Is it an indication that a global Armageddon date has been set, to be preceded by monstrous, vile, contorted apparitions that scratch at the soul? Just when you thought it was safe to listen to your radio, New Kids on The Block have announced that they’re reforming.

Is. There. Any. Need.

No, in a word.

Reunions are almost always a bad idea. Bumping into the dullard that you sat next to in Geography while you’re doing the big shop at Tesco is grim enough, but having to live through the fresh hell of boy bands reforming causes me to retch violently into my own hands.

However, much as I’d rather chop off my own knees than admit it, NKOTB were staggeringly successful in their day. Brought together by singer and producer Maurice Starr, the boy band was born in Boston in 1984 and sold over 70 million records worldwide.

Can you still name all five members? Of course you can. Danny Wood, Jordan and Jonathan Knight, Joey McIntyre and Donnie Wahlberg. Members, everyone of them. Remember Hangin’ Tough? What about The Right Stuff (actually entitled You Got It (The Right Stuff))? And, and… actually I can’t name anymore. But they did release six albums before disbanding in 1994.

I can’t wait for them to disband again, unlike another band that, frankly, should never have split up in the first place. Fortunately The Who have also reunited an equal number of times since they first played together in 1964 and were recognised in 1990 as one of the greatest bands in the world. Mind you, how a band makes its money covering tv theme tunes from American forensic dramas is a mystery.

While I have nothing but derision and bile for NKOTB, there’ll always be a soft, squidgy place in heart for Gary, Jason, Howard and Mark. Take That truly are the comeback kings. Disbanding in 1996, reforming a decade later after an ITV documentary, their return was truly stellar. Their album Beautiful World has sold over 2.3 million copies so far since its release in November 2006, making it one of the top 20 albums of the 21st century.

No doubt 2008 will see more of them receive their tax bills and wonder how to best pay it with the least amount of effort. Unfortunately the rest of us will have to pay, too. Enough said.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 11th, 2008 by Paul Smith and is filed under Music Texpertise. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.