I was watching the latest episode of YouTubers React about One Direction and one question they asked the panel got me thinking. When 1D’s fans age past them in a few years, everyone expects some guy named Harry to have a good solo career, and one described him as their Justin Timberlake. Is that always the way? I don’t follow the phenomena, but it seems like whenever there’s a successful boy band, only one ever makes it solo. The rest of the group is relegated to smaller and smaller reunion tours, until they fade away completely.
So, has any boy band had more than one member go on to a successful music career? I’m talking factory-made boy bands as we currently know them, not bands like The Beatles that could play instruments and write music.
I think Justin Timberlake is kind of the exception.
I know other boy band members attempted solo careers but I don’t know how successful they were. New Kids on the Block(Jordan Knight)? Backstreet Boys(Nick Carter)? 98 degrees(Nick Lachey)? Boyz II Men?
Hanson and the Jonas Brothers are kind of over with no solo stars.
JT, Bobby Brown, and Michael Jackson are kind of the exception.
I have a book resale business, and several months ago, I hit a church rummage sale during the last hour, where they were selling everything for $1 a bag. Guess what I found at the bottom of a stack of kids’ books? You guessed it - a biography of One Direction, which had apparently never been opened.
I put this on prominent display at the antique mall where I have a booth, and last time I was there (which I’ll admit has been a few weeks; I live 40 miles away), the book was still for sale. :dubious:
You’re forgetting Donnie Wahlberg. He started out as a New Kid on the Block but went on to a solid solo career. although he’s better known as an actor than a singer.
I looked up Irish bandBoyzone & found out that they have actually reformed. As far as solo careers have gone Ronan keating has been the most successful.
Reading the above link has reminded me that British pop star Robby Williams was part of boy band Take That.
& Ricky Martin was originally in a Puerto Rican boy band, Menudo.
The OP asked if there are examples of pre-fab Boy Bands that have more than one member who ended up doing well. So far, most posts are a checklist of boy bands with maybe one breakout.
I cite New Edition, because pretty much all of them had chart success outside NE, including Bel Biv DeVoe, a “subgroup” I guess.
The Jackson 5 would count because Jermaine charted with a number of songs.
I’d forgotten all about NE, which does seem like a big exception. Jermaine… I dunno, he never seemed all that successful, but I concede that might just be because Mike’s shadow was so vast anyone could get lost in it.
Britain seems to produce more boy bands than the US, and in their case it seems like the entire group fades when the kids outgrow them, rather than a sole member making it. Due to watching NMTB, I can name several Brit boy bands, but I only recall one where a member found solo success (someone from Blue, I’m gonna say Lee).
Then again, same applies to the gals - who among the Spice Girls is a successful solo artist?
You need to put it online. If it’s never been opened, it’s probably worth something to the fans. I’m guessing that demographic doesn’t hang out in antique malls.
It was short-lived but both Jordan Knight and Joey McIntire had well promoted solo careers, with hit singles, MTV videos, and Gold albums. This was around the height of Carson Daily TRL when MTV was boy bands ( backstreet, nsync, korn, limp bizkit, lessers like LFO), Britney Spears, and Eminem. I remember thinking how old they looked to be doing that kind of music, but I realize now they were a decade younger than I am. Now they are in their 40s doing songs from when they were 14, but I guess it’s huge $$$$
You’d be surprised how many older children go in there with their parents. Lots of them are into various kinds of collectables, and most of those places don’t just sell antiques. In addition, you never know who might buy that for a (grand)child or niece.
