NKOTB: Their Solo Careers and Their Future

Lately, I've been feeling a bit of nostalgia, almost as though it's the late 80's and early 90's again. This is because word has been out this spring that the New Kids on the Block (NKOTB) are back, they're putting together a new album, and will be on tour. For many, many people of various ages, this is something to be excited about. While most of the band members have had their own solo careers in the meantime, seeing them together again is like nothing else.

The New Kids had their start back in 1986 in Boston, when former New Edition producer Maurice Starr was interested in starting a new, white boyband. The first members included Donnie and Mark Wahlberg, Jonathan and Jordan Knight, and Danny Wood. Mark soon left the group. He later went on to form his own hip-hop group, Marky-Mark and the Funky Bunch, and have a successful acting career. Mark was replaced by Jaime Kelly, who was also a friend of the other members. Jaime was eventually let go from the band, and replaced with Joey McIntyre. Their first self-titled album didn't do very well in spite of some good songs, and the band's performances were pretty much restricted to smaller venues in New England.

Columbia Records agreed to let the group produce a second album, Hangin' Tough. "Please Don't Go Girl", the first single off the album, became their first hit in 1988. This ballad was one of the best-beloved songs that NKOTB came out with. Soon, the group was appearing on national TV and more singles were released, including You Got It (The Right Stuff), I'll Be Loving You (Forever), and Hangin' Tough. For many fans, these are some of the best songs of the 80's. Their Christmas album, Merry, Merry Christmas, was released in 1989, featuring the hit single "This One's for the Children".

Step by Step was released in 1990, with the title track and Tonight released as singles. Their Magic Summer Tour played worldwide that year, with massive success. No More Games/The Remix Album was released in late 1990. The group produced a new single, "If You Go Away" in 1992. They returned to the studio independently of Maurice Starr, and recorded Face The Music, released in 1994. "Dirty Dawg" and "Never Let You Go" were released as singles. The group didn't have the success with this album as they'd had with previous ones. With Face The Music, they presented a more mature image and an R&B sound. The group disbanded that year.

Joey McIntyre went on to have a largely successful solo career. His solo albums include Stay the Same, Meet Joe Mac, One Too Many ( a live album with Eman), 8:09, and Talk to Me. He's starred in the films The Fantastiks, On Broadway, and Tina n' Tony's Wedding. On stage, he's performed in Barking Sharks, Tick Tick Boom, Wicked, and the stage adaptation of Happy Days. McIntyre also had a role on the TV series Boston Public and toured with the Dancing with the Stars series in 2006.

Jordan Knight has also had a solo singing and acting career. He's recorded Jordan Knight, Jordan Knight Performs New Kids on the Block, and Love Songs. On TV, Knight has been a judge on American Juniors, as well as had roles on Surreal Life and Trust Me-I'm a Holiday Rep. His brother, Jonathan, went into the real estate business after the group disbanded in 1994.

Danny Wood recorded the albums Room Full of Smoke, Second Face, O.F.D. of Dorchester, and Coming Home. He also had a successful spot on the Totally Boyband series, in which he joined with other former boyband members to form a new group, Upper Street.

Donnie Wahlberg has since starred in several movies, including Ransom, The Sixth Sense, Dreamcatcher, and the Saw series. On TV, he has appeared in the miniseries Band of Brothers, and The Kill Point, among others.

I was fourteen when the group disbanded. It was saddening to see a group that had enjoyed such success to be reviled by some and made the butt of jokes. I'm sure I share the sentiments of a lot of NKOTB fans when I say that they've been missed all these years. With each album, they've brought a new variation on their style that makes the songs memorable. I had heard rumors about them getting back together during these years, but nothing that was very credible.

My discovery that they were going back on tour together this past spring was thrilling. I missed seeing them in concert back in '91 due to a bout with the flu. Hopefully, I'll get my chance this time around. After their appearance on the Today Show, I made sure I visited YouTube to find out if the video had been posted. I was awed by their performance of "Summertime", a new song from their forthcoming album. They came back together so well!

I'm looking forward to future concerts and albums, as I'm sure they'll be a treat.