As a member of one of the biggest boy bands of the early naughties Antony Costa was known throughout the world.
He helped Blue clock up more than seven million record sales, three number one albums, three UK number one singles, two Brit awards and dueted with Steve Wonder and Elton John.
But when the band split in July 2005 Costa fell off the public radar as his attempts to launch a solo career stalled. His album flopped and he was dropped by his record label after just one single.
He appeared on I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here later that year and the next summer unsuccessfully tried to represent the country in the Eurovision Song Contest.
However, he seems to have found his feet again on the stage now, having performed roles in Boogie Nights and making his West End debut playing lead character Mickey Johnston in Blood Brothers.
He now has his own UK tour wowing audiences with songs from Blood Brothers and Boogie Nights along with many of the Blue hits and answering audience questions.
advertisement
"It's quite scary because you don't know if anyone is going to turn up," he said, "I've not done anything like this for a for a good year so fingers crossed it goes well."
During his time in Blue, Costa certainly didn't have to worry about people turning up at gigs, as everywhere they went they played to packed out venues.
"We came out when the boy band thing was on a downward slope," Costa remembers, "and I think we came through the back door a little bit and luckily the fans liked us.
"I think that's because we were just normal lads and people can relate to us.
"Nowadays it's mostly blokes that stop me in the street and tell me how much they liked this or that song."
Having spent so much time in close vicinity with his bandmates, Simon Webbe, Lee Ryan and Duncan James, Costa admits that despite their differences they all became good friends.
"I miss the lads because they know me inside and out.
"They know my good points and bad points and vice versa and I think that is part of the reason why we were successful. But the thing with us was that we were all so different and our personalities were different and I think that was another reason why Blue worked.
"If you put four guys who are exactly the same in a band I'm not so sure that would work."
When the four went their separate ways in 2005, Costa admits the feeling of being on his own was a little scary.
"It's weird because you are in a band for a long time and then it stops and you think what do I do now?'
"You know you have got to get on with other stuff and that can be quite daunting. You have to weigh up your options and be quite honest with yourself and say this is what I can do and this what I can't do.'
"But you always have to prove yourself, like football if you don't play well you will be on the bench.
"Doing solo work is exciting and daunting at the same time.
"Prior to this I've been doing theatre work which I really enjoyed because you've got the comfort and camaraderie of the other cast member. It's a different vibe because people are not there to see Antony Costa, they are there to see the show, so it's a case of doing your job."
Antony Costa, Fairfield Halls, March 13, 7.45pm, call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk
If you liked this article and would like to share it with others on the web who might be searching for good content we've made it easy for you to do it.
At the bottom of all articles, you'll see links to six sites. These sites - commonly called 'social bookmark' or 'social news' sites - have large communities of web users who share and rate interesting, useful and fun things on the web.
Clicking the links will automatically add the address of the story you are reading to one of these sites, letting you share it with others. Each site will ask you to register to share stories. Registration is free and once a member, you can store, recommend and search for stories that interest you.
Print
Email this
