I was in a boy band as well and these whingers need to get a grip! I loved every second of East 17 and my rich friends are still jealous of what I experienced
Share:
These days he earns his living as a humble roofer rather then performing to millions across the world. However East 17 star John Hendy, 53, has admitted he has 'no regrets' and thinks whinging ex boyband members should 'get a grip' instead of moaning about the misfortunes of fame.
![[While East 17 hit the big time with hits Stay Another Day and If You Ever, it all came crashing down when lead singer Brian was sacked from the group in 1997 after ill-advised comments he made about ecstasy]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/16/92616581-14296985-This_month_marks_the_30th_anniversary_of_their_hit_Christmas_sin-a-25_1737129714484.jpg)
The former singer was part of the band's original lineup alongside Tony Mortimer, Brian Harvey and Terry Coldwell. And while the group hit the big time with hits Stay Another Day and If You Ever, it all came crashing down when lead singer Brian was sacked from the group in 1997 after ill-advised comments he made about ecstasy in the wake of the death of Leah Betts, who died after taking a pill during her 18th birthday party.
![[Although the public often assume he is a millionaire he doesn't even own a house. Yet he wouldn't trade in his experience as he admitted: 'It's people's dream... we've had the dream']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/16/94217605-14296985-image-a-42_1737130729757.jpg)
Speaking to MailOnline, John revealed that while the public often assume he is a millionaire he doesn't even own a house and while his friends are behind the wheels of Porsches, he drives a battered roofing van. Yet he would never wish to trade places with his rich friends as he admitted: 'It's people's dream, innit, we've had the dream.'.
![[John now makes a living as a roofer, yet he added: 'I don't ever regret anything like I say we come out with nothing but there's no point thinking about that']](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/16/92616503-14296985-John_now_makes_a_living_as_a_roofer_Recently_he_fell_on_hard_tim-a-34_1737130385200.jpg)
East 17 member John Hendy has urged whinging ex-boyband stars who moan about fame to 'get a grip' as he says he lived the dream playing to millions - and even though the cash has run out, his rich friends would trade places with him any day. While East 17 hit the big time with hits Stay Another Day and If You Ever, it all came crashing down when lead singer Brian was sacked from the group in 1997 after ill-advised comments he made about ecstasy.
![[Boyzone member Mikey Graham recently opened up about escaping the 'toxic environment' of fame as he admitted he 'just wanted out' and now lives in a nomadic existence in rural Ireland]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/01/17/16/94081149-14296985-Mikey_Graham_admits_he_grew_tired_of_the_toxic_environment_in_Bo-a-49_1737133098061.jpg)
