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Added by BlueofficialBlue are a British boy band consisting members Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Anthony Costa. The group started in 1997 with the original line up consisted of Ryan, James, Costa, Danny Miller and Karl Newton. Both Newton and Miller left in 1999 and were replaced by Simon Webbe in 2000.
The group released six UK #1 studio albums between 1997 and 2003, when Ryan left the group. Webbe, James and Costa decided to end the group rather than replace Lee. They have also released two UK #1 greatest hits albums, one in 2000 after Newton and Miller left the group and one in 2009, when the group announced their reformation.
Members
Edit
| Member | Duration |
| Anthony Costa | 1996-2004, 2009- Present |
| Duncan James | 1996-2004, 2009- Present |
| Lee Ryan | 1996-2004, 2009- Present |
| Simon Webbe | 2000-2004, 2009- Present |
| Karl Newton | 1996-2000, 2009 |
| Danny Miller | 1996-2000 |
HistoryEdit
Formation (1996)Edit
In January 1996, Anthony, Danny, Duncan and Karl met manager Matthew Moore. They created a group, originally called B4. They began working with writer Max Martin, with both Martin and Moore thinking they needed another vocalist in the group in May. Moore remembered a young boy by the name of Lee Ryan Gerrard who he had seen at a Liverpool talent show, and called the boy who was also signed to his management company. The 15 year old travelled to London and met the group and his best friend Danny Miller. He was offered a contract after singing ‘Thriller’ to 3 executives and the group. He was signed to the group on June 3rd 1996.
The group’s name was then changed to Blue by their label Island Records.
Blue (1997)Edit
The group released their debut single ‘Quit Playing Games’ in February 1997. It charted at #2 in the UK and Italy, and #1 in Ireland. The second single ‘As Long As You Love Me’ was a top ten single in the UK, Ireland and Italy. They then released their debut album ‘Blue’ which was #1 in the UK and #2 in Italy and Ireland. The third single from the album was ‘I Want It That Way’ which topped the UK and Irish Singles Chart and #6 in Italy. The fourth and final single from the album was ‘Larger Than Life’ which was also a top ten single around the world.
The album was successful, selling 2 million copies in the UK as of 2009. No tour was completed by the group to promote the album as they soon split from both Island Records and manager Matthew Moore.
Split From Island Records & Moore Management (1997)Edit
After the album was released, Danny Miller’s lawyer father was shocked by the little amount of money his son had earned. He looked over the contract and saw that Island Records and Moore Management were taking 37.5% of the group’s earnings each, leaving the group 5% each. He saw a mistake in the contract, stating the group could leave after the first album. They announced their intention to leave the label when they were stopped by their manager Matthew Moore. They then announced to the press they were leaving both their management team and record label. The day it was announced by the group they were leaving, Innocent Records (a Virgin Records sub-label) offered the group a 3 album deal. Costa, James, Miller and Ryan were happy to sign the contract but Newton was unhappy and began arguing with Lee Ryan, who accused him of letting the group down. They signed the contract the following day and signed a new management deal with 19 Management and Simon Fuller.
No Strings Attached (1998)Edit
After working on their album for a few months, they released their first single from the album. ‘Bye, Bye, Bye’, a song thought to be aimed at Island Records and Matthew Moore, topped the UK Singles Chart and the top 5 in Italy and Ireland. The second single ‘It’s Gonna Be Me’ was also a top ten hit around the world. The group’s second album ‘No Strings Attached’ became their second #1 album and second #2 in Italy and Ireland. The third single from the album ‘I Want You Back’ charted at #3 in the UK and was followed by the fourth ‘Tearin Up My Heart’ became their worst charting single of the time, peaking at #5.
The group then went on a tour of Italy, Scotland, Ireland and England. They performed 20 dates around the countries. The album has sold 3 million copies in the UK as of 2009.
Celebrity (1999)Edit
Tensions were high in the group, with big arguments between Newton and Ryan about the direction of the group. They carried on and released ‘Pop’ as the lead single from their third studio album. It peaked at #5 in the UK. It was followed by their third studio album ‘Celebrity’. It was their third UK #1 album and third #2 album in Italy and Ireland. The second single from the album was ‘Girlfriend’ which peaked at #9, #2 and #6 in the UK, Ireland and Italy respectively. The third and final single was ‘Gone’ which topped the UK singles chart and was a top ten single in Ireland and Italy.
The group toured the UK and Italy on a 32-date tour, and the album has sold 1.5 million copies as of 2009. The last date of the tour would be the last time the original line-up would appear together.
Line Up Change (1999-2000)Edit
Riding high on the success of their third album, the group’s world came crashing down when 19 year old Danny Miller was diagnosed with testicular cancer in December 1999. He left the group to concentrate on beating the illness. The group decided that they wouldn’t replace Miller, leaving the door open for his return. In February 2000, after years of arguments with co-lead singer Lee Ryan, he issued an ultimatum to other members of the group to throw Lee out or he would walk. Duncan and Anthony decided to keep Lee and Karl walked out of the group, 3 weeks before their greatest hits collection was released.
The Hits: Chapter 1 (2000)Edit
After Karl walked from the group, Lee re-recorded over Newton’s vocals on the two tracks they had recorded for the greatest hits collection. The first of which was ‘Swear It Again’ which only featured Lee, Duncan and Anthony, with the group deciding not to replace Newton until after the greatest hits release. The single topped the UK, Irish and Italian Singles Chart. The album, ‘The Hits: Chapter 1’ which also topped the Album Charts in Ireland, Italy and the UK. The second single ‘Against All Odds’ which was a duet with Mariah Carey. It was also successful and also topped the UK, Italian and Irish Singles Chart.
The album sold 2 million copies in the UK.
Management Change and New Member Of The Group (2000)Edit
After the release of the greatest hits, Blue wanted to replace Newton but their manager Simon Fuller thought they would do better remaining as a three-piece. Because of the disagreement, the group sacked Fuller and left 19 Management. They replaced Fuller with Hilary Shaw, previously Banamarama’s former manager. They held auditions and added 20 year old Simon Webbe to the line-up.
All Rise (2001-2002)Edit
After bonding with Webbe for a few months, Costa, James, Ryan and Webbe began working on their fourth album, their first without writer Max Martin, instead choosing to write the album on their own. The lead single from the album was ‘All Rise’ which was their 14th consecutive top ten single in the UK, peaking at #1 in Ireland and #5 in Italy. The second single was ‘Too Close’ a song that was penned solely by Lee. It topped the UK and Irish chart, peaking at #7 in Italy. The group then released their fourth consecutive UK #1 album. It also peaked at #2 in Ireland and Italy. The third single from the album was UK and Irish #1 ‘If You Come Back’. The fourth and final single from the album was ‘Fly By II’. It peaked at #6 in the UK and Italy and #1 in Ireland.
They went on the 30-date tour, for the first time visiting Japan. The album sold 1.5 million copies in the UK alone.
One Love (2002-2003)Edit
The lead single from their fifth album was title track ‘One Love’. It reached #3 in the UK and #4 in Ireland and Italy. They then released their album ‘One Love’ which followed the trend of debuting at #1 in the UK and #2 in Ireland and Italy. The second single from the album was ‘Sorry Seems To Be’, a duet with Elton John. It became their 8th #1 singe in the UK and peaked at #3 in Italy and Ireland. The final single from the album was ‘U Make Me Wanna’ which charted at #4 in the UK and #5 in both Italy and Ireland.
The album has sold 1.75 million copies in the UK as of 2009. They also went on the 35-date sell out ‘One Love’ tour.
Guilty (2003-2004)Edit
The lead single from the group’s sixth studio album was ‘Guilty’. The single charted at #2 in the UK and was followed by the Stevie Wonder & Angie Stone collaboration ‘Signed, Sealed, Delivered’. It became their final UK #1 single before the group split. They then released their sixth album. ‘Guilty’ debuted at #1 in the UK and #2 in Ireland and Italy. The third single from the album was ‘Breathe Easy’ which charted at #4 in both the UK and Ireland. The UK #9 single ‘Bubblin’ was released as the fourth and final single from the album. It also peaked at #2 in Ireland and #4 in Italy.
The group went on the 21-date ‘Guilty Tour’, which only visited Scotland, Wales and England. The album sold 2 million copies in the UK as of 2009. The April 5th show would be the last time the group would reform on stage until 2009, as they announced their split a week before the show.
Split & Subsequent Solo Careers (2004)Edit
Anthony Costa – Anthony released a solo album which was a commercial failure, which failed to chart. The single from the album peaked at #19. He has also been in The Blood Brothers Musical and competed to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest. He competed on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here in 2005.
Duncan James – Duncan released a solo album, which peaked at #56 in the UK. Duncan released three singles 2 of which entered the UK top 40. He is appearing in Legally Blonde: The Musical in 2009 and hosted ‘Grease: The School Musical in the same year.
Simon Webbe – Simon has released 2 UK top twenty albums and 5 top ten UK singles. In 2008, he appeared on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
Lee Ryan – Lee has had the most successful solo career of all members, having 3 UK #1 albums, 5 UK #1 singles and is the only member to have broken into America, getting 2 #1 albums and 10 top ten singles, including 6 #1’s there. He owns Tennman Records, Tennman Management, clothing line William Rast, tequila brand 901 and two restaurants in southern America.
Criticism By Karl Newton (2000-2009)Edit
Since leaving the group in 1999, Karl Newton has written several articles about the group, each attacking lead singer Lee Ryan. He stated “When we started, it was 4 boys wanting to become singers. Then Lee joined and the focus switched to looking good. I hate seeing Lee singing my parts in the songs, it makes me so angry.” He criticised his ex band mates Duncan and Anthony in 2008 saying “They stabbed me in the back and didn’t care one bit.”
It is thought Newton has stopped slagging off his band mates when they arrived at Danny Millers funeral together in March 2009.
Death of Danny Miller (2009)Edit
In November 2008, it was announced that Danny Miller’s testicular cancer had returned, and had 3 months to live. In March 2009, the group held a press conference stating “Unfortunately, our great friend Danny Miller has lost his second battle with testicular cancer. We ask the press to respect Danny and his wife and 2 children by giving them the space they and we need to grieve.” It was the first time in nearly 10 years that Karl Newton had been seen together with Lee, Anthony and Duncan.
During the press conference, Lee was visibly upset and cried all through it. Karl comforted Lee, seemingly ending their public feud.
Reformation (2009-Present)Edit
In April 2009, Anthony, Duncan, Lee and Simon announced that they would be reforming as Blue. They announced plans for a greatest hits album, new tour and a new studio album.
In November 2009, The group extended an invitation to former member Karl Newton to join them on stage for a charity show, with proceeds going to the Danny Miller Trust and Cancer Awareness UK. Newton accepted the invitation and began rehearsing in early November. It is unknown if Karl will sing songs from after he left. After many rumours, Lee wrote on his twitter page “For the record: Karl is not working on the album with us, He is doing a show for Danny that’s all”, denying that Karl would be involved in the group’s seventh studio album.