THEY were one of the biggest acts ever to emerge from Simon Cowell’s The X Factor at the height of its powers – and despite 15 years passing since their breakthrough, the appetite for JLS remains as great as ever.
I joined the lads, some of the nicest blokes in the business, backstage at London’s O2 Arena for the final show of their sold-out 15-night arena tour, and presumably a last chance for Marvin Humes to fill up on a decent meal before he jets to Australia this week for I’m A Celebrity . . . though he’s sworn to secrecy just now.
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The boys put on a sterling two-hour show packed with hits and including a hugely popular DJ interlude dubbed “DJLS” which went down a storm before they launched into their biggest crowd-pleasers.
Aston Merrygold joked: “We’ve enjoyed adding the DJ section in the set this year, me and Marv going back to back with JB (Gill) and Oritse (Williams) hyping the crowd. It’s been going off.
“While we DJ there’s a moment the other boys go into the crowd and walk around the arenas, but we were pretty concerned the further north we got that we wouldn’t return to the stage with any clothes left as it was getting rowdier and rowdier.”
Marvin added: “And thanks for coining the name ‘DJLS’ last year Simon, we’ve taken that.”
The guys, who kindly gave me a shout out from the stage on the night, will return for a run of outdoor gigs next summer, giving Marvin a chance to chill out and recover after his stint Down Under.
Oritse explained: “This arena tour has been incredible. We didn’t know what to expect having done a comeback tour only two years ago, but the reception from the fans has been amazing.
“We don’t want it to end, to be honest, but we’re glad we’ve got the opportunity to do it all over again next summer at a run of outdoor shows.”
Speaking at the final show on Friday, Aston added: “It’s been so special to invite some of our friends in the industry to surprise the audience.
We brought Fleur East and Max George from The Wanted out in Manchester, Olly Murs in London last night and Tinie Tempah tonight.
“These are artists who are personal friends or peers we have grown up with in the industry.
“Olly toured with us in the summer of 2010, so it was special to bring him out in London all these years later.”
Falling out of clubs
It was pal Max who proved the biggest crowd-pleaser of the tour, with Marvin revealing: “Getting Max out on stage got an unbelievable reaction.
“You could barely hear the song from all the screams. It would definitely be special to have the boys on the road with us if the time was right. It would be so much fun.”
Yet while the lads still know how to put on a show, they insist it is a long way removed from their infamous party boy days where they would frequently be spotted falling out of London clubs, long into the early hours.
Instead, backstage is now packed with the band’s growing families, including beds for their kids to take a nap, with JB explaining: “Tour life isn’t quite the same as it used to be, there have been so many kids backstage – between ours, our crew and team.
“It’s pretty special to see them enjoying our music and singing all the words to songs we released before they were even born.
“We’re cherishing it now, as no doubt in a few years we won’t be cool to them any more.”
You’re still cool to me, guys.
Mystic Britney
BRITNEY Spears has claimed she knew Taylor Swift would be a star way before she hit the big time, after being introduced to her as a teenager.
The Toxic singer took to social media to reveal they first met while Britney was on tour in 2003 – three years before Taylor released her self-titled debut album.
Britney said: “There was a knock, and then (my friend) said, ‘I have a girl named Taylor who wants to come in and sing for you’. I was like ‘of course!’
“She sings a beautiful song with her guitar. I was like ‘wow wow she’s unbelievable!’ We took a picture, and she then became the most iconic pop woman of our generation.
“She’s stunning! Girl crush.”
Glam time baby
MODEL Hailey Beiber led the glamorous arrivals in a strapless black gown at the Baby2Baby Gala in Los Angeles at the weekend.
Other stars at the event included models Alessandra Ambrosio, Chrissy Teigen and Heidi Klum, filmmaker Olivia Wilde and actresses Jessica Alba, Zoe Saldana, Salma Hayek and Kirsten Dunst.
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Snoop Dogg performed and Gwyneth Paltrow was also there – but not as a celebrity guest.
She helped cater the event, in aid of children in poverty, with her Goop Kitchen firm and was seen serving oysters to guests.
That’s the last thing I’d want to eat on a boozy night out.
But it’s better than her regular wheatgrass shots, I guess.
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Raye left out
RAYE believes being snubbed in Friday’s Grammy nominations has made her even more driven.
The Escapism hitmaker wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “Just to let you know I am not upset at all, I am hungry and grateful.
“The Grammys are awarded for the best music has to offer and I have barely scratched the surface of what I know musically I can give.”
Lor of the hand
LOREEN proved her ability to deliver a belting performance when she won Eurovision for the second time in May.
But the Swede’s talent for putting on an other-worldly show has to be seen live to be believed.
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Her vocal tone is second to none, making hits Tattoo and Euphoria sound superior to the recordings.
And she contorted her body and waved around her long-nailed hands in such a particular fashion, it was like she had rehearsed for weeks.
Moving around in a cloud of smoke, she did start to lose the crowd during some of her lesser-known songs, with most fans desperate to see her for her major singles rather than other album tracks.
But her presence, and an acoustic version of new single Is It Love won over the sold-out venue.
And with more music on the way and a new team behind her, Loreen should get even better.
Sugas all spiced up by MNEK
SUGABABES were used to topping the charts during their original run in the late Nineties and Noughties and now are working with one of the most successful men in pop to return with more hits.
I can reveal bandmates Mutya Buena, Keisha Buchanan and Siobhan Donaghy have been in the studio with writer and producer MNEK.
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He has penned hits for Dua Lipa, Beyonce and Little Mix and also topped the singles chart in his own right in 2020, on Joel Corry’s Head & Heart.
A music insider said of Sugababes: “It’s hoped they can come up with music that really helps cement their position in pop once again.”
The trio, who reunited last year, will play their final gig of 2023 on December 2 at North London club Drumsheds, topping the bill alongside Shygirl and Eliza Rose.
Jack and Dua take on Beatles
JACK Harlow and Dua Lipa are fighting The Beatles to try to claim this week’s No1 single.
The Fab Four topped the charts on Friday with their final single Now And Then and it is in the lead to spend a second week at the top.
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Yet only 2,000 sales separate the top three, with Jack last night at No2 with his new tune Lovin’ On Me.
Dua was at No3 with her song Houdini, the lead single from her as-yet untitled third album, which is due out next year.
American singer Noah Kahan, who is on a sold-out UK tour this week, has risen to a new peak of No7 with Stick Season.
But he could also have another tune in the Top 20 by Friday, as his song Northern Attitude is at No14.
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