Manchester
Although you might not want to admit it, you can all remember the dance routine for One For Sorrow… after a few vodka shots out come the moves.
With two number one albums, multi-platinum awards and sixteen single releases throughout their five year domination of the charts from 1997-2001, Steps are back with a bang. Their comeback album 'The Ultimate Collection' stormed straight in at Number One, Sky Living's 'Steps: The Reunion' documentary has brought the group back into the public eye and their tour is set to sell out.
Cheesy pop lovers at heart, The Student Magazine jumped at the chance of a chat with Faye Tozer, Lee Latchford-Evans and Ian 'H' Watkins.
How does this morning find you?
Faye: Really busy, just like the old times really! It's like we've just picked up from where we left off. Tired after switching on the Christmas lights at the Manchester Trafford Centre last night, it was a bit of a late one! But the support and response has been overwhelming, really nice to be back.
Steps were massive back in your heyday. Did you miss those times?
Faye: Well we're just getting back to where we were, it's like we've never been away! It was good to have a breather from each other and some space.
What's been the biggest achievement in your career so far?
Lee: Performing on the West End stage, I went to theatre school so it's a big thing for me and always what I'd wanted to do.
H: Me too – it had always been my dream to perform on the West End stage and since I was 9 I've been involved in amateur dramatics and dreaming of the West End, then at 27 I played the lead in Joseph!
Faye: We're all very much into theatre and we've had so many amazing experiences in our lives, like winning a Brit Award for the most running Wembley show. I'm so excited for what's to come and can't believe The Ultimate Collection went in at Number One! We've all got multi-platinum awards on our walls!
H: And we're also the only band to have albums in three consecutive decades!
Which was your favourite song you've released? Which do you love to perform?
Faye: We've been doing a lot of TV appearances and the most popular are Tragedy, Deeper Shade of Blue, Way You Make Me Feel… I do like Deeper Shade of Blue, that's one of our favourites, it's a bit of a cooler song!
H: What's your favourite?
Me: Well Tragedy of course, whenever that comes on I'm up dancing! Oh and 5,6,7,8 – what about 5,6,7,8?
All: Ohh no!
H: Really?
Faye: We have a bit of a love/hate relationship with 5,6,7,8! It was our first song so it's a bit of a special one!
What have you been up to in the years you've been away from the public spotlight?
H: Well theatre… and Lee has his own business, don't you, Lee?
Lee: Yes Famously Fit, I've been fitness based since Steps and I'm the male face of OK! Famously Fit. So I'll be getting everyone in Steps in shape for the tour!
Faye: Oh I bet you'll love that won't you H…
H: Ohhh…
Did you spend time together as friends in the years after you'd split?
Faye: Yes, it was a tough split but we've been to each others' wedding and christenings and shows etc. It's funny though as we'd never all been in the same room together until we started the TV show!
So how did that come about? Did someone approach you or did you just all decide one day?
Faye: Well we'd decided to release The Ultimate Collection, to uphold the legacy then the offer of a TV documentary came up so we thought we'd like to support it. I mean we've had lots of similar offers in the past but this one came at the right time and it all fell into place. We didn't think this would lead to a tour so that's amazing.
What can we expect from you second time round? Have you got any new songs in the pipeline?
H: Well our tour is called The Ultimate Collection so it's just that – all the hits. This time it's different though as the things possible for a tour have technically advanced and all our dreams and ideas are now achievable.
Steps' Ultimate Tour comes to The Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield in April. Will this just be covering past hits or will there be some new songs in there?
Faye: It's focusing on our past hits and it's amazing and overwhelming the response we've had. We're in Sheffield on the 15th of April and had to add a second date on 27th April due to demand, I'm gobsmacked by how we've been received.
Do you think you'll hit a whole new generation of Steps fans?
Lee: Well when we were at the Trafford Centre last night I was amazed by all the young fans but I think it might have been their mums pushing them forward! The TV show has helped a lot I think but we had loads of 10 and 9 year olds asking for autographs and photos.
Faye: I think there's not really any acts like us out in the market at the moment who parents can introduce to their kids, appealing to all the family. And they can learn the routines and everything!
What about the dance mats at arcade places? They play your songs like 5,6,7,8? Do you ever have a go?
(All laugh)
H: Oh yeah, they have our songs!
Lee: I think I've casually walked past just as some girls have been dancing to 5,6,7,8…
Faye: I've been on them before but I don't think I'd do it to my own song!
I always choose 5,6,7,8 when I go on…
H: Really? Are you any good?
Of course, I hit all the marks!
H: (Laughs) I'd probably get the worst mark ever for my own routine!
Ok, just some quick questions for you now:
Which member of Steps is…
… the biggest flirt?
Faye: Lee or Lisa!
Lee: Oh well yes, I do like to give a nice smile…!
…the greediest?
Faye: In what way? With food?
H: I do like a good pudding…
Faye: Yes, H!
…the one who's always late?
Lee: Claire! Even if she arrived first she'd be the last to be ready.
…the shopaholic?
(All) Claire!
Steps will be playing at the Sheffield Motorpoint Arena on the 15th April and 27th April 2012 so get your tickets now to avoid disappointment.
