Casting your mind back, we'll just do a quick run through of your career. Going back right from the very start, can you remember your very first impressions meeting the other lads?
My very first impression of meeting the other lads was actually back in '99 when I met Lee and Duncan at an audition, we were down to the last 11 in for a boy band. I walked in to a room, to my left I clocked Lee playing pool, and he was being loud and trying to have a laugh and all that. What I remember about going to an audition is that people don't speak to each other. They just look at each other, like trying to suss each other out, seeing if they have a good voice or the right look. Lee was kind of loud and a bit small and a bit plumpish as well at the time! I looked at him and he came straight over to me and said "Alright mate, how's things?" I was like, yeah! I didn't expect it, he was like really forward and he was like shaking my hand. I remember seeing Duncan with his legs crossed and he had his head down and someone was talking to him and they were just acknowledging what they were saying. My first impression was I thought 'he's a cool dude', I like him already and I haven't even spoken to him yet! That's when I met those two and then I met Anthony a couple of years later and it was just a mutual handshake. He was going through some bad stuff with his girlfriend at the time and I remember saying to him, 'Never let a girl come between you and your family, man' and he was like 'yeah man, nice one bruv'. From the first handshake the respect was there and we have got on ever since.
Do you think you have been emotionally supportive of each other or is it just lads having a laugh? Has it gone a bit deeper than that?
Yeah, most definitely because over the four years, when we first started it was kind of like, when we cast our minds back I think one of the best times that we had was when nobody knew who we were. People knew when we were out on the town that we were a boy band then no one really cared. We were out in nightclubs, having a laugh, 3 or 4 girls with us and stuff like that. Then when the band starting rising the pressure starting piling on and then it was a bit surreal for us then, it was like 'whooah'! We are getting stopped in the street now and you have got to watch what you say and just be a bit more courteous because whether I say something, it's going to reflect on the band. From then I was always the quiet one and I was classed as the moody token black boy so to speak. That wasn't actually the case because we were actually mates and we looked at each other and said 'look man, we've got the right image let's give it a go.' Luckily for us Five had split at the time and we were possibly the only boy band around with a bit of edge. It was just Westlife when 'All Rise' went in at No.4, 'Too Close' No.1, 'Come Back' No.1, 'Flyby' No. 6, album went straight to No. 1 from No. 20 which was amazing.
You make it sound so easy, that there was this band and it was just us. But it's very competitive industry.
Yes, it is very competitive, but we tend really not to look at anyone else because we are doing what we're doing. If other bands want to look at us and want to say something about us� oh actually A1, we had a little bit of a feud but that was about it.
I heard that.
We're cool now. I saw Christian and Ben when we were out the other night in Chinawhites. We were all on the same table having a drink and having a good time.
So how did it feel when 'All Rise' went in at No. 4? It was all of a sudden, very quick� Bang! We've been put on the pop map!
I think that did put us on the map because� I remember, I think it was the first Pop Idol, Popstars thing and all the attention was on Hear�say at the time all the attention was on them so we sneaked through the backdoor. �All Rise� stuck around in the Top 10 for ages and it was like, 'Woooah' that doesn't happen, hanging in there the way we did. Then, obviously, 'Too Close' was our second single and that was a bit of a risk because it was such a naughty song, a bit suggestive, and we were thinking, are we taking it a bit too far with this one? And then it went to No. 1 and we were ecstatic mate!
Do you think you could have taken things further? Talking about taking things too far?
Yes, I think we could've but it was down to politics and lyrical content. I am quite cheeky. It's a song, and you can't take it too seriously. When you listen to people, legends such as Michael Jackson, he sings about racism and politics and the Earth and he is one of the biggest selling artists in the world. But you don't realise what you are singing as a kid. When I was a kid I was singing 'Bad' and 'The Way You Make Me Feel' and that's all I really knew. But it was only the other day when I look back at his Greatest Hits DVD I realised that the video to and 'The Way You Make Me Feel' is all about racism. So when it came to Blue I think we can touch on certain areas and I don't think we'll get slated for it. But obviously A&R were a bit 'Oooh, I don't think that's all right can you change like that line' until 'Invitation' became a completely different song. I have got the demo at home and when I wrote it was a bit more cheeky, a bit more like 'Too Close' saying things like 'I'm walking around with this girl, I'm going to take home' and it's like 'you don't want to say that', but that's what guys do. That's the way it is sometimes.
Do you think next year with the band doing more individual things it will give you a chance to be more yourself and do exactly what you want?
Oh, no, no. I'm always myself, but sometimes I have to tone it down a little bit, but that's for the group. My priority is the group. Outside things wouldn't be going on if it wasn't for the group. And, obviously, the individual stuff is just my little baby. Most definitely a Blue man me!
What you are saying is that you wouldn't do anything individually that would jeopardise coming back to Blue?
No way, it was like before when I put VS together I asked the boys first. I said to them 'If I did this, what would you think?' They said 'What do you mean, why are you asking us? We're the boys, all for one, one for all and if that's what's going to make you happy then give it a go.� Obviously, I know the girls out of the VS and all I had to do was find the boys and if it was going to help them with their dreams� I said 'Cheers boys, thanks for your support.'
Were they surprised in any way that you said 'I've got a band'?
I put the idea to them first before I did it and then when I did it I was straight on the phone and within 6 weeks I had a record deal. It was real quick when I put VS together and I didn't even audition anyone - I just said, �yes you're in, you're in, you're in� and they all stood there and looked at each other and said 'ooh we're in a group!' and that was it! They did their demos and they have written a lot of their own songs for their new album. I have had no involvement whatsoever in the writing. I have just said I am here and I will help you and guide you, but I don't want anything to do with the writing because I don't want people to think I am here to make money off the back of you, which I'm not. I just want you to be successful as Blue are.
So do you think, maybe, you have had to work harder than the other members of the band? Because I know how hard working you are. Do you think you can do that and be a manager of another band?
Yeah, I'm a bit of a workaholic. I'm a businessman I'd like to say. You can judge me for saying it but I'm quite successfully motivated. I sell property and I also own a model agency in Manchester with quite a lot of industry people. We've just had the face of Manchester on our books after a competition. We are competing to be the best agency in Manchester!
Are you a DJ?
Yeah, I am, but I am a DJ for research for my company. When I DJ I like to do a lot of under 18s to see what the kids want. I ask them what they want, what they listen to. It's all about the music for them. They are innocent, they just know if they like it or not, they are not going to fake funk or anything else, if it's rubbish they'll tell you and that's why I do it. It's also good for me as well because it keeps me in touch with the fans as well not just on the stage, although I am behind the decks I come out on stage and slap a few hands and get them in the DJ booth and mix with them and stuff like that!
I heard a comment that you were reputed to have said recently that Pharell is a friend of yours? I think it was a detrimental comment?
Pharell is someone that I idolise. My biggest idol in the industry, I've got to say is probably Puff Daddy. We even created a remix. He was the first ever person to have done a remix. Not a lot of people know that and that's why everyone followed him. And that's why everyone is like �yeah, yeah I'm a remixer!� If it wasn't for him none of that would have ever happened. I have sort of watched him and then looked at the business for a year and then decided to do it for myself.
If you were doing your CV would you put businessman above musician?
Probably not. I would probably put musician first then songwriter and in brackets (entertainer)!
How did if feel when you came back with 'One Love' and it went straight in at No. 1. Did you think 'we�re not a flash in the pan, we're here!�? How did that feel?
Everything felt worthwhile and you are always afraid the ride is going to stop right in the middle of the track. When 'One Love' the single came out, straight away people were saying that's another 'All Rise' and Blue are back. We were like �boys, it's all systems go again!� and we were just busy and then next thing you know we were doing the One Love Tour!
And the whole touring thing? How important is it for you to be seen as a band that can do it live?
Very important, as we are judged because we are four vocalists and it's like 'can you really sing?' and it's like 'yeah!' There are other boy bands that I can safely say don't really sing but now it's getting to the point where everyone is singing live now so it is sort of changing the industry. The industry is changing in the right direction, which is good, so no one can really fake the funk, you know what I mean, but unfortunately it's all about image as well, that's just the way it is.
Do you think maybe you helped steer the industry in that direction because you were one of the first bands, obviously there were the Jacksons�
Well, there's other bands such as Damage, they've always sung live and they have always sounded good, but they never really got the respect they deserved. They always did great songs and great routines and they were cool, but maybe people thought they were a bit too cool for school, I don't know? From when I looked at them from back in the day I was in school, 'I Love ll Love', they did that and 'You're Wonderful Tonight' when they sang live on TV. I was just like, �whoah, respect guys!� But I was a footballer then and music never really interested me.
Do you ever regret not going down the football route?
I did go down the football route.
Was it Port Vale?
Yeah I was at Port Vale.
But at some point you obviously made a decision to go into the music.
It wasn't my decision; it was the doctor's decision. I got injured, took a year out, went to college, couldn't get my head together in college because I had this dream that I am going to be famous doing football. So, I decided to drop out of college and I was training myself every day, just like I was a footballer. Then I phoned a friend of mine who was at Stoke at the time called Mike who trained me at Port Vale and I heard that he had returned. He was a big influence on my footballer career, and he said he would put me on trial at Stoke. I went down there for a couple of weeks or so, played a few games� Obviously there were younger players who were fitter than I was and had no injuries. I went there 60% fit instead of 100% fit and passed the medical but my ankles weren't up to scratch. I remember sitting on the end of my bed twisting my hair and thinking my dreams have been shattered and what am I going to do now?! So, to get my frustration out I went to the gym, started working out, got a bit bigger and stuff and a woman spotted me and said I should model. I was like I'm a bad boy, what'ya talking about, Mosside and all that!
Next thing I know I was in the competition for Prime magazine, got through to the final, won the whole thing, met Puff Daddy, he personally invited me to his party, went along, met Faith Evans all of 1/12. Drew Hill was there and Capone and Noriega were there and I was just in my element. What made me want to get into the business was when I went to the bar they said 'it's a free bar' and I looked at one of the tills and there was like �20K on one of the tils� and there were 6 other tills in the place!! I thought, Puffy's paying for all this and it was like �Yeah! Maybe I should do this business? That's how it came about, got an audition went and met the boys and here I am today.
Good story. You collaborated with Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Angie Stone, Cool and the Gang, Lil' Kim. I know that you said you didn't want to be a band that was typecast as a band that plays collaborations, but if you had to do one more...?
Had to? I would do another one! It would be great to do something with Beyonce or Christine Aguilera. I know they would sing the pants of me but I would like to do it. I would rap. I would sit down and say you sing and I'll just rap or something like that!
Who out of that bunch did you learn something from or become inspired by?
I learnt a little bit from everybody, from hanging out with Angie and Stevie they are great people� and we are going out with Sir Elton John as well, he invited us to his house and gave us a little bit of talk about the music industry and where he thinks we can get to if we focus. That was very helpful because it meant having that chat with him then we could do out bit. It influenced me into being a better person and being as successful as I can be. I might not be remembered in 30 years time, but if I can put a stamp on the industry and be remembered, maybe one day someone will cover one of our songs?!
What's the best thing about being in Blue and the worst thing?
The best thing has to be most definitely being with the boys and look to the right or the left and genuinely love that guy for who he is, what he does and being part of the group.
Worst thing is probably the travelling and the long hours, sitting around, people don't seem to realise a day for Blue is a 16/17 hour day. For instance if we are going to Germany for the day, everyone thinks 'Wow, you are going to Germany!' but from getting up, going to the airport, flying 2 hours, travelling to destination - that�s 8 hours and I am knackered before I start. But, as soon as you see your fans, all that goes away and you don't think about it. The fans put us here and we appreciate them.
You mentioned the hightlights of being in the band. What do you think the best thing about each of the guys individually?
Individually? Lee I look at and, he's like so unpredictable, he cracks me up. I have never met anyone like him, he's one of a kind and I have never met anyone with a voice like that either. He's got that presence about him. I remember when we used to go out before Blue. We used to go out to the West End and no one would pay us any attention; we go to the same clubs now and when we walk in he gets swarmed! I look and laugh to myself because he'll look at me and say 'remember that time no one would speak to us, look at us now!' It's a nice feeling seeing him say that.
Anthony, he was my roommate when we first started. We used to rotate after that but if it was a table tennis competition or a pool competition between me and Anthony we'd always have our own private jokes! Roommates, yeah ha ha ! We had that connection.
Me and Duncan are a week apart, same star sign, same respect. Me and Duncan don't need to speak to each other to know what we are thinking or feeling, we are just on the same level.
And you also mentioned the fans there. Has there been a favourite fan over the years? Has there been one who stood out?
Yes, there has been a few, there's been the Nutters, the Crazy Costa Crew, we have a bunch of fans that call themselves Red who were four girls and they were the female us type thing! I got a little fan called Sarah and Jess as well, Emily and all the girls that supported VS, you know, Leanne.
You obviously form relationships
Yeah, yeah. They have taken time out to come and watch me DJ in Swindon. Hearts of gold mate and they will spend their last penny on you? They put me here and I appreciate them to bits.
This must be quite a good experience� must make you want to give something back....
Just makes me want to do more.
You have toured a considerable chunk of the world. Is there any one place that stands out in your travels?
I think every place stands out. I love Europe, Italy, the whole Mediterranean, Spain� and many parts of Scandinavia, I've got a weakness for them too. Yeah, what stands out for me? Probably Asia because it's more third world, such as when we went to the Philippines it was really upsetting to find out that there are kids on the streets begging and in Thailand as well. Man, it makes me think we're so lucky and then when they see us they go absolutely crazy. They try to draw blood and grab anything they can just to have a memory of you. It's a bit surreal at first. So those types of places stand out.
Tell me the funniest thing that has happened to you off the top of your head.
The funniest thing was Thailand, it wasn't funny at the time it was a bit dangerous, but when we look back it was funny because I managed to escape it! In Thailand our bouncers were smaller than us in height so the fans just went pow and pushed them out of the way. The next thing you know they were just there screaming in our faces one of them grabbed Duncan's cheek and then one of the little bouncers had to come and knock him off! That was mad and crazy!
Are you worried that this extended break you are going to be taking that it may make it more difficult for you to return as a group?
Yes, I am worried about that but it is something we need to do as Blue because we sort of feel we have lost our way from the direction we first started on. We have gone down this ballady route after 'Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word�. Then �Guilty�� 'Sign, Sealed, Delivered' was actually slower than the original and then 'Breathe Easy' was going to be the last single from the album and it was like �whoah, we need to release something up tempo!� because that's what we are known for and I'm not wishy washy ballad boy, thank you! That's why we released 'Bubblin', and our new single is just a stamp saying 'we're back'. I think people are going to realise we are back and this extended break is going to give us time to go away and rethink and look in the market to see where it's going as opposed to being lost in it. The market's changing now, we're supposedly the last 'traditional boy band' - now it's all about guitars and rock and jumping around!
Would you consider maybe changing your musical direction on the basis of the market then?
No, I think we do what we do because that's what we're known for. I mean, we've always been versatile; we cover a whole spectrum anyway from r'n'b to rock to soul to Love songs so we will take a direction out of one of those four.
Do you think maybe if you had taken more breaks as you went along� I mean, you're on your fourth album in three or four years� that you wouldn't have felt the need to take an extended break now?
Most definitely, I would have liked to take a break after the �One Love� album because we were told we were so successful with it that it was kind of like we were rushing to do the next album. You are sort of forced to make it feel right even though when I do listen to it� I do think it is our best album but it didn't do as well as the other two and then you look and think where have we gone wrong? And then you look back and obviously I go to under 18s and ask fans and that and they say 'you don't rap anymore and you've gone all ballady now and it's like Westlife'. At least, we know that now and we can go back to the drawing board and do what we want to do. I mean, we do what we want to do anyway, but this is normally hand in hand with the record company. But, having an extended break doesn't mean we are not going to do anything. We will still be in the limelight doing stuff individually anyway. Hopefully we can go away and do what we do and when we get back hopefully we will be stronger.
What�s your favourite Blue video?
I just watched some of the videos from All Rise. I have to say �All Rise� being the first, they are all special but �Too Close� is my personal because I love the girl in the video! I also like �Fly By�.
You've talked a bit about 'Curtain Falls' can you tell us a little bit about the other tracks?
Yeah, we've got a song called 'After the Show' that's all about 'will you love me when I am no longer on MTV, no longer on the stage, will you still have the same feelings for me as you do now? Or are you just going to throw me away and turn your back on me? There's another song called 'First Time' which is another ballad from Lee and there's a song called 'These Are The Only Words I know' which I wrote and is all about meeting a Spanish girl and she can't understand a word of English and I am singing to her and she's speaking Spanish back to me!
How would you describe the evolution over the three/four years?
I think we've grown. We're a lot more mature now. Someone from Asia commented that we were 'fresh faced' but now we've all matured into men. We are �young handsome men'! I think our music has grown with us as well. We still leave something in their hearts. We still jump around on stage and put on a good show. After the Best of Blue we are going to do more albums after that.
Finally, a message to the fans that are reading this?
We love you, thank you for everything; you put us here and please keep us here! Take it easy
