A wave of anticipation washed over the Cardiff arena as fans gathered, eager to witness the long-awaited reunion of the 90s boy band, Five. Twenty-five years after topping charts with over four million album sales, Sean Conlon, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, Abz Love, and Jason ‘J’ Brown were back, promising a nostalgic journey for a devoted fanbase.
But the night began with a puzzling silence. Naughty Boy, the acclaimed DJ and producer known for collaborations with music giants like Beyoncé and Sam Smith, was slated to open the show. His name was prominently featured on the band’s own promotional materials, building excitement for a dynamic start to the tour.
He simply didn’t appear. Despite a fully set stage, complete with all of Naughty Boy’s equipment, the DJ remained absent. Confusion quickly turned to frustration as the minutes ticked by, leaving concertgoers in the dark and the arena lights glaring.
“We had no idea what was going on,” one attendee recounted. “We just ended up sitting on the floor for over an hour, waiting for something to happen.” The prolonged delay culminated in a chorus of boos when an announcement finally confirmed Naughty Boy’s absence, casting a shadow over the band’s triumphant return.
The incident felt particularly jarring given the complex path Five had taken to reach this moment. Years of internal tension and fractured relationships had kept the members apart, until a determined effort to reconnect began roughly two years ago. Scott Robinson orchestrated a meeting, a deliberate attempt to confront past hurts and rebuild a bond forged in the crucible of shared experience.
That meeting proved transformative. As Jason Brown later described, the reunion was instantaneous and deeply emotional. “Instantaneously the door opened, and we just hugged,” he recalled. The years of separation couldn’t diminish the unique connection they shared, a bond that transcended the understanding of even their closest loved ones.
On stage in Cardiff, Brown’s voice cracked with emotion as he addressed the crowd. “Never in our wildest dreams could me and the guys have imagined we’d share a stage again,” he confessed. “It really does show that, at the end of the day, love conquers everything.” The sentiment felt poignant, yet the unexplained absence of Naughty Boy lingered as an unsettling undercurrent.
The tour continues, with upcoming performances scheduled in Brighton, Bournemouth, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, and London. Fans are hoping the opening night’s disruption was an isolated incident, and that the remaining dates will deliver the celebratory reunion they’ve been waiting for.
The remaining dates on the tour are: Brighton Centre, Brighton: Friday, Oct 31; Bournemouth, BIC: Saturday, Nov 1; Cardiff, Utilita Arena: Sunday, Nov 2; Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena: Tuesday, Nov 4; Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena: Wednesday, Nov 5; Manchester, AO Arena: Friday, Nov 7; Leeds, First Direct Arena: Saturday, Nov 8; Birmingham, Utilita Arena: Sunday, Nov 9; London, The O2: Tuesday, Nov 11
