by Phillip Scott at Virgin Net - Aug 2001
RITCHIE NEVILLE FROM FIVE INTERVIEW
Virgin.net got hold of Five's bright-eyed babe Ritchie Neville asked him about fame, fortune, friendship and Five's new album. We also made him think about Billie and Chris Evans and more too.
So, you must be pleased that you're over the dreaded Second Album Syndrome now?
"We're more relaxed about it now, but I don't think it's so much that. It's because we all feel that if it finished today, we've made our little mark. We've been successful, been pop stars and if it all ends so what, we'll go and live on a beach or something."
If it did end, could you do a regular job?
"Erm... it'd have to be in music or acting because I couldn't really do any other job. Since I was about four all I've ever wanted to do was sing or act so if I was going to do something else it'd probably be working for charities abroad or something."
Is the new album very different from the other two?
"Erm... on paper no, it probably is very similar to the first two but a lot of people are saying that although it sounds like Five, it's a bit more grown up. People don't seem to realise that we write our own material and have that much input into our sound."
The Guinness Book of Hit Singles describes you as a "superior all-boy vocal group", how do you rate the competition?
"Non-existent, but not for the reasons you might think I'm saying that. Non-existent because we don't ever feel that we're competing with anyone - we just do our thing and if it works cool... does it really say that?"
Yep - it does. Were you really that offended to be mistaken for Westlife?
"Oh the Dublin thing! That wasn't being mistaken for Westlife man, it was just some lads recognised us in a pub and decided to show off. I think it was more... it wasn't anything to do with us, it was a bunch of Irish lads who didn't like the fact we were English and in their bar. That's why it kicked off and of course it got blown outta proportion."
Do you get a lot of aggro because you're famous?
"We do, but I think other boy bands get it much worse than us. More often than not we think we're gonna get it and then the guys come up and shake our hands! It's like you think it's gonna kick off and you've got your fists clenched and you're ready for it and then they want to buy you a drink! It just goes with the job really."
If you weren't in the group, would you buy your records?
"One or two of 'em, yeah. I'd probably have bought Everybody Get Up and... We Will Rock You. Oh, and Keep On Movin' - I'd have definitely bought that."
Which group would you like to be in other than Five?
"Erm... definitely something like Pearl Jam."
Who are you closest to in the group?
"I couldn't pick one person and I really mean that. We've all got our own individual relationships with each other. Quite legitimately, if it ended tomorrow we'd all stay in touch. I can't see it ever ending on a nasty note."
You were once in a band called Anal Beard. Where did that name come from?
"Hahaha! One of my friends, I'll mention his name because he'll be dead chuffed - Jonathan Griffiths! We were never really serious, I mean we never planned to be signed or anything. We were just a bunch of kids who could play guitar and got together and had a laugh. We were wondering what to call ourselves and Jonathan came up with that... we thought it was pretty wicked at the time!"
You've got quite a big gay following. When did you first realise that was part of your audience?
"Pretty much from the beginning really. We did a shoot for Attitude and played G-A-Y which was a really good gig. I suppose the person who found it hardest was Shaun because he'd led quite a sheltered life and didn't really know a lot. When he came down to London - coming from a small town near Leeds he was a bit erm... unsure. Even going to a restaurant he found a bit daunting. Now of course he loves it!"
Do you think it's important to win a gay audience?
"Yeah definitely... My uncle is gay and he always says to me, 'whatever you do make sure you keep your gay following because they've got loads of money!' I asked him what he meant and he said in terms of disposable income, no kids and all that."
Have you ever snogged a guy?
"No... sorry."
Don't apologise Ritchie - I think its J that the boys fancy...
"Hahaha! If I had to... it would probably be Abs from the band."
You're single at the moment - does your business make it difficult to meet people?
"You can't let fame or whatever, effect your life that much. You've just got to get on with it as naturally as possible... If you know someone's hitting on you because you're famous then you don't bother with it."
Have you ever exploited it?
"Erm... not exploit teenage fans no. If I was in a club and a woman comes on to me and I know it's only because I'm a pop star... erm, yeah! Hahaha! I might - if she was really hot."
Is it easier to date someone famous?
"Only to the point that they understand your predicament a bit more. They understand the hours but it's not a pre-requisite because if you only go out with other famous people, you narrow down your choice so much. One of my greatest fears is never finding that someone special."
You must've been choked to lose Billie to Chris Evans though?
"Hahaha! Well..."
Ritchie, it's Chris Evans, think about it...
"I can honestly say, if she's happy that's all that matters to me. I haven't spoken to her in a long time so I just hope she's happy and if she's not then get outta there."
Do you have any celebrity mates?
"Yeah a few..."
Who can you speed dial?
"Hahaha! Erm... Brian from Westlife and Emma Bunton... erm, that's about it really."
Have you found friends have changed towards you since you got famous?
"How do you mean?"
Well... have any of them played on your relationship/fame/money kind of thing?
"God no! No friends or family members like that. Thing is, a lot of my friends from school are at university now and they're students and we're all exactly the same as we were before all this. When we go out drinking, I'll pay for everything until one of them says, 'No Rich, let me get this' which they do - they're my mates. I'm just pleased to have been able to go off and do this whole pop star thing and be able to earn what I do. When I got my flat, one of my mates came and stayed for six months because he'd got a job in London and at first he was a bit worried about asking... but you know, I love the fact that I can do that for my mates because they would for me."
You've had some success in America but that seems to have fizzled out - what's that about?
"We did okay in the States, went platinum and all that but the politics in this business is a pain. Basically record companies couldn't decide who should sign us for America. One company wanted us and then another within the same group and by the time they got it together we had to release another album in Europe so it kind of went on hold."
What do you think the shelf life for Five is?
"When we first started we were very realistic and said we had about five years but we're up to four and a half now. At the end of the day we've had a good run for our money, when this album is over we'll probably sit down and discuss what the next move is - do we do another album or do we go our separate ways or not?"
Are you a millionaire yet Richie?
"Erm... I'm not at liberty to say. Oh what the hell - on paper yeah."
You've mentioned acting as a future career possibility, which actress would you like to star with in a film?
"You know what I thought would be cool was if I was going out with an actress and we were in love with each other and we starred in a major, epic love story. Apart from that I'd like to have played say... the Brad Pitt role in Twelve Monkeys."
So you can do crazy and romantic - right Richie?
"Yep - I hadn't thought of it like that but I suppose I can!"
