East 17

East 17 brought a rougher edge to the British boyband scene in the nineties, blending pop with rap and hip-hop influences. While Take That represented polished pop, East 17 favoured a more angular image and, at times, political lyrics.

Their story began in 1991 in Walthamstow, whose postcode gave the band its name. After receiving an offer from London Records, songwriter Tony Mortimer formed the group with Brian Harvey, John Hendy and Terry Coldwell. Their debut release, “House of Love”, quickly brought them attention across Europe, while their first album reached number one in the British charts.

Their defining moment came in 1994 with the ballad “Stay Another Day”, which became the UK Christmas number one. Two years later, their duet with Gabrielle, “If You Ever”, reached number two there. Following controversy involving Brian Harvey and Mortimer’s departure, the band attempted a fresh start as E-17 in 1998, but did not sustain their earlier success.

Further line-up changes followed. Terry Coldwell is now the only remaining member of the original line-up, alongside Robbie Craig and Joe Livermore. East 17 continue to perform at festivals, bringing their well-known nineties songs back to the stage.