Movies

Five Finally Settles 26-Year Name Debate in Heated Reunion Clash

BBG News

For many bands it’s creative differences, financial issues or burnout that leads to bickering and in-fighting. 

Yet for boyband Five, the argument they’ve been caught up in for more than a quarter of a century is far more simple – their name. 

As a devoted admirer, addressing the collective known as TopMob – made up of Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, Abz Love, and Jason ‘J’ Brown – I couldn’t help but notice the friendly banter that ensued as they shared the proper spelling of their unique name.

Five – who formed in 1997 and went on to sell more than 20 million records worldwide before they split in 2001 – have widely been known as 5ive. 

Fans of the band have been referring to them as such for decades, and even the group’s Wikipedia page states the name is ‘stylised as 5ive’. 

Last week, viewers were taken aback as the team posted a TikTok clip titled “Feeling frustrated when we’re called 5ive rather than Five.” The video depicted them angrily kicking bottles and slamming against the wall to express their annoyance.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I’d like to clarify a common misunderstanding regarding my name. When inquired about the reason behind the omission of “5” from my moniker by TopMob, I was quick to assert: “That’s not accurate! We never dropped it!

26 years ago, when we dropped our Slam Dunk (Da Funk) music video, little did anyone know that it would spark a trend in how people spell our name – and I, being an ardent fan, find this fascinating!

In the video, a track labeled as ‘5’ is shown, but that number was never featured on any of our albums. This discrepancy exists because the track has the number ‘5,’ while we are known by the letters F, I, V, E (Five). The song in question seems to have been mistakenly listed on Spotify with the wrong number.

‘I just can’t wrap my head around this – knowing full well I might face criticism – you all are likely to attack me – I still don’t comprehend what’s so infuriating about it.’

The group then immediately started bickering as J bellowed: ‘I don’t like it!’

Scott exclaimed, “That looks ridiculous! It shouldn’t be ‘5Five.’ We’re known as Five, so please, could you call us that instead?

Slam Dunk (Da Funk) was Five’s debut single and went on to hit number 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

Charting in over 20 countries, Five are the only UK act to hit the Top 10 with all of their 11 singles, including three No 1s

A month ago, the band excited their followers by revealing that they would be rejoining as a complete five-member team following a 25-year hiatus.

How Five Kept On Moving: In a searingly honest chat the 90s icons reveal how they came back from ‘rock bottom’ and their VERY choice words for former mentor Simon Cowell as they reunite after 25 years

Once known as ‘the bad boys of pop’, Five were as well known for their rambunctious attitude as their catchy top 10 hits. 

The band, formed of Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, Abz Love and Jason ‘J’ Brown, proved to be a pop juggernaut of the Nineties, selling more than 20 million records worldwide and making history as the only UK act to hit the Top 10 with all of 11 singles.

Consequently, followers felt heartbroken when the band broke up in 2001 following a swift and spectacular rise to fame over four years.

In the years that followed, they went on to reform with various lineups, gigging in smaller venues in the UK but never as the five-piece that saw them hit the big time. 

That is, until now. 

After a quarter of a century, the band Five has reunited. It was ultimately J who chose to rejoin the group, and they’re planning a UK tour towards the end of this year.

25 years have passed since they made their grand entrance into stardom, and I can hardly contain my excitement as I eagerly await Five’s visit to our Mail offices. What will it be like? Will I get a chance to meet them up close and personal? The anticipation is killing me!

I find it interesting to consider how this set of middle-aged men, who may be married with families, envision themselves fitting into today’s boy band scene.

It’s reasonable to say that currently, the spotlight is mainly on older bands. Notable acts like Take That, Blue, and McFly are pulling in large audiences.

So is that why Five suddenly felt the need to reform after all this time? 

That’s not the case, insists Scott, 45, who reveals that talks of a reunion had been happening for years but never came to fruition. 

All of us are now in sync, I realize. We share the same location, and our desires converge at a single point. Here’s how I might put it as an enthusiastic fan:

“Wow, we’re all on the same page now! We’re gathered in the same spot, and our yearnings have come together at one focal point.

‘Something clicked and we understood that any negative feelings that we had between each other were whatever. 

‘We were just vulnerable children, and we weren’t all to blame. So we forgive each other for anything that happened.’ 

The chemistry between the group is undeniable. 

Occasionally, I struggle to contribute to the conversation because they’re telling jokes, teasing each other, and sometimes engaging in friendly sparring.

Though they’re two and a half decades older now, their chemistry remains unchanged. It feels like no time has passed since I last saw them together on stage.

I’m curious to find out if their previous experience with the band has influenced their approach to this tour, given what we know.

It’s clear they still hold the scars from their first brush with fame, with the group having touched on feeling like a product and struggling with their mental health in the documentary Boybands Forever. 

Abz, age 45, openly shares a complex emotional stance towards their past, stating: “Even though it might seem unconventional, given the chance, I would approach everything anew.

‘I don’t mean it in a bad way, I mean in the sense of why would I do it all the same? 

* There are no regrets – I believe it’s shaped us into who we are today and defined our current state. You need to hit rock bottom to understand that there is always a way out.

In the Nineties, it was commonly known that boybands were pushed to their limits, both physically and mentally, until they reached a state of exhaustion.

When asked about the meaning of ‘rock bottom’, Ritchie, aged 45, appears distressed as he describes it as: ‘The strain the band put on us emotionally was immense.’

While Scott adds: ‘It was a very difficult psychological test.’

The band’s mental health struggles have been well documented over the years.   

In August 2001, Sean, who was 43 at the time, became the initial individual to depart due to a mental collapse caused by excessive stress and depression.

Before that, Scott secretly wanted to leave after having similar mental health issues, but stayed on until the band officially folded in September 2001.

Scott articulates that this time, there will be greater consideration and care given to everyone’s emotions. He emphasizes that they are establishing boundaries to safeguard their mental well-being.

In the past, I found it puzzling when Abz was silent. Some days he would be quite talkative and we’d get along wonderfully, while other days he wouldn’t even acknowledge me.

As a dedicated follower, if I don’t grasp something, I’ll take it to heart and reflect on it. However, now that I have a better understanding of Abz as a fellow human being, I recognize that he sometimes requires personal space. Consequently, I ensure he receives the space he deserves.

It’s not just their attitude that has changed, but the world itself, as Ritchie muses: ‘I feel the industry’s changed. It seems a kinder place.’ 

J, who is 48 years old, remarks, “Now that we’ve matured, we have a better grasp of ourselves, and we’re focusing on self-improvement and mental growth.

Sean, 43, is in agreeance, as he adds: ‘We massively appreciate what we’ve got. 

‘It’s not that we were arrogant or big headed the first time around, we were just too young.

Previously, we were always too busy to fully appreciate what we accomplished and what we had. Now that we have some time to reflect, we realize the value of it all. We never imagined we would get another chance like this.

The dark side of Nineties boybands was explored in last year’s Boybands Forever, in which Five offered up their experiences in the industry. 

In the same film, Simon Cowell, the one who recruited the band, was critical of many of their struggles, stating that if you don’t want to handle the negatives that come with fame, then perhaps you shouldn’t choose to enter the entertainment business at all.

Hitting back at the media mogul’s indifferent attitude, Ritchie muses: ‘My only response to that is, how can you when you’re 15. 17, or 20 years old, even conceive what those pressures could possibly be? 

‘All you see is the dream that you’re sold, you’re going to be a pop star or whatever – you can’t possibly know. 

‘The support in those days, wasn’t there – whether that’s psychological support or whatever, it does seem to be there now.’ 

In a different perspective, Abz offers his viewpoint: “In contrast, I also appreciate the chance you’ve given me.

Although we hold differing viewpoints in this debate, it’s perplexing because there seems to be elements of truth on both sides. It leaves me feeling rather puzzled, like I’m stuck in an odd conundrum.

Facing criticism gracefully, Sean chuckles and says, “We adopted his suggestions! We found the situation too intense, so we decided to step back!

It’s evident that the band is in a good mental state, and they appear genuinely enthusiastic about resuming their tour.

Despite what some may argue, viewing their reunion as merely a profit-making venture is too simplistic an interpretation.

Yet as J muses: ‘If this was about the money, we’d have done it ages ago!’ 

And it’s hard to argue with Scott’s logic as he laughs: ‘You don’t wait 25 years for a smash and grab!’ 

Tickets to Five’s Keep On Movin’ 2025 Tour are available at www.itsfiveoffical.com

Read More

2025-03-16 10:52

Previous post Clash Royale Players Celebrate Supercell’s Generosity – Thanks Supercell!
Next post Google brings all Android titles to PC with a major update to Google Play Games