In the Nineties this boy band star was scoring Christmas Number One’s and rubbing shoulders with the likes of Phil Collins. Here’s what he’s doing now…
Can you guess what this huge 90s boy band star is up to now?(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)
A huge boy band member who was super famous in the Nineties now does a very normal job that’s world’s away from his pop star past.
John Hendy might be 54 now, but he’s still instantly recognisable with his bald head and goatee beard as one of the four original members of East 17. Though he’s taken his double hoop earrings out these days.
But John proved he’s still got the moves as he took to TikTok to give East 17 fans a rendition of the east London group’s hit song Innocent Erotic, which was released back in 1995.
It’s not one of their biggest hits. They are better known for tunes like Deep, It’s Alright, House of Love and their If You Ever duet with Gabrielle. But their biggest song is of course their 1994 Christmas Number One, Stay Another Day.
READ MORE: East 17’s Brian Harvey unrecognisable 20 years after running himself over
East 17’s John Hendy treated fans to a dance around his kitchen (Image: TikTok)
The former boy band star was an original member of East 17 until he left in 2018(Image: TikTok )
While it might have been more festive for John to share that with fans, he seemed to choose one of his own favourites and told his 2,312 followers as he danced around his kitchen in ripped jeans which he teamed with a black shirt and tie: “This is for all my East 17 fans. This is my Christmas song for you.”
And fans were here for it, with one commenting: “This was not on the “1st thing I’ll see in 2026″ list but I’m here for it.” Another said: “One of my favourites. This takes me back.”
The original East 17 line up was John Hendy, Tony Mortimer, Terry Coldwell and Brian Harvey(Image: Popperfoto via Getty Images)
A third chimed in: “My favourite band when I was a youngin … remember seeings yous at Whitley bay ice ring! hahaha.” A fourth social media user posted: “Tremendous, still got it, young man.”
Calling for a proper East 17 reunion, a fifth added: “Would love to see East 17 back on stage. Brian included! That would be epic.”
The band are still going today, but the only original member in the now three-man line-up is 51-year-old Terry Coldwell. He is joined by former Artful Dodger collaborator Robbie Craig, 58, who joined the group in 2014. While the third newest – and youngest – member is singer and dancer Joe Livermore, who became part of the band in 2020 and is thought to be 20.
John is now happy living a normal life with his career as a roofer(Image: Instagram )
John left the band in 2018 to focus on his family – wife Nina and their two kids – and his career as a roofer. Explaining why he left at the time, John shared that he just felt it was “time to move on”.
He said: “I’ve left the group over personal problems between me, Robbie and Terry, not because I’ve had a baby or anything else, or my fiancé. It’s time to move on and I’m not getting any younger but good luck to them.” When asked about his future plans, he stated: “My plans are enjoying life and living with my family.”
Speaking to MailOnline last year, John revealed he didn’t make any money from being in East 17 despite landing a £1 million record deal – as their manager only paid them £125 a week in the beginning.
But he’s not bitter about it and said: “‘I don’t ever regret anything. Like I say, we come out with nothing, but there’s no point thinking about that. Just get on with life, you know what I mean? Life’s too short.
“I don’t let it get to me sort of thing. I haven’t even got a house and people think you’re millionaires and that, and I’m thinking, I don’t even got an house out of it. We should have all come out with a house, at least.”
The former pop star revealed that he often joins his old pals at parties. And while they rock up in luxury cars, he’s turning up in his battered “roofing van”. While this initially bothered him, a chat with a pal ended up changing his perspective on the matter.
He shared: “Then they put it in perspective to me. They are like ‘John, mate, it’s money, it doesn’t mean nothing.’ One friend said to me ‘I’d rather give this all up and then just go out for one week and experience what you’ve done, because what an experience that is. We’ve had the dream, that’s the way I look at it.”
Of his new career in construction, he added: “I’m happy doing what I do because I’m at the top of my game. I’m sort of like best of the best on the roof side. I enjoy it because I know everything.”
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