THEY were the 90s heart-throbs that set teenage girls’ pulses racing across the globe thanks to their strong vocals, smooth moves… and toned bodies.
And while many boyband stars gave solo stardom a shot after the groups they were in split up, some took a completely different career path.
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A select few chose to turn their backs on fame for a quieter pace of life away from the glitz and glamour of the showbiz world.
Some of the beloved boyband hunks traded it all in to work as teachers, fitness instructors and NHS workers – one surprisingly became a history buff and is now a best-selling author.
It is no surprise, with a bombshell new BBC docuseries airing this weekend lifting the lid on the dark realities of life that comes with instant pop fame.
Here we reveal what happened to the stars that turned their back on the spotlight.
Giles Kristian – Upside Down
They were the first reality TV boyband way before Simon Cowell, Popstars and The X Factor.
Upside Down was formed in the early 90s with auditions being filmed for a BBC documentary which catapulted Giles from an English literature student, living in a Birmingham bedsit, to a global superstar filming pop videos around the world.
Speaking in 2022, Giles recalled: “We did Top Of The Pops twice and toured with massive ’90s groups like Take That, Backstreet Boys, and the Spice Girls.
“I even had girls camping outside my parents’ house in Rothley, it was a strange experience.”
The band had four top twenty hits and performed on Top of the Pops and in Wembley Arena before disbanding in 1997.
He tried his hand at a solo career but felt he was being controlled by music execs so quit.
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Giles went back to his love of books and became a Sunday Times best-selling author writing historical fiction books based on Viking warriors and the fables of King Arthur.
Reflecting on his previous career, he said: “I just started having less and less control over it, with executives just telling me to do this and do that, and I just fell out of love with it.
“You worry that complaining about it makes you look ungrateful because you are getting so much attention and fame from it, but it just got to a point where I wasn’t happy and had to step away from that world.
“This is why being an author might seem like a weird shift, but it was the best thing for me. Being able to just sit in a room and writing, with no outside influence, was just so cathartic to me. It was just the opposite of the music industry and that’s exactly what I needed.
“I do miss some aspects of it, of course I do. The performing was just always so thrilling, being able to sing for a living. The record signings were always a lot more exciting than book signings, too!
“But I feel very lucky and blessed to get success in all of my career choices. Going through all the auditions alongside another 7,500 people to be chosen as the lead singer in a boyband of four it makes you think that anything is possible.”
Sam Chapman – North and South
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The foursome were a hit in the 90s after rising to fame on the CBBC show No Sweat.
It followed the exploits of a struggling boyband – but in real life, the group had a string of hits including their number seven debut I’m a Man Not a Boy.
But the band split in 1998 and keyboard player Sam decided to swap the stage for the school gates.
He became a music teacher at a Lincolnshire college and founded the Lincolnshire Music Network as a meeting place for up-and-coming acts.
His former bandmate James Hurst, who now runs an ethical record label, had previously spoken about the pressure of being a teen poster boy saying: “I was 16 when I moved to London from Norfolk, and I’m a vegetarian so cooking for myself was difficult, so I got really ill at one point.
“I was seven stone two. I’d wake up at five in the morning, ritually be sick, get dressed and go out to make our TV show. I wouldn’t have any breakfast because I couldn’t eat anything.
“It was a direct result of being too young and being in the wrong place. I think half the problem is that most of these bands now are very young. Billie Piper was 15 when she started. That’s too young to be working as a professional entertainer, in my opinion.”
Fatshaming, bust-ups and £150-a-week wages – inside the scandalous treatment of boybands
BOMBSHELL documentary Boybands Forever has shined a light on what really happened to our favourite groups.
From fat-shaming jibes to violent bust-ups including a clash with Simon Cowell and staggeringly low wages, fans were gobsmacked by the revelations.
The BBC series features the likes of Take That’s Robbie Williams, Westlife’s Brian McFadden, 5ive’s Ritchie Neville and 911’s Spike Dawbarn.
Among the many shocking anecdotes was that when East 17 was at the height of their fame, they were being paid JUST £150 per week while their manager made millions
Read The Sun’s full reporting of the first two episodes of Boybands Forever, here.
Michael Smallwood – Gemini
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If you thought Jedward were the first identical twin boyband, then think again.
Gemini’s bleach-blond David and Michael Smallwood hit the Top 40 three times between ’95 and ’96 and topped the charts in Asia before being dumped by their record label.
While David still performs, Michael quit showbiz to become a business data analyst.
Adam Rickitt – 5th Story
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Adam found fame on Corrie as Nick Tilsley in 1997, but his heart-throb status was sealed when he launched a pop career with hit single I Breathe Again.
He later found achieved boyband hunk status as part of the pop band 5th Story, a supergroup whose members included Gareth Gates.
But Adam has now swapped showbiz for pulling pints, running a craft beer and wine bar – Dexter and Jones – in Cheshire with his wife Katy who is also a news reporter on Good Morning Britain.
And 90s pop fans could even find Adam showing off his music video moves if they pop in for a drink.
The couple’s website says: “For us Dexter and Jones is the ultimate passion project, blending our love for our community, for each other and for great drinks… who do you think tries out all those new products?! It is far from a sideline for us though, most days you’ll find us either behind or in front of the bar, sometimes even dancing around it!”
Jimmy Constable – 911
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The boyband enjoyed worldwide fame in the 90s releasing 14 hit singles and four albums.
But during the pandemic, Jimmy swapped swooning fans for flashing blue lights as he joined the ambulance service.
He trained as an ambulance care assistant and posted a picture of himself looking handsome in his uniform with the caption: “I hope you are all coping well in this current lockdown.
“For the past 5 weeks I have been keeping busy by helping out @ruh @NHS. I have been working with the staff of @fastambulance driving their non-emergency patient transport ambulance service within the South West of England.
“It has been an amazing experience and feels good to do something so useful at a time like this. #coronovirus.”
Lee Brennan – 911
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Jimmy wasn’t the only member of 911 to make a drastic career change.
Lead singer Lee also retrained and earned himself some new qualifications as a health and fitness coach.
And while the band still performs together, Lee has another side hustle as a sport and fitness coach.
In 2021 he shared his latest qualification online, writing: “I’ve passed & I’m buzzing!!! I’m now a Certified PN1 Nutrition Coach, which feels amazing.
“My goal is to help you feel stronger from the inside out, & help you create amazing mind, body & lifestyle changes, that last a lifetime.”
As 911, Jimmy, Lee and Spike Dawburn had a series of Top 10 smash hit records, including Bodyshakin’, All I Want Is You and Private Number. The trio sold six million albums globally and were megastars in Asia.