911 (English group)
| Company type | Pop ensemble / Boy band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1995 in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom |
| Founder | Lee Brennan, Jimmy Constable, Simon "Spike" Dawbarn |
| Defunct | 26 February 2000 (initial disbandment) |
| Headquarters | Glasgow , United Kingdom |
Area served | United Kingdom, Southeast Asia |
Key people | Lee Brennan, Jimmy Constable, Simon "Spike" Dawbarn |
| Products | Music albums and singles |
Number of employees | 3 (members) |
911 (spoken as "nine one one") is a British pop ensemble featuring members Lee Brennan, Jimmy Constable, and Simon "Spike" Dawbarn. Originating in Glasgow in 1995, their first release was a rendition of Shalamar's "Night to Remember" in April 1996. Their debut album, The Journey (March 1997), earned a Gold certification from the BPI. They subsequently produced two Silver-certified albums: Moving On (1998) and There It Is (1999). The latter featured their sole UK number-one single, a cover of "A Little Bit More", which topped the UK Singles Chart in January 1999.
Throughout their initial five-year span, 911 secured ten UK top 10 singles and sold 10 million singles alongside 6 million albums worldwide. They enjoyed particular acclaim in Southeast Asia, where their first two albums reached the top chart position. The band officially disbanded on 26 February 2000.
In October 2012, 911 reunited to participate in the ITV2 reality-documentary series The Big Reunion, alongside acts such as Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, and Five. Due to positive audience response, they embarked on an arena tour across the UK and Ireland. Their comeback album, Illuminate... (The Hits and More), was released on 8 September 2013, featuring the single "2 Hearts 1 Love". Early in 2014, they headlined their own UK tour, titled The Illuminate: The Hits and More Tour.
1995: Formation
In the early 1990s, dancers Jimmy Constable and Simon "Spike" Dawbarn crossed paths and later performed as dancers on the late-night ITV music program The Hit Man and Her. Inspired by Jason Orange's success with boy band Take That, Constable and Dawbarn decided to form their own group in 1995. At Carlisle's radio station CFM, they encountered Steve Gilmour, previously manager for PJ & Duncan and Boyzone. Although initially reluctant, Gilmour eventually agreed to manage them. Acting on his advice, Lee Brennan was recruited as vocalist. After launching at Carlisle’s Pogoda nightclub, the trio relocated to Gilmour’s flat in Glasgow and toured schools and under-18 clubs across the UK. Facing rejection from record labels, 911 and their management company Backlash established an independent label named Ginga Records, financially supported by businessman Frank Shapiro.
1996–2000: Success
April 1996 marked the release of 911’s debut single—a cover of Shalamar's "Night to Remember"—which debuted at number 38 on the UK Singles Chart in May. Their follow-up single, "Love Sensation", came out in July, climbing to number 21 and featured in the 1997 film Casper: A Spirited Beginning. These independently released singles generated significant interest from major labels, culminating in a £3.5 million contract for four albums with Virgin Records signed in September 1996. The group won GMTV’s 'Search for the Next Big Thing' competition and was voted 'Second Best Newcomer' behind the Spice Girls by readers of Smash Hits.
November 1996 saw their first UK top 10 hit with "Don't Make Me Wait" reaching number 10. This success was followed by nine consecutive top 10 singles including fan favorites "Bodyshakin'", "Private Number", and their UK chart-topping track "A Little Bit More". During this period, three studio albums were released—The Journey (1997), Moving On (1998), and There It Is (1999)—each securing spots within the top 20 of the UK Albums Chart.
In late 1999, they issued their greatest hits compilation titled The Greatest Hits and a Little Bit More, which included their then-latest single "Wonderland". Subsequently, Brennan and Dawbarn opted to dissolve the band. Reflecting on this decision during The Big Reunion, Dawbarn stated: "We realized we had peaked... we felt it was best to exit while on top." Constable was responsible for announcing the breakup live on BBC Radio 1 in February 2000. He later described how challenging it was to deliver this news solo without contact with the other members for two years.
2008: Initial Reunion
In 2008, 911 came back together to embark on a nightclub tour across the UK and the Republic of Ireland, showcasing their most popular tracks. Their appearances extended to various university and nightclub events, including a performance prior to the Bradford Bulls versus Leeds Rhinos game on 23 May 2008. Additionally, they took part in Sky Living's Pop Goes the Band, where they reunited to deliver a rendition of "Bodyshakin'".
2012: Second Reunion
The year 2012 saw 911 reunite alongside fellow groups Atomic Kitten, Liberty X, B*Witched, Five, and Honeyz for ITV2's documentary series The Big Reunion. The program documented the bands as they prepared through two weeks of rehearsals ahead of a comeback show in 2013. Premiering on 31 January 2013, the series included interviews with Lee, Jimmy, and Spike discussing their professional journeys and obstacles.
The six bands then performed a sold-out comeback concert at London's Hammersmith Apollo on 26 February 2013. This was followed by an arena tour throughout the UK from 3 to 14 May 2013, which was subsequently extended to include 14 shows. A shorter Christmas-themed tour was also announced for December that year.
On 6 March, during an appearance on Daybreak, 911 disclosed they had re-recorded "Bodyshakin'" and were planning to release new music. Later, on 28 March on This Morning, they confirmed plans for a new album accompanied by a tour in 2014. Brennan commented: "We're working on a new album and will be touring ourselves next year."
During the arena tour connected with The Big Reunion, it was revealed that their upcoming album would be titled Illuminate. On 3 August, Brennan announced that Illuminate... (The Hits and More) would be released on 9 September 2013 along with the comeback single "2 Hearts 1 Love". The group performed this single on This Morning on 5 August.
On 20 March 2014, it was publicized that 911, alongside other boy bands featured in both series of The Big Reunion—including Five, Blue, 3T, A1, Damage, and 5th Story—would undertake a nationwide tour scheduled for October 2014.
2019–Present: 911 The Reunion and Collaboration with Đức Phúc
On 22 June 2019, 911 made their return to Southeast Asia with a sold-out concert titled 911 The Reunion held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
On 9 February 2023, the band collaborated with Vietnamese artist Đức Phúc to release a bilingual version of their song "I Do", featuring both English and Vietnamese lyrics.
Discography
- The Journey (1997)
- Moving On (1998)
- There It Is (1999)
- Illuminate... (The Hits and More) (2013)