In the 90's and 00's there was a huge explosion of boy bands, and girl bands for that matter. Take That, New Kids on the Block, Spice Girls, West Life, Nsync, Backstreet Boys etc etc.

A marketing exercise of good looking youthful face singers, image provided, songs written for them, record company provided and so forth. Basically, all they had to do was turn up and sing and follow instructions.

So, what happened to all these bands, and members of these bands, when they bypassed their use by date? Where are they now? What band members have gone on to big and better things(eg Robbie Williams, Justin Timberlake) and what members are cleaning restrooms or sweeping carpets for a living?

One of the good news stories for me was Take That. I wasn't a huge fan(in fact I wasn't a fan at all haha), but I remember when Robbie Williams left the group and then remember when Take That broke up. Take That was the biggest boy band in the world, and when they broke up, it was like the world had ended, such was the over the top hysteria. Their lead singer Gary Barlow was absolutely crucified in the media for being fat, and was sent to entertainment purgitory for 10 years or so. No one wanted to know him. A washed up has been member of a boy band who was too fat. All his solo attempts failed dismally. So it was pleasing for me to see him do well last year, when he reformed the band, wrote a new album, and knocked ex singer Robbie Williams off number 1.

But what happened to the rest of them?

Thank god, you don't see as many of these bands in todays music. IMO they far overreached their novelty value.

My basement. With the gimp.

Most of them are probably all poor now, and still owe their record companies a great deal of money, minus a few. If you are a rapper, in a band or whatever the worst thing you can do is sign a record contract. Do it independantly.

It's too early to tell.