British boyband 5ive announced last week that they were calling it a day. The band issued a statement last Wednesday (Oct 10th) announcing their decision to disband. Over the past four years the group has sold over 7 million CD�s worldwide but never reached the dizzing hights of success in the US that other boybands like N Sync and Backstreet Boys achieved. All told 5ive managed to sell a million albums to US fans, while most of their success came from the UK where they enjoyed three no. 1 hit singles and two no. 1 albums. 

Here is the statement the group issued on their official website last week. 
 
Pop sensations Five, today announced that they are to end as a group.

Abs Breen, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon made the announcement to their fans simultaneously via their official website fiveworld.com and on MTV.

The decision has been made jointly by the band following lengthy discussions this week

Five said today: �We�ve matured and developed massively as a band over the last three and a half years and have also grown as individuals. As the band has got bigger on a global scale the commitment levels have had to increase and that at times has been hard on us all. We felt that we had reached a point where we could no longer do justice to our fans or to each other and when that happens, it really is time to call it a day.

We want to say a massive thank you to all of the Five fans who have got us to where we are today � we will miss you all.�

Since bursting onto the music scene in December 1997, Five have clearly established themselves as one of the biggest bands around. Their many successes include:
  7 million albums sold worldwide, including 1 million in USA
Platinum album in 27 countries
10 Top 10 singles in the UK
3 No 1 singles in the UK � Keep On Movin�, We Will Rock You, Let�s Dance
2 No 1 albums in the UK
MTV Europe Award � MTV Select 1998
Brit Award � Best Pop Act 2000
6 Smash Hits Awards

On 22 October 2001 their last single a double �A� side, Closer To Me / Rock The Party, will be released � from their latest top 5 album KINGSIZE.