EAST 17
L-R Terry Coldwell, Tony Mortimer, John Hendy
Biography
When East 17 stumbled into the Walthamstow limelight in late 1991 they had little idea that their rabble-rousing brand of boy-band pop would create such a storm. Indeed, at the outset, a young Tony Mortimer had been on the verge of signing a solo deal with London Records until ex-Pet Shop Boys manager Tom Watkins suggested that what the world needed was a boy-band antidote to Take That and a band that bad girls could fall in love with. Of course, what Mortimer says now is that he really thought the world needed a UK version of New Kids On The Block and when you think about it this is not a million miles from the inevitable truth. The resultant chaos produced a 1992 debut single, House Of Love, which sold 600,000 copies and a debut album that hit the No.1 spot the following year. The band went on to achieve 18 Top Twenty hits (including Deep, Steam, Let It Rain, It’s Alright and Christmas No.1 Stay Another Day, the latter remaining No.1 for five weeks) as well as four Top Ten albums and sales of over twenty million records. And when East 17 finally split in 1997 it was heralded (and still remains) one of the greatest break-ups in pop history.
New single entitled Secret Of My Life due for release at the end of July
East 17 were recently re-united under the auspices of principal songwriter Tony Mortimer who won an Ivor Novello Songwriter Award for Stay Another Day, the song he wrote for his brother Ollie who committed suicide. The current line-up includes original members Mortimer, John Hendy and Terry Caldwell. The band recently signed to FOD Records and have a new single entitled Secret Of My Life due for release at the end of July. A new album is still being recorded and is being brought forward for September release.
In recent weeks T-Mobile have used the East 17 song House Of Love in a Royal Wedding spoof commercial and at the last count this had generated an astonishing twenty one million You Tube hits.
RECORDING COMMITMENTS MEAN EAST 17 POSTPONE UK TOUR TO LATE AUGUST
Recording commitments mean that EAST 17, one of the most celebrated and successful boy bands of all time, have had to reschedule their impending UK tour. The band who achieved 18 Top Twenty hits (including House Of Love, Deep and Christmas No.1 Stay Another Day) as well as four Top Ten albums and sales of over twenty million records, were due to kick off the UK leg of their tour in Glasgow on 15th July but will now commence proceedings in Brighton on 31st August. All tickets for the original shows remain valid.
EAST 17 – BACK TO THE FUTURE TOUR:
Wednesday 31st August BRIGHTON CONCORDE 2
Thursday 1st September BRISTOL O2 ACADEMY2
Friday 2nd September OXFORD O2 ACADEMY
Sunday 4th September LIVERPOOL O2 ACADEMY2
Monday 5th September GLASGOW O2 ABC2
Tuesday 6th September NEWCASTLE O2 ACADEMY
Thursday 8th September LONDON O2 ACADEMY ISLINGTON
Friday 9th September BIRMINGHAM O2 ACADEMY2
Saturday 10th September SHEFFIELD O2 ACADEMY2
Sunday 11th September NORWICH WATERFRONT
