DUNCAN James has revealed how Blue has managed to avoid the boyband curse and not hate each other’s guts ahead of their new album.
The four-piece formed in 2000 and have a wealth of hits to their name including All Rise, One Love and Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word.
To mark their 25th anniversary, Blue – which also consists of Lee Ryan, Simon Webbe, Antony Costa – are releasing a new album in January, and are stronger than ever.
Speaking to The Sun, Duncan, 48, said: “We’re very busy with the new album Reflections coming out.
“Then a big world tour for our 25th anniversary. I just can’t believe we have got to 25 years and we’ve never lost a member.
“We’ve stayed together for 25 years and we’re still there.”
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He’s right – it’s a rare feat in boyband terms to not only have all original members in the band, but for there to still be a lot of love and respect for one another.
Original British boyband Take That famously lost Robbie Williams to a solo career in the mid-90s, and currently perform as a trio after Jason Orange decided to hang up his mic in 2014.
One Direction lost Zayn Malik partway through their world-dominating success, while Westlife lost Brian McFadden after five years and Five fell apart in spectacular fashion at the peak of their fame, before all of them finally reunited for their successful 2025 arena tour.
Meanwhile Boyzone has grabbed headlines in recent years after documenting the tensions behind-the-scenes and announcing a surprise farewell gig with all four remaining members agreeing to take part.
Despite Blue going on hiatus from 2005 to 2011, they reformed as a four-piece to represent the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest, and have remained together ever since.
Revealing the key to their success in avoiding the boyband curse, Duncan said: “I’ve had these ups and downs and different things, we’ve all had a lot of ups and downs but we’re still together.
“For me, I think it’s because we have a lot of loyalty to one another. And I think boys as well, we never really argue.
“We don’t have these bitchy squabbles about clothing or who is going to have what.
“But I think honestly, it’s probably down to the fact that I’m an only child, so I never had any brothers and sisters.
“So when I got into Blue and at the height of it all it was just crazy, we were all over the place around the world, doing songs with Elton John and all that, and I think you just become really close like brothers.”
They’re brothers that I never thought I’d ever have, and we’re family. We always say that to each other, we’re family. And I think that’s the key.
Duncan James
Duncan, who came out as gay in 2014, continued: “They were there for me through everything that I’ve been through in my life, they are literally my brothers.
“They’re brothers that I never thought I’d ever have, and we’re family. We always say that to each other, we’re family. And I think that’s the key.
“There’s been a lot of stuff that’s gone on and we’ve always stood by each other and supported each other, and that’s what families do, don’t they?”
Because of this, the lads still all share a dressing room when they go on tour, but there is one thing they refuse to do.
Duncan, who spoke to us while attending the Children with Cancer gala, said: “The only thing we don’t do is sit next to each other on an aeroplane.
“We all like a window seat and so we all want that seat, and if you don’t get a window, it’s like ‘Oh for God’s sake!’, that’s when you could have an argument!”
New album Reflections, released on January 9, and lead single One Last Time, shows a more grown-up side to the band, who are fans of bands including The Killers and Kings of Leon.
Duncan previously told The Sun: “I think all of us collectively have always loved that rock sound.
“But when you’re put into a boy band, you’re given a kind of direction to go down.”