"Jesus and Buddha in a room and gave them the work schedule ..." - Boyband Five on olden days and their blockbuster return

In a candid reflection on their rapid ascent and the problems that came with it, British boy band Five (stylized as 5ive) is meeting with all original members for the first time in 25 years. Ritchie Neville’s words are the right observation:

“If you put Jesus and Buddha in a room and gave them the work schedule that we had, I guarantee they’d fall out.”

Reunions are always an opportunity to heal and reconcile as well as attend to unfinished business.

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A meteoric rise – and the cracks beneath

Five burst into the pop scene guns blazing with hits like "Keep On Movin'" and "We Will Rock You," becoming an instant household name in the 90s under the watchful gaze of their producers, Bob and Chris Herbert, who made quite the stir by forming the group in 1997 – they were famously known for creating the Spice Girls. However, things were not all rainbows and sunshine.

Sean Conlon was brought into the group at 15 and later shared the mental impact that their grueling schedule placed on him.

"I was overwhelmed. I had too much emotion, too much stimulation, and I just couldn’t process it," he admitted to The Guardian.

Conflict in the group’s private lives was left unresolved as well. Looking back now, Jason “J” Brown admits that he acted quite differently from how he would now imagine himself to be back in that time.

"When I was scared, I’d peacock and puff my chest out and shout loud... I realise why that was taken the way it was," he said to The Guardian.

The lack of mental support and freedom ultimately led to Sean leaving first in 2001, the rest of the group following shortly after, leading to their disbanding. What was once a fairy tale was left cursing the unbearable pressures that come alongside fame.

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Friendship first: Rebuilding after the storm

In late 2023, an unexpected occurrence unfolded when all five original members, Abz Love, Ritchie Neville, Jason “J” Brown, Scott Robinson, and Sean Conlon, came together, not to tour but to reconnect as friends.

"It was about being friends again. Reconnecting," said Scott Robinson to The Guardian.

That friendship led to a reunion tour…and the idea took root.

"If we wanted a cash grab we would have done it 15 years ago," added Ritchie Neville to The Guardian. "It’s a genuine healing process"

Abz Love shared the sentiment when he stated:

"This is bigger than us... There's nothing stopping this."

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The 'Keep On Movin’' tour: A new chapter

The band’s comeback tour, aptly named after one of their hits, will start from Brighton Centre on October 31 and end on November 16 at Glasgow's OVO Hydro. The 12-date UK tour promises a celebration of Five’s biggest anthems for fans, complete with special guest performances from DJ Naughty Boy on select shows.

"This has been a long time coming and it really does feel right for all of us now—25 years on and we’re so ready for it," said Scott Robinson to the Evening Standard.

At the moment, there are no confirmed plans for new music, but the opportunity still exists. For now, the focus is on celebrating the empire they created and the brotherhood forged anew.

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Learning, healing, and moving forward

Today, Five is more than just songs or fame. It's now about perseverance, coming to terms with oneself, and true friendship.

"We’re enjoying ourselves. We’re having the time of our lives," said Sean Conlon to The Guardian, capturing the spirit of this new era.

The group that used to shine and flicker is now being reintroduced to the world—but this time, it is at its own pace.