BAND: THE JACKSON 5
DEBUT: 1962
MANAGER: JOE JACKSON
GOOD NEWS: In 1971, The Jackson 5 became the first group in pop history to have its first four singles go No. 1. “I’ll Be There” became the best-selling single in Motown history. Jackson 5 mania spawned extensive merchandise, branding, and an animated morning show on ABC. Michael Jackson went on to become the King of Pop.
BAD NEWS: Joe Jackson put his sons through relentless rehearsals and is said to have verbally and physically abused his boys. Michael has alluded to emotional scars from that relation- ship, and his own troubles with child-abuse allegations are well known.
BAND: MENUDO
DEBUT: 1977
MANAGER: EDGARDO DIAZ
GOOD NEWS: The most popular teen group of its era, Menudo had fans throughout Latin America from Mexico to Brazil and Spain. During the group’s heyday, they flew in a pri- vate jet with their name on both sides. “Menuditis” was compared to Beatlemania. They had their own TV show, starred in two feature films, and became a multimillion-dollar franchise, with younger boys replacing the older members. After getting his start in Menudo, Ricky Martin went on to become an international superstar. A reunion attempt is currently in the works, helmed by ’N Sync mastermind Johnny Wright.
BAD NEWS: In 1991, four members publicly announced their departure from Menudo due to financial disputes and alleged verbal and physical abuse from Diaz and his associates. Later that year, ex-Menudo Rafael “Ralphy” Rodriguez confronted Diaz on the Spanish TVtalk show El Show de Christina, claiming to have seen Diaz having sex with an (undis- closed) underage member of the group. Rodriguez also accused Diaz of “touching the private parts” while the singer was changing his clothes. Diaz denied the allegations.
BAND: NEW EDITION
DEBUT: 1984
MANAGER: MAURICE STARR
GOOD NEWS: After breaking out with the bubble- gum pop of “Candy Girl,” New Edition’s self- titled follow-up sold 2 million copies on the strength of hits like “Cool It Now.” Bobby Brown went on to mega-stardom while Michael Bivins and two other members formed the trio Bell Biv DeVoe, who pioneered the fusion of hip hop and R&B. Bivins also became a manager in his own right, responsible for the legendary R&B quartet Boyz II Men. NE remains a successful touring act. Johnny Gill often performs in Brown’s place, and Brown shows up for some dates.
BAD NEWS: Bobby Brown told VIBE in 1992 that the New Edition tour bus used to drop him off at the Boston housing projects, and other members have agreed that they didn’t receive proper compensation for their work. For their second album, New Edition broke ties with mentor/producer Maurice Starr’s label Streetwise and went to MCA. Starr filed an unsuccessful lawsuit for ownership of the New Edition name, but got retribution in 1984 by launching New Kids On The Block. In later years, Bobby Brown’s tragic battles with bipolar disorder, addiction, and his troubled relationship with wife Whitney Houston be- came a staple of reality TV, blogs, and tabloids.
BAND: BACKSTREET BOYS
DEBUT: 1993
MANAGER: LOU PEARLMAN
GOOD NEWS: In 1999, Millennium, BSB’s third album, sold 1.1 million copies in its first weekCK —more than any album before it. Their accompanying tour grossed $37 million. Selling almost 100 million records, they are the biggest pop group ever. Nick Carter became a breakout star in his own right.
BAD NEWS: The Backstreet Boys sued Pearlman in 1998, claiming that while Pearlman and his team had banked $10 million since their ’93 debut, the group had only received $300,000. Around the same time, allegations surfaced that Pearlman had been involved in “inappropriate behavior” with a teenage Carter as well as other aspiring artists. In a 2007 Vanity Fair piece, Carter’s mother referred to Pearlman—currently incarcerated for charges related to investment scams—as a “sexual predator.”
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