5 Of The UK Biggest boybands 

Editor Katie Watkins - 5/ 6 /2018

What is a boy band (or boyband)  loosely defined as a vocal group consisting of young male singers, usually in their teenage years or in their twenties at the time of formation, singing love songs marketed towards young women. 

Being vocal groups, most boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on stage, making the term something of a misnomer. However, exceptions do exist. 

Many boy bands dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. Some such bands form on their own. 

They can evolve out of church choral or gospel music groups, but are often created by talent managers or record producers who hold auditions. 

Due to this and their general commercial orientation towards a female audience of preteens, teenyboppers, or teens, the term may be used with negative connotations in music journalism. 

Boy bands are similar in concept to their counterparts, girl groups. Boy bands' popularity peaked four times: in the 1960s (e.g., The Jackson 5), in the 1990s and early 2000s when acts such as the Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC, A1 and Westlife, among others, dominated the top of the Billboard and pop charts, in the early 2010s with the emergence of new boy bands such as JLS, Big Time Rush and One Direction, and in the late 2010s.

1. BROS.

Bros in my opinion were never a boyband as all three members had talent, Matt Goss had incredible vocals whilst Luke Goss and Craig Logan could both play their instruments incredible well. 

Bros were always given a hard time by certain UK press but why we ask, Bros were very successful in there 5 years together.

The was adored not only in the UK but across Europe ,Asia Australia with hit singles and Albums selling over 17 million albums and 10 million singles.

The band had over 130.000 fans blocking oxford street in London on their HMV Push signing, Bros were as big as the Beatles for their short period and no UK boyband as ever matched the hysteria  that Bros did at the height of fame.

 Brosmaina was global with over 3 Million concert tickets being sold on their Global Push tour, selling over 77,000 for their one off special Bros into summer august 1989. 

Bros second album selling over 4 million copies worldwide a match not many  artist these days could not imagine selling that amount of albums or singles even their final album Changing faces was a masterpiece of song writing with sales amassing over 200.000 worldwide.

Bros were and still are one the best bands in the UK.

2- One Direction

One Direction were yet another manufactured boy band created threw the X Factored with 5 members Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne

Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson. The Band had some great songs and managed to crack the USA unlike most other British acts, but most other bands didn't have the help of the X factor pulling power. However the band only really had a main member Harry Styles who had the most talent, looks and sex appeal. the bands first album was number in 17 countries and selling around 3 million copies worldwide. Their follow up album charted in 18 countries  and sold around 3 million copies worldwide however Zayn Malik found himself not wanting to be in the band ( Take That all over again) usual issues he wanted a solo career , shame that didn't work, how one direction carried on, The group carried on a 4 piece with third album charting number 1 in 15 countries but with around 2 millions sales, still a great success.

I find One direction a great lovely band but as solo artist their only one winner and that's Harry styles who could be the next George Michael or Robbie William's.

 

3 - Take That -     

Take That were a manufactured band founded my Nigel Martin Smith in Manchester in the early 1990 to be the UK versions of Backstreet Boys and Nsync. The Band members were Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Mark Owen, Howard Donald, and Jason Owen.  The Band first album Take that party went top 5 in UK with a lot of the tracks being cover versions which was normal for boyband to cover old tracks from time gone by. talentwise Gary Barlow was a brilliant song writer and singer but was voted the most boring man in pop a little unfair but the guy is a bit on the dull side. Robbie Williams is a brilliant showman and far the best out of the whole group the guy shines on stage with ego at all time high. Mark Owen doesn't have the best vocals but he is the most attractive of the 5 and his Green Man album in our opinion was better then any Take that album or Robbie William album but Mark doesn't have the confident  Robbie has if he did than maybe he could of made it as solo artist. Howard Donald and Jason Orange they were never gonna be successful without take that as they were only taken on as part of the band for their dancing and media looks. The band to its credit has strong UK following but they never really cracked the Europe, Australia, Asia markets. Take that last couple of albums of being certified Gold in the UK and not hitting the overseas markets Take that now a average band unless Robbie Williams come back to the fold.

 4 - East 17

The group began in 1991 when Tony Mortimer was promised a record deal with London Records after he presented his own material. The deal was granted under the condition that he form a group, which would be in the format that London Records were looking for. Mortimer later formed East 17 Members Brian Harvey, John Hendy, and Terry Coldwell.

The group was named East 17 after the postcode of their hometown, Walthamstow. The original roles in the band were soon altered when Brian Harvey, who was intended to be a back-up singer and dancer, was made lead singer due to his vocal talent.  The band was managed by Tom Watkins, ( former Pet shops, Bros manager ), East 17 were actually a good band with their Bad Boy image and with Tony Mortimer writing abilities the group had some great songs and managed to obtain a career outside of the UK mainly Germany. the downfall for East 17 was Brian Harvey and his drugs related issues, don't get me wrong the guy had great vocal but his erective behaviour caused issue in the band, eventually they called it a day. East 17 are still one the best UK boys bands.

 

 5 - Blue

Blue were once again a Manufactured boy band  4 Members with : Anthony Costa, Duncan James, Lee Ryan, Simon Webb. who were really nothing more than a poor Take that Their first three albums, 2001's "All Rise," 2002's "One Love" and 2003's "Guilty" topped the U.K charts in a four-year  but never really cracked any other pop market.. Blue  downfall was that they never really had any talent you had Lee Ryan who portrayed  himself as bad boy, Simon Webb had some talent with his vocals but the other two members never really added anything to the band.