "I think when people think of youngsters with special needs producing a single they think of tambourines and novelty songs - not in this case. People have been amazed by the quality and there's no doubt we've got a lot of talent here."