EAST 17 REFORM FOR SUMMER GIGS – WITHOUT BRIAN HARVEY
Ninetees boy band East 17 has announced their much-anticipated return to the live circuit and reveal a brand new line up. Original members Tony Mortimer, John Hendy, and Terry Coldwell will be joined by Blair Dreelan on lead vocals (instead of the infamous Brian Harvey – second right on pic), as the band hit the road for seven shows this summer. The tour comes a month after the massive Take That stadium tour and is bound to make this summer feel a tad early 90s. The tour stops off at Bristol O2 Avademy on July 22. “We have been waiting for the right time and the right lead singer and are really looking forward to playing our previous hits and some songs from our forthcoming album live,” said Tony Mortimer.
Founded in 1992, the group’s name came from the postcode for Walthamstow. East 17 notched up some 18 Top 20 singles and four Top 10 albums, and were one of the most famous acts in the world during the early to mid 1990s selling some 20 million records across Europe (they say Take That’s 19 million). In contrast to the wholesome boy band image, East 17 were seen as a grittier and more ‘real’, blending rap and pop in songs such as “House of Love” and “Steam”, and also tackled political issues with tracks like “Let It Rain”. Between 1992 and 1998 the band scored 12 Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Chart and on its release their debut album, ‘Walthamstow’, shot to Number 1 in the UK Albums Chart. It featured a string of Top 20 singles, including “House of Love” and “Deep”. “It’s Alright” became a major success in Australia, reaching Number 1 in early 1994 for seven consecutive weeks, having previously hit Number 3 in the UK charts in 1993. In 1994, upon the release of their second album, ‘Steam’, they scored a UK Number 1 single with “Stay Another Day”, which remained at the top for five weeks and was also that year’s Christmas Number 1. The track still remains a classic Christmas anthem. The boys furthered this success when they hit the Number 2 spot with “If You Ever”, a duet with UK soul singer Gabrielle.
Tickets on sale from May 20 at www.ticketweb.co.uk
