My all time favorite boy band from the 80’s, New Kids On The Block, cancelled their Australian tour blaming the recession and low ticket sales.  NKOTB started their boy band back in 1984 in Boston with the original members: Jordan Knight, Jonathan Knight (brothers), Joey McIntyre (my fav), Donnie Wahlberg (also my fav) and Danny Wood (the badass). 

They won two American Music Awards back in 1990 for best pop group and album.  They disbanded in 1994 with rumors that Danny was on drugs, Jonathan was having panic attacks and other members wanted to get out of the boy band title and go solo, such as lead singer Joey McIntyre. There were also rumors that the boy band had lip synced at their live concerts (which happens all the time now) and other people, such as their producer, Maurice Starr, sang the original main tracks, while the boy band sang the background tracks.

The boy band secretly reunited in 2007 producing their first album since they had broken up in the early 90’s.  Their first new album came out in September of 2008 entitled, The Block.  They had two hit singles, “Summertime” and “Single” featuring Ne-Yo.  NKOTB went on tour with Natasha Bedingfield and Lady GaGa as supporting acts throughout the US, Canada, UK, France, Amsterdam and Germany.   They also had a NKOTB themed cruise for their fans from Miami to the Bahamas and back.

It was reported that the women who went on the NKOTB cruise were the little girls who had made NKOTB the boy band sensation that they were in the late 80’s and early 90’s and were all grown up, in their 20’s and 30’s with disposable income having paid around $1,000 per ticket for this 3-day cruise.  The cruise also bumped up revenue for Carnival cruise lines which had recently slashed their prices due to the economy.  Fans loved the opportunity to be intimate with the famous boy band which had played two concerts on the ship as well as meet and greets, photos ops and a poker tournament with Donny.

So, NKOTB cancelled their summer tour with Australia, but will they be back for more US tours?  As of now, they are performing in the US until July 18^th (as shown on their website).   I personally would love to go to one of their concerts, just for fun.  I always wanted to see them live when I was younger, although I was only about 10 when I really fell in love with them.  I had huge Donnie and Joey buttons (you remember the big fair type buttons) as well as a NKOTB towel.  They were actually my very first CD, my step mom had given it to me for Christmas, I was ecstatic!  I also remember my grandma recording their concert on VHS for me and watching it over and over again.  I would dance to their songs, sing along and day dream of one day marrying Joey (since he was closest to my age).