Nineties British boy band Five are reunited and returning to Australia next month for the first time in 26 years.
If Westlife – with their suits, stools and coordinated standing on the key change – were the clean-cut prefects of the late '90s/ early '00s boy-band scene, then Scott, Abz, Sean, Ritchie and Jay – collectively and somewhat unimaginatively known as Five – were the bad boys.
Despite their ages now ranging from 44 to 49, they remain "five bad boys with the power to rock you" (IYKYK). "We're very, very happy to be coming over," Scott says.
"The fact that we're coming over to Australia after 26 years and playing arenas is absolutely incredible. We feel very, very lucky."
Launched in 1997 by the same team that gifted the world Spice Girls, Five were an instant success selling 20 million records and hitting number one with (among others) Queen's anthem 'We Will Rock You', a feat (it feels disrespectful to even acknowledge) Freddie and the lads failed to achieve first time 'round.
For five years, the hits kept coming: 'Slam Dunk (Da Funk)', 'Everybody Get Up', and 'Keep On Movin'' to name but a few.
Then there are the two that got away. Five passed on 'Bye Bye Bye' – their loss was NSYNC's gain – and couldn't persuade Max Martin they were a better fit for 'Hit Me Baby (One More Time)' than some small-town nobody (at the time) called Britney Spears.
"We'd had number one singles. We'd cracked every territory around the world," admits Jay. Adds Ritchie: "We just couldn't take in quite how successful we were."
However in 2001, shortly after the release of their third album 'Kingsize' (bad boys indeed), the wheels came off. Ritchie explains. "A big part was imposter syndrome. It was too much, too fast, too soon."
Physically and mentally burnt out, they acrimoniously split. "We were working 17-, 18-hour days, with only 2 days off a year. You're going to fall out with anyone if you're in their space all the time," Ritchie says.
In the intervening years, Abz farmed in Wales. Ritchie ran a restaurant in Sydney. Jay placed third in 'I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here' (2007 season).
Scott had a crack at music management. "I thought I knew loads," he says. "Turns out I know nothing. I'm better holding the microphone than telling other people to sing into it."
Two previous attempts at a Five reunion came to nought. It wasn't until Scott gathered all the members together in an Airbnb and they focused on rebuilding their bond as friends that the idea of taking this show on the road came to fruition.
A sell-out UK and Ireland tour at the end of last year proved Five can still make you get down.
Maybe it's the decades of media training, but they genuinely seem delighted to be back, gushing over their management team and live band. "It's better [second time 'round] in every way, shape or form," Ritchie says.
"I think a large part of that is that we're not absolutely worn out and exhausted. There is this camaraderie in a kind of beautiful, healed sense when we take to the stage; we are taking it as a complete package that's united and going out to rock the crowd."
If they could go back to any moment over their long and storied careers, what moment would they choose?
Sean: "Being in my bedroom when we lived in the house together when we first signed the record deal."
Jay: "The day before our first single 'Slam Dunk' was released. We stayed at a hotel in Marble Arch [London] the night before, and we went out the next day to see the single in the record shop." Ritchie: "It was mid-shelf and we moved it to eye-line."
Abz: "I'd go back to 1997 and do it all the same but different." Jay: "Really, honestly, not to sound cheesy, I would be right here where I am now."
Scott: "This moment in time. It feels very, very special. We feel very blessed."
Five 2026 Tour Dates
Wed 13 May - Perth HPC
Sat 16 May - TikTok Entertainment Centre (Sydney)
Wed 20 May - Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Sat 23 May - Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne)
