09.08.00
SCOOCH SLAM STEPS SLURS!
Members of pop band Scooch have slammed claims that they're STEPS clones, instead comparing their hits, including Best Is Yet To Come and For Sure, to songs by Macy Gray and Oasis.
Scooch's latest single, For Sure, debuted at Number 15 in the UK recently, but after four hits the group is still struggling against STEPS comparisons. The foursome is made up of two males and two females who sing along to bouncy pop numbers penned by hitmakers Mike Stock and Matt Aitken.
'In 10 years' time we'll always be compared to STEPS,' singer David Ducasse tells worldpop. 'I just think 'Give us a break.''
10.08.00
STEPPY STUFF
LISA SCOTT-LEE was spotted out and about at Lés Misérables last night.
STEPS are set to fly out to Stockholm to record in the same studios that BRITNEY SPEARS used to record BABY ONE MORE TIME.
STEPS will not be making any appearances in the US this year, it is rumoured that they will be trying to re-launch themselevs in The States in 2001.
11.08.00
STEPS AND THE SULTAN!
LISA and H from chart-topping pop troupe STEPS have revealed to worldpop that they're hoping to receive an invite to perform for The Sultan Of Brunei.
The Sultan, currently thought to be the richest man in the world, has already had Westlife, Spice Girls and All Saints entertain his family in private showcases and now STEPS are hoping they'll be next on the list of invites.
'We know his son Asim quite well,' explains LISA. 'We've faxed him quite a bit,' adds H. 'He's a nice kid, he's very young and there's a lot of attention and pressure on him for his age.'
STEPS were reported to have been invited to appear at Princess Beatrice's birthday party by Sarah Ferguson after meeting backstage at last month's Party In The Park. However H and LISA both denied the rumour. 'We don't know where that rumour came from because it's the first we've heard about it,' declared H. However he admitted that the band did receive a letter from Fergie saying, 'Thank you for letting the girls come backstage and meet you and showing them around.'
When we caught up with the Welsh contingency of STEPS the pair also let out a few more juicy secrets. First up was the admission that three-fifths of Steps were once bingo callers and H is planning to buy band mate CLAIRE a karaoke machine for her birthday next week, which falls on 17 August. He was planning to buy the gift in the UK but decided to wait until the band touched down in America where they're cheaper.
'It means that you can get more for your money,' remarked H. 'No, it just means that it's cheaper! You're a cheapskate!' joked LISA before adding. 'I'll probably get her a piece of silver jewellery because she loves silver.'
14.08.00
STEPS TO PLAY G.A.Y
STEPS will be playing a set at G.A.Y in London on October 14th to promote their new single.
SECRET GIG IN REGENTS STREET THIS WEEK?!
Well apparently there are rumours of it, but with the gang in New York until Thursday and a massive party for CLAIRE'S 23rd planned I doubt it's true.
CLAIRE STEPS BACK IN TIME!
STEPS singer CLAIRE RICHARDS has planned a huge kiddy-style party to celebrate her 23rd birthday this Thursday.
Theres going to be ice cream stalls, hot dog sellers, balloons and loads of fab toys, all under a huge marquee at her pad in Uxbridge, London which shes recently had renovated.
Stars likely to attend include Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson and his missus, and All Saints babes Melanie Blatt and Shaznay Lewis.
My source told me Shes really looking forward to it and wants to have a different kind of party rather than the usual champagne and canapes.
16.08.00
H TO STAR IN WESTEND SHOW!?!
It has been reported by The Sun newspaper that STEPS heart throb H has been offered a role in the Westend musical The Lion king. H has not commented on this rumour, we'll bring you more on this story as we get it.
LISA GOES BACK TO SCHOOL!
The Sun also reported today, that LISA is set to go back to school! Well not quite, but she has appparently signed herself up for an acting course. This follows stories that LISA got her brace to straigten her teeth so she could work on TV.
17.08.00
A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISH TO CLARA!
We would like to wish CLAIRE a very Happy 23rd Birthday today and we hope she enjoys her party!
H has appparently bought her a kareoke machine and Lisa has bought her some silver jewellry.
NEVER MIND CLAIRE!
STEPS' Claire Richards is getting cold feet about going on BBC2's Never Mind The Buzzcocks in the autumn after Mark Lamarr ripped into bandmate Faye Tozer when she was on the show.
STEPS BACK IN UK!
STEPS have flown into London today after a trip to New York to record tracks for their third album.
The band are back for CLAIRE'S 23rd birthday, but will be jetting out to Stockholm again soon to finish the album off.
19.08.00
STEPS TO LECTURE AT OXFORD UNIVERSITY!
Top British popsters Steps are set to surprise their many critics - by taking part in an intellectual debate at Oxford University. The stars have been invited by the prestigious Oxford Union Debating Society to join the ranks of previous speakers Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa and the Dalai Llama by participating in an open debate. The union has been trying to 'jazz up' its image by inviting stars like Minnie Driver, Jerry Springer and Mr Spock Leonard Nimoy to appear. Students, however, are none too pleased with the idea. One said, "I can't believe how low the Oxford Union has gone. "What will it be next? Billie Piper talking about the Euro? This
has gone beyond a joke. "Steps are hardly the sort of people we want to attract. They would be more suited to addressing an audience of five-year-olds than a room full of intelligent students."
21.08.00
STEPS DROP OUT OF TOP 40!
Steps latest single, WHEN I SAID GOODBYE/SUMMER OF LOVE, has finally dropped out the UK Top 40.
The track was released on 3rd July and entered the charts at No.5, this was it's highest UK postition.
Meanwhile in the music video charts, The Next Step - LIVE has topped the charts yet again! The video which is live concert footage shot at Halloween last year at the Manchester Evening News Arena has been the best selling music video so far this year!
22.08.00
CLAIRE AND THE COPS!
STEPS' CLAIRE RICHARDS was in trouble with the cops as she celebrated her 23rd birthday into the early hours of Sunday.
The police were called to her West London home by neighbours annoyed at the loud music she and her bandmates were partying to. They wouldn't have minded so much if she hadn't been playing STEPS' songs. (The Sun)
23.08.00
STEPS ON GROUND FORCE?!
Rumours that STEPS will be taking part on a celebrity Ground Force for the BBC have been doing the rounds. It is thought that H, who admits he would have loved to be a gardener, and one of the STEPS girls will be joining Alan Titchmarsh and his team for the one off gardening special. More details as we get them.
24.08.00
H STEPS STRIPS!?!
BOY band Spin City who toured with STEPS reveal the girls drank until 5am - but H tried to strip after half a lager shandy and had to be put to bed.
(The Sun)
25.08.00
STEPPING OUT WITH STEPS!
STEPS are still climing the ladder to success, with the news that the group have landed their own new BBC series.
The show called "Stepping Out With STEPS" is planned for later in the year to tie in with the release of their third album.
It'll be set in Hollywood(although it will befilmed in Sheperds Bush, London) and features CLAIRE, FAYE, H, LEE, and LISA making their first film.
The plot will centre around the master copy of the film going missing with the gang hot on its trail.
The series will run for six weeks. It'll be shown on Childrens BBC and its the Beebs way of making up for losing S Club 7's show to ITV.
26.08.00
BOYZONE BOYS SONG BLASTS STEPS!
Boyzone duo, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch have taken aim at an array of pop targets in the video for their new single, having a go at STEPS, Puff Daddy, Westlife and Ali G.
The video for the track, a cover of pop fakers Milli Vanilli's 'Girl You Know It's True', is described by the pair as a "piss-take." In the video Shane re-enacts his well-documented disagreement and scuffle with Puff Daddy at last year's MTV awards in Dublin.
The pair admit, "It's a lot of fun we've taken the mickey out of STEPS, Ali G and Westlife- I hope they see the funny side of it, if not, well that's tough!" (Dotmusic)
27.08.00
PARTY POOPER FOR CLAIRE!
Poor STEPS singer CLAIRE RICHARDS it seems she may not have as many friends as she thought.
She invited 250 showbiz mates to her 23rd birthday party at her home in Uxbridge, London, a few weeks ago. But only 60 turned up.
It was also reported that police were called to the do. Maybe shed asked the boys in blue to make up the numbers...
(The News Of The World)
28.08.00
STEPS SUMMER SIZZLER!
Well STEPS have provided fans with plenty of treats this summer Bank Holiday Monday!
Firstly the group will be appearing at two summer open air festivals today! Firstly in Birminghams Party In The Park and then Liverpool's Party On The Pier!
Don't worry if you aren't going to either of these though as the best STEPS programme of the millennium is on BBC1 tonight at 5.40pm.
STEPS Into Summer is a music and comedy fest, featuring STEPS and a whole host of celebrities, including Lulu who H duets "I Don't Wanna Fight No More" with and Lionel Richie who the group join on a STEPTACULAR version of his hit "All Night Long"
STEPS also appear in comedy sketches alongside the likes of Les Dennis, Toyah Wilcox, Noddy Holder and Melinda Messenger.
And of course the group perform some as their most partytastic hits including SUMMER OF LOVE, DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE and BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW.
This is not to be missed!
30.08.00
THE PERFECT PARTY NIGHT!
STEPS showed they really are the Kings and Queens of pop on Monday night when they wowed the 40,000 strong crowd at The King's Dock, Liverpool, with a show that was nothing short of STEPTACULAR.
The super group headlined the city's Party At The Pier, which included other top named acts including Westlife, S Club 7, Louise, Mel B, Scooch, Lolly and Billie.
They performed several of their hit singles including BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE, ONE FOR SORROW, SUMMER OF LOVE and finished the show with their No.1 stomper TRAGEDY!
FAYE told the crowd "We were really pleased to end our summer tour here in Liverpool!" With local lad LEE adding "It's great to be home!"
Later FAYE and H told Radio City, who organised the event as part of the annual Matthew Street music festival, that when they had flown into the city in a helicopter from a previous gig in Birmingham "The crowd looked like a bowl of smarties from the air, but they were much better close up!"
LISA revealed that she loved Liverpool and hoped to be able to return to the city to perform one of their sell out tours, "I've never seen so many people in such a small place!" added CLAIRE.
31.08.00
THIRD ALBUM NEWS!
Rumour has it that STEPS third and as yet untitled third album will be released on Monday 30th October 2000!
The album will contain the recent hit single SUMMER OF LOVE, but it looks unlikely that their Christmas 1999 single BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW will be included.
H told World Pop that two of the confirmed tracks are called "IF I COULD SAY THE WORDS" and "LEARN TO LOVE AGAIN"
It is not known if any of the tracks written by LEE, FAYE, and LISA that were performed on the STEPTACULAR tour will be included on the CD.
