East 17#Members
{{Short description|English boy band}}
{{Refimprove|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| background = group_or_band
| name = East 17
| image = East-17-Band-2019-V2.jpg
| landscape = yes
| caption = East 17 in 2019
| alias = E-17 (1998–1999)
| origin = Walthamstow, London, England
| genre = {{hlist|Pop|dance-pop|pop-rap|hip hop}}
| years_active = {{hlist|1991–1997|1998–1999|2006–2013|2014–present}}
| label = {{hlist|London (1991–1997)|Telstar (1998–1999)|FOD (2011–2014)|Dax Music (2014–present)}}
| website = {{url|east17-official.com}}
| current_members =
- Terry Coldwell
- Robbie Craig
- Joe Livermore
| past_members =
- John Hendy
- Brian Harvey
- Tony Mortimer
- Blair Dreelan
- Terry John
}}
East 17 are an English pop boy band started by Tony Mortimer, Brian Harvey, John Hendy, and Terry Coldwell in 1991. They are best known for their 1994 hit single "Stay Another Day", which was the UK Christmas number one that year.
The group has released 18 top-20 singles and four top-10 albums and was one of the UK's most popular boy bands during the early- to mid-1990s, aided by strong tabloid interest in their 'bad boy' image, compared to the clean-cut style of rivals Take That. Their style blended pop and hip hop in songs such as "House of Love" and "Let It Rain".
East 17 has sold over 18 million albums worldwide and according to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), the group has been certified with sales of 1.8 million albums and 2.8 million singles in the UK.{{cite web |url=http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx |title=Certified Awards |publisher=Bpi.co.uk |access-date=4 March 2019 |archive-date=24 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124005813/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx |url-status=dead }}
East 17 have undergone multiple lineup changes, with Coldwell remaining the only constant member. The group continues today under the lineup of Terry Coldwell, Joe Livermore, and former Artful Dodger collaborator Robbie Craig.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/34981/robbie-craig/|title = ROBBIE CRAIG | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company|website = OfficialCharts.com}}
History
=Formation (1991)=
East 17 began in 1991 when Tony Mortimer was promised a record deal with London Records after he presented his own material. The deal was granted under the condition that he form a group, which would be in the format that London Records were looking for. Mortimer recruited Brian Harvey, John Hendy, and Terry Coldwell.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}
The group was named East 17 after the postcode of their hometown, Walthamstow.{{cite web |url=http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/East-17-star-Tony-Mortimer-Stansted-family-man/story-21904068-detail/story.html |title=Feature: East 17 star Tony Mortimer is Stansted family man |last=Holland |first=Sinead |publisher=Herts and Essex Newspapers Ltd |access-date=1 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225081547/http://www.hertsandessexobserver.co.uk/east-17-star-tony-mortimer-stansted-family-man/story-21904068-detail/story.html |archive-date=25 December 2016 |url-status=dead }}
=''Walthamstow'' (1992–1993)=
The group was usually seen as a grittier, more political and hip hop or rap-aligned ensemble than rival boy band Take That, as noted by Guy Adams of The Independent:{{cite news |first=Guy |last=Adams |title=Feature: On the road with East 17 |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/on-the-road-with-east-17-438254.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090716172713/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/on-the-road-with-east-17-438254.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 July 2009 |date=28 February 2007 |publisher=Independent News & Media |access-date=1 February 2010}}
{{quote|text = They shaved their heads, and had tattoos, and were a lot, lot cooler than the nancy boys of Take That. In the great five-year battle that dominated British pop, East 17 were also on the winning side. Their music was sharper and more streetwise. It was infused with hip hop and sold by the bucketload: 18 million records across Europe, compared with Take That's paltry 17 million.|author= Guy Adams}}
East 17 had twelve top-10 hits on the UK Singles Chart between 1992 and 1998.{{cite web |title=Report: East 17 play one-off reunion show |url=https://www.nme.com/news/east-17/23200 |date=31 May 2006 |publisher=IPC Media |access-date=1 February 2010}} Their debut album, Walthamstow, reached No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart. It featured a string of Top 20 singles, including "House of Love" and "Deep". "It's Alright" became a major success in Australia, reaching No. 1 in early 1994 for seven consecutive weeks.
=''Steam'' (1994)=
In 1994, upon the release of their second album, Steam, East 17 scored their only UK number-one single with "Stay Another Day".
=''Up All Night'' (1995–1996)=
The group's next album, 1995's Up All Night, was less successful.
In 1996, the group reached No. 2 with the track "If You Ever", a duet with Gabrielle.{{cite web| title=East 17 Featuring Gabrielle at OfficialCharts.com | website=OfficialCharts.com | url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ | access-date=1 February 2010}} The single was featured on their compilation album Around the World Hit Singles: The Journey So Far.
=Mortimer's first departure and first split (1997)=
In January 1997, Brian Harvey was engulfed in a drug-related controversy{{cite web |title=East 17 singer sacked for making ecstasy remarks |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/east-17-singer-sacked-for-making-ecstasy-remarks-1283668.html?amp |website=The Independent |access-date=25 December 2022 |date=18 January 1997}} when he claimed that he had taken ecstasy pills on a night out, stating in the press that "It's cool to take drugs" and claiming that ecstasy "can make you a better person".{{cite web |title=One Direction: when teen poppers turn rock'n'roll |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/jun/01/one-direction-when-teen-poppers-turn-rock-n-roll |website=the Guardian |access-date=25 December 2022 |date=1 June 2014}}
This went against the group's image, and there was intense media scrutiny, leading to questions being raised in the House of Commons.
{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom|title=Prime Minister's Questions|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1997-01-16a.449.6#g450.0|house=House of Commons|date=16 January 1997|column=450 |speaker=Barry Legg|quote=What is his reaction to the comments made today by Brian Harvey of East 17, who says that Ecstasy makes people feel better and that he takes up to 12 tablets a day?}}
{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom|title=Business of the House|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1997-01-16a.455.0#g463.5|house=House of Commons|date=16 January 1997|column=463 |speaker=Nigel Evans| quote=Brian Harvey and East 17 are idolised by many thousands of youngsters, some as young as 12. All the campaigning that has been done by voluntary bodies and others may now be jeopardised by the fact that Brian Harvey has come up with those stupid remarks.}}
{{cite hansard |jurisdiction=United Kingdom|title=Public Entertainments Licences (Drug Misuse) Bill|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=1997-01-17a.526.0#g526.2|house=House of Commons|date=17 January 1997|column=526 |speaker=Barry Legg| quote=We heard some dreadful remarks from Mr. Brian Harvey of East 17. [...] However, there was also a promising sign yesterday. I spoke to a 12-year-old schoolgirl in my constituency, who said that she would be taking down the posters of East 17. [...] Incidentally, I was pleased yesterday to note that many radio stations and record companies said that they would ban the music of East 17.}} With the group's career and reputation tarnished by the affair, Harvey was immediately sacked and Mortimer decided to leave several months later due to creative differences between himself and the rest of the group.
=First reunion and second split (1998–1999)=
Coldwell and Hendy later reinstated Harvey and attempted a comeback in 1998, renaming the group E-17.{{cite news |title=Report: E17 star on drugs charges |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2046793.stm |date=15 June 2002 |publisher=BBC |access-date=1 February 2010}} They landed a record deal with Telstar Records after recording an album's worth of self-written material in their home studios. Their first single as E-17 was "Each Time", which reached No. 2 in the UK. But without Mortimer's songwriting influence, the group's initial success soon wavered; sales of their next single, "Betcha Can't Wait", were disappointing, reaching number 12 in the charts, and their album Resurrection failed to make the UK Top 40. The band was later dropped by their label in 1999 and subsequently split up.{{Citation needed|date=August 2021}}
=Post-split activities (1999–2006)=
In 2001, Harvey, now as a solo artist, released a collaboration with Wyclef Jean, with the Top-20 single "Loving You", but later returned to perform numerous gigs with Coldwell and Hendy. On the ITV1 docusoap Redcoats, the trio were shown performing at Butlins in Bognor. Whilst in 2005, Harvey, Coldwell, and Hendy performed in Mongolia. In May 2005, Harvey was seriously injured in a car accident, requiring surgery.{{cite news |title=Report: Singer Harvey hopes to walk again |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4130812.stm |date=8 August 2005 |publisher=BBC |access-date=1 February 2010}}
=Second reunion and Mortimer's second departure (2006–2009)=
On 4 February 2006, Harvey appeared on the UK music television show CD:UK, where he announced that East 17 might make a comeback with its original lineup. In mid-February 2006, the group reformed and played their first comeback concert on 30 May at the Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. After reforming for the one-off performance, it was reported that Mortimer had left the group again due to a confrontation with Harvey, leading to an altercation between the two.
A Channel 4 documentary, East 17: The Reunion, which charted the group's rise and fall, along with their subsequent attempt to re-launch, was broadcast in May 2007.
East 17 continued to perform without Mortimer as a trio. They played at the University of Strathclyde on 24 September 2006, after DJ Colin Murray was unable to attend. A new single, "Fuck That", was due to be released in early 2008,{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Colothan |title=Report: Brian Harvey: 'East 17 Will Take On Take That' |url=http://www.gigwise.com/news/40303/brian-harvey-east-17-will-take-on-take-that |date=25 January 2008 |publisher=Gigwise.com |access-date=1 February 2010}} along with a new album, "Universalization", but both went unreleased.
East 17 performed at the 2009 Glastonbury Festival on 25 June in the dance lounge.{{cite web |first=Rosie |last=Swash |title=Review: East 17 at Glastonbury 2009 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2009/jun/26/east-17-glastonbury-2009 |date=25 June 2009 |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |access-date=1 February 2010}} In November 2009, the group collaborated with Mortimer in aid of the Born Free Foundation. They performed two of their best-known songs—"Deep" and "Stay Another Day"—for the Wild & Live! event at the Royal Albert Hall.{{citation needed|date=August 2021}} After the performance, the four agreed that it would be best if they never sang together again. However, according to a BBC Radio 2 interview with Zoë Ball in December 2009, songwriter Tony Mortimer mentioned that the band were on "talking terms" and planning a comeback for 2010.
=Mortimer's second return, Harvey's departure, Dreelan's arrival and departure, and ''Dark Light'' (2010–2013)=
Tony Mortimer returned to East 17 in 2010. Brian Harvey left soon after, when his commitment was questioned by the rest of the group; he had been missing rehearsals and cancelling performances. In 2011, T-Mobile used the East 17 song "House of Love" in a Royal Wedding "spoof" commercial. In April 2011, it was announced that Blair Dreelan had joined the band for their Back to the Future tour in August and September 2011 to promote their comeback single, "Secret of My Life". On 28 September 2011, Dreelan left the group due to contractual obligations. On 27 November 2011, East 17 appeared as musical guests on X Factor Romania.{{cite web|url=http://sezonul1.xfactor.a1.ro/stiri/noi_artisti_internationali_urca_pe_scena_x_factor_east_17_canta_duminica_la_antena_1|title=Noi artisti internationali urca pe scena X Factor. East 17 canta duminica la Antena 1!|publisher=Antena 1|date=24 November 2011|language=ro|access-date=16 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928143138/http://sezonul1.xfactor.a1.ro/stiri/noi_artisti_internationali_urca_pe_scena_x_factor_east_17_canta_duminica_la_antena_1|archive-date=28 September 2013|url-status=dead}}
East 17's fifth studio album, Dark Light, along with the new single "I Can't Get You Off My Mind", were released in 2012.
=Mortimer's third departure, Craig's arrival, ''24/7'', and Hendy's departure (2013–present)=
Tony Mortimer departed for the third time in 2013. Robbie Craig (born 1967{{Cite web |last=director |date=24 June 2023 |title=Robbie Craig member of East 17 |url=https://east17-official.com/news/robbie-craig/#:~:text=Robbie%20Craig%20is%20a%20British,singing%20at%20a%20young%20age. |access-date=15 December 2024 |website=East 17}}) later joined East 17 in early 2014. John Hendy and Terry Coldwell became the only original members in the group at that stage.{{Cite web|url=https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/east-17-in-2014-brian-harvey-tony-mortimer-robbie-craig|title=East 17 are back! But um, who the hell is Robbie Craig?|first=Leanne|last=Bayley|website=Glamourmagazine.co.uk|date=29 January 2014}}
In 2017, East 17 partook in B*Witched's Australia & NZ Tour as a supporting act alongside Atomic Kitten, S Club 3, and Liberty X. During this time, the band released their sixth studio album, 24/7, exclusively in Australia, titling it 24/7: Australian Tour Edition.{{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/02/east-17-drop-new-album-247/|title=East 17 Drop New Album 24/7|website=Auspop|date=17 February 2017|access-date=15 October 2021|archive-date=19 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219185102/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/02/east-17-drop-new-album-247/|url-status=dead}} In June 2018, John Hendy departed the group, citing personal reasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/East17online/photos/a.907166395965326/2169983913016895/?type=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/228061413875831/2169983913016895 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |url-access=limited|title=East 17 Fans|via=Facebook}}{{cbignore}} Since then, Terry John joined the band as Hendy's replacement,{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/East17online/photos/a.907166395965326/2177169815631638/?type=3 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/228061413875831/2177169815631638 |archive-date=26 February 2022 |url-access=limited|title=East 17 Fans|website=Facebook.com}}{{cbignore}} performed with them at numerous shows, but eventually also left and was replaced by Joe Livermore.{{Cite web |last=Pickstock |first=Heather |date=26 December 2021 |title=The day boy band East 17 gigged at a Somerset school |url=https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/day-boy-band-east-17-6340817 |access-date=12 July 2022 |website=SomersetLive}}
On 27 August 2021, East 17 released 24/7 internationally.{{cite web|title=East 17 Release New Album and Music Video |url=https://www.music-news.com/news/Underground/142475/East-17-release-new-album-and-music-video |website=music-news.com |date=31 July 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021}}
On 27 May 2022, East 17 released a new single, said to be from an upcoming album, called "I Just Wanna".{{Cite web |title=East 17 Brand New Single|url=https://www.pressparty.com/pg/newsdesk/ShipLapRecords/view/290315/?isworld=y |access-date=16 June 2022 |website=Pressparty |language=en}}
On 1 December 2023, the band issued the single "Merry Quitmas".{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/2pez6KiLkNzjt8VYUUpOGv?si=4UpCJHzoT3i37AxHS8Smpg|title=Merry Quitmas – East17 X Riot|website=Spotify|date=1 December 2023|access-date=16 December 2023}} It was released in collaboration with Riot Labs, an anti-smoking charity.{{cite web|url=https://www.getreading.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/e17-hoping-christmas-number-one-28229462|title=E17 hoping for Christmas number one with song about sick Santa|website=Berkshire Live|last=Shaw|first=Neil|date=5 December 2023|access-date=16 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://themanc.com/audio/you-can-book-east-17-to-sing-their-iconic-christmas-song-on-your-doorstep/|title=You can book East 17 to sing their iconic Christmas song on your doorstep (for some reason)|website=The Manc|last=Jackson|first=Daisy|date=15 December 2023|access-date=16 December 2023}}
On 11 December 2024, they released the single "Tell Me You're the One".{{cite web|url=https://open.spotify.com/track/2zC0aLWNAfTopXRlM0FZQ2?si=4afcc493b9224da0|title=East 17 – Tell Me You're the One|website=Official Charts|date=6 December 2024|access-date=11 December 2024}}
Band members
{{columns-start}}
Current
- Terry Coldwell (1991–1997, 1998–1999, 2006–2013, 2014–present)
- Robbie Craig (2014–present)
- Joe Livermore (2019–present)
{{column}}
Past
- Brian Harvey (1991–1997, 1998–1999, 2006–2010)
- Tony Mortimer (1991–1997, 2006, 2010–2013)
- John Hendy (1991–1997, 1998–1999, 2006–2013, 2014–2018)
- Blair Dreelan (2011)
- Terry John (2018–2019)
{{columns-end}}
=Timeline=
{{#tag:timeline
|ImageSize = width:800 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:55 bottom:80 top:5 right:0
Alignbars = justify
DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period = from:01/01/1991 till:31/01/2025
TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal format:yyyy
Legend = orientation:Horizontal position:bottom
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1991
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1991
Colors =
id:Lead value:red legend:Lead_&_Group_vocals
id:Backing value:pink legend:Backing_vocals
id:Album value:black legend:Album
id:Compilation value:gray(0.7) legend:Compilation
BarData =
bar:tm text:"Mortimer"
bar:bh text:"Harvey"
bar:jh text:"Hendy"
bar:tc text:"Coldwell"
bar:bd text:"Dreelan"
bar:RC text:"Craig"
bar:TJ text:"John"
bar:JL text:"Livermore"
PlotData=
width:11
bar:tm from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1997 color:Lead
bar:tm from:01/01/2006 till:31/12/2006 color:Lead
bar:tm from:01/01/2010 till:01/01/2013 color:Lead
bar:bh from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1997 color:Lead
bar:bh from:01/01/1998 till:31/12/1999 color:Lead
bar:bh from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2010 color:Lead
bar:jh from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 color:Lead width:3
bar:jh from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1997 color:Backing
bar:jh from:01/01/1998 till:31/12/1999 color:Backing
bar:jh from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2013 color:Backing
bar:jh from:01/01/2014 till:01/01/2018 color:Backing
bar:tc from:01/01/1995 till:01/01/1996 color:Lead width:3
bar:tc from:01/01/1991 till:01/01/1997 color:Backing
bar:tc from:01/01/1998 till:31/12/1999 color:Backing
bar:tc from:01/01/2006 till:01/01/2011 color:Backing
bar:tc from:01/01/2011 till:01/01/2013 color:Lead
bar:tc from:01/01/2014 till:end color:Lead
bar:bd from:01/01/2011 till:31/12/2011 color:Lead
bar:rc from:01/01/2014 till:end color:Lead
bar:tj from:01/01/2018 till:01/01/2019 color:Backing
bar:jl from:01/01/2019 till:end color:Backing
LineData =
color:black layer:back
at:02/11/1992
at:17/10/1994
at:13/11/1995
at:16/11/1998
at:02/04/2012
at:03/02/2017
color:Compilation layer:back
at:01/11/1996
}}
Discography
{{Main|East 17 discography}}
- Walthamstow (1992)
- Steam (1994)
- Up All Night (1995)
- Resurrection (1998)
- Dark Light (2012)
- 24/7 (2017)
Tours
Main
- Letting Off Steam: The Around the World Tour (1994–1995)
- Moscow Olympic Stadium (1996)
- East 17 Live in Australia (2012){{Cite web|url=https://www.eventfinda.com.au/2012/east-17/perth/fremantle|title=East 17|website=Eventfinda.com.au}}
Supporting
- Australia & NZ Tour (2017)
Awards and nominations
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Year !! Awards !! Work !! Category !! Result !! Ref.
|-
| rowspan=2|1993
| Album of the Year
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| rowspan=2|Bravo Otto Awards
| rowspan=4|Themselves
| rowspan=2|Best Pop Band (Bronze)
| {{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan=6|1994
| {{won}}
|
|-
| rowspan=5|Smash Hits Poll Winners Party
| Best Group in the World
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best British Group
| {{nom}}
|-
| Steam
| Best Album
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=2|"Steam"
| Best Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| Best Pop Video
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan=3|1995
| rowspan=2|"Stay Another Day"
| {{nom}}
|
|-
| Most Performed Work
| {{nom}}
|-
| Themselves
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan=2|1996
| rowspan=2|Smash Hits Poll Winners Party
| "If You Ever"
| Best Single
| {{nom}}
|-
| Themselves
| Best British Group
| {{nom}}
{{end}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{official website|east17-official.com}}
{{East 17}}
{{MTV Europe Music Award for Best Electronic}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Musical groups from the London Borough of Waltham Forest
Category:Musical groups established in 1991
Category:MTV Europe Music Award winners