How East 17 went from topping the charts to homeless and in a bitter fallout as they reveal what they’re up to now 30 years on from Stay Another Day
As a seasoned music enthusiast who has witnessed the rise and fall of many iconic bands, I must say that the story of East 17 is one that truly resonates with me. Having followed their journey from the very beginning, it’s fascinating to see how the four lads from London managed to conquer the charts with their unique blend of R&B, soul, and pop.
In the ’90s, East 17 broke new ground as an alternative to the polished image of Take That, revolutionizing the boyband scene with their edgy style.
With closely-cropped haircuts, body art, and a rugged charm, they quickly gained popularity among women, topping the music charts and frequently appearing in gossip magazines.
Initially comprised of Tony Mortimer, Brian Harvey, John Hendy, and Terry Coldwell, they soon gained massive popularity, making them one of the most beloved boybands during that particular decade.
However, the band suffered a significant setback in 1997 when their lead singer Brian was dismissed following his public bragging about drug abuse.
As time unfolded, I found myself witnessing several transformations within East 17’s roster. The founding vocalists ventured off in different directions, each carving their unique paths to success.
As a lifestyle advisor, I must confess that the once-thriving quartet has encountered some challenging times, with high-profile disagreements, tough financial struggles, and, unfortunately, only Terry still gracing the stage today.
This current month signifies the 30-year milestone since their popular Christmas song, “Stay Another Day,” achieved global success and was purchased over 1.4 million times.
Three decades after their peak, we had a chat with John and Terry from East 17 to learn about the factors that led to their downfall.
Terry and John have both had their ups and downs when it comes to finances.
As a devoted fan, I can share that when East 17 first emerged, they landed a one-million-pound record contract. However, their manager, Tom Watkins, only doled out a weekly wage of £125 to the band members – an increment of £25 every four months.
Terry pondered, observing other bands and noting what they have – those who didn’t compose their own music yet live in luxury homes worth millions.
I wouldn’t describe myself as someone who feels a strong sting, but rather, the fact that the band broke up is simply a fact… As for me, I took on a regular job due to having children, it’s just something one has to do in such circumstances.
Regarding work, I’ve viewed East 17 as just another occupation, albeit one that I consider the best there is. However, at its core, it’s still a job.
‘I’m no bigger than the guy sweeping the street. We’re on the same, we’ve just got different jobs.
At one point in my career, I was employed by Volvo, and my daily routine involved driving their vehicles to dealerships. On average, I spent approximately 14 hours behind the wheel each day.
Despite enduring long working hours, the compensation was disappointingly low – approximately £45 daily for 14 hours. However, one must make necessary sacrifices to ensure the children are well-fed.
Meanwhile, John now makes a living as a roofer.
Initially, when I began my job in roofing, I feared I would be severely criticized. However, to my surprise, I’ve received admiration instead. People have acknowledged me by saying things like “Good for you for returning to the rooftop after everything you’ve been through, what you’ve accomplished.
People sometimes tell me, “It seems like you have no money,” to which I respond, “Indeed, we’ve never had any!” That’s something that often confuses them. (In this paraphrase, I’ve tried to maintain the informal and conversational tone of the original text.)
John knows the value of money all too well. Recently, he fell on hard times and ended up homeless.
Shortly before the pandemic, he and his wife, Nina, relocated to Spain. However, as lockdown measures severely affected his business, it became necessary for them to return.
John shared that they were financially strapped, as they hadn’t a single penny. To make his way home, he had to ask his cousin for a loan to cover the airfare expenses. Furthermore, they found themselves homeless, as no one was willing to host them.
For approximately ten days, my cousin covered the cost of a hotel stay. However, circumstances led me to apply for Universal Credit afterwards. As a result, we were assigned to live in a hostel, where I resided for an extended period of one and a half years.
The situation was quite challenging. As you walked through the hallway, you’d often encounter individuals under the influence of drugs. This was during the COVID-19 pandemic, making things even more difficult as we had to share a bathroom and a kitchen. We were all housed in a room with bunk beds, sharing it with children.
Initially, things were quite good for me. But then, I experienced a meteoric rise, becoming a star in no time. However, my luck took a turn for the worse, and I found myself back at square one, and eventually, even lower than before.
‘I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. Now when I see people out in the street begging for money, I always give them a couple of quid or something.’
As a former member of East 17, I, Tony Mortimer, chose to step back into the shadows to devote my time to honing my songwriting skills and nurturing my family life. Nowadays, you can find me tending to our farmstead. This year, in celebration of its anniversary, I’ve brought back our beloved holiday classic Stay Another Day for all to enjoy once more.
Over the past few years, Brian Harvey has faced significant hardships. In 2001, he was almost fatally stabbed and, in 2005, he was involved in a peculiar car crash that put his life at risk.
In March 2021, Brian was taken into custody on charges related to malicious communication – and subsequently shared the encounter with police on his YouTube channel.
He has since built up a large following on social media.
Terry earns his income by still performing under the East 17 moniker, though with different band members – Robbie Craig and Joe Livermore. A fresh single of theirs is set to be released in the upcoming week.
Terry clarified that we are now in control of our own path; we handle all our reservations independently and self-manage without any compulsion to disclose anything immediately.
In the past eleven years, neither Robbie nor I have had a disagreement, and we converse with each other about four or five times daily. We’ve grown incredibly close, almost like friends, yet our bond extends beyond friendship to a shared enterprise.
It certainly seems calmer than the original lineup.
Over the years, there have been notable disagreements within East 17, as they haven’t shied away from making some sharp criticisms of each other.
This week, there’s been a heated verbal exchange between John and Brian Harvey, as they’ve both resorted to using social media to criticize each other.
So is there any chance of reunion?
John affirmed that such an event was unlikely. Previously, they had attempted a reunion, but Tony had become aggressive towards Brian, leading to the attempt’s termination on that very day when they encountered the production team.
‘Then there was another time we tried it and nothing happened with that.
If our relationships were more harmonious, it would have been delightful to organize a special concert tour for the fans as a unique event.
However, if you take a peek at social media platforms these days, it’s more like a terrible dream.
Brian, notably, has long been vocal about his disdain for his bandmates online.
This week, John responded to Brian on Instagram by saying, “Quit harping on everything so much… It’s time for you to move forward with your life. Frankly, I can’t stand it anymore, mate.
In response, Brian released a series of recordings of John from their last phone call in 2019.
In response to concerned fans’ comments on Brian’s social media posts, John revealed that he reached out to help.
However, he doesn’t require assistance; it’s merely a call for attention. Despite this, they continued to harass me, which led me to decide to give him a call.
Later, I shared a personal secret with him that I hadn’t revealed to anyone before, unaware that he was recording our conversation. Now, he’s made it public, and I find that completely inappropriate. He had no business doing that.
I told my friend I might need to visit this person to settle things, but he advised against it because he thought I could get arrested.
‘He told me to get a solicitor because it’s just not right.
‘I just just want to be happy in life and move on and that’s what I try to say to Brian.
Let’s focus on the future instead, friend. There’s no need to dwell on old times. Remember, it’s been 33 years since then, and I don’t see anyone else bringing up those matters.
Terry also doesn’t hold much hope of a reunion with the original lineup.
Over the course of many years, I’ve made repeated attempts to bring us closer, yet those efforts always seemed to fall apart. To be honest, I’m finding it increasingly difficult to keep trying.
Not too long ago, Terry, John, and Tony appeared on the BBC2 documentary “Boybands Forever” to share memories of their days in the band.
The trio were filmed separately and had no desire to catch up afterwards.
Terry clarified, “We didn’t communicate, but I bear no ill will towards them. It was much like any work environment – there were pleasant moments and challenging ones. After all, we lived and worked together for three consecutive years with no days off, which inevitably led to disagreements.
‘But I’m grateful for the times I shared with them.’
Despite the fact that some past hurts still linger unhealed between John and Terry, they shared that they continue to cherish certain aspects of their East 17 experience with warmth.
During Christmas, it seems impossible to avoid the memories, as Stay Another Day is constantly played throughout the holiday season.
So now it’s on its 30th anniversary, do they ever get tired of hearing it?
‘I actually enjoy it more now,’ Terry confessed. ‘It’s the legacy that’s been left behind.
If I’m fortunate enough to be in heaven at some point in the future, the great-grandchildren might exclaim, “Oh, our great grandfather used to sing that tune!
When I was young, more in the spotlight, if a song of mine came on while shopping at Tesco, I’d lower my hat significantly.
Meanwhile, John is just pleased to see one of their hits is still a fan favourite.
He chuckled, saying, “It’s enjoyable because they don’t play any of our other tunes!” He then added, “We’ve had around 28 hits, so it’s refreshing to hear this one.
The music video for the Christmas hit saw the foursome don large white padded coats.
Yet sadly, John and Terry no longer own the iconic accessories.
‘I’m probably on my fourth or fifth white coat now,’ Terry laughed. ‘The old one fell apart.’
As for John he lost his coat during a bad breakup.
He shared, “I departed with a pair of bags and my coat is stored upstairs.” He emphatically stated, “I have no plans to return!
Despite their coats not withstanding the trial of durability, it appears that John and Terry are faring well.
Read More
- MANA PREDICTION. MANA cryptocurrency
- LDO PREDICTION. LDO cryptocurrency
- KAS PREDICTION. KAS cryptocurrency
- POLYX PREDICTION. POLYX cryptocurrency
- EUR USD PREDICTION
- CET PREDICTION. CET cryptocurrency
- NAKA PREDICTION. NAKA cryptocurrency
- NTRN PREDICTION. NTRN cryptocurrency
- EUR HUF PREDICTION
- ATLAS PREDICTION. ATLAS cryptocurrency
2024-11-30 11:37