New Kids on the Block: Midlife crisis or serious comeback?

The godfathers of boy bands are back with a new album and a North American tour. What looked like a midlife crisis when they initially returned in 2008 is looking more and more like a serious comeback.

If seeing is believing, then the first sighting was at the 2008 MuchMusic Video Awards. It had been well over a decade since the New Kids last performed, and they nailed it dead on.

The guys were in sync, rehearsed and in shape. More importantly, not one of these forty-somethings threw their back out trying to keep up with their entourage of dancers half their age.

The New Kids went on to release their comeback album, The Block, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Pop Albums chart, sold 100,000 copies in its first week and fueled a world tour.

“[Our fans] have been incredible,” Donnie Wahlberg says.

The masses of young girls who spent their allowance and babysitting money on concert tickets and NKOTB merchandise in the mid-80s have stood the test of time and are more loyal than ever.

“They’ve evolved into respectful, healthy, mature, adult screaming fans,” Donnie continues. “This is a chance for them to just let their hair down and be kids again. It’s a chance for us to do that as well.”

But what have the New Kids on the Block been doing for 15 whole years?

Well, since hitting Splitsville in 1994, each member went down their own avenue and built very different solo careers.

Taking a cue from his younger brother Mark Wahlberg, Donnie traded the stage for the silver screen, and went on to appear in blockbuster films like Saw II and its sequels, the acclaimed mini-series Band of Brothers and more recently the crime drama Blue Bloods.

Joey McIntyre and Jordan Knight continued on musical path, each releasing solo albums. Joey pushed his career further and went on to appear in Broadway musicals like Wicked, TV’s Boston Public and as a contender on Dancing with the Stars.

Danny Wood dabbled in music production and hit the gym, big time.

And finally, we have Jonathan Knight who quickly became the black sheep member of the group. Jonathan’s missing years were very different from his boy band brothers. He struggled with anxiety and fully withdrew from the entertainment industry. He built a career in real estate and has been living an openly gay lifestyle since the split in 1994.

With each original member clearly doing their own thing, the historic group’s return was the most unexpected comeback of the decade.

The reunion especially came as a surprise considering the amount of times rumors were flat out denied.

“Since we broke up, everyone’s been coming to us [about] a reunion,” Jordan Knight says.

“We’ve had many offers in the past,” Donnie adds. “But it was always on someone else’s agenda. It really didn’t serve us. It had to about a connection between us and not about making a fortune. It had to be about us wanting to make music together again and going from there.”

And from there, the NKOTB are actually going strong, especially in Canada, where The Block is certified gold.

“It feels great,” Joey McIntyre smiles. “Canada has been amazing and so supportive.”

So supportive, that the New Kids are coming around again this summer with 98 Degrees and Boyz II Men in support of their forthcoming album, 10.

With ongoing international tours and solid album sales, it’s hard not to take their return seriously.

Even before their comeback album was released to success, the men had a plan of attack. The Block featured current chart toppers The Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga, Ne-Yo and Akon.

In recruiting these hit makers, the NKOTB merged the past and the present. They reclaimed followers from their glory days, while catering to a fresh new fanbase.

The NKOTB are doing more than reliving their wonder years. Step by step they’ve moved back in on the mainstream and picked up right where they left off.

“And we’re having fun,” Donnie says. “We’re getting to do something we haven’t done in a long time. I don’t think we’re having a mid-life crisis,” he insists, defending the group.

Rest assured New Kids, your fans don’t think so either.

The New Kids’ album, 10, is available on iTunes now. The group performs at Montreal’s Bell Centre on Thursday, June 6. More tour dates here.

Follow the New Kids on the Block on twitter and facebook.

Posted by Marc Andrew on Jun 6 2013. Filed under Interviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.