*Blue Cheeze* Interviews

Max
BLUE
THEY ARE: Four charming blokes from London, Duncan James (21), Simon Webbe (21), Antony Costa (19) and Lee Ryan (17), who really can sing and have all the right dance moves to take over boyband-dom!
BACKGROUND: Antony and Duncan had recognised each other from the audition circuit and realised that they shared similar musical interests. And so they went out and grabbed Lee and Simon and together they formed Blue! Virgin's Innocent Records quickly signed them up. We're sure you've heard the super catchy 'All Rise' and the disco-tinged 'Too Close' from their self-titled Special Asian EP. Both songs have since hit the UK #1 spot! And it's no wonder as they're working with top R&B producers Stargate (Sisqo, Mariah Carey). Look out popdom, there's a new boyband in town!
MUSIC: According to their bio, "the emphasis is on tough grooves and soulful vocals." In a nutshell, they are a better-sounding - and much better looking! - version of ex-UK boyband Another Level!
WHAT ELSE: Both Antony and Lee have appeared on British TC before. The former was in the hit BBC sitcom Chalk and has bit parts in Grange Hill and The Bill, while the latter appeared in Holby City. MAX chats with the lovable Antony to find out more...
With so many artistes coming up with R&B-tinged albums from *NSYNC to Pink, what sets you apart from them?
We consider ourselves doing our own thing. We're a vocal group, not out to annoy anyone. We just wanna make good music. We want people to like us for our music, you know what I mean? (Yes - Music Ed) We want to bring out albums and be consistent. Lots of bands do a great first album and then the second one's not so good.
Uh huh...The media has dubbed you as UK's newest boyband. Is that what you guys feel you are?
We ARE a boyband, 'cos we are four boys in a band. The Beatles were a boyband! Not a lot of people believe that. With boybands you just think of the music, really cheesy love songs. We want to be more focused on our quality. We want to be known as a quality boyband!
That's good! So what's the real story behind the band's name?
It's just a name really. Simon came up with it on the train. We were going to rehearsals. We were going for a lot of names. And he said, "What about Blue?" And we just laughed. "What about red or yellow?" We thought about it, said ok and got together the next day, but it doesn't mean anything really. It's not really a name that says 'boyband', it's just a name.
Alrighty, let's move on to some true blue questions...what makes you feel blue?
When my football team (Tottenham Hotspur) loses.
Is blue your favourite colour?
Blue IS my favourite colour. It's not a coincidence! Blue has always been my favourite. I always wear a lot of denim, blue jeans and T-shirts!
Can you sing of hum Eiffel 65's 'Blue (da ba de)'?
(laughs) Yes i know 'Blue'! (starts singing) I'm bluueee, dabadebadoo...
Everyone knows the opposite to blue is pink, so have you met (singer) Pink yet?
Unforunately I haven't met her yet, but I would like to call her and say do you want to meet up?
Are your eyes blue?
No. My eyes are dark brown...
Oh well, would you consider wearing contact lens to make them blue?
No I wouldn't, it doesn't suit me!
Would you dye your hair blue?
I had blue tips, little highlights in my hair. Not the whole head, not all, otherwise people would not take me seriously.
Finally, who has the best baby blues on the planet?
Jessica Simpson has the best baby blues. She's lovely!

ALL RISE, COURT IS IN SESSION
With their hit single "All Rise" topping out charts, we had to interrogate Duncan from Blue for the inside story
Rewind and recall the infectious harmonica intro (to an UK number four smash) that was saturating radio airwaves a few month back. Yes, we saw the debut of four London-based boys called Blue then.
So what's with the big deal with this bunch of boys that set them apart from their rest, and in particular, the said smash hit? For starters, it is always refreshing to have a pop tune rise above the humdrum. Produced by Norwegian hitmakers Stargate, "All Rise" is one such example: a fine slice of intelligent pop about the typical cheating girlfriend but executed atypically as a courtroom drama.
We "summon" Duncan James to the Pop Court on charges of creative alliance with three other guys, who are still at large. Duncan has been accused of masterminding killer hooks and plaigarising legal jargon on the commercial success "All Rise". We present to you, the transcript of the court proceedings:
What's the story behind the name "Blue"?
Simon Webbe was the one who came up with that name. At the point of brainstorming a name for ourselves, we came to a consensus not to have a name that screamed boyband. In fact, we wanted a name that didn't mean anything specific at all!
What is "All Rise" about?
The story revolves around a hypothetical courtroom drama where a girl has been summoned to the stand by her boyfriend for cheating on him. Hence the courtroom lingo like "objection overruled", "I rest my case" and of course "all rise".
Describe Blue's debut in exactly 10 words.
Twelve "cracking" tunes ranging from R&B to Motown to pop.
Your band is called Blue but is your favourite colour blue?
Urm...actually no, I kinda prefer red (a Man U fan perhaps?).
Your bio stated that you discovered "you had a voice" at the age of 13. What do you mean by that?
I was brought up in Dorset till the age of 13, when my mum relocated to Sidmouth in Devon. There, I took drama at "A" Level, got into a bit of acting and started singing in musicals. So in a way, I discovered my singing powers at the age of 13 and it changed my life.
Who, in your honest opinion, has the best voice in Blue?
That has got to be the baby of the group, Lee Ryan. He might only be 17 but he's also got the best voice between the four of us.
In the world of boybands, which one do you perceive as having the most talent?
Backstreet Boys, without a doubt.
Which artist or band would you guys love to collaborate with?
We have always wanted to team up with the girls from Destiny's Child but their music has a very distinctive American flavour. Whether recording as a band or working with others, we will always try to keep our sound British.
What kind of music inspires you?
I grew up listening to great Motown singers, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder and even Elton John but I don't worship a particular artist. I like a good song and essentially, a good tune. But if I have to choose a genre, then it's got to be Seventies Funk.

Planet Pop�s turning BLUE! The fetching four-piece responsible for that catchy debut choon �All Rise� have nabbed their very first No 1 with follow-up offering �Too Close�! EVELYN MAK scores some chat time with band babe Lee and interrogates the bashful bloke about mucking around with the gals and getting caught by Mum in saucy situations! Gasp!

LIME: Wahey! Blue�s latest single �Too Close� hit No 1 in UK! Congrats!
LEE RYAN: It was amazing! Blue has only just started and getting a No 1 so soon is such an achievement for us! We�ve come really far in such a short time!

Are you delighted that you have beat Five off the No 1 spot?
(Laughs) I�m happy that we beat anyone off the No 1 spot!

You worked at building sites before making it big as a pop star! Are you used to life as a celeb yet?
I�m definitely not used to the hard work of being a pop star! Hur hur! Nah, we�re just having fun and enjoying each day as it comes.

Your bandmate Duncan describes Blue as a �boyband with quality.� What do you reckon?
We are four blokes in a group, so I guess you could call us a boyband. (Rambles on) Er�then again, I wouldn�t say we�re a typical boyband, �cos there�s something different about us.

Your first two singles, �All Rise� and �Too Close�, do sound kinda different from the other tunes on the radio�
All of us like blues and soul � I call that �proper music�. But that�s my point of view. I�m into Motown. Dunc likes disco and funk while Antony and Simon prefer R&B. Everyone brings different qualities to the group and it comes through on our music.

Your debut album All Rise arrives in stores this month! Tell us more about it.
My fave track is �Long Time�. It�s a ballad about not seeing your loved one for a long time. You know what, we�ve only just finished recording our first album, but we�re already raring to start on the second. We�ve been writing together and trying to figure out what songs to put on the next disc.

Now that you�ve scored a No 1 single, are you also hoping for a No 1 album?
If it does, I�ll be jumping out of a plane! We mad a pact to jump out of a plane if our album goes to No 1 � with parachutes, of course! Otherwise Blue would become red. Hoho!

Gulp. The video for �Too Close� features you lot frolicking with hot babes and showing off some slick moves at a club. Is that a typical guys� night out for Blue?
Heh heh! Yes, our nights out are something like that.

What�s the record number of girls you�ve pulled on a night out, then?
(Earnestly) Actually, I�m really shy when I�m a clubs. I�m not too good at chatting up girls either. I need the girl to make the first move.

Duncan told us you always �say the wrong things and end up sounding really stupid.�
(Bashfully) Yes, I�m not that good with words. My social skills are not really bad, but I stutter a lot when I speak. And, I crash and burn everytime I try to pick up a girl! I was mucking about with this beautiful chick once, but we somehow ended up pouring drinks all over each other!

�Fess up! Have you ever been caught in an ahem�compromising position by your mum?
A couple of times! But my mum�s not the type who�d get mad at me for that kinda stuff. What kinda stuff? (Uncomfortably) Ya know, that kind of stuff�

Teehee! Ben a1 declares he�s �fantastic in bed�. Would you ever volunteer info like that?
No! I�d never come out and say I�m fantastic in bed. (Whispers) I don�t know if I�m really that good. But even if I were, I�d never tell people! Yuck!

Is it true you�re the vainest Blue member, and you take the longest to dress up?
My mum�s a hairdresser, so I�ve been brought up spending time on my hair. If you ask me, I�d say that�s a good reason! But no, I won�t go to the extent of �pretty girl� stuff like facials and manicures just to look gorgeous! Eurgh!

Finally, Blue received a thank-you note from Prince Charles at your recent Party in the Park performance. Did you guys fight over who�d keep the letter?
Hey! I don�t know where the letter is! (Huffily) I think Antony�s hidden it! I�m gonna have to nick it back off him!

Ready for some smashing news, Pop fans? Say hello to the Planet�s spanking new recruits, BLUE! Already, their stompin-hot blend of �r&b, Motown, soul and pop� has unleashed an airwaves fave �All Rise�, and UK chart champs �Too Close� and �If You Come Back�! (Are you listening, Westlife and a1?) EVELYN MAK gets down on the line with hunky hotties Lee, Antony, Simon, and Duncan, and giggles helplessly as they recall and relate their lives� firsts! Woohoo!

Poor Blue! Now that the Brit quartet have hit major stardom, they�re finding the fame game not so easy after all. For starters, Lee Ryan, Antony Costa, Simon Webbe and Duncan James are yearning for their daily winks. �I can�t remember when I last had a proper lay-in!� even self-proclaimed nocturnal party bird Simon can�t stifle his yawn.

It was only early last year when Duncan and Antony, who�d run into each other several times on the audition circuit, decided to form their own band. Soon after, they hooked up with Lee and his flatmate Simon � and voila! Blue was born! (After flirting with shady monikers like �Yellow� and �Green�, the uninspired lot ended up christening themselves �Blue�!) �Blue is just chilled. We�ve got a cool vibe that should be checked out!� an eager Duncan gabs.

Blue�s unique brand of tenacity and talent so bowled over big-wigs at Virgin�s Innocent Records, they were offered a recording contract �the next minute�. Oh, did we mention Spice sisters Emma and Victoria are on the same label, too? Storming the charts in May with a groovy debut choon �All Rise� (it peaked at No 4!), the guys followed up with a dancey ditty �Too Close� that shot straight to the top slot! But it�s the laddies� third single, the tender �If You Come Back� (it toppled Westlife�s �Queen Of My Heart� off the No 1 spot) that finally propelled them to the big time! What�s more, copies of their debut album All Rise have been flying off the shelves of record stores all over the globe! Whoa!

To attain all this, however, precious snore-time definitely won�t be the only thing Blue have to give up. Packed into a whirlwind schedule which alternates between seemingly glamorous events like telly interviews, roadshow performances and store signings, are trying tasks like music video shoots. Which, if you ask the foursome, can turn out to be a terrifying encounter. In fact, it was on their recent trip to New York (one of their clips was supposed to be set in a Brooklyn warerhouse) that the boys found themselves experiencing tragedy at first-hand during the September 11th World Trade Center terrorist attack. Youngest member Lee was so distraught by the whole event he �cried his eyes out!�

Apart from that smashing first single, wildly-anticipated first album and bittersweet taste of stardom, what other memorable first-time tales are the Blue blokes itching to spill? We unearth all the exciting bits in this exclusive long-distance interview with the boisterous bunch!

LIME: When did you first realize you wanted to be a popstar?
Duncan: I�ve always wanted to be an actor since I was a kid. But I only decided to go into singing when I turned 16 � that�s when I discovered I actually had a voice!
Antony: (Thinks hard) I was only about six or seven! And I used to like George Michael from Wham [famous 80s band].
Lee: Since I was eight, mebbe? I used to go down to my mum�s shop � she�s a hairdresser � where she made me sing to all her clients!

What was your first impression of the other Blue boys?
Duncan: I knew Antony from ages ago � we met at a karaoke competition. He was really friendly! When I first heard Lee sing, I remembered going, �Wow, he�s got a great voice!� As for Simon, he�s cool and friendly at the same time. Everyone got along really, really well right from the start, but now that I�ve spent more time with them, I appreciate my mates even more!
Simon: My first meeting with Duncan and Lee was at the audition � where they really stood out from the crowd. There was just something about Duncan that caught my eye, while Lee was talking to everyone! I thought they were really cool. The first time I met Antony, I almost died laughing! He always cracks the most hilarious jokes!
Lee: I immediately knew Blue was where I wanted to be! They were all brilliant guys, and I�m chuffed we�ve become great mates!
Antony: We were friends before Blue, and we�d still be pals even if we weren�t in a band. Working together just brought us close to one another.

Where were you the first time your debut single, �All Rise�, came on air?
Simon: (Excitedly) I was about to get into a car after a night out at the club. I got a shock; I thought I recognized it but didn�t think it could�ve been me singing! I still get the same feeling when I hear �All Rise� now!
Antony: I was walking down the street when a car drove past. And the hot chick in it was listening to �All Rise�! I got so worked up, I wanted to tell everyone that it was my song, but I would�ve looked like a real idiot. Thank God I decided to remain calm.
Lee: I was in my room! I was jumping on my bed, screaming, shouting and basically going absolutely mad! Hoho!

Your follow-up offering, �Too Close� hit No 1 soon after! What was your first reaction?
Duncan: It was amazing! It was only the second single we�d ever released and it went straight to No 1! I couldn�t believe it � it was pure shock! We just went �Omigawd! No way!�
Antony: We were driving back from a show when they announced that �Too Close� was No 1! And we had to stop because the whole car was shaking! All of us were jumping up and down, shouting and screaming and behaving all kerazee! It was just a mad day!
Lee: Err�I don�t know, actually. I guess I couldn�t really believe it. I was absolutely shocked when they said we got a No 1. And I�m hoping that the album will do just as well. I can�t wait for it to be released! We�ve worked really hard on this album and put in a lot of time and effort. I�m hoping that it�ll do really well!

Who�s the first person you�re gonna thank on your album credits?
Simon: God. Then my mum, my grandma, granddad. And my brother and sister�
Lee: My mum! (grandly) I wrote my album credits in poetry!

Say, what will you lot be doing with yer first LIME cover?
Antony: I�d frame my copy! It isn�t our first magazine cover, but we�ve never been to Singapore, so making it to the cover of a mag there would be great!
Simon: Being on the cover of a magazine is something everybody looks forward to. That�s when people start to think you�re really famous! Teehee! I lurve being on the cover of something � anything!

Say, how was signing that first autograph like?
Antony: It was for my friend�s daughter actually. It was weird �cos I�ve known him for so long, and I�ve seen his little girl grow up. So it was just weird to hear her say she wants an autograph from Antony Blue!
Lee: Erm, it happened waaay before I got into Blue. I don�t know why, but girls used to come round to my mum�s shop and ask me for my autograph. Maybe they knew I�d become famous one day! Hyak hyak!

�Fess up, did you shop till you drop with your first Blue paycheck?
Antony: I got myself a TV and video, �cos I�ve never bought them for myself.
Lee: (Gleefully) I�m gonna buy myself a house with our next paycheck! Then I�m gonna rent it out and earn some money!

Giggle, LIME would gladly be your first tenant! So when do you think you�ll make your first million?
Simon: (Earnestly) I can�t tell you that! I don�t think that�s really important to us. If we did earn a million, it�d be a bonus. A very beeg bonus! We really enjoy getting on stage, singing and doing what we�re doing right now. We�ve only released three singles, so we�re not even looking that far ahead right now. It�ll be enough if people like out music and buy our records.

Let�s move on to girl talk, then! Describe your first snog, please.
Duncan: It happened when I was nine! (Chuckles) It wasn�t really a snog � in those days it was just opening your mouth and sticking your tongue in, without knowing what you were doing! Just experimenting, ya know what I mean? But my first proper kiss was with a girlfriend when I was 13.
Antony: I was 12. And we did it under a table at a party! I don�t keep in contact with the girl anymore, but when I see her I do say hello.
Lee: I was about nine years old. Er�but she got sick. (Sheepishly) It was a little slobbery.

Yikes! What�s the first thing you look out for a in a girl, then?
Simon: Eyes and hair. I don�t have a preference for a particular shade, it�s just the way she looks at me. Sometimes all you need to do is to make a connection.
Duncan: The eyes. Some people have very sexy eyes, there�s always some mystery. SO that�s the first thing I look out for in a lady.
Antony: I agree! The first contact you make is always with the eyes, isn�t it? You look at someone, and someone looks at you.
Lee: Personality. I can�t resist outgoing girls. Plus, they�re always fame enough to make the first move!

Who�s the first Blue bloke you�d call for advice on women?
Antony: (Thinks hard) I�d call Simon. He�s a really good listener!
Simon: Probably Antony. Why? �Cos we�re always talking about gals! We�re not Casanovas � we yak about girls only because we don�t get them all the time. Haw haw!
Lee: All of them! They�ve all got different opinions on the ladies, so I�d talk to all of them to get their opinions, then come up with my own perspective.

Quick! Tell us all about your first celeb crush!
Duncan: (Gushes) Kylie! The first album I ever bought was hers, way back when I was nine! I met her once at a dance studio but I didn�t get to talk to her. I think she�s done really well over the years. She�s re-invented herself so many times, and now she�s a real pop princess.
Simon: Joan Collins [old fogey Hollywood actress]! Er�I used to OD on Dynasty [American telly hit in the 80s]. I often cringe at the memory, but I was young and didn�t know any better. Heehee!
Lee: I can�t remember�but I really fancy Julia Roberts now! (Raves) She�s gorgeous! And Nicole Kidman. But I don�t know what I�d say to them if I met them! Help!

Can you remember your first thought when you woke up this morning?
Lee: I remember being so happy in bed! Sadly, that didn�t last for long. Sigh.
Simon: That I�ve got to wake up and get ready before the tour manager tears the door down! Fortunately, I�m pretty easy to wake up, so I don�t take a long time to get out of bed!
Antony: �I�ve got another day at work!� Immediately after that, my schedule just started flashing across my mind!

Cripes! Your apartment�s on fire! What�s the first thing you grab?
Lee: My writing books. That�s where I scribble all my songs and put down all my ideas. I can�t lose them!
Simon: My mobile phone, if it was nearby. I can�t survive without my phone! I�m always on it � my bills are terrible! The highest it�s ever hit is 400 pounds!

OK fellas, last question! What would Blue like to be known for: being the first band to play on the moon, the first band to outsell Westlife, *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys put together, or the first band to all snag celebrity girlfriends?
Duncan: Outsell Westlife, *NSYNC and Backstreet Boys! Definitely! But I don�t think it�ll happen with this album though!
Simon: Those guys are great and they�re in a different place from us, but I wanna do even better than them!
Antony: I think being the first band to play on the moon would be really cool!
Lee: I�m not really bothered about outselling Westlife or anything like that. And I don�t need a celebrity girlfriend. In fact, I don�t� really want a girlfriend at all right now. I�d much rather play on the moon!

Too Close for BLUE!
Reckon you know everything about Planet Pop�s It boys? Not unless you load up on our quirky 10-pointer fact file first!

1) Lee and Simon have tons of copies of their debut single �All Rise!� Laughs Lee: �I would have been too embarrassed to buy them on my own! My mum did. I can remember coming back home and on the table there were about 14 copies!�

2) Spooky! Did you know: Antony and Jessica Liberty share the same birthday? �The first time we met Liberty it was freaky, �cos me and Jessica realized we both had the same birthday (23 Jun)! But then Dunc and Kelli realized they shared the same birthday (7 Apr) too! I nearly fell over with shock!

3) Simon is terrified of spiders! �I was petrified of spiders and I still am! I can touch toy spiders now � if I hold my breath and do it really quickly � but there�s no way I could touch a real one! The scaredy-cat whispers!

4) Lee was quite the cheeky chappie in school! His escapades include hanging from the ceiling pipes till he got expelled! �I once put a drawing pin on the chair of this fat teacher. She sat down and didn�t even feel it!� Cripes!

5) Duncan has to bring his own feather pillow everywhere he goes! �I can�t sleep properly without it!� he yawns. Just make sure you don�t make off with Mark a1�s Toy Story pillow!

6) You�ve been warned: Lee�s the worst Blue member to room with! �I hate sharing with Lee! I love him to bits but he�s sooo messy,� gripes Antony, the neat freak whom everyone wants to bunk with. Reveals Duncan: �I prefer sharing with Antony �cos he�s really tidy!�

7) Simon was signed to English footie club Port Vale when he was a wee nipper�and trained alongside Robbie William�s bezzie mate Jonathan Wilkes! He still dreams of being a professional soccer player, but doesn�t reckon he�s fit enough now!

8) Dunk�s got a thing for Cameron Diaz! �She�s got an innocent girlie look about her but there�s a really naughty glint in her eye, too!� Ooh!

9) When Lee turned 13, his friends stripped him and tied him to a lamp post. Psst, the saucy fella likes to sunbathe nekkid in his garden! Drop us your address when you come around, will ya?

10) Antony�s a bit of a ladies� man! He admits, �We�re too busy to see anyone but I love ladies� company, and I�m always chatting up strangers. I try to break the ice by making them laugh.�