The return of Bros after 25 years spurred us to look at what happened to 10 of the most memorable boy bands.
The Jackson 5 (1964-1989, 2012-present)
With such a totalitarian father, being in the Jackson 5 would have been more like a tour of duty, yet the older siblings emerged relatively unscathed. The band never can say goodbye and are playing Glastonbury Festival this year. On the side, Marlon is a real estate agent; Jackie is closely involved in the music career of his son Dealz; Tito is promoting his album Tito Time; and Jermaine continues to be Michael's biggest defender, most recently writing a book about his brother.
"The fat dancer'' Robbie Williams (far left) with his Take That bandmates about 1992. Credit: Tim Roney/Getty Images
The Monkees (1965-71, 1986-88, 1996-97, 2001-02, 2011-present)
The first teenybopper band to protest against the system, the Monkees starred in 58 episodes of their TV series before seeking emancipation through magical-mystery flick Head. Peter Tork paid his way out of his contract, while Mike Nesmith apparently punched holes in the management office. Davy Jones died of a heart attack in 2012; Micky Dolenz and Tork continue to tour. Last month, Nesmith put out an autobiography and a retrospective of his country material.
Bay City Rollers (1966-87, 1990, 1998-2000, 2015-present)
The five Scots sold 300 million records and wound up broke. Les McKeown killed a pedestrian with his new Mustang and turned to the bottle. Pat McGlynn accused manager Tam Paton of attempted rape, and in 1982 Paton was jailed for similar offences. Derek Longmuir was caught with child porn in 2000. In 2015, McKeown, Alan Longmuir and Stuart Wood reformed the band. However, Woody left after their appearance at the Scottish festival T in the Park, blaming McKeown for simultaneously touring his own band (Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers), confusing fans.
The Jackson 5: a tour of duty.
Boyz II Men (1985-present)
These Philadelphians' syrupy assurances of taking things slow inspired the internet spoof Sexually Enlightened R&B Song. Their 1992 smash, End of the Road, was written by Babyface, who's behind 26 R&B No.1 hits. Musically, it bears up to the Commodores' Nightshift. Lyrically, any real-life cheater subjected to such passive-aggressive sentiment should feel assured they did the right thing. If lonely bros are your thing, Boyz II Men have a residency at the Mirage in Vegas.
Indecent Obsession (1987-1995)
A name like a Sharon Stone film, a look like Bros in wetsuits. Local audiences were fickle: in the space of three years these Bribanites' singles went from charting at No. 6 to No. 122. Under duress, their music got increasingly schmaltzy, then in 1992, after a move to LA, half the lineup changed and there was a stab at incorporating dance music. In the end, they had to Say Goodbye. Michael Szumowski is now music supervisor of Sydney's Rumble Studios; David Dixon is an offshore helicopter pilot; and Daryl Sims and Andrew Coyne have eluded our grasp.
Take That (1990-1996; 2006-present)
Robbie Williams, the oompah to Gary Barlow's loompah, craved both credibility and the freedom to be munted in public. He left to hang out with Oasis (who later rejected him as "the fat dancer from Take That") and was successfully sued twice by former manager Nigel Martin-Smith. Take That are still active, with the exception of Jason Orange, who retired from loitering on stages in 2014. According to last year's Sunday Times Rich List, Williams is now worth $250 million. Barlow crawls in at $129 million.
East 17 (1991-97; 1998-99; 2006-13; 2014-present)
Bros svengali Tom Watkins wanted a rough-trade band and put together these chav-poppers from East London. In 2015, ex-singer Brian Harvey was filmed smashing a platinum disc in an alley, saying, "F--- your weird paedophile world". He'd been fired in 1997 when he extolled the virtues of ecstasy on the radio. A 2006 reunion went badly when sole royalty-earner Tony Mortimer punched him. East 17 recently played a '90s nostalgia tour with only dancers John Hendy and Terry Coldwell as original members. From the stage at Melbourne's Festival Hall, the crowd was told an impromptu meet-and-greet could be held for $50.
The Backstreet Boys in 2000 - 10 years later they joined with New Kids on the Block to form the short-lived ''supergroup'' NKOTBSB. Credit: Mike Segar
NSYNC (1995-2002)
This Florida five-piece were Ken dolls in the It's Gonna Be Me video and puppets in Bye Bye Bye. The punchline was that in 1998, NSYNC sued manager Lou Pearlman for defrauding them of more than 50 per cent of their earnings. These days, Timberlake is the only member with a successful solo career. Lance Bass was on a quest to be an astronaut but is now an actor. Chris Kirkpatrick has been quiet since appearing as a contestant on a country music talent show in 2008. Joey Fatone has appeared in Broadway musicals. J.C. Chasez tried masterminding a band, Girl Radical, and most recently toured in Jesus Christ Superstar.
Busted (2002-2005, 2015-present)
It looked like fun: puerile schoolboy lyrics and shaggy haircuts. Yet Charlie Simpson declared boy-band life "torture" and left to form post-hardcore band Fight Star. Matt Willis, now an expert on survival strategies, won Britain's 2006 I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! He's also survived several stints in rehab. The trio made up in 2015 and released a new album, Night Driver. They also teamed up with rivals McFly to form McBusted and were mistaken for One Direction's dads (possibly) when supporting them in Australia in 2015.
Florida five-piece NSync, in 1998, with Justin Timberlake at left.Credit: Frank Micelotta/ImageDirect
NKOTBSB (2010-2012)
When two become one… This "supergroup" comprised of '90s 'throbs New Kids on the Block and the Backstreet Boys, and together they were the arena equivalent of a hens' night. True fans bought tickets for the cruises, on which – refreshingly – it was men who had to watch out for drink spiking. New Kids' Donnie harnessed the nostalgia to appear in a reality TV show, Wahlburgers. Or was that fuelled by the old rivalry? Nick from BSB did the same a year earlier.