....was a singer in the Happy Mondays!

They were a pretty big band!

What do you guys think about the fact that she has already enjoyed success as a singer and is now competing against wannabe amateurs?

She wasnt the lead singer, she was the backing singer. So she is now taking the X Factor step to prove that she is not just a backing singer and that she can make it as a solo artist. I think she's doing pretty well so far.

I could be wrong but I heard she was actually a backing singer with Happy Mondays

She was a pretty sucessful "backing singer" though.

I'd personally call her a singer with the band.

She toured all over the world with them as well for years.

Its a far distant cry to the more modest careers of the others though...

She certainly was - she's also in the film "24 Hour Party People" (bio film of Tony Wilson, The Hacienda, New Order, Happy Mondays etc) playing herself - though she only speaks one line. I seem to recall she spent most of the time with the Monday's in a black leather suit brandishing a whip!!

I don't know the woman and she's never brandished me anywhere.
Not that I'd complain mind you

Well nowhere do the conditions for appearing in X Factor state any constraints on previous experience, ie it was an all comers audition , no age limts or no previous experience limits.
So Rowetta has every right to appear.

Totally agree makes me wish steps had reformed and applied, would of been fun to see them rejected at audition stage.

Robbie Williams should have had a go, disgusing himself by using the same make up techniques that Ant and Dec use. I wonder what the judges would have made of that.

Simon. 'You have an ok, voice, but I think you are trying to hard to sound like Robbie Williams'

Louis. 'Hmm..you would be fine in a boy band, not so sure about the x factor though'

Sharon 'I love you to bits, and want to put you in my pocket'

How about Madonna doing the same.

Simon. 'Exellent your through'

Sharon. 'Wonderful voice'

Louis. 'Sorry no place in this competition for a housewife'

Thats funny

It would of been more intresting to see the judges comments if someone like David Bowie or Mick Jagger had disguised themselves and auditioned for the competition

Hey Laura,
I think it's great....
She's pushing for a solo career now,and is definitely IMO ready to step out of the background and be a star in her own right.
Metafis is right when saying Ro broke no rules of XF,in fact I'm surprised we haven't seen more well known faces apply,apart from that Brookie donut with the howlingly bad voice I can't remember another "known face"(I'm sure I'll be put right about the known faces,but you get the idea)
Wannabe amateurs IMO definitely sums up quite a few of the final 9,(2 to Go and G4 spring to mind )
Good talking with you.

You would think with Rowetta would walk this then.

You have to take into account that the vast majority of voters won't have heard Rowetta in the past, or have known it was her if they did. As far as this competion is concerned they are all on a level playing field and judged soley on what they produce from week to week. There is also the matter of personal taste.

It doesn't make any difference what who was doing when, it's now that counts as far as XF is concerned.

Agreed, its all about the performances in this show and Rowetta ain't impressing me I'm afraid. She's looking like exactly what she's always been.....a pretty good backing singer but not enough of the 'X Factor' to be a star. I think the U2 song performance confimed it for me.....

http://www.partypeoplemovie.com/lege...&article_id=60

This is quite an interesting pre-xfactor review. From the sound of it Shaun Ryder did treat her really bad...

Thanks for posting that link CalmG, I enjoyed reading it

Thanks for that link - definitely interesting reading. I particularly like 'I wanted to be a punk, not a soul girl'. I think Simon should have her sing Anarchy in the UK next week

Go Ro!