Blue: All Rise: Our Story

Blue: All Rise: Our Story
Duncan James

Antony Costa

Lee Ryan

Simon Webbe

Caroline Frost

For the first time, more than 15 years after four boys from London were first thrown together to form what would go on to become one of the most successful and infamous groups of the boyband era, Lee, Antony, Duncan and Simon tell their full, no-holds-barred story in their own inimitable words.Blue first rose to fame and mega-stardom in 2001. With 3 UK Number 1 Platinum-selling albums, 2 Brit Awards and 16 million records to their name, they quickly became the crushes of choice for the noughties generation.But their tendency to say exactly what they think, wear their hearts on their sleeves and court controversy (usually unintentionally) has meant that they’ve rarely left the limelight, or public hearts and minds, since.Blue: All Rise: Our Story is the boys’ intimate tell-all account charting the highs and the lows of their incredible career, the stories behind the headlines, and our favourite face-palm-worthy Blue moments. With explosive new reveals, never-before-seen photos, and all the latest updates – including Simon’s engagement and his struggle with depression, Lee’s brush with cancer, Duncan’s devastation at the passing away of his best friend, original It Girl Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, and how Antony’s adapting to fatherhood all over again, this is the story every 2000s teen has been waiting for, from four lads who’ve come out the other side older, wiser and closer than ever.

For the fans

CONTENTS

Cover (#ucf516d6d-1682-56f9-8efb-7490d4fbd10a)

Title Page (#ub8909d1c-b088-50c1-a166-5b2adf713e19)

Dedication (#ud10b0ae3-5d26-5024-a822-ee0590515073)

Prologue (#ulink_3fcc6e9e-2e5d-58e2-994e-c9fa7e3f600a)

Chapter 1 ‘All Rise’ (#ulink_24da65cf-1b21-5c97-9625-fb58b5ce8f9b)

Chapter 2 ‘Bubblin’ (#ulink_d9d65197-8393-5b88-b97c-57f4bbddc65d)

Chapter 3 ‘If You Come Back’ (#ulink_f6376783-0183-515d-9a30-8722f3614a68)

Chapter 4 ‘Guilty’ (#ulink_311e098f-8621-566a-8f65-412d0ce8703b)

Chapter 5 ‘This Temptation’ (#ulink_16615dcd-923f-50a4-9f85-9cf3292d7c4b)

Chapter 6 ‘Invitation’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 7 ‘Too Close’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 8 ‘Make It Happen’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 9 ‘Broken’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 10 ‘Sanctuary’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 11 ‘I Am Who I Am’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 12 ‘Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 13 ‘I Can’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 14 ‘Risk It All’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 15 ‘Bounce’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 16 ‘Hurt Lovers’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 17 ‘Without You’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 18 ‘Breathe Easy’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter 19 ‘No Goodbyes’ (#litres_trial_promo)

Acknowledgements (#litres_trial_promo)

Picture Section (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

PROLOGUE (#ulink_d46e33d5-9a64-592f-84cd-6d24a6116ac6)

‘ONE LOVE’

20 February 2002 – Brit Awards, Earl’s Court, London

ANTONY

This was meant to be one of the best nights of Frank Skinner’s career, and just another evening out for the four of us. But the Fates, it seems, have other plans.

I’ve always loved Frank, and he’s definitely looking the part for one of the biggest jobs of his life – hosting the music industry’s most important event of the year, broadcasting live to millions of viewers at home, as well as entertaining us lot sitting in front of him. He bounds onto the stage at the start, smiling like the cat that got the cream, ready with a good joke to share. Sure enough, when he undoes his jacket, there it is – a big shiny Union Jack tie and shirt underneath. Not quite as stunning as Geri Halliwell in THAT dress, but still, pretty funny.

Sadly for Frank, it turns out that is to be his best moment, and we watch him bumble his way through the next two hours. His one-liners are falling on stony ground, while his co-host, Zoe Ball, stands beside him, looking increasingly unhappy. Frank will say later he was dying inside, this was the worst gig he’s ever done, one he will never, ever repeat – which is a shame as, only a few yards away at one of the tables, the four of us are having a whale of a time.

DUNCAN

This is actually one of Blue’s first proper grown-up nights out. The band’s only been together for a few months, and most of our evenings tend to end up in clubs where … well, let’s just say the wine might not be as good as at the Brits and the floor’s definitely a lot dirtier. And the places we hang out, you certainly don’t get to see Anastasia duetting with Jamiroquai, the first act on tonight’s bill. We all grew up watching these awards on TV, so when our record label told us we’d been nominated for the Breakthrough gong, there was only a pile of dust where we’d been standing; we’d already gone to pick out our suits.

LEE

The two best things about tonight – wearing a great suit, and the fact that we already know we’re not going to win. I’m not being falsely modest here, check out this list of our fellow nominees … our great mates Atomic Kitten, Starsailor, Mis-Teeq, So Solid Crew, Turin Brakes, Tom McRae, Zero 7, Elbow. Not enough talent on that list for you? Oh sorry, I forgot to mention Gorillaz in there as well. See what I mean?

So we’re not feeling any pressure, the wine’s flowing and we can revel in sitting in our glad rags at one of the top tables, gazing at proper stars like Kylie Minogue and Sting, laughing with – mostly at – Frank Skinner, and generally pinching ourselves.

SIMON

You know what, Frank’s actually pretty funny up there – but the four of us have always been easy to please. So we’re giggling our way through the night, while our glasses continue to be filled by an invisible hand. In fact, we’re having such a good time we almost miss our category being announced, until Trevor Nelson comes on stage to present the award: he looks the business.

ANTONY

Suddenly everything slows, and it feels like someone has turned the volume right down in this giant arena. Trevor slowly opens the envelope, and, is it me, or has the whole room gone completely still? It feels like five minutes, but it’s probably only a couple of seconds before he says one word, ‘Blue.’