Five, the iconic 90s boy band, reunited for a performance at Brighton's Pride on the Park, and their trademark humor remains intact. During a recent interview, Ritchie Neville joked that if TikTok had existed in the 90s, 'one of our nutsacks would have made an appearance.' Sean Conlon quickly added that his would have stayed firmly in his trousers, sparking laughter among the group.
Reunion Tour Success
The band kicked off their reunion tour in October 2025, performing to sold-out arenas across the UK, including London's O2. This marks a successful return after previous attempts in 2013 and 2014, when the group performed without Jay and later Abz. Now, all five members—Scott Robinson, Ritchie Neville, Sean Conlon, Abz Love, and J Brown—are back together.
According to Abz, the timing feels right: 'We've grown heads on our shoulders now, so we appreciate it all a lot more.' Ritchie added, 'We're older, wiser, and more mature. We're a team now, and we work through everything together.'
Robbie Williams' Support
Last summer, Robbie Williams reunited all five original members on stage for the first time in 25 years, performing their 1999 chart-topper 'Keep On Movin'' at London's Emirates Stadium. Scott noted, 'He still video calls us just to check in and make sure we're taking time to appreciate it all. It's amazing having someone like Robbie in your corner.'
Sean emphasized the importance of a private conversation with Robbie away from cameras and industry people: 'It was just us having a proper heart-to-heart. Robbie experienced all of this before we did, probably on an even more extreme level.'
Pressure of Boy Band Life
Life in a 90s boy band came with immense pressure, especially for young members. Sean was only 16 when he signed with Five, while the oldest member, J, was 21. Ritchie, now a father to an 11-year-old daughter, said he wouldn't want her to pursue performing until her mid-20s due to the pressures he experienced.
Five is part of a nostalgia boom, with Take That also reuniting this summer. However, Take That's Gary Barlow, 55, admitted the tour took a physical toll. Sean quipped, 'We bumped into the Take That guys, and Gary told us the tour had really taken a physical toll. We were like, “Oh really, Gaz? Because we're all fit as a fiddle!”'
Fan Energy and Bad Boy Reputation
Five's fans remain energetic, with Sean noting, 'Five fans have always had that energy and been a little bit madder than your average pop fan. I think that's probably because we're a little bit madder than your average band.' The band's 'bad boy' reputation gave them more freedom compared to groups like Westlife, who were marketed with a wholesome image. Ritchie explained, 'Westlife were normal lads too, but they were sort of cajoled into pretending they weren't. Our management were happy for us to just be ourselves.'
Despite some initial rivalry with Westlife, the bands have since become friends. Ritchie admitted, 'The first few months after they came out, we had a little issue. It was nothing really, and once we actually spent time together, we got over it very quickly.'
Memorable Moments
Five's wild nights out included a surreal evening with Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher in 2001, where they ended up playing the children's game Bop It! J recalled, 'We met Liam and got invited up to his room. He then asked us if we fancied a game of Bop It! Not the most rock and roll.' Scott added, 'He was rubbish at it too!'
When asked who would win in a fight between Five and Oasis, Scott joked, 'Well, there's five of us and only two of them. We'd smash 'em up!'
Looking Ahead
With a packed schedule of summer festivals, Five is soaking up every moment. Scott reflected, 'We didn't realise quite how much our music affected people, and it's been really lovely to get back with the boys, all five of us, in the place where we're meant to be, and enjoying every single moment.'
Tickets for Brighton Pride are on sale now, starting at £75 for one day to £154 for the full weekend, with VIP options available.
