Boy bands were everything once upon a time - but where are our heros now?
Boy bands were the staple diet of our teenage selves. And are we surprised? A group of gorgeous heartthrobs dancing around in (mainly) vests? What's not to love? Sadly the boyband is just not as popular as it once was. Whilst some have gone on to big and brighter things, others have moved off our bedroom walls and into, well, normal jobs. Let's find out.
Rex FeaturesHanson
Who could forget those long-haired Hanson brothers from Oklahoma? The talented trio, known for their addictive hit 'MMMBop', were nominated three times at the Grammys. But they disappeared from our radar after conflicts with their record company over lack of creative freedom.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
The Hanson boys never really went away (and neither did their hair). Since 2001, they’ve been touring South America and Europe to raise Aids awareness in Africa. In 2007, tragedy almost struck when Isaac (the eldest) suffered a pulmonary embolism and had to have emergency surgery. Their latest album Anthem was released in June 2013, charting at number 22 on the US Billboard 200. They've been working on a new Christmas album which is scheduled to be released later this year.
Getty ImagesBlue
In the early ‘00s, the boys from Blue were selling 14 million records globally and dueting with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Angie Stone and Elton John. In fact it was Elton who suggested they split up in 2005 to concentrate on their solo careers.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
There’s no doubting Elton’s genius, but the solo success the Blue boys were expecting didn’t materialise. Duncan James went the furthest with his single 'I Believe My Heart' reaching number two in the UK, but his second song failed to make the top 40. The band reunited to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2011, placing 11th and blaming it on 'political voting'. They released their fifth album in March 2015, but it was a flop selling less than 4,000 copies and they were dropped by their record label.
Getty ImagesAnother Level
Another Level were signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records in 1998 and had seven top 10 singles, including the number one 'Freak Me'. Their debut album went platinum and they earned a string of BRIT Award nominations. But in 2000, the boys decided to go their separate ways.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
Dane Bowers dated Katie Price and collaborated with Victoria Beckham on 'Out Of Your Mind', but this initial post-split triumph didn’t last. In 2006, he could be found appearing on Totally Boy band, where members of past groups created a new act. Then in 2010 he was crowned runner-up of Celebrity Big Brother, losing out to another of Katie's exes, Alex Reid. Meanwhile Bobak Kianoush lives in LA and runs a management company, Wayne Williams continues to release music in New York and Mark Baron is married to Alan Sugar’s daughter Louise.
PA PhotosNSYNC
Florida-based boyband NSYNC were a hit in Germany and Europe before they made it big in the US. Then the Disney Channel aired one of their concerts and their album skyrocketed from number 85 to number nine in three weeks. They sang with the likes of Aerosmith, Mary J Blige, Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder, but in 2002, after selling 70 million albums, the band decided to go on a hiatus, which turned into a permanent split.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
Justin Timberlake’s star continued to rise as his debut solo album Justified sold 7 million copies worldwide. He's since released a string of chart-topping hits and won nine Grammys. He married Jessica Biel in 2012, and they have a one-year-old son together, Silas. JC Chasez has gone on to write songs for Girls Aloud, the Backstreet Boys and Basement Jaxx, while Lance Bass became a NASA-certified astronaut, although he didn't achieve his dream of going to space. Chris Kirkpatrick has designed his own clothing business, and Joey Fatone became an actor, appearing in My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Hannah Montana.
PA Photos98 Degrees
98 Degrees differentiated themselves from many of the other boy bands with their R&B ballads, many of which they wrote themselves. During their five years of fame, this four-some sold 10 million albums and appeared with the likes of Luther Vandross and Usher. But in 2002, the group decided to go their separate ways.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
Drew Lachey went on to appear on Dancing With The Stars and became a dad in 2006, Justin Jeffre ran for mayoral office in Ohio, while Jeff Timmons worked on a solo career. Nick Lachey has emerged as the band’s most famous member, mostly thanks to his marriage (and eventual break-up) with Jessica Simpson and their accompanying TV series, NewlyWeds: Nick And Jessica. He's now married to Vanessa Joy Lachey and the couple have three children.
PA PhotosBusted
Busted spawned a million floppy hair dos as well as the classic tunes, 'That’s What I Go To School For', 'Crashed The Wedding' and 'Year 3000'. But in 2005, the amount of time Charlie Simpson was spending with his other band Fightstar caused tension and eventually the group split.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
Charlie went on to release four albums with Fightstar and three solo albums with mediocre success. Matt Willis spent time in rehab before releasing his own debut album in 2006. That December he was crowned King of Jungle on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here. In 2008, he married TV presenter Emma Willis and the couples have three children. James Bourne released music with his new band, Son of Dork and wrote for the likes of Mel C, the Jonas Brothers and McFly. In 2013 James and Matt joined forces with McFly to create McBusted, before finally reuniting with Charlie to tour as Busted for one final time in 2016.
Rex FeaturesBoyz II Men
Boyz II Men specialised in new jack swing-style music and recorded five number one singles in the mid-90s. 'One Sweet Day', which the band recorded with Mariah Carey, still holds the record for the longest time a single has stayed at number one on the American Billboard Hot 100. In 2003, Michael McCary had to leave the group due to chronic back problems, which limited his ability to perform on stage.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
The group toured during summer 2013 with New Kids on the Block and 98 Degrees. The following year, they released their eleventh album Collide, with tracks ranging from classic ballads to rock anthems, and a whole lot of autotune à la 2008 Kanye West. They joined the cast of Greece: Live last year, performing 'Beauty School Drop Out'. Wanya also placed 4th on season 22 of Dancing With the Stars.
PA PhotosMcFly
McFly were the youngest-ever band to have an album at number one, an accolade they took from The Beatles. The group had 16 top 20 singles, seven of which reached number one, and extended their reach to acting, appearing alongside Lindsay Lohan and Chris Pine in teen romcom Just My Luck.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
Aside from all getting a lot more attractive, McFly went on to collaborate with Busted creating the band McBusted and touring the country. Tom Fletcher married his childhood sweetheart Giovanna Fletcher, Harry married musician Izzy Judd, Danny married former Miss England Georgia Horsley and Dougie had long-term relationships with Frankie Bridge and Ellie Goulding.
PA PhotosEast 17
The Walthamstow band had 18 top twenty singles, including a contender for our all-time favourite Christmas song, 'Stay Another Day'. Despite this, the band were only receiving £500 a week in wages at their peak and tensions between them led to an eventual split in 1999.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
Brian Harvey launched a career as a solo artist, collaborating with Wyclef Jean, but in 2005 he fell into depression after a car accident and subsequent coma. The band’s songwriter Tony Mortimer attempted to create two groups of his own but both failed so he agreed to return to East17. Things didn’t go as planned and after their first gig, Tony and Brian became involved in a punch-up. In 2015 it was reported Brian was living off Benefits and had contemplated suicide.
PA PhotosA1
A1 found success in the early ‘00s, with two number ones (Same Old Brand New You, anyone?) and several top 10 hits. But their fame was short-lived as they decided to split in 2002 after personal reasons led to Paul Maruzzi quitting.
Rex FeaturesWhere are they now?
Since the break-up, Ben Adams has appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and written songs with X Factor winner Alexandra Burke and Westlife. Fellow A1-er Mark Reed has also found fame through others, working with Charlotte Church, Jarvis Cocker and Joe Brown during his career. The band’s Norwegian star Christian Ingebrigtsen has had several solo achievements in the charts of his native country. In 2014, Ben, Mark and Christian reunited for ITV's Big Reunion alongside Damage and Eternal.
Rex FeaturesNew Kids on the Block
New Kids On The Block enjoyed world-wide fame in the 80s mixing rap, pop and R&B with singles like 'Hangin’ Tough' and 'You Got It (The Right Stuff)'. After 10 years of performing, Jonathan Knight began to suffer panic and anxiety attacks while on stage and decided to quit. The remaining four split shortly afterwards.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
Following the break up, Jonathan Knight shunned music to start a career in real estate, while his brother Jordan appeared on Trust Me - I’m A Holiday Rep - an interesting choice. Donnie Wahlberg moved into acting, appearing in The Sixth Sense andRansom, and Danny Wood started his own record label. Joey McIntyre performed in the Broadway musical Wicked and competed in Dancing With The Stars. From 2011 to 2012 they supported the Backstreet Boys on tour.
PA PhotosBackstreet Boys
The Backstreet Boys sold 100 million albums, making them the best-selling boy band of all time. It was the differences between Nick Carter and the rest of the band on who should manage them that led to the group taking a two-year hiatus between 2002 and 2004.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
The Backstreet Boys are the gift that just keeps on giving, although they definitely peaked back in the 90s. When they returned to the music scene in 2005, their new sound didn’t impress critics. Instead of pop and ballads, they featured more guitar and piano-driven rock music. Kevin Richardson decided to leave in 2006, rejoining them two albums later in 2012. They celebrated their 20th anniversary the following year and released their first documentary movie, Backstreet Boys: Show 'Em What You're Made Of in January 2015.
Rex FeaturesWham!
School friends George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley formed pop duo Wham! in 1981.
Getty ImagesWhere are they now?
George went on to become one of the most renowned British singers of his generation, as well as to break a thousand female hearts when he announced he was gay. He died on December 2016, aged 53. And what happened to Andrew? After retiring from music, he set up a business that makes surfing equipment, and campaigns against water pollution around Cornwall, where he now lives.
