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 amid an onslaught of ex boyband members lamenting the misfortunes of fame and thinks it’s important to ‘get a grip’.
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.
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.’
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As an onslaught of 90s singers lament perils of fame, East 17’s John Hendy has insisted he has no regrets – despite his financial hardships – and even his rich friends are still jealous
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
There is no denying being in a boyband has its lows as well as its highs with long hours, hectic schedules and the world’s eyes on you.
Most recently Boyzone member Mikey Graham 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.
Meanwhile Robbie Williams has also admitted he never felt his ‘place within Take That was safe’ and even Zayn Malik has said he ‘never really wanted to be in One Direction’.
Appreciating both sides, John explained: ‘Obviously people say “Oh yeah you know it’s hard work and it does this and it does that.”
‘But at the end of the day you wanted to be in the band, you want to become famous, so it’s part and parcel. You can’t have one thing and not the other sort of thing.’
When East 17 were formed they were signed on a million pound record deal but their late manager Tom Watkins only paid them a wage of £125 a week – raised by £25 every four months.
As John confirmed he has nothing financially to show from his time in the band, he understands the public’s frustrations when they look at the lives of celebrities and assume they have it easy.
‘I do get it like when people say “Oh get a grip and that” because when I look at footballers, I think the amount of money they’re on like £300,000 a week and you’re like, how do you justify that? I just think they’re overpaid.’
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’ (L-R Brian Harvey, Terry Coldwell, Tony Mortimer, John)
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’
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
While John isn’t living the typical rockstar lifestyle, he shared that his rich friends would do anything to switch places and enjoy the experiences he has had
How East 17 went from topping charts to homelessness and bitter fallout – as they reveal new careers
Reminiscing on some of the highlights throughout his time in the band, John cited meeting the likes of Pamela Anderson and Phil Collins as two of his most surreal memories.
Presenting the first MTV Awards in Berlin in 1994, East 17 were joined by the Baywatch icon. John teased: ‘I mean everyone loved her and she gave us a little kiss on the [Berlin] wall.’
The band also performed with legendary musician Phil Collins as John added: ‘He’s just so down to earth you know, it’s just like your dad, a proper sort of cockney geezer.’
John travelled the world during his time in the band as he also recalled shooting a Pepsi advert in Moscow and playing to millions of fans in Israel before swimming in the sea with wild dolphins.
Looking back he said: ‘I don’t ever regret anything like I say we come out with nothing but there’s no point thinking about that, just get on with life, you know what I mean? Life’s too short.
‘I don’t let it get to me sort of thing. I haven’t even got a house and people think you’re millionaires and that, and I’m thinking, I don’t even got an house out of it. We should have all come out with a house, at least.’
While John isn’t living the typical rockstar lifestyle, he shared that his rich friends would do anything to switch places and enjoy the experiences he has had.
He continued: ‘One friend said to me “I’d rather give this all up and then just go out for one week and experience what you’ve done, you know what I mean?’
Reminiscing on some of the highlights throughout his time in the band, John cited meeting the likes of Pamela Anderson and Phil Collins as two of his most surreal memories
‘When I turn up to a party and my rich friends are coming in their Porsche’s and Range Rovers and I’m pulling up in my roofing van and I’m like “oh mate, it makes me feel sick coming to your parties.”
‘And then they put it in perspective to me. They are like “John, mate, it’s money, it doesn’t mean nothing, mate.’
He continued: ‘One friend said to me “I’d rather give this all up and then just go out for one week and experience what you’ve done, you know what I mean? Because what an experience that is.
‘That’s the only way I could look at it. Yeah it’s people’s dream, innit, we’ve had the dream, that’s the way I look at it.’
He added: ‘But like I say, I’m happy doing what I do because I’m at the top of my game. I’m sort of like best of the best on the roof side. I enjoy it because I know everything.’
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