Five’s 1998

Well, we all finished that amazing year, but still – we all want to learn about the past, don’t we? (Erm... I don’t mean for History lesson or something!).
1998 was Five’s most important year. That’s the way I think, though: From Slam dunkin’ to super stardom – Five’s awesome year.
Rewind to the end of 1997. The five fellas had released one slam dunkin’ single, done a handful of interviews and could travel on the bus without too many hassles. Now, they got massive singles, wonderful albums, sales of over six million records and super-stardom under their pop belts! Get set for the rise and rise of Five...

January 1998
Having smashed into the Top Ten in December 1997, Slam Dunk Da Funk ends up hanging around for ages as Sky Sports decide to use it as the team tune to their coverage of the Basketball League! Meanwhile, J’s on the case to tell everyone Five aren’t just another boy band. “There are no gimmicks with us” he says. “We’re just making our music and doing our own thing!”. The guys have all been living together in a big house in Surrey for the last six months, getting to know each other, but now the real work kicks off and they’re off to Holland and Belgium for a round of promotions and interviews- the first of many!

February 1998
More flying visits to Switzerland and Ireland, and Scott gets mobbed with his mate, Nick, in Segaworld in Basildon! “Nicky loved every minute of it!” says Scott, who probably didn’t mind it much, either! But this was nothing compared to what was to come...

March 1998
After what seems like forever, Five’s second single, When The Lights Go Out, finally comes out, complete with cool vid-perfect for the computer game crazy lads! “It’s like a virtual reality game, with this fit girl at the controls, mastering our every move!” smiles Scott. The single gets to number four and the boys head off to Germany to do loads of TV shows-and Sean develops a phobia about customs officials! “I know they want to get me” he says. “They look me up and down with hatred, but I’ve done now!”

April 1998
The guys do a whirlwind tour of local radio stations, and Elisa from Solid HarmoniE falls for J! “I thought J was as fine as anything!” she coos. Sorry, Elisa-these guys don’t have time for all that! They’ve got hit singles to promote and, er, hell to raise! Yep, this is the month that the ‘Five as Bad Boys of Pop’ myth is born, as Neighbours From Hell hits TV screens and the guy’s rock star shock antics the nation! (Of course, we all know they’re cuties really...)

May 1998
Move over Denise and Johnny as Five hit The Big Breakfast! The guys had a whole week of early starts for the show, and still managed to fit in performing at the Capital Radio Extravaganza in London, doing a gig for the Make A Wise Foundaton in Birmingham and playing the Shepherd’s Bush Empire – that that night! Phew!

June 1998
This was a massive month for our funky Five. Not only did they release their third super-cool and biggest selling single, Got The Feelin’, on the 8th, but FIVE the album finally slammed into the shops on the 22nd and went straight to the top of the album charts! Five:THE OFFICIAL BOOK came out too, and the guys visited France and the USA, where they checked out Elvis’s pad, Graceland, misbehaved and generally had a blast!

July 1998
Five realise they’ve definitely hit the big time when they find a fan stealing their rubbish. “We were shouting, ‘It’s just rubbish!’” says J. “And she said, ‘But it’s YOUR rubbish!’”. Ritchie even gets his first stalker. “She doesn’t take her eyes off me” he says. “It’s freaky!”. The guys escape to Asia and When The Lights Go Out goes into the Top Twenty in the USA (The single’s still in the Hot 100 chart six months later and has gone platinum!). “We’re chuffed to bits!” says Ritchie! Awwwww!

August 1998
Summer time and... everyone’s worn out! “I keep thinking, ‘Why is this job so hard and will I ever get time to eat or breathe again?” Scott sighs. Time for a holiday! Scott gets happy in Disnyworld, Sean and J go to Lanzarote, Abs hits Barbados and Ritchie joined by his mum and bro’ in Thailand. After the rest, it’s back to work making the Everybody Get Up video. Tough stuff in 100 degrees heat, but no-Ritchie did not faint! The single is released on the 31st and there’re rumours a top Hollywood moviemaker wants to put the boys on the big screen-move over, Leonardo! The guys are back on The Big Breakfast and then it’s off to Australia, where they’re mobbed by 3,000 fans in a shopping center demanding they sign their rude bits! Ooo, missus!

September 1998
While they’re Down Under, news filters through that Everybody Get Up has zoomed up the charts to Number Two! The guys head out to the USA early in the month and come home to start filming their FIVE INSIDE vid. J goes for a parachute jump, Scott plays basketball with the London Leopards, Abs tries F1 motor racing, Sean has to go at Rugby League and Ritchie picks up some footie tips at Aston Villa! Scott and Abs are both living back home at their parents’ house, while Sean and J talk about moving closer to London so they’ve got something to do in the evenings! Abs pops up in some creepy tiger eye contact lenses-hoping to get a part in The X-files, no doubt! Oh, and Ritchie confesses he thinks Billie, as we all know they are a couple now, is “gorgeous!”

October 1998
It’s panic station as rumours fly that Five might split up! But of course, they don’t! “Were like a family, life-long friends” says Scott. They demand more spare time so they’re not always tired and... everything’s hunky-dory! Next the lads are off to Sweden, Italy and France. J decides he likes Sweden so much he wants to live there! “It’s a great country-it’s so good to party there and the air is really clean!” he says. Luckily, he comes home and the guys film the video for their next single, Until The Time Is Through. “It was a really long day, but we love making videos” says Ritchie, who’s the star singer of the top tear-jerker!

November 1998
Another action-packed month in the Five camp! On the 9th they release their FIVE INSIDE video and then head off to Milan for The MTV Music awards where they hit the stage and grab the UK Select Award-wooh! And who can forget the Mad Five Day on the 14th? The guys take over Leicester Square, the fans go crazy and Five play two great gigs at trendy hot spot, The Sound Garden-just in time for the release of their fifth single, Until The Time Is Through.

December 1998
The guys rehearse for US shows and TV appearances planned for early next year, pop up on your TV screens all over Christmas and get to spend some quality time at home with their families! “We’re really trying to get out of working over Christmas” says Abs. “We’ve worked so hard this year-we need a rest!”. Hmmm. I think they deserve it, don’t you?!

Based on TV HITS special – Five, December 1998.