Five, one of the most iconic boybands of the late 1990s and early 2000s, are back together again after a nearly two-decade hiatus. The group, which sold over 20 million records during their initial run, has been making waves with their reunion tour, which kicked off last week in Cardiff.
The five members - Scott, Ritchie, J, Sean, and Abz - have spoken candidly about the emotional toll of their breakup in 2001. "It was too much too fast," Abz says, recalling how quickly the pressures of fame took its toll on him. "We were like being strapped to a rocket" is how Ritchie describes it.
The band's reunion has been years in the making, with Scott admitting that not even seeing his former bandmates for over 20 years had been on his mind until Abz reached out. The conversation, sparked by an impromptu phone call, marked the beginning of their reunion journey - one they describe as "being friends again" rather than simply revisiting their musical past.
The group has spoken about the psychological impact of their breakup and how it left them with "blank spots in our memories." Sean describes the experience as akin to being chased by something. It was an overwhelming time, especially when considering that the band members were barely out of school when they formed.
This time around, however, there's a renewed focus on self-care and mental health. The group has expressed gratitude for having a supportive team in place, which is "the most important thing," according to J.
As for performing together again, Ritchie admits to initial doubts about whether the crowd would know who they were. However, after meeting Robbie Williams, another former Take That member, the group's confidence grew. "Robbie knew everything we've been through," Scott notes, with Williams telling them it was like carrying a big bag of rocks that needed to be emptied day by day.
While the experience has been a transformative one for the band, there's no denying they're excited to get back out on stage. Abz jokingly says he'd "do it all again but differently," while Ritchie quips that this time around, he'd make sure to keep an eye on the finances.
For now, fans can catch Five performing live as part of their tour, which is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
The five members - Scott, Ritchie, J, Sean, and Abz - have spoken candidly about the emotional toll of their breakup in 2001. "It was too much too fast," Abz says, recalling how quickly the pressures of fame took its toll on him. "We were like being strapped to a rocket" is how Ritchie describes it.
The band's reunion has been years in the making, with Scott admitting that not even seeing his former bandmates for over 20 years had been on his mind until Abz reached out. The conversation, sparked by an impromptu phone call, marked the beginning of their reunion journey - one they describe as "being friends again" rather than simply revisiting their musical past.
The group has spoken about the psychological impact of their breakup and how it left them with "blank spots in our memories." Sean describes the experience as akin to being chased by something. It was an overwhelming time, especially when considering that the band members were barely out of school when they formed.
This time around, however, there's a renewed focus on self-care and mental health. The group has expressed gratitude for having a supportive team in place, which is "the most important thing," according to J.
As for performing together again, Ritchie admits to initial doubts about whether the crowd would know who they were. However, after meeting Robbie Williams, another former Take That member, the group's confidence grew. "Robbie knew everything we've been through," Scott notes, with Williams telling them it was like carrying a big bag of rocks that needed to be emptied day by day.
While the experience has been a transformative one for the band, there's no denying they're excited to get back out on stage. Abz jokingly says he'd "do it all again but differently," while Ritchie quips that this time around, he'd make sure to keep an eye on the finances.
For now, fans can catch Five performing live as part of their tour, which is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
It's amazing how they've been able to reconnect and find a healthy balance between their music and mental well-being. I think it's so cool that they're prioritizing self-care and being open about their experiences. They're showing us that even in the midst of chaos, we can still choose to nurture our minds and bodies.
. It's infectious! As someone who's all about living a mindful lifestyle, I'm loving the vibe these guys are giving off right now. Let's get ready to groove with Five again and celebrate the power of friendship and self-love 
I mean, it's crazy how much time has passed and they've all been through so much, but at the end of the day, music is what brings them together, right? 
It's amazing how supportive their team has been too - mental health and self-care are everything, you know? 
And I love that Robbie Williams knew exactly what to say to boost their confidence! He's always been a cool guy. 
Now, let's get those memories back in the band members' heads... they're talking about having "blank spots" – like, how do we fill that?! 
they've come a long way since 2001 and it's amazing to see how much they've grown as people and performers 
but now, they're rocking this reunion tour like it's their first time on stage 
I mean we've all been there, you know? reliving old memories and trying to keep the past from getting in the way of the present. but honestly, how many times can one band re-reunite before it's just old news 
. I love that they're focusing on self-care and mental health now, it's like they've come full circle 
.
. And can we talk about Robbie Williams for a sec? He's literally the coolest 
. The fact that he helped boost their confidence and made them feel like they're carrying a heavy bag of rocks (just kidding) but seriously, it's beautiful to see old friendships reignite 
.
. The energy is going to be electric 
and I'm here for it 
. Their prices are insane! Like, who needs that kind of cash? And don't even get me started on how long the queues will be... 2-decades apart and still gonna be crazy 
on BBC iPlayer. At least then I won't have to shell out the extra cash for a pricey ticket 
.
. Robbie Williams must be a lifesaver after that meeting!
. The fact that they're using their platform to talk about self-care is just fabulous 
The fact that Robbie Williams had a chat with them beforehand must've given them a confidence boost - I'm sure it did wonders for their nerves about not knowing what the crowd would think. Love how they're focusing on self-care and mental health this time around... we could all learn from that, right? 
. Anyway, let's get back to 5 - did you know they've been making an average of $10 million per show on this reunion tour? 
That's insane! And I love how Ritchie is joking about keeping an eye on the finances 
. On a more serious note, have you seen the stats on mental health in the music industry? 
. I'm not surprised Robbie Williams' friendship helped boost their confidence – he's always been a Take That superfan 
and mental health issues are no joke 
especially with all the pressure to perform and maintain that image. it's so cool that they're prioritizing self-care now though 
and it's awesome that robbie williams has been supporting them 
But seriously, I love that they're focusing on mental health and having a supportive team around them.
I'm not surprised they're back together - those boybands from the 90s and early 2000s are still super iconic! It's actually really cool that they're prioritizing self-care and mental health this time around, though. Like, they were basically school kids when they started touring, lol 
. It's great to see them focusing on self-care now though, mental health is everything 
. It's crazy how time flies, right? Now they're rocking out again, and it's like no time has passed at all 
. Can't believe Abz said he'd "do it all again but differently"... is that a hint they've got new music up their sleeves?! 