Avenue (group)
| Company type | Boy band |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Defunct | 2009 |
| Headquarters | London , England |
| Products | Music singles ("Last Goodbye", "Can You Feel It") |
Avenue was a London-based English boy band active between 2006 and 2009. They took part in the third season of The X Factor in 2006, advancing to the top 12. However, the group was later disqualified after it was revealed they had been formed explicitly for the show and were under professional management. Despite this obstacle, Avenue continued their musical journey and saw moderate success with their single "Last Goodbye," which entered the UK top 50 and reached number one on the Scottish Singles Chart.
After Avenue dissolved, several members moved on to significant music ventures: Max George became part of the British-Irish boyband The Wanted, which achieved multiple top five hits, including two UK number one singles and three albums reaching the top 10. Meanwhile, Jamie Tinkler went on to create the indie group Baxter, and Andy Brown—who replaced Tinkler in Avenue—later became the lead vocalist for Lawson, a band known for five top 10 singles.
2005–06: Formation and Early Days
Max George, born in 1988 and raised in Manchester, initially aimed for a career in football with Preston North End and was close to signing a two-year deal before an injury ended his sports prospects. This led him to join Avenue and audition for The X Factor. Following the band's breakup, he found commercial success with The Wanted. George was once engaged to actress Michelle Keegan, but their engagement ended amid allegations of infidelity, although they maintained a relationship for some time afterward.
2006–07: Participation in The X Factor
In 2006, Avenue auditioned for the third series of The X Factor, performing an a cappella rendition of "Leave Right Now" by Will Young. They advanced through bootcamp and judges' houses under mentor Louis Walsh, reaching the final 12 acts. However, after Walsh discovered that Avenue had an existing management contract, they were disqualified from the competition, with Eton Road taking their spot.
2007–09: Career Following The X Factor
Following their removal from the show, Avenue signed with Crown Music Management and secured a recording contract with Island Records. Jamie Tinkler departed from the group and was succeeded by Andy Brown, who would later become lead singer of Lawson.
Their debut single "Last Goodbye" peaked at number 50 on the UK Singles Chart and claimed the top position on the Scottish Singles Chart. The song also appeared on compilation albums such as Floorfillers Clubmix, Dance Mania Party, and Pop Party 6. In 2008, Avenue supported McFly during their Radio:active Tour; however, a planned tour scheduled for February 2009 was ultimately cancelled.
Avenue's intended second single, "Can You Feel It?", was not commercially released but was offered as a free download via 7digital. In addition, Max George appeared nude on the cover of British magazine AXM in 2008 to support cancer research awareness.
The band officially disbanded in April 2009. Following this, Max George joined The Wanted.
Singles
- "Last Goodbye" – Reached number 50 on the UK
- "Can You Feel It" (complimentary single)