Five reunites with all original members: Why did they split and what have they been up to?

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Formed in 1997, Fiveemerged as one of the most exciting boybands of the late '90s. Unlike their pop peers, they brought a rebellious energy to the music scene, fusing rap with catchy pop hooks. Selected from over 3,000 hopefuls in auditions overseen by Spice Girlsmanagers Bob and Chris Herbert, Fivequickly captured the public’s attention.

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Signed by Simon Cowell to RCA Records, they launched their career with 'Slam Dunk (Da Funk),' a high-energy debut that set the stage for their global success. With hits like 'When The Lights Go Out,' 'If Ya Gettin' Down,' and their collaboration with Queen on 'We Will Rock You,' they became a chart-topping sensation. Selling over 20 million records worldwide, Fivedominated pop culture, collecting Brit Awards and topping fan polls. But as with many bands of the era, the relentless pressures of fame took their toll.

Why did boyband Fivesplit up?

At the height of their fame, Fivefaced internal struggles that ultimately led to their split in 2001. The first major blow came when Sean Conlon suddenly left during a promotional interview for their 2001 single 'Let's Dance' and never returned. While the official reason given was glandular fever, Sean later revealed he had suffered a mental breakdown due to the relentless pressure.

Speaking on The Big Reunion, Sean said:

I remember looking in the mirror and thinking to myself, 'Who is that?' I didn’t know myself, and I just had the strongest feeling that no matter what happens, no matter how much money they throw at me, I’ve got to find Sean.

Sean left the band in early 2001, but his departure was kept under wraps by management. His absence was covered up using a cardboard cutout in their last music video for 'Let's Dance.' The rest of the band remained unaware of his true situation, believing he was only absent due to illness.

After months of speculation, the announcement that fans were dreading finally came in following a series of serious meetings with record management. In September 2001, the band made their split official with a live announcement on MTV.

Scott Robinson also struggled, feeling torn between his professional commitments and personal life, reports BBC. At one point, he was expected to perform while his son was in intensive care. Ritchie later recalled the moment he knew it was all over when Scott broke down in tears. He said:

We were in this hotel and Scott just broke down, he was crying his eyes out.

Jay and I walked out to him and put our arms around him and he said, ‘I just can’t do it anymore.'

I remember looking at Jay and he just looked at me and just went, ‘It’s done isn’t it?’ And I went, ‘I think it is.'

Behind the scenes, tensions among the band members often flared. Speaking in the ITV2 documentary The Big Reunion in 2013, Scott admitted:

Life in 5ive was mental. It was five years of very hard work. You see the inside of a hotel room, an airport, a radio studio. It’s hard.

Abz added:

I know there were times when one of them would be p*ssed off with another one (in the band). There’d be fights going off.

While Ritchie Neville shared:

We were difficult, bordering on being ar*eholes. We were delinquents.

Life after Five: Where are the members now?

After parting ways, each member took a different route, some staying in entertainment while others stepped back from the spotlight.

Abz Love transitioned into reality television, appearing on Celebrity Big Brother and Abz on the Farm. He struggled with addiction, hitting rock bottom with substance abuse and financial ruin as he got in with the wrong crowds after the band’s split.

He confessed on Loose Women in 2018:

My worst points... I had this penthouse and I had no money, I was bankrupt at the same time, and they were going to take my house.

I had no furniture, no cutlery, nothing, and I was on the corner of my penthouse, I was on the Thames and thinking about jumping, because what is the point?

J Brown distanced himself from the entertainment industry entirely. Apart from a brief stint on I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2007, where he secured third position, he remained out of the public eye. According to Heart.co.uk, he may have worked as a DJ and ran a dance studio but nothing is confirmed.

Ritchie Neville explored a career in hospitality, opening a restaurant in Australia before eventually returning to the UK entertainment industry. He appeared in reality TV shows like Celebrity Dating Agency and was in relationship with Atomic Kitten’s Natasha Hamilton, with whom he shares a daughter. He is now one of the three members of the band (including Scott and Sean) who continue to perform as Five.

Scott Robinson moved into radio broadcasting and became a DJ in Essex while continuing to make music and perform at events.

Sean Conlon and Abz Love both attempted solo careers after the band split, signing record deals with Sony. However, neither managed to reach the level of success they had with Five. Sean later attempted a comeback on The Voice UK in 2012 but did not make it past the auditions. Eventually, he rejoined Five’slater reunions and continued to perform.

Fivehas repeatedly tried to come back together since their split.In 2006, they attempted a comeback without Sean. However, after just eight months, they announced that they would not be continuing due to the inability to secure a lucrative record deal.

A second reunion came in 2012, this time without J Brown, who declined for 'privacy reasons.' They participated in ITV's The Big Reunion and touring with Atomic Kitten, B*Witched, and Liberty X until Abz abruptly quit in 2014.

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Five’scomeback tour: What we know

Fans were left wondering if they would ever see the full original lineup together again. Now, for the first time in 25 years, all five members of Fiveare back together for an electrifying UK arena tour. This reunion coincides with the 25th anniversary of their victory at the 2000 Brit Awards, where they won Best Pop Act. Titled the Keep On Movin’ 2025 Tour, the 12-date extravaganza kicks off in Brighton on 31 October 2025, before making stops in major cities including London, Manchester, Glasgow, and Birmingham.

Announcing the tour, Scott Robinson said:

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. Reconnecting as a 5 over the last year has been special and I know I speak for all the boys when I say we can’t wait to do this all over again. Hope you’re ready!

Abz added:

We really can’t wait to get back on stage together & see the fans, it’s gonna go OFF! Buzzing to have Naughty Boy on tour with us too… 5 bad boys and a naughty boy, that sounds like a lot of fun. Let’s gooooo!