The New Kids on the Block have released a new song! Methinks that ship has sailed, but who knows. Maybe they can have some amazing comeback. Here’s more from NY Mag:
Wait, you weren’t aware that two of the most commercially successful teen-pop acts of all-time had freakishly morphed into one nostalgia-preying superbeast known as NKOTBSB? Well — yes, they have. And their first single, “Don’t Turn Off the Lights” — which first got out via shaky fan footage when they performed it on their joint cruise (!!!) a few months back — is now here. First it reminded us of Enrique Iglesias’s similarly themed “Don’t Turn Off the Lights,” and then it reminded us of Five’s different-but-still-totally-great “When the Lights Go Out,” but now we’re mostly thinking that it’s like one of DJ Khaled’s overstuffed posse cuts, where roughly fifteen famous rappers have to share the same four minutes of verse time. Because, practically speaking, how do you decide these things? The press shot, above, alternates NKOTB with BSB — is that general etiquette with the allocation of lyrics? Who gets to sing lead on the chorus? What is the unspoken hierarchy?
Not that this should come as a surprise to anyone, but NKOTB singer Jonathan Knight has officially come out of the closet. He confirmed his sexuality on the band’s official website:
“I have never been outed by anyone but myself! I did so almost twenty years ago. I never knew that I would have to do it all over again publicly just because I reunited with NKOTB! I have lived my life very openly and have never hidden the fact that I am gay! Apparently the pre requisite to being a gay public figure is to appear on the cover of a magazine with the caption ‘I am gay’. I apologize for not doing so if this is what was expected! My belief is that you live your life by example, and not by a caption on a magazine! If there ever has been any confusion about my sexuality, then you are someone that doesn’t even know me!I love living my life being open and honest, but at this time I choose not to discuss my private life any further! My fellow band members don’t discuss their private lives with their loved ones and I don’t feel that just because I am gay, I should have to discuss mine!”
Jonathan was sort of outed earlier last week – by fellow 80′s star, Tiffany. When asked if she ever had a relationship with one of the boys while touring with them – she said:
“The quiet one, the shy one. [He] became gay later. I didn’t do it. I had issues with that. I was thinking maybe I did. Now looking back when we were dating, he was so much fun. We used to do facials together. He was so easy to talk to.”
Recent reports suggested the group had held secret talks with the pop legends about a collaboration on their comeback album.
Wahlberg was quoted as saying, “It’s very exciting. It’s one big party and everyone wants to join us.”
But the singer insists the quote was made up, posting the following comment on the band’s blog: “We are not recording with Michael Jackson and/or Madonna. We never claimed to be, either. Good fun reading about it though!”
The New Kids on the Block reunited for the first time in 15 years on the Today Show Friday.
Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood warmly greeted fans.
“There’s no turning back now!” Wahlberg said.
“I’m shocked” Jordan said of seeing the cheering crowds, who braved the rain for a glimpse of the group, which churned out such chart-toppers as “The Right Stuff” and “Hangin’ Tough.”
So what brought them back together?
“We started recording in August,” Wahlberg said. “Music brought us back.”
He insisted, “We still have some moves. We have new material. We’re very excited for everybody to hear about it.”
He said they’ll tour select cities in the fall.
They’ll return to the Today Show to perform on May 16.
Following months of speculation surrounding a rumored Spice Girls-esque reunion tour, ’80s boy band New Kids On The Block has released its first group photo in 15 years, exclusively on Yahoo!: Joey McIntyre, Jonathan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, Jordan Knight, and Danny Wood disbanded New Kids On The Block in 1994, and have since experienced varying degrees of success in film, music, and reality TV. Until this week, they have coyly denied that an NKTOB reunion was defintiely in the works.
Although no longer “kids,” per se (the youngest member, McIntyre, is now 35), they are expected to make their official New Kids reunion tour announcement this Friday, April 4, on NBC’s The Today Show.
Looks like the Today Show’s got the right stuff: All five original New Kids on the Block members – Joey McIntyre, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and brothers Jordan and Jonathan Knight – will appear together in the morning show’s courtyard on April 4, a source tells PEOPLE.
After months of speculation, PEOPLE confirmed in January that the band is reuniting – just in time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the release of their mega-hit album Hangin’ Tough. The group also recently updated its Web site, nkotb.com.
The boy band, which made legions of tweens swoon in the early ’90s, selling more than 50 million albums, became a worldwide phenomenon before calling it quits in 1994. Since then, the oldest “Kid,” Jonathan Knight, 39, retreated back to Boston to become a real estate developer. Former members Wahlberg, 38, and McIntyre, 35, have seen acting success, while Wood, 38, has worked as a music producer and Jordan Knight, 37, has continued to record.
