Joshua McGregor Played By:Dougie Poynter Voice: Metric, Owl City Birthdate & Age: September 25, 1986; 23 Screen name: projosh mayhem Biography:Born in Chelmsford, Essex, England, many knew that Joshua McGregor would be a handful from the time that he left his mother’s womb, screaming, blue eyes scanning the environment of this scary new world he was literally pushed in to. Another thing that one would know right away? He was going to grow up and be a complete and total mama’s boy. From the moment he was put into his mum’s arms, it was as if the world stilled and even then the new born looked up at the young woman with an adoration that only some could dream about in their lives. Needless to say the moment he was born, Josh was a gem in both his mother, Millie, and his father, Jonah’s, eyes. The McGregor clan was far from being completely though. Four years after Josh broke out into the world, the next son, Jordan McGregor made his appearance. Three ears after Jordan, the next son, Daniel, was added. And is if it were clockwork, four years after Daniel, the fourth and final McGregor son, Richard, made the family complete. Some felt sorry for Millie, having to deal with four boys, but she loved them all as only a mother could, but also made sure that none of her sons were ever a bother to any of the surrounding neighbors. Try as she might though, with four boys running about, trouble was bound to come out to play, and it always seemed to enjoy lying on the shoulders of the ‘pack leader’, the eldest son, Josh. He enjoyed the perks of being an older brother, getting to boss around those that were smaller than him and who idolized him, but he also served as their protector and it became wildly known on the Essex playgrounds that if you mess with one McGregor boy, you mess with them all. At the age of 12, just after Daniel’s first birthday, the McGregor clan was dealt with a shock that none expected. His father, the one man that Josh looked up to in his short span of life, had left the family. His mother was the one that found the note and never explained to her sons where their father was, whether it was to not ruin the memories they had, or just because it was too painful to speak, but truth be told, his father left thanks to an affair he had been having with a woman that was a supposed close friend of the family. Josh’s mother was heartbroken and unable to support her four growing boys, but much too proud to rely on her parents for help, she moved to North America, Toronto, Canada specifically, where her older sister was living with her Canadian husband. The couple was barren, and they were all too eager to let her sister and her sons live with them until they got on their feet. It was both helping out family, and realizing a dream of having a house filled with children. So now in a completely different country and continent, Josh now not only had to deal with taking on the responsibility of being the “man of the house” but also the “new kid with the funny voice.” He was always a friendly child, a bit mischievous as well, which is what won over most of the children in his grade. Everyone thought that his glue to the teachers seat prank was epic, and he won the hearts of his entire grade, and already struck in bad with the faculty. A small price to pay for a sense of childhood popularity and normalcy if you asked him. It was during this first year of his new Canadian life that he met Jayda Barclay. From that moment on, his life was never going to be the same. From the moment that Jayda and Josh (he refused to be called Joshua now. It was only acceptable when he was in deep shit) met, their friendship was an instant bond. Josh couldn’t tell you how or why they met and he will also mention that he didn’t want to remember a time before Jayda. Both goof balls, both insanely stubborn, they were very alike, but also very different in the same ways, making their compatibility near perfect. He became an instant fixture in Jayda’s home life, and she his. One bond they shared deeply was that for music. Although Josh was always musically inclined (if you call banging on pots musically inclined..) it wasn’t until he reached Canada that he really took up any instrument. In order to curb his mischievous behavior, his uncle came up with the bright idea to teach Josh the bass guitar. One, it would require his concentration, and two, well, it was the only instrument his uncle knew how to play. Which, as it was later found out, was a good thing. Josh took to the bass as a fish took to water. When he wasn’t practicing the bass at home, or running around town causing havoc with his best friend, they both could be found collaborating together and making beautiful music in the very literal sense. By now they were both 15 with every ambition to share their music with the world! ...or perhaps just the Toronto area. They mostly tagged along with her older brother, playing whatever shows they were able to, despite their age. There was no denying that they were good, and it was because of their talent (and a hell of a lot of help from her brother) that they landed a record deal with a small company, thus starting the local show craze that Josh happened to love. Performing was something that Josh loved to do. There was some sort of crazy rush going out in front of strangers and entertaining them. That feeling will only intensify as the band gains popularity, but lets not get ahead of ourselves. Josh spent a week with Jayda in the recording study, writing and working out the kinks, they finally finished their first EP: Static Anonymity. Now all that was left was the name they would go by. Josh, ever joking, suggested names such as Joshua and The Supremes, the Joshinators, but Jayda won in the end and Barclay was born. In the process of recording their full length album, Old World Underground, Where Are You Now?, they signed with Warner Music Canada at the ages of 16. After that it was traveling, performing, all things at Josh loved, especially in the constant presence of his best friend, but still keeping in touch with his family as often as possible. Traveling was nothing new to him, having gone between Essex and Toronto nearly every year, but it was the new places that he was getting to see. His experience at the 2003 Vans Warped Tour was one that he wasn’t going to forget, especially seeing that it increased his and the bands popularity. It was nice going home and seeing that people not just knew him as “Josh, the class clown,” but rather “Josh, the guy in that band.” It seemed that no time at all passed before they wrote and recorded their next album Live It Out. Finished in February of 2005, released in April of the same year, it seemed that the popularity just kept growing for the band. Touring was easier this time around. No van, an actual bus, and although it seemed emotionally jarring for two 16 year olds to be off on their own (although Jayda’s brother helped in the keeping them in check part...sometimes) Josh was there to provide amusement via pranks, jokes, and just laughs. Anything to keep them all from killing each other. After the release of Live It Out, Josh and the band continued to tour, taking in the sites and the sounds and the people, generally enjoying life and all the people in it. After the touring, he took a break, actually went back (or had his aunt help him) with his schooling and spent time with his family. Jayda was never far off though, helping her with her solo album and just being the best best friend he could be, if not more (he wished). He now currently lives in California near Jayda, but frequents both Toronto and Essex as often as he can before the new tour starts - of which he is extremely excited about. Credits:HERE Other stuff: I am on Eastern Standard time and I am generally online when I'm not at work/school/or being social! If you happen to see me on, I am more than willing to play scenes, random IMs, I even thread if that's more your liking. As for storylines, I don't mind preplanned as long as they are well thought out and have a decent history. I'm really in love with interaction and seeing how storylines progress over a given period of time. I can be a little AIM shy, but I get over it fairly quickly, especially if the line is fun.