‘We made a pact that it was all or nothing for us’
Twenty five years after 911 burst on to the pop scene, HELEN BARNES caught up with band member Jimmy Constable before the Boys Are Back tour
We’re looking forward to seeing you as part of the Boys Are Back tour, which also includes 5ive, Damage and A1. Are you happy with the line-up?
When they first approached us, we were all asking who was going to be on it – not because we’re rivals with anyone, but more whether it’s the right sort of line-up for what you want to be involved in. Every band that’s on there we’ve known for 25 years.
So, are you all mates then?
Yeah! The Damage boys we did the Smash Hits tours together; 5ive and A1 we saw on the road and obviously we did the Big Reunion too. Strangely, we talk more about what our kids are doing now, school runs, etc! They’re all lovely guys and it’s quite lucky in a way because there’s no egos. We’re even contemplating doing a few songs together.
That was my next question – I think the fans would love that!
Well, we are still in the planning phase – we had a promo day with me, Ben, Scott and Jade and we did have a conversation about it. I’m sure we will do something.
When I saw you at the Back To The 80s & 90s Festival, I was both surprised and impressed to see 911 suddenly burst into a really slick, energetic dance routine. I can imagine that takes a little more work these days?
We’ve always been about having good songs, but also about putting on a good show. We made a pact that it was all or nothing for us – if people are paying good money for tickets and want to see a show, then they want to see it as near as possible to the old days. So, we do all the breakdancing, everything. We just ache the day after now!
You’ve talked openly in the past about your battle with drugs and alcohol after the band split. On reflection, do you think that was inevitable?
In this day and age there’s a lot of stuff about mental health; Everyone has their demons and deals with what they deal with on a daily basis. For me, when the band split, I didn’t know how to handle my stuff. I didn’t purposely want it to be that way, it was just like where’s my daily sheet, that we normally got through the door, saying what’s happening today and then you realise some people just aren’t picking up the phone anymore. You learn a harsh lesson. Some can deal with it, some can’t. I turned to alcohol initially and when that wasn’t giving me the buzz, I turned to drugs. People shouldn’t be ashamed to ask for help – back in the day it wasn’t cool, but for me the change was seeing Prince Harry talking about it on TV
and accepting it’s OK to be honest about it. I wasn’t trying to look cool – if you need help, you need help. I still go to one therapy session a month; I think I’ve dealt with everything now but I still find it useful.
Do your kids think it’s cool that Dad’s in a boyband?
Ellie is 12 now and I’m like “you’re not following boybands because I know what they’re like…!”. Some of her teachers were fans and she’s embarrassed when she hears teachers say that they had her dad’s posters on their walls. She wants to come on the tour with us during February half term though and likes singing herself. My son is only interested in Lego! You haven’t been roped in to performing at their school yet then?
Ha, not yet, but I’m waiting for it…..!
Do you still support Liverpool?
Yes! They’re obviously doing very well and I try to get to a few games. We used to get invited up when both they and 911 were sponsored by Reebok.
Have you spent much time in Nottingham before?
When we wrote our first album with Eliot Kennedy, we lived in his house in Sheffield and would have trips out to Nottingham. It’s one of the places you visit for a bit of shopping! One of my mates was in Dancing On Ice too, so I came up for that. Finally, can you give us a little exclusive here in the East Midlands, something your fans won’t know about you?
I’m in the middle of my pilot’s licence at the moment – single engine. I need to do 40 hours flying and I’m 14 hours in. I don’t think I’ve told many people that… So you can call it an exclusive.
■ 911 play as part of the Boys Are Back tour, at De Montfort Hall, Leicester, on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 and the Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham, Friday, March 13, 2020. Tickets: De Montfort Hall, demontforthall.co.uk, 0116 233 3111, £24-£34; Royal Concert Hall, trch. co.uk, 0115 989 5555, £25-£35.