911 (English group)

Last updated

911
911 live at the SECC.jpg
911 performing live in Glasgow on 7 May 2013 (L-R: Jimmy Constable, Lee Brennan and Spike Dawbarn).
Background information
OriginCarlisle, England, UK
Genres
Years active
  • 1995–1999
  • 2008
  • 2012–present
Labels
Members Lee Brennan
Jimmy Constable
Spike Dawbarn
Website www.911official.com

911 (pronounced "nine one one") are an English pop group consisting of Lee Brennan, Jimmy Constable and Simon "Spike" Dawbarn. They were formed in Glasgow in 1995 and released their debut single "Night to Remember" in May 1996. This was followed by their debut album The Journey in March 1997, which was certified Gold by the BPI in November 1997. 911 released two more Silver-certified albums, Moving On and There It Is , in 1998 and 1999, respectively. There It Is also produced their only UK number-one single, a cover of "A Little Bit More", which topped the UK Singles Chart in January 1999.

Contents

In their five years together, 911 scored ten UK top 10 singles. They sold 10 million singles and 6 million albums around the world, [1] and were very popular in Southeast Asia, where their first two albums went to number one. [2] They split in late 1999. [3]

In October 2012, it was announced that 911 would again reunite for the ITV2 reality-documentary series The Big Reunion , along with Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, B*Witched, Five and Honeyz in January 2013. Due to the highly positive reception, the groups went on an arena tour around the UK and Ireland. Their comeback album Illuminate... (The Hits and More) was released on 8 September 2013, along with their comeback single "2 Hearts 1 Love". In early 2014, 911 headlined their own UK tour - The Illuminate: The Hits and More Tour.

Career

1995: Formation

Dancers Jimmy Constable and Simon "Spike" Dawbarn met in the early 1990s. Later Constable and Dawbarn were both chosen to work as dancers on the late-night ITV music show The Hit Man and Her . [4] In 1995, after seeing how successful Jason Orange, who used to be a dancer on the show, had been with boy band Take That, Constable and Dawbarn put their own group together. [5] At Carlisle's radio station CFM Radio, they met Steve Gilmour, who had previously managed PJ & Duncan and Boyzone, and asked him to be their manager a few months later. Gilmour initially turned them down. [6]

Gilmour decided to manage them but they were short of a singer and Lee Brennan was recruited following a recommendation by their new manager. After moving into Gilmour's three-bedroom flat in the south side of Glasgow, [7] [8] 911 embarked on a tour of schools and under-18 clubs in the UK. [9] Having been turned down by record companies, [10] 911 and their management team Backlash formed their own record label, Ginga Records, with funding from businessman Frank Shapiro. [11]

1996–1999: Success

In April 1996, they released their debut single, a cover of Shalamar's "Night to Remember", which entered the UK Singles Chart at number 38 in May. [11] In July, their second single "Love Sensation" was released; later featured in the 1997 live-action film Casper: A Spirited Beginning , which charted at number 21 in August. The success of these two independently released singles created a major record label bidding war and in September 1996, 911 were signed up by Richard Branson's Virgin Records on a £3.5 million, four-album deal. 911 won GMTV's 'Search for the Next Big Thing' and were voted the 'Second Best Newcomer' after the Spice Girls in Smash Hits . [12]

911 had their first top 10 hit in November 1996 with "Don't Make Me Wait", which reached number 10. [13] Nine more successive UK top 10 hits followed, including "Bodyshakin'" (which became their signature song), "Private Number" and the UK chart-topper "A Little Bit More". [13] During this time, 911 released three studio albums, The Journey (1997), Moving On (1998) and There It Is (1999), all of which hit the top 20 on the UK Albums Chart.[ citation needed ]

At the end of 1999, they released a greatest hits album entitled The Greatest Hits and a Little Bit More , which included (at the time) their final single "Wonderland", before splitting up. On The Big Reunion , Dawbarn said: "We knew we'd reached our peak and we were kind of that little decline and we thought, 'It's best getting out at the top.'" [14] Constable was also told by the other two that he would be the one to break the news of their break-up live on Chris Moyles' Radio 1 show. Constable in 2005 said: "I didn't have any time to get my head around it. I had a lump in my throat saying it, then we came out of Radio 1 and the other two guys went to the pub. I got in my car and took off and I never saw them for two years." [15]

2008: First reunion

In 2008, 911 reformed for a nightclub tour of the UK and Republic of Ireland, performing their most popular hits, and have also performed at a number of nightclub and university events, and they entertained the crowd prior to the Bradford Bulls clash with Leeds Rhinos on 23 May 2008. [16] They took part in Living's Pop Goes the Band; where they came together to get back to their boy band ways, resulting in a live performance of "Bodyshakin'". [17]

2012: Second reunion

911 reunited in 2012, along with Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, B*Witched, Five and Honeyz, for the ITV2 documentary series The Big Reunion , a show which would feature the bands reuniting for the first time in several years and undergoing two weeks of intense rehearsals ahead of a comeback performance sometime in 2013. [18] The show began airing on 31 January 2013, and the second episode, which aired on 7 February, featured Lee, Jimmy and Spike talking about their time together and the difficulties that came with being in a band.

The six bands performed a sold-out comeback concert at London's Hammersmith Apollo on 26 February 2013. This was followed by a UK arena tour taking place from 3–14 May 2013. [19] Two more dates were later added for 16 and 17 May, taking the tour total to 14 shows. [20] It was then announced that the bands would also be going on a mini-Christmas party tour in December 2013. [21]

On 6 March, 911 made an appearance on Daybreak , where they announced that they had recorded a new version of "Bodyshakin'" and were also planning to release new material. [22] On 28 March, they appeared on This Morning and confirmed that they would be releasing a new album and touring in 2014. Brennan said: "We're doing a new album, we're going to be touring ourselves next year, so we've got lots of things to look forward to. Bring It On!". [23] During The Big Reunion arena tour, it was announced that the band's new album would be called Illuminate. On 3 August, Brennan tweeted that the album, Illuminate... (The Hits and More) , would be released on 9 September 2013 alongside their comeback single "2 Hearts 1 Love". During another appearance on This Morning on 5 August, 911 spoke about their music comeback and also performed "2 Hearts 1 Love".

On 20 March 2014, it was announced that 911 and the other boy bands from both the first and second series of The Big Reunion, Five, Blue, 3T, A1, Damage and 5th Story, would go on a nationwide tour in October 2014. [24]

2019–present: 911 The Reunion and Đức Phúc collaboration

On 22 June 2019, 911 made a comeback to Southeast Asia with their concert known as 911 The Reunion in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with a sold-out show. [25]

On 9 February 2023, the group collaborated with Vietnamese singer Đức Phúc  [ vi ] for a bilingual version of "I Do" in English and Vietnamese. [26]

Discography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Liberty X</span> British-Irish music group

Liberty X are an English/Irish pop group originally consisting of Michelle Heaton, Tony Lundon, Kevin Simm, Jessica Taylor and Kelli Young. Since 2017, Heaton, Taylor and Young have performed as a girl group trio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B*Witched</span> Irish girl group

B*Witched are an Irish girl group consisting of twin sisters Edele and Keavy Lynch, Lindsay Armaou and Sinéad O'Carroll. Originally active between 1997 and 2002, they enjoyed success in both Europe and North America between 1998 and 2002, releasing two albums and eight singles, all of which made the UK Top 20. Their first four singles, "C'est la Vie", "Rollercoaster", "To You I Belong" and "Blame It on the Weatherman", all reached number one in the UK Singles Chart and the group has sold over 3 million albums worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Atomic Kitten</span> British girl group

Atomic Kitten were an English girl group formed in Liverpool in 1998, whose original lineup comprised Kerry Katona, Liz McClarnon, and Natasha Hamilton. The group was founded by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD) members Andy McCluskey and Stuart Kershaw, who served as principal songwriters during Atomic Kitten's early years. The group's debut album Right Now was released in October 2000 and charted at number 39 in the United Kingdom. After five top ten singles, original member Katona quit – four weeks before "Whole Again" reached number one in the UK Singles Chart – and was replaced by former Precious singer Jenny Frost. "Whole Again" became the group's most successful single, staying at number one for four weeks in the UK and six weeks in Germany, and reaching number one in many other territories; in Britain, it was the 13th-best-selling single of the 2000s. The group re-released their debut album, with some tracks re-recorded with Frost's vocals: it peaked at number one in the UK and was certified double platinum after selling over 600,000 copies.

Jessica Pietersen is an English singer. She is best known as member of the pop group Liberty X.

Five are an English boy band from London consisting of members Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, and Scott Robinson. They were formed in 1997 by the same team that managed the Spice Girls before they launched their career. The group were mostly known as a five-piece, consisting of Robinson, Neville, Conlon, as well as previous members Abz Love and Jason "J" Brown. Five enjoyed moderate success worldwide, particularly in their native United Kingdom and most of Europe and Asia, as well as brief success in the US.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue (English group)</span> English boy band

Blue are a British boy band consisting of members Simon Webbe, Duncan James, Antony Costa, and Lee Ryan. The group formed in 2000 and released three studio albums before announcing a hiatus in late 2004. In January 2011, the group reformed and represented the United Kingdom at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest in Düsseldorf with the song "I Can", coming in 11th place with 100 points. In 2013, it was confirmed that the group would be joining The Big Reunion, in which six groups from the past reform for a one-off gig. On 27 March 2013, the group announced they would embark on their first headlining tour later on in the year, their first tour in nearly ten years.

Kevin Ian Simm is an English singer and songwriter. He was a member of Liberty X (2001–2007) and is the vocalist of Wet Wet Wet. Simm also won The Voice UK in 2016.

The Honeyz are a British R&B girl group composed of sisters Candance and Célena Cherry and Heavenli Abdi. The group had five UK top 10 hits between 1998 and 2000, with "Finally Found" (1998), "End of the Line" (1998), "Love of a Lifetime" (1999), "Never Let You Down" (1999) and "Won't Take It Lying Down" (2000). Their only album Wonder No.8 was certified Gold by the BPI. The Honeyz formed in 1997 with the original line-up of Célena Cherry, Heavenli Abdi and Naima Belkhiati. Former Solid Harmonie member Mariama Goodman replaced Abdi from April 1999 until Abdi rejoined the group in August 2000, before the group disbanded for the first time in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Heaton</span> Musical artist

Michelle Christine Heaton is an English singer, stage actress and television presenter. She is best known as member of the pop group Liberty X.

Kelli Young is an English singer. She is best known as member of the pop group Liberty X.

Anthony William James Lundon is an Irish singer, producer and director, formerly a TV presenter with RTE (2007-2009), a vocalist and songwriter with chart act Liberty X (2001-2007), and lead dancer with Lord of the Dance (1996-1999). Since 2010, Lundon has focused on a producing and directing career having established his own film and TV production company, The Cell Productions.

Sinéad Maria O'Carroll is an Irish singer and businesswoman. She is best known for being a member of the girl group B*Witched.

Lee Anthony Brennan is an English singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. He was the lead vocalist of boy band 911.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spike Dawbarn</span> Musical artist

Simon James "Spike" Dawbarn is an English singer and dancer. He was a member of the boy band 911, who were originally active between 1995 and 2000 and had ten consecutive top 10 hits before splitting up in 2000. In 2012, 911 reformed for the ITV2 documentary series The Big Reunion, along with other bands from their time including Five, B*Witched and Atomic Kitten.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Constable</span> Musical artist

James Michael Constable is an English pop singer, songwriter and dancer. He was a member of the pop band 911.

<i>The Big Reunion</i> 2013 British TV series or programme

The Big Reunion is a British reality-documentary series that began airing on ITV2 on 31 January 2013. The show featured chart-topping bands who were big in the UK pop music scene between the 1990s and early 2000s, and the programme followed them as they reunited for the first time in a decade and went through their two weeks of intensive rehearsals before finally stepping back on stage for a comeback performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Big Reunion (concerts)</span> 2013 concert tour

The Big Reunion is a 2013 series of concerts featuring British pop groups Five, 911, Atomic Kitten, Honeyz, Liberty X and Blue, and Irish group B*Witched. The groups, who were big names in the UK pop music scene in the late 1990s and early 2000s, reunited for the ITV2 reality-documentary series The Big Reunion, a show which follows them meeting again for the first time in a decade and rehearsing ahead of their comeback performance.

5th Story were an English supergroup consisting of 1990s-early 2000s pop stars Dane Bowers, Gareth Gates, Kavana, Kenzie and Adam Rickitt. They were formed in 2013 exclusively for the second series of the ITV2 reality-documentary series The Big Reunion.

The first series of the British reality-documentary series The Big Reunion began airing on ITV2 on 31 January 2013 until 28 March 2013. The show features chart-topping bands who were big names in the UK pop music scene between the 1990s and early 2000s, and the programme follows them as they reunite for the first time in a decade and go through their two weeks of intensive rehearsals before finally stepping back on stage for a comeback performance. The bands who reunited for the first series were Five, 911, Atomic Kitten, B*Witched, Honeyz and Liberty X. Blue also joined later on.

<i>Champagne or Guinness</i> 2014 EP by B*Witched

Champagne or Guinness is an extended play released by Irish girl group B*Witched in 2014. After reuniting as part of the TV series The Big Reunion in 2012 and the success of the subsequent tour, B*Witched began recording new music. Champagne or Guinness was their first EP in over a decade, following "Across America 2000" in 2000.

References

  1. ↑ "Big Reunion stars 911 at Bridlington Spa: 'We can still bust a few moves'". Hull Daily Mail . Local World. 10 March 2014. Archived from the original on 12 March 2014. Retrieved 11 March 2014.
  2. ↑ "Where Are They Now?". Archived from the original on 12 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "911 - Before & After Split Announcement - Radio 1 (2000)". YouTube. 6 August 2013. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  4. ↑ Lynskey, Dorian (10 May 2005). "Arts: Boybands ruined my life". The Guardian.
  5. ↑ "Please sir, weren't you in a boy band?". Manchester Evening News. 5 December 2005.
  6. ↑ Hendry, Steve (3 February 2013). "Music biz guru reveals his memories of the acts starring in The Big Reunion". Daily Record. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  7. ↑ O'Neill, Christina (9 March 2015). "911: we love Glasgow, we loved Bonkers a lot even though it was the 'worst nightclub in the city'". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  8. ↑ Mullen, Stacey (19 December 2019). "'We were born and bred in Glasgow': 911 say city fans kicked it all off as they approach 25 years". Glasgow Times. Retrieved 10 February 2022.
  9. ↑ theofficial911 (18 June 2020). "*On This Day 25 Years Ago*
    On Sunday 18th June 1995, Lee, Spike & Jimmy were launched to the world as new Boyband 911!"    . Facebook . Retrieved 10 February 2022.    {{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  10. ↑ Wright, Jade (1 April 2011). "911's Jimmy Constable tells Jade Wright how proud he is to be from Liverpool". Liverpool Echo.
  11. 1 2 "Angel who put pop group among the stars". The Herald. 27 May 1996. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
  12. ↑ "911's Biography – Free listening, videos, concerts, stats and pictures at". Last.fm. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  13. 1 2 Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records. p. 395. ISBN   1-904994-10-5.
  14. ↑ ITV Television, The Big Reunion . 911 interviewed, March 2013
  15. ↑ Lynksey, Dorian (10 May 2005). "Jimmy Constable: Boybands ruined my life". The Guardian . Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  16. ↑ Nash, Lauren (16 September 2013). "911 singer Jimmy Constable saved from depression by love of St Neots woman". Hunts Post. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  17. ↑ "911: Can Carlisle lad Lee Brennan's pop band recapture their former glory?". News and Star . CN Group. 23 March 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2013.
  18. ↑ Harvey, Joanna (18 October 2012). "It's pop music heaven - Atomic Kitten, 5ive, Liberty X, 911 all to reunite for new TV show". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 19 September 2022.
  19. ↑ Nissam, Mayer (11 February 2013). "5ive, Atomic Kitten, B*Witched, Liberty X, 911 for Big Reunion arena tour". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  20. ↑ "The Big Re-Union announces show at The O2 and Odyssey Arena". Goldenplec. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  21. ↑ Corner, Lewis (27 March 2013). "5ive, B*Witched, Atomic Kitten for 'Big Reunion' Christmas Party tour". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  22. ↑ "Daybreak - 911 Interview (2013)". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  23. ↑ Heath, Olivia (28 March 2013). "Big Reunion's 911 announce future music plans!". Reveal. Nat Mags . Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  24. ↑ Wightman, Catriona (20 March 2014). "The Big Reunion: Boybands join forces for nationwide tour". Digital Spy . Hearst Magazines UK . Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  25. ↑ The Hive Asia (20 June 2019). "911 reveals reason for holding a concert in Malaysia after nearly 2 decades". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  26. ↑ Phương, Anh Cao (10 February 2023). "Nhóm nhạc 911: 'Ca sĩ Đức Phúc căng thẳng khi làm việc với chúng tôi'" [Group 911: 'Singer Duc Phuc is stressed when working with us']. Tiền Phong (in Vietnamese). Retrieved 11 February 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.