Claire Richards.
Date of Birth: 17/08/77. Nickname: Clara. Star Sign: Leo. Eye
Colour: Green. Hair Colour: Blonde/brown. Hobbies: Reading,
singing. Character: Friendly, loyal, kind-hearted, slightly
bossy, outgoing. Favourite Person: Karen Carpenter. Favourite
Food: Ice cream. Favourite Band: Backstreet Boys. Favourite
Pop Star: Celine Dion. Favourite Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio.
Favourite Item of Clothing: Combats and trainers. Favourite
Sport: Football.
Lee Lachford-Evans.
Date of Birth: 28/01/75. Nickname: Evo/Lach/Sensible. Star
Sign: Aquarius. Eye Colour: Hazel. Hair Colour: Brown.
Hobbies: Videos, computer games, gym. Character: Sensible,
positive, quiet and confident. Favourite Person: Robbie
Williams. Favourite Food: Pizza. Favourite Band: Backstreet
Boys. Favourite Pop Star: Robbie Williams or Louise. Favourite
Actor: Mel Gibson. Favourite Item of Clothing: Jeans.
Favourite Sport: Football and gym.
Lisa Scott-Lee.
Date of Birth: 05/11/75. Nickname: Party Steps. Star Sign:
Scorpio. Eye Colour: Green. Hair Colour: Dark brown/red.
Hobbies: Colouring. Character: A Scorpio, a perfectionist, a
good laugh, a big mouth. Favourite Person: My Grandad.
Favourite Food: Crab Sticks. Favourite Band: Texas. Favourite
Pop Star: Robbie Williams. Favourite Actor: Claire Danes.
Favourite Item of Clothing: Platform trainers. Favourite
Sport: Snooker.
Ian Watkins.
Date of Birth: 08/05/76. Nickname: H. Star Sign: Taurus. Eye
Colour: Blue. Hair Colour: Blonde. Hobbies: Eating and
swimming. Character: Shy (not!), caring, happy and fun.
Favourite Person: My best mate Billie. Favourite Food:
Anything. Favourite Band: The Corrs. Favourite Pop Star: Janet
Jackson. Favourite Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio. Favourite Item of
Clothing: Jeans. Favourite Sport: Swimming.
Faye Tozer.
Date of Birth: 14/11/75. Nickname: Smiley, Curley. Star Sign:
Scorpio. Eye Colour: Blue. Hair Colour: Blonde. Hobbies:
Walking, eating, TV, parties, clubbing. Character: Smiley,
determined, professional and excitable. Favourite Person:
Madonna. Favourite Food: Pringles. Favourite Band: All Saints.
Favourite Pop Star: Janet Jackson. Favourite Actor: Will
Smith. Favourite Item of Clothing: Space trousers. Favourite
Sport: Trampolining.
The Story:
STEPS were
created following an advertisement appearing in The Stage
entertainment magazine early in 1997 and the successful group
members chosen from the thousands of wannabe stars who applied
to be auditioned.
Claire Richards came
from north London, Faye Tozer from Northampton, Lee Latchford-Evans
from Chester, Ian Watkins from Rhondda in south Wales, and
Lisa Scott Lee from St Asaph in north Wales.
It
was a whirlwind experience covering 5 years in which STEPS
sold more than 12 million records, sold out 120 UK arenas, and
were presented with a commemorative disc by Sir Tim Rice to
celebrate their entry into the top 100 acts of all time.
Created
by Pop Idols music guru Pete Waterman, the group had two number one singles
during their five year career - Heartbeat/Tragedy which
claimed the top spot in January 1999 and Stomp which went to
number one in October 2000. At the time of them parting
their run of 12 consecutive singles in the top five had only
ever been beaten by The Beatles.
In a surprise
statement on Boxing Day 2001, one that followed many recent
denials they were about to split, Faye, Claire, Lisa, H and
Lee said: "After five incredible years, we have decided it's
time to move on to new challenges.
"We have always said that when the time came, we would leave
as good friends and go out while we were on top, as although
we are very sad, that's what we have done.
"We are looking forward to making our next plans but for now
we just want to send our heartfelt thanks and love to all the
people who have supported us - you truly are the best fans in
the world."
Around the world the
number of those fans, and all the heartbreak, was
immeasurable. It's now more than five years since those five
magic years, and still STEPS music is guaranteed to fill many
a dance floor. All those dance steps and actions of theirs
that we practised religiously then with our friends to show
our prowess are still to be seen out there whenever we hear
one of their songs. STEPS may be gone, but they will not be
forgotten.
On 3rd January 2007,
Ian Watkins came out as gay in an interview with The Sun
newspaper. He also revealed at that time he had a ten-year
relationship with the group's manager, Tim Byrne, but this had
ended several months earlier. Although he had told his
parents, Ian always hid the fact he was gay from his fans,
although rumours abounded. The revelations were published the
same day he entered the Celebrity Big Brother house.
Ian said, "I come from a small valley in Wales and it just
wasnt the thing to do to be gay. It's a bit of a cliché but
I was the only gay in the village. I could never have done
this years ago, never... But I'm comfortable with who I am now
and I want everyone to know."
Visit:
Generation STEPS for an in-depth study of this much missed
group.
Some of
STEPS best loved hits include: 5, 6, 7,
8
Last Thing On My Mind
One For Sorrow
Heartbeat
Tragedy
Better Best Forgotten
Thank ABBA For The Music
Love's Got A Hold On My Heart
After The Love Has Gone
Say You'll Be Mine
Better The Devil You Know
Deeper Shade Of Blue
When I Said Goodbye
Summer of Love
Stomp
It's The Way You Make Me Feel
Here and Now
You'll Be Sorry
Chain Reaction
Words Are Not Enough
I Know Him So Well
It
was a whirlwind experience covering 5 years in which STEPS
sold more than 12 million records, sold out 120 UK arenas, and
were presented with a commemorative disc by Sir Tim Rice to
celebrate their entry into the top 100 acts of all time. 
