Duncan James of Blue has revealed the changes he and his bandmates have made as they prepare to reunite again for another comeback tour
Blue star Duncan James has lifted the lid on the band’s surprising backstage demands – and they’re a far cry from their hard-partying days of the early Noughties. The All Rise hitmakers are currently on their 25th anniversary tour, performing to packed venues across the UK with support from pop icons 911.
In a new interview this week, Duncan, 48, revealed he and fellow band members – Lee Ryan, 42, Simon Webbe, 48, and Antony Costa, 44 – have banned booze and junk food in favour of wellness and grooming products.
“We don’t have alcohol. We don’t have sweets or crisps or anything like that,” Duncan told QVCUK’s Joy of Shopping podcast. “We’re healthy. It’s all about the voice and hygiene.”
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He described their rider – a list of items that artists request backstage when performing – as so health-focused that it was”very, very boring”. He explained: “We have honey and lemon, but it’s got to be Manuka honey with a good plus to it. It’s got to be at least a 250 or something. The higher the number, the stronger it is, the better the antioxidant, the better the quality. It’s really good for the voice – a good spoonful of it.”
Manuka honey, which is produced in New Zealand, has become a favourite among singers – including Ariana Grande, Ed Sheeran and Lady Gaga – thanks to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. In the UK, 250+ Manuka honey typically costs up to £32 for a 250g–255g jar, and £40 to £65 for a 500g jar, depending on the brand and retailer.
The thick, smooth consistency coats and calms the throat and vocal cords, while helping singers recover more quickly from vocal strain. Duncan said their rider includes fresh mint to accompany the honey and lemon concoction.
“We also have a hairdryer because we don’t tour with a hairdryer,” he added. “It takes up too much room. It’s just easier to put it on a rider.”
Phone chargers are another request. “Somebody will always forget to bring a phone charger and the worst thing is, somebody will say, oh, can I borrow your phone charger?” he said. “You think, you know what, I’ve only got one phone charger, if I give it to you, I’m not getting it back.”
The rider also includes hygiene essentials such as toothbrushes and mouthwash. “Sometimes you get to a gig and you just think, nice, clean toothbrush, mouthwash – because you don’t want to go on stage with a coffee breath, do you?” he reasoned.
Blue released their latest album, Reflections, in January, securing a UK number one. The band began their tour in November last year in Asia before bringing the celebration to the UK earlier this month.
The tour has already visited Oxford, Bournemouth, Torquay, Cardiff, Birmingham and Stoke and London. The band will continue across the UK throughout April and May before heading to Europe.
The boys first hit the charts with their debut single All Rise in 2001, going on to sell over 15 million records worldwide with hits including One Love, If You Come Back and Fly By.
After splitting in 2004, the group reformed in January 2011. They also represented the UK at the Eurovision Song Contest, before joining The Big Reunion in 2013.
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