01.03.01
FAYE'S STEP IN ANOTHER DIRECTION!
STEPS' FAYE TOZER is fed up with people getting things wrong about her - and after enjoying herself so much at the NME Carling Awards she's chosen NME to set the record straight!
FAYE and her boyfriend Jasper - drummer in a band called One - called NME.COM in to sort things regarding FAYE's status in STEPS (she's not leaving!), Jasper's profession (he's, er, not a magician) and the politics of embarking on a relationship when one of you's in STEPS and the other's a 'proper' musician...
02.03.01
AMERICA FEELS THE BUZZ OF STEPS
STEPS latest album BUZZ will not be released in the US until August 2001 by the look of things, but don't worry as we have the cover of the US BUZZ to whet your appetite!
It's a very different look to the UK version and instead of the futuristic, cyber STEPS we have it's a more mature and sulky STEPS that graces the cover of this CD.
The tracklisting is as yet not confirmed, but there will more than likely be slight alterations to the UK tracklisting, which means all us UK fans must make sure we get ourselves a copy too!
03.03.01
LISA IS LOADED AND READY FOR ACTION!
STEPS stunner LISA SCOTT-LEE has appeared in a seriously sexy photo shoot for men's magazine Loaded.
The pop beauty, 25, was recently offered £250,000 to go nude for series of photos in Playboy, but politely declined their offer.
Loaded describe LISA as "The Sexiest And Maddest One Of STEPS!" and who are we to argue with that!
04.03.01
STEPS TO SPLIT?!!!!
Chart-busters STEPS will split by the end of the year, I can exclusively reveal.
But its not all tragedy because H, LEE, CLAIRE, FAYE and LISA are planning a huge Farewell Tour as a big thank you to their loyal fans.
A source close to the band told me: Theyre going to release two more singles this year and that will be it.
They wont be recording another album and will have a greatest hits album out by October. Theyll be performing around 21 songs on the Farewell Tour before Christmas.
The band cant believe how long theyve been together. Its a real surprise because we thought theyd split last year. FAYE was threatening to quit at the time but she was talked around to stay.
The band have been a huge success. Theyve outsold and outstripped most of the other bands. Theyve been phenomenal. People just love them.
They just cant believe the reaction theyve had from their fans. They have stayed together for their sake rather than for themselves.
The news will come as a huge shock to STEPS millions of followers as there has only ever been one major dispute between the band when it leaked out that H and LEE were getting paid more than the girls.
The popular group have recently been trying to shed their teeny-bop image with the girls posing for lads magazines such as Maxim, and H and Lee posing for Attitude.
They recently finished a record-breaking arena tour which saw them performing at 34 venues, the biggest indoor arena tour theres ever been in Britain. And their last two singles topped the charts.
STEPS were formed in response to an advert in The Stage magazine. They were only supposed to release one song, 5-6-7-8.
But the track, which was released in 1997, became such a huge hit that Pete Waterman the man who brought us Rick Astley, Jason Donovan and Kylie Minogue decided to take them on full time.
STEPS bow out as millionaires after selling more than two million albums. They will be best remembered for songs such as ONE FOR SORROW, LAST THING ON MY MIND and, of course, TRAGEDY. See ya!
(News Of The World)
STEPS Home UK say:
We don't know how true this story is at the moment, and we really hope that it isn't true!!!, but if it is true then today is a very sad day in the world of pop.
STEPS are more than a pop group, they're a lifestyle choice!
They're everything that a pop group should be...fun, energetic (especially H!) and extremely down to earth and friendly to their fans.
However we will be waiting to see if this story is confirmed by the band themselves and until then don't be ONE FOR SORROW as this whole thing could just be BETTER BEST FORGOTTEN!
05.03.01
THERE'S NO TRAGEDY WE'RE NOT SPLITTING!
LISA SCOTT-LEE has put fans minds at rest after yesterdays story in The News Of The World that STEPS are to split!
After her Mum Jan recieved hundreds of frantic e-mails begging to be told if the fab five were over, LISA kindly decided to go on the band's official message board and set the record straight. This is what she said:
Hi Guys - Lisa here!!
After reading the News of the World today and all your concerned e-mails, I thought I'd send you all a personal message.
Even though the piece in the paper was very complimentary, I can CONFIRM that:
STEPS ARE NOT SPLITTING UP (sorry Rav!).
I can also tell you that we are currently planning lots more singles, albums and tours for the future which we're really excited about!
So, to all our loyal STEPS Fans out there: Thanks for your continued support, don't believe everything you read - we're NOT going anywhere!!!
Lots of Love
LISA STEPS xxx
06.03.01
IT'S IN THE CANNES!
STEPS recently played an exclusive gig in Cannes, in France, the set included old hits like DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE and new tracks like HERE AND NOW. Thanks to a kind STEPS fan, Roland Michel Tremblay, we can all see the gig through his website!
STEPS CONFIRM THERE IS NO SPLIT!
STEPS' record company have denied that the band are to split at the end of this year.
A spokesman for their record company, Jive, told worldpop that there no plans for a farewell tour. 'I'm looking at their schedule which takes them up to December 2001 and at no point on this schedule does it say ...'STEPS farewell tour,' quipped their charming spokesman.
'The band are planning to release a double A-sided single, HERE AND NOW and YOU'LL BE SORRY in May and then they're working on songs for the next album. After that they've got promotional work pencilled in in Europe and Asia,' continued their spokesman.
A News Of The World newspaper report on Sunday claimed the band wouldn't be recording another album and that they'd be embarking on a farewell tour at Christmas. The paper also claimed that a Greatest Hits album was scheduled for October release.
(World Pop)
07.03.01
STEPS INTO THE FUTURE!
Here are a couple more stories about STEPS supposed split:
STEPS have released an official statement denying tabloid rumours that they plan to split up later in the year. The statement follows, in full, below:
While they were not intending to comment on the inaccurate reports of a band split in a Sunday newspaper, STEPS have been so upset by the continuing tabloid speculation that they feel it is important to clarify one or two points as many of their fans have been distressed by these rumours. STEPS have absolutely no plans to split.
FAYE, LISA, LEE, CLAIRE and H are 100% behind STEPS and are currently busy with international promotion. British fans should be assured that they will be releasing a new single in May.
They will be spending part of the summer in the studio working on new songs. Some of these may end up as future singles while others may turn up on the fourth STEPS album. They are also planning a tour for the end of the year.
As a group, they have big plans for their long-term future.
(World Pop)
STEPS have denied persistent rumours they will split this year.
A report in last Sunday's News Of The World newspaper (March 4) claimed the group would disband before the end of the year.
However, in a joint statement on the official STEPS website www.stepsofficial.com, the band said: "We'd like to set the record straight about a certain newspaper article. We know a lot of you either read an item about us in the Sunday papers or have heard about it. So, for the last time - we are not splitting up!"
On the website's mesageboard, STEPS member LISA added: "Even though the piece in the paper was very complimentary, I can confirm that: Steps are not splitting up. I can also tell you that we are currently planning lots more singles, albums and tours for the future, which we're really excited about!
"So, to all our loyal STEPS fans out there, thanks for your continued support, don't believe everything you read - we're not going anywhere!"
As previously reported on NME.COM, the band hope to release a new single in May, return to the studio and tour in the autumn. A greatest hits album is also in the pipeline.
(NME)
08.03.01
CLAIRE HAS A POP AT HEAR'SAY!
Popstars band Hear'Say haven't even released their first single yet, and their contemporaries are lining up to have a kick at them.
STEPS star CLAIRE RICHARDS says: "They're not really stars, they're just TV stars. The pop world isn't like it is on TV. They've had it easy and I don't think they'll be around for a long time."
That's STEPS - a manufactured band who were formed to sing a line-dancing record.
(The Mirror)
HEAR'SAY STAR HITS BACK AT STEPS!
Noel Sullivan has hit back at LEE from STEPS' claim that Hear'Say haven't worked hard enough for their fame.
The Popstars winner says the comments have made him furious.
He says the group were skint and from lower-class areas before they found fame.
"LEE says we haven't worked hard enough for what we've got - it's ridiculous," he told The Sun.
"This is the most manufactured band ever but we are five talents.
"If only this process had been done with other bands we wouldn't have had to put up with so many rubbish one-hit wonders and naff groups."
Hear'Say release their debut single Pure And Simple on Monday.
Noel says even if the track flops he has been glad of the experience.
(Anavova)
STEPS ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE AND TOUR IN 'NO SPLIT' STATEMENT
STEPS are to release a new single in May.
Newspaper reports claimed they were breaking up later this year.
But the band have issued a statement denying they are splitting.
LISA has already rubbished the story on the official STEPS website.
The site has had more than a million hits since the story first surfaced.
The new statement from the whole band reads: "While they were not intending to comment on the inaccurate reports of a band split in a Sunday newspaper, STEPS have been so upset by the continuing tabloid speculation that they feel it is important to clarify one or two points as many of their fans have been distressed by these rumours.
"STEPS have absolutely no plans to split.
"Faye, Lisa, Lee, Claire and H are 100% behind Steps and are currently busy with international promotion.
"British fans should be assured that they will be releasing a new single in May. "
The statement said they will be spending part of the summer in the studio working on new songs.
They are also planning a tour for the end of the year.
(Anavova)
LISA SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT (AGAIN!)
Forget the rumours, STEPS are NOT splitting up. Singer LISA SCOTT-LEE insists: "We're putting together our greatest hits album then there's going to be a fourth album."
(The Sun)
09.03.01
STAR IN STEPS NEW PROMO VIDEO!
STEPS are currently looking for some of their fans to star in their new promo video, that will be shot at a secret location next week!
You must be over 16 to apply and be able to make your own way to and from the film location, which is more than likely to be in London.
If you are interested this is what you must do:
Please send all of he following information and a full length photograph...
1st Name :
2nd Name :
Age :
Height :
Address :
E-mail address :
Contact number :
+ Full Length Photo
Address : send your application to this address by Monday 12th March.
Attention: Philippa
Notorious Films
117 Shaftesbury Avenue
London WC2H 8AD
Or send all of the above details by e-mail to - Philippa@notoriousfilms.com
GET TICKETS TO SEE STEPS ON A QUESTION OF POP
H, LEE and CLAIRE will all be taking part in the new series of A Question Of Pop.
Last time that H, CLAIRE and LISA appeared on the show, they were inundated with STEPS fans wanting tickets so if you're interested make sure you get in touch a.s.a.p
The details are as follows:
The show will be filmed on Saturday 17th March and Sunday 18th March.
To grab a set of free tickets phone - 0161 244 3676 or 0161 244 3643
Please state clearly that you are a STEPS fan when ypu ring, so that you get to see a show with one of STEPS on it. You must be over 13 to apply for these tickets.
10.03.01
STEPPING OUT IN STYLE!
We all know STEPS always look great at showbiz events and The BRIT Awards were no exception! Well Heat Magazine obviously agrees with us as they have awrded STEPS in their Best Dressed at The BRITS 2001 poll!
They say "That old black magic worked for STEPS in lace, PVC, leather, satin, jersey and er, flock?!"
The results are as follows:
1. Geri Halliwell (Ex Spice Girl)
2. Cat Deeley (sm:tv presenter)
3. Amanda ( Big Breakfast presenter)
4. Natasha Hamilton (Atomic Kitten)
5. Samantha Mumba (Solo singer)
6. Caprice (Model)
7. Andrea and Sharon Corr (From Irish Group The Corrs)
8. Sarah Macdonald (Girlfriend to Noel Gallagher)
9. Denise Van Outen (TV presenter)
10. STEPS
STEPS SET TO BE SOAP STARS!
LEE LATCHFORD-EVANS from STEPS is to make his acting debut in a revamped soap opera.
The singer will have a small speaking part in Crossroads, to be launched on March 6.
He will be the first of a number of celebrities that the producers will be hoping to lure through the doors of the four-star motel.
And although the show is expected to attract a mature audience, LEE, 25, is sure to entice younger viewers.
A Crossroads spokesman said: "The storyline involves STEPS staying at the Motel when they are playing a concert in Birmingham.
"The staff are all desperate to see their pop idols and the plot has one of the chambermaids meeting LEE.
The episode featuring LEE will be shown in early April.
(ic Showbiz)
11.03.01
FIRST SOLO STEPS?!
STEPS denied my story that they were splitting up, saying album No4 was on the way.
But the band will be out of contract by the end of the year and they will NOT re-sign as they launch solo careers.
(The News Of The World)
PAY STEPS UP TO £160,000
STEPS stars picked up around £160,000 each after tax for their last tour.
The lads LEE and H used to get paid more than the girls, but not now. LEE still hasn't drawn out previous pay and now has nearly pounds 500,000 in his STEPS Ltd company account.
(The People)
12.03.01
YOU VOTED HERE AND NOW AS THE NEXT STEPS SINGLE
Firstly thanks to all of you who took part in the STEPS Home UK vote to see which song from BUZZ you thought should be STEPS next single. The results are as follows:
1. HERE AND NOW 39%
2. BUZZZ 28%
3. HAPPY GO LUCKY 8%
4. NEVER GET OVER YOU 7%
5. PARADISE LOST 4%
5. YOU'LL BE SORRY 4%
6. TURN AROUND 3%
6. IF YOU BELIEVE 3%
7. HAND ON YOUR HEART 2%
7. LEARN TO LOVE AGAIN 2%
Quite an interesting result there, HERE AND NOW/YOU'LL BE SORRY has been announced as STEPS latest single and will be released in May, but it looks like you greatly favour BUZZZ over YOU'LL BE SORRY....
VOTE LISA, FAYE AND CLAIRE IN FHM!
Don't forget to vote for LISA, FAYE and CLAIRE in this years FHM Top 100 Sexiest Women Poll. As you know they're definately the hottest pop babes around so make sure they get recognised by everyone by voting to make all three of them in the Top 10!
The girls did pretty well last year, but none of them made it into the Top 20, but this year they've had a bit of a change of image and have appeared in many sexy photo shoots and saucy interviews, they've also appeared in vamped up videos such as DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE and generally just raunched up their stage outfits.
We think they'll all have no problems getting into the top of this poll this year!
You can vote by clicking on the little photo of LISA on the front page.
The 100 Sexiest Women in the World issue of FHM will be on sale at the end of May.
STEPS II THE STARS PERFORMANCES
This Friday STEPS will be performing HERE AND NOW at the end of the show and what a welcome performance that will be, because as well as it being eagerly awaited for by fans because it's their new single it will also be a rare performance by STEPS on the kids talent show that H and CLAIRE present.
Unlike the first series we don't get to see FAYE, LEE and LISA join H and CLAIRE to perform one of their hit singles at the end of every show, instead we get the odd perfomance from STEPS, but performances by other artists such as Samantha Mumba, A1, Jonathan Wilkes and Boom!.
So far this series we have only seen performances of STOMP and IT'S THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL. Last series we had DEEPER SHADE OF BLUE, AFTER THE LOVE HAS GONE, TRAGEDY, LOVE'S GOT A HOLD ON MY HEART, BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW and WHEN I SAID GOODBYE to name just a few.
And what we'll be asking you tomorrow, in the new poll, is do you think that STEPS should perform on every episode of STEPS II The Stars, like they did in the first series.
13.03.01
FAYE GUTTED TO BE IN STEPS?!
Alfie singer Lee Gorton has declared that the band would "love to collaborate" with STEPS member FAYE TOZER, after her announcement on NME.com last week that she wants to "go indie".
Lee told NME.com: "We were sat next to her at the NME Brat Awards and we were all pleasantly surprised by how lovely she was. We were also very shocked she even knew who we were, but her boyfriend had seen our video on M2 and she said she thought we were 'really good but a bit weird'. She was gutted she was in STEPS and told me how the deal they'd signed gave her no creative outlet what so ever. It was really quite shocking."
Lee continued that FAYE seemed "extremely genuine" and that during their conversation he had propositioned her to do a duet. However, FAYE replied that she'd "ruin your career and credibility in one fell swoop."
But Lee responded: "I'm not arsed about being cool, working together would be a laugh. The offer's still open... Whenever FAYE gets a gap in her schedule she's welcome to come down to Manchester and write a tune with us."
(NME.com)
NEVER MIND CLAIRE!
STEPS singer CLAIRE RICHARDS is the latest in the line of pop peeps to take part in the BBC2 comedy pop quiz show Never Mind The Buzzcocks, famous for Mark Lammars putdowns and jokes made at the expense of his celebrity guests!
FAYE TOZER was the first member of STEPS to take part way back in 1999, but she was spared the usual treatment as Lammar fancied her, LISA SCOTT-LEE was next to appear on the show and despite the fact that she didn't recieve the specialised treatment that FAYE had recieved she ended up getting the better of Lammar with jokey remarks such as "Oh yes FAYE remembers you, she told me to tell you she's a lesbian!" she even ended the show by dancing on the desk!
To see if CLAIRE can handle it tune in on Monday at 9.00pm on BBC2.
STOMPING DOWN UNDER!
STEPS have entered the Austrailian charts at No.62, which is a very dissapointing chart entry for STEPS, who used to be able to get No.1 hit singles in OZ.
Their single, STOMP, is even being used as the title track to the gay and lesbian Mardi Gras over there and it was thought that, that would push it up the charts, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to have made any difference.
It may well climb the charts next week though, so keep you fingers crossed!
14.03.01
MORE DETAILS ON STEPS NEW VIDEO!
As you will all know by now, last week STEPS appealed for some of their fans to take part in their new video, which is being filmed at a secret location in London this Friday. I recieved several e-mails asking if I knew why no one had got back to them to tell them if they had got the part so
I have been in touch with Notorious Films, who are producing the video, and they told me that they will be letting people know by this evening if they have got the part or not.
I would assume that because they have left it so late and are not giving much notice as to whether or not people have got the part that the final people picked will all come from in and around London.
I was told that over 800 people had applied to be in the video, but they actually only need 75.
Good Luck to all of you who have entered and if you do get a part mail us and let us know how the filming went!
15.03.01
STEPS: EVEN NOEL GALLAGHER LIKES THEM!
STEPS have revealed to dotmusic that even some of rock's biggest "hard nuts" are fans of the pop five-piece.
Our roving reporter caught up with CLAIRE, LISA, FAYE, H and LEE only weeks after they fervently denied split rumours and even posted a statement to their website saying so.
During our video report the band talk candidly about the fact that as well as having adoring teenage fans, they are also popular among the likes of Radiohead, Catatonia and Oasis.
CLAIRE confidently explained: "You'd be surprised actually who is a Steps fan and who isn't. We had Radiohead asking for our autographs the other day, which I found very, very bizarre.
"Cerys from Catatonia, there are people that you'd never expect to be STEPS fans. Even these hard nut kinda rock people, even Noel Gallagher said nice things about us."
The band received a special award for the 'Best-Selling British Live Act' at the BRITS recently and proved last year that they are one of the most hard working acts in pop. They played 65 arena dates in the UK alone.
But the band has admitted that their fast and furious schedule is exhausting and has, at times, taken its toil.
They talk openly about how H mistakenly told a Paris journalist "we love your leaning tower and your gondolas" and how he greeted a Japanese audience with the words "Hello Taiwan".
Our footage also contains clips from the videos for hit singles IT'S THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL and STOMP'.
(DotMusic)
Click Here To Watch The Interview
THE 'YOU'LL BE SORRY' VIDEO SHOOT!
Tomorrow there will be no update on the site as we will be travelling down to a top secret location in London to take part in the filming of STEPS' latest video, YOU'LL BE SORRY. Congratulations to all of you who also got a part in the video and for those of you who aren't going don't forget to watch STEPS II The Stars as there will be a very special performance of HERE AND NOW at the end of the show!
20.03.01
STEPS A-MAZE-ING NEW VIDEOS
On Friday STEPS finished filming the promo videos to HERE AND NOW and YOU'LL BE SORRY. It was a week long filming session which took place at the Notorious Films studios in North West London.
Both videos will have a connecting theme running through them, like the All Saints Under The Bridge/Lady Marmalade double A side videos had.
In STEPS' case the theme is a large maze. In the HERE AND NOW video STEPS are lost in the maze and are trying to find their way out, the YOU'LL BE SORRY video follows on from this with STEPS arriving at the centre of the maze and finding a huge nightclub and disco style party there.
For the YOU'LL BE SORRY video STEPS are vamping it up in tight red and black leather outfits - which they all looked brilliant in!
Plus, naturally both songs have brilliant new damce routines for you to learn, you may have seen a sneak preview of the HERE AND NOW dance routine on the STEPS Into Christmas tour or on STEPS II The Stars last week. It's a brilliant routine and it really shows STEPS off as brilliant vocalists and dancers. The YOU'LL BE SORRY routine is equally as good and it also gives H a perfect chance to showcase his talented singing abilities.
FAYE FROM STEPS MODELS YEAR OF THE ARTIST HATS
FAYE has kindly agreed to model designer hats as part of The Year Of The Artist Exhibition to raise the profile of her home town Luton's hatmaking industry.
Two milliners have designed hats for FAYE TOZER from STEPS as part of a Year of the Artist residency that aims to raise the profile of the hatmaking industry.
Luton is the centre of the British hat trade and the celebrity milliners, Sharon Morgan and Dagmara Childs have been working at hat manufacturers J Albert and Co and at Luton Museum where they designed and created the hats.
Along side the celebrity part of the residency, milliner Caroline Morris has been working in two residential homes and a day care centre in Luton.
Luton has been famous for its hatmaking since Victorian times, supplying department stores and designers alike and many of Londons top milliners have their creations made up there. However, the industry has suffered recently, and East England Arts views this project as an excellent way of significantly raising the profile of the industry and the quality of its craftsmanship.
This project, particularly with the involvement of FAYE , also helps the two milliners promote their own talents on a national stage, and demonstrates that bespoke design can work constructively within a mass manufacturing environment.
Click Here To Visit The Year Of The Artist Website
H WINS LEAD IN WESTEND SHOW!
Much as it pains me to add weight to the ramblings of a grinning fool, there could be something in this Steps to split rumour after all.
H has let slip he's considering the lead role in the West End musical Godspell next year.
"Ever since I was a kid I've loved musicals so to be offered something like that for next year is fantastic," H told me.
(Mirror)
WE'RE BACK!
After some technical problems over the last few days we're back online with all the latest STEPS fun!
21.03.01
WIRRAL LAD'S STEPS TO THE STARS!
A starstruck boy from Heswall, Wirral, will take his first STEPS towards fame and fortune on Friday - singing live on BBC television.
Rory Taylor will sing chart-topping Irish band Westlife's hit 'Flying Without Wings' on the children's programme STEPS II The Stars.
The 12-year-old was chosen from 3000 entries to perform on the show presented by CLAIRE and H from STEPS.
At the end of each show, viewers will be asked to phone in and vote for their favourite act - the overall winner will appear on Saturday morning kids show Live & Kicking and enjoy a day with STEPS.
LISA IS PROUD OF SIZZING STORIES!
Sexy STEPS popstress LISA SCOTT-LEE is tickled pink by the recent sex revelations from her former boyfriend.
Ex live-in lover Andy Godfrey, 25, told British newspapers how Lisa, 25, liked to play kinky sex-games between recording sessions and enjoyed watching X-rated porn films but far from being angry, the TRAGEDY star is proud.
She says, "I really don't mind. I would have been in tears if it said I was a crap lover."
The couple were together for 18 months, after meeting just before Christmas in 1997.
(Heat)
DANE'S DUET DREAM!
Dane Bowers formally of pop act Another Level has revealed that he would love to sing a duet with H.
When asked who he would like to duet with Dane replied:
'H STEPS. It's not a tough decision. I really like H he's cool. I'm good mates with LEE. STEPS are a really cool bunch of people. I wouldn't say I was a massive fan of their music, but they are very good at what they do. I quite like some of their songs,especially their last one.And I went to see them in concert recently too, it was great!'
You can read the full interview with Dane in this months TV Hits Magazine.
22.03.01
STEPS HELP HOSPITAL
STEPS members LISA, H, FAYE, LEE and CLAIRE are all helping a Wirral hospital to raise money for it's cancer unit. Clatterbridge Hospital on The Wirral Peninsula are hoping to raise money by auctioning off some jeans signed by the fab five.
Other celebrities to have given jeans for the auction include Tranmere Rovers Football Club, singer Louise and Lily Savage.
LEE who is from Wirral said this: 'I think it's very important to help our home towns whenever we possibly can and it really is for a good cause'.
If you would like to make a donation to the fund write to:
CLATTERBRIDGE CANCER
RESEARCH TRUST
Registered Charity No. 519357
J.K. Douglas Laboratories,
Clatterbridge Hospital,
Bebington, Wirral, CH63 4JY, UK.
Tel: +44 (0)151 343 4304
STEPS GET SET FOR WORLD DOMINATION
Pop stars STEPS may have stomped their way to the top of the British charts -- but the award-winning, manufactured band now want to go global.
They are set for a European and Asian promotional tour to ensure their disco ditties like ``TRADEDY'' -- one of several number one hits in Britain -- reach a wider audience.
``Success is on a scale really -- we've had lots of success in the UK, we'd like a bit more worldwide,'' blonde singer CLAIRE RICHARDS told Reuters.
STEPS have come a long way since 1997 when the band's three women and two men -- all aged in their early to mid-twenties -- answered an advert in the Stage, the same publication which helped launch the Spice Girls (news - web sites). Since then, their shiny songs and synchronized dance routines have garnered a Brit award and over five million album sales globally despite enduring criticism for being too commercially friendly.
``With STEPS music, there's not a major message in it. It's very much for fun and we don't take ourselves too seriously,'' band member FAYE TOZER told Reuters Television.
STEPS say a lack of promotional time for their second album ''STEPTACULAR'' has made it difficult to achieve the same level of success internationally.
``We're very ambitious...we always strive and we're always thirsty for something else,'' said IAN WATKINS, the Steps' member whose hyperactive nature has earned him the stage sobriquet of ''H''
The band face growing competition from groups with similar good looks and feel-good tunes.
The latest young outfit laying siege to the charts are Hear'Say -- a group made as part of a TV series ``Popstars'' which traced the fortunes of a band from the early days of auditions to the final five successful candidates hitting the road with their first single.
Critics have accused bands like Hear'Say and Westlife of making bland, processed music, but STEPS have no problem admitting to being a manufactured act.
``What pop band out there isn't?'' asked singer LEE LATCHFORD-EVANS.
.While British critics may see STEPS as a packaged pop act, CLAIRE said they had a different image in the United States -- a market the band was keen to win over.
``It would be wonderful if we could (make it big in America), but it's not a necessity. They think we're techno out there and we're so not,'' she said.
But jibes from critics and hits from Hear'Say are unlikely to affect STEPS too much.
After all, as the band say in one press release: ``The premise behind STEPS was that life is always sunny in STEPSWorld, and STEPS would almost always be found partying.''
(Yahoo News)
23.03.01
STEPS UK TOUR 2001!
Rumours are rife that the official UK tour dates for STEPS in 2001 will be from 1st December 2001 - 20th December 2001. We'll keep you posted with more info as we get it.
STEPS PLAY CHARITY CONCERT!
STEPS will be playing a charity concert in Sheffield next month. The concert is part of The Music For Life Festival and will be held at the Sheffield Arena.
Other acts confirmed include A1, Atomic Kitten and Stephen Gately. You can get tickets from the Sheffield Arena Box Office or any internet ticket booking site.
LISA AND CLAIRE ON SELECT!
LISA and CLAIRE will be back on MTV Select tomorrow from 1.00pm-3.00pm make sure you tune in as they're bound to be playing a few STEPS videos throughout the day! You could even pop along to see them at the MTV studios which are in Camden, London.
STEPS DELAY US ALBUM!
STEPS have delayed the release of their second US album, BUZZ, until August 2001. The album was originally due for release next month. No explanation has been given for the switch.
24.03.01
LISA STEPS DOWN THE AISLE WITH JOHNNY!
STEPS singer LISA SCOTT-LEE is to marry her long-term boyfriend.
She exchanged engagement rings with musician Johnny Shentall during a romantic cruise on St Valentine's Day but kept it secret until now.
They finally celebrated with close friends at a party last weekend.
LISA told me yesterday: "We haven't set a date for the wedding as we are both concentrating on our careers.
"Everyone knows there are long-term plans for STEPS but I am currently very happy and very much in love."
LISA, 24, has been dating Johnny for nearly two years but they only went public with their relationship last October.
Johnny plays with six-piece band Boom, who had a single with Falling last year. He got down on bended knee to propose to LISA during a cruise down the Thames and presented her with a large diamond ring.
Friends reckon the couple will wait until next year before getting hitched.
LISA is determined her plans to marry will not affect the future of STEPS amid unfounded rumours that the band are to split.
She is currently in the studio with the band re-recording tracks for their Greatest Hits album due out later this year.
LISA is the second member of the band to get engaged, after FAYE TOZER and her Dutch partner Jasper in January.
LEE LATCHFORD-EVANS is dating Hollyoaks star Terri Dwyer and CLAIRE RICHARDS is seeing Steps dancer Mark Webb.
Which just leaves H as a confirmed bachelor. Any takers?
(The Sun)
STEPS Home UK Say: We would like to congratulate Lisa and Johnny on their engagement and wish them all the very best for their future. They make a lovely couple and we're sure that they'll be very happy together.
{Now as for the matter of H being a bachelor I'm sure our Sara would step in!}
28.03.01
STEPS TAKE ON EUROPE!
STEPS are getting ready to set the European pop charts alight with the release of the new single IT'S THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL. The single which did amazingly well here in the UK and reached NO.2 in January 2001 could well be the biggest hit single for STEPS since TRAGEDY!
It looks likely that STEPS will be doing a bit of promotion over there either this week or next week so that will also help the chart place.
The European version has a different cover to the UK version which ties in with the Euro BUZZ album cover.
The tracklisting includes two new remixes of IT'S THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL and IN IT FOR LOVE is also included although TOO BUSY THINKING has been left off.
CLAIRE AND H'S SPECIAL DUET
Don't forget to tune into the STEPS II The Stars Grand Final this friday to see H and CLAIRE perform a very special one off duet!
They will be covering I WANNA BE THE ONLY ONE that was a hit in the mid 90's for girl group Eternal and Bebe Winans, and will be joined on stage by a gospel choir, it promises to be a STEPTACULAR show!
31.03.01
FAYE LOVES GOING DUTCH
STEPS star FAYE TOZER tells us there's more than one good reason for going out with Dutch boyfriend Jasper. Although he speaks English, there are some things he still doesn't get.
When we caught up with her at the Company Magazine Bachelor Of The Year awards she explained, "I told him I was going to this ceremony but because he didn't understand what bachelor meant he told me to have fun and stay out as late as I wanted to."
(The Mirror)
THE ARTIST FORMELY KNOWN AS H
Artistic H from STEPS flogged one of his sketches of the band for £4,500 in a celebrity auction at London's Planet Hollywood. He should think about jacking in pop . . . please.
(The Sun)
