Another boyband are reforming.
They’re not playing Croke Park though.
Or Belfast’s SSE Arena. Or the Manchester Arena. Or the O2 in London or the Echo Arena or any of those.
They’re playing O’Keeffe’s in Clonmel which is absolutely fair enough like, that place has at least a 200 person capacity.
Boyz On Top soared to dizzying heights of fame back in the early noughties with their iconic Top 40 hit, Poster Boyz.
The track climbed up the Irish charts to a staggering #33 and stayed there long enough to solidify the group’s week-or-so-long reign at the helm of the boyband scene.
During this time, they broke hearts, shattered records (vinyl ones), and changed the music business for the worse.
But then it all fell apart.
The band split up and at least 12 people were left with a massive gaping Boyz shaped hole in their hearts.
That was, until, this week – because the Boyz are back and with them they’ve brought the services of a World Class Hollywood Crew to document their every step back into the music scene.
For those who remember them, Boyz On Top represent a return to the classic boyband format, a desperately needed explosion of nostalgia, and a band reunion that literally nobody asked for.
And for those who don’t, you didn’t miss much.
Her caught up with Boyz On Top’s lead singer Dylan St. James to chat all things fans, failures, and finding the strength to remain humble when you’ve spent oh so long at the top.
Hi Dylan, so what inspired you to get the band back together?
Not “what” inspired me, but “who”! I inspired me to get the band back together. You see, I achieved everything I set out to with my solo career – my debut EP I’m No Saint is still available on GrooveShark.
And because Charlie, Deco and Tom didn’t have much going on either, it just felt like the time was right.
Obviously, we just couldn’t deprive the fans of Boyz on Top for any longer.
Did the intense failure of your first single, Poster Boyz, deter you from reforming at all?
Woah, Intense failure? I think you and I remember history a little different.
What I remember is Poster Boyz making it all the way to #33 in the Irish charts. That’s just three short of being on ‘Top 30 Hits’. If anything these past years have proved how well the song has aged.
Did Westlife’s recent reunion influence your decision to reform?
I like to think we influenced Westlife’s reunion.
I mean, I know they announced their reunion first, but their hand must have been forced when they heard the rumours. It’s hard to keep big news like this under wraps in this industry.
How has the music industry changed since Boyz On Top was formed?
It’s changed so much for the positive.
These days you don’t need a manager, a record label, a producer, an agent, a publicist, a recording studio, a choreographer, or a stylist. All you need is four guys, Garage Band, and some raw talent.
Has Boyz On Top grown since the early noughties?
Well Tom has grown, a lot. Kidding! But seriously, time hasn’t been kind to Tom.
Charlie is still a sweetheart. Deco’s still alive, which considering his lifestyle, is a surprise to us all. And me, well I’m now handsome, and wise – a potent mix for a boyband frontman.
In terms of us as a band, I think we’ve all lived a lot more since the last time around. We’re a little rougher around the edges, with a bit more milage on the clock, which should all add to our gritty, more urban new sound.
Are any of you single and would you date a fan?
Well, I am single but the issue has never arose because my fans are really respectful of my privacy, they never bother me when I’m on a night out, taking the bus, at the salon, or anywhere really. They let me walk around like regular person. Are you a fan?
How many Croke Park nights are you planning on doing?
Now you’re talking my language! Obviously everyone wants us to play Croke Park.
First things first though. We have a new single to record called, Be My Girl on Top, plus they’re making a big Hollywood documentary about me, and the band’s rise back to the top. So I need to find the time for that. It’s a pretty big deal.
You can read more about Dylan, Boyz On Top, and their big Hollywood documentary over on their Kickstarter page.
