The music world was rocked when Liam Payne of One Direction tragically passed away last October at the age of 31, falling from a hotel balcony in Argentina.
A toxicology report later revealed alcohol, cocaine, and a prescription antidepressant in his system, painting a harrowing picture of the pressures behind fame.
For members of Five, Liam’s death struck a particularly personal chord.
Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, Abz Love, and Jason ‘J’ Brown have all opened up about how his passing reminded them of their own battles when their band ruled the charts in the late 1990s.
Life Behind the Boyband Curtain
Five were more than just pop stars—they were a phenomenon.
Selling over 20 million records worldwide and making history as the only UK act to reach the Top 10 with all 11 singles, the band’s success was undeniable.
But fame came at a cost. Sean Conlon, now 43, experienced a mental breakdown that forced him out of the group in 2001.
Ritchie Neville, 46, fell into depression and turned to alcohol to cope.
He reflected to The Mirror, saying, “It did resonate.
And I think it affected us slightly differently than perhaps it would somebody ‘normal’, because we’re in a band—and it was in a hotel room.”
The highs of fame were shadowed by intense personal struggles, as each member navigated a life under constant public scrutiny.
Struggling With the Aftermath
When Five disbanded, the members faced years of personal challenges.
Richie admitted he drank daily for three years to escape his feelings of depression, often feeling utterly lost.
“Like J, I didn’t want to get back into the music industry.
Simon Cowell rang and said he wanted me.
I just couldn’t do it. It was the wilderness years,” he recalled.
Scott Robinson, who joined the band straight out of school at 15, also faced mental health struggles but stayed until the group’s official split in September 2001.
“To go from that to instant fame, with no space away from it or days off was wild,” he said, admitting he carried guilt over the band’s breakup for years.
Healing Before Reunion
J Brown described how the band had to take nearly two decades to “fix their broken minds” before considering a reunion.
For years, he felt too “tainted” by the music industry to return.
But now, 25 years on, Five have reformed and are touring the UK, even set to appear on Strictly Come Dancing this weekend.
The members, now in their late 40s and with families of their own, say they are finally aligned and at peace.
“We’re grown men now as well,” J told the Daily Mail.
“We understand ourselves a lot better, and we’re working on ourselves and our own minds.”
Appreciating the Second Chance
Reflecting on their journey, Sean added, “We massively appreciate what we’ve got.
It’s not that we were arrogant or big-headed the first time around, we were just too young.
We never had time to stop and really embrace what we’d done and what we had.
Now we’ve had time to process it.
We never thought we’d have this opportunity again.”
For these pop icons, the painful lessons of the past have now shaped a healthier, more grounded approach to fame, friendship, and life in the spotlight.
Support and Resources
For anyone struggling with mental health or coping with grief, confidential support is available.
Call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org, or explore resources at thecalmzone.net/get-support.
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