Eternal (group)
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2011) |
Eternal | |
---|---|
Background information | |
Origin | London, United Kingdom |
Genres | |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Years active | 1992–2000, 2013–2014, 2024-present
|
Labels |
|
Members |
|
Past members |
Eternal are a British R&B group formed in 1992, with the line-up originally consisting of sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, with Kéllé Bryan and the latter's friend and classmate Louise Nurding (later and better known as Louise Redknapp), who were also recruited into the group by the label.
The group became an international success, selling around 10 million records worldwide. Nurding left the group before the release of their second album to focus on her solo career with the same label. Bryan left the group under undisclosed circumstances in 1998. The Bennett sisters were the only members left when the group disbanded in 2000.
Eternal made a brief comeback in 2013, with Bryan returning to the group, only for the group to disband once again in 2014. They were considered the UK's answer to the American girl group En Vogue.[1][2]
Eternal's 1993 debut album
Career
1992–1995: Formation, Always & Forever and Louise's departure
Eternal were formed in 1992 by music manager Oliver Smallman of
Eternal released their debut album, Always & Forever in November 1993, and it reached number two in the UK Albums Chart.[3] The album sold over one million copies in the United Kingdom, and confirmed as four times platinum, making it one of 1994's biggest selling albums and the year's biggest-selling debut album.[citation needed] They were named Best Group at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party and were nominated for four Brit Awards. Nurding decided to leave the group before the recording of Eternal's second album, and went on to pursue a successful solo career.[3] In a 2014 interview, Vernie Bennett stated that the group were "gutted" when Nurding announced she was leaving and it was suggested that Bryan also leave to form a duo with Nurding, which Bryan stated she did not wish to do.
1995–1998: Trio line-up: Power of a Woman, Before the Rain and Greatest Hits
Following Nurding's departure, the group decided not to replace her and carried on as a trio. Power of a Woman was the first album as a trio, and entered the UK chart at number six.[3] It produced four hit singles, "Power of a Woman", "I Am Blessed" (which they performed for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in 1995), a remixed version of "Good Thing" and a remixed version of "Secrets". All continued Eternal's tally of Top 10 UK hits.[3]
In 1997, Eternal achieved their first ever UK number one, a duet with BeBe Winans, "I Wanna Be the Only One",[3] which became the second most played song on UK Radio in 1997, and stayed at the top spot for one week. It was taken from their third album Before the Rain, which also included "Don't You Love Me". The album peaked at number three in the UK.[3]
Eternal's
1998–2000: Duo line-up: Bryan's departure, self-titled album, and split
In 1998, a week after their Party in the Park performance, Bryan was controversially dismissed by the Bennett sisters via fax from their solicitor. Their reasons cited "a breakdown in professional relations". A short time later, Bryan was diagnosed with lupus and was forced to abandon plans for a solo career.[6] Easther & Vernie were thought to have recruited a new member, TJ Arlette,[7] but this now seems firmly disputed by Vernie in this instagram comment asking ‘who is this Tj’ [8] The sisters carried on as a duo. "What'Cha Gonna Do" was released from their fourth album Eternal and hit number 16. With lack of promotion, the album charted at number 87. The next single "I Cry Real Tears" was expected to be released in April 2000, with a new version of the song; however, the single was scrapped due to poor sales of the album and Eternal were released from their recording deal with EMI. Internationally, the track "Free to Live" was released and translated to "Libre para vivir", which had moderate success in some European countries. The last televised performance by Eternal was on Songs of Praise in 2000 where the Bennett sisters performed the track "He Is".
2013–2014: The Big Reunion
In 2006, it was announced that Eternal would be reforming for a live reunion tour alongside other acts including Boyz II Men. Although only Kéllé Bryan and Easther Bennett would be part of the project (Vernie Bennett was pregnant at the time and Nurding — now known as Louise Redknapp following her marriage to Jamie Redknapp — was busy with her solo career). In an interview around the time Bryan claimed that the band had been offered numerous record deals over the past few years since the group had split up. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the tour was cancelled. In 2011, Vernie joined online social networking site Twitter. This news gave hope to many fans that eventually Eternal would be making a comeback at some point in the future.
Eternal officially confirmed in late 2013 that they would be reforming for the ITV2 documentary The Big Reunion, although Louise Redknapp would not be rejoining the group. Redknapp confirmed in an interview with The Times that Eternal was reforming without her.[citation needed] Following the announcement of the group's reformation, their 1997 Greatest Hits album climbed to number 1 on the ITunes hip hop chart in January 2014. Following the group's episode airing, their Greatest Hits album entered at number 27 in the official ITunes chart. The group reformed to perform a concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in March 2014, where they performed alongside BeBe Winans for their hit single "I Wanna Be the Only One".
2023: Second reunion
On 23 September 2023 the Daily Mirror reported that the group had planned to reunite for a tour in 2024.[9] This would have been the first time that the group's original line-up had played together since Redknapp left the group to begin her solo career. However, Bryan and Redknapp pulled out of the reunion tour, reportedly due to the Bennett sisters' refusal to perform at LGBTQ Pride events; Redknapp's publisher, Simon Jones, said in a statement to the BBC, "This was because the duo felt that the gay community was being hijacked by the trans community and they do not support this. Manager and spokesperson for Easther and Vernie Denis Ingoldsby defended the sisters vehemently stating Louise was trying to get founding members cancelled and had ‘thrown them under the bus’. Denis stated this was nothing to do with not wanting to support the LGBT community but concern expressed over trans activist and ideology impacting Women and children [10] and that Vernie is not alone in these concerns, supported by Cass Final Report [11] Both Easther and Vernie have moved on from this and replaced Kelle with new band member Christel Lakhdar. Easther and Vernie have expressed excitement about their vocal harmonies taking on a new level with this addition in an interview with Jacqueline Shepherd and how much their looking forward to Eternal’s up and coming Summer Festivals 2024.[12]
2024: New Lineup
Sisters, Easther & Vernie Bennett have decided to reform and continue Eternal and have welcomed singer Christel Lakhdar into the band.[13] [14] The trio will be performing across the UK, including a headline show at Birmingham NEC on May 3rd, 90's Baby Pop Festival and Back2Festival. With more gigs to be announced.
Solo careers
Louise Redknapp (
Kéllé Bryan experienced minor success after leaving Eternal in the form of a no. 14 single called "Higher Than Heaven" in October 1999, but her debut solo album, Breakfast in Bed, was never released.
Easther Bennett teamed up with reggae band
Vernie Bennett stepped out of the limelight following the split of Eternal. She went back to finish studying law and her Bar Vocational Course. Vernie was called to the Bar in 2005 and, in 2006, gave birth to her first child. In August 2010, she signed with ASM Artist Management.[17] She has performed with sister Easther at James Ingham's Jog On for Cancer event for Cancer Research UK in 2015.[18] She has also appeared on ITV's All Star Mr & Mrs with her husband Bryan.
Members
Member | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2013 | 2014 | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Easther Bennett (1992–2000, 2013–2014) |
|||||||||||||
Vernie Bennett (1992–2000, 2013–2014) |
|||||||||||||
Kéllé Bryan (1992–1998, 2013–2014) |
|||||||||||||
Louise Nurding (1992–1995) |
Awards and nominations
Award | Year | Nominee(s) | Category | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Brit Awards | 1995
|
Themselves | British Group | Nominated | [19] |
British Dance Act | Nominated | [20] | |||
Always & Forever | British Album of the Year | Nominated | [21] | ||
1996
|
Themselves | British Dance Act | Nominated | [22] | |
1998
|
Nominated | [23] | |||
"I Wanna Be the Only One" | British Single of the Year
|
Nominated |
Discography
Studio albums
|
Compilation albums
|
References
- ^ "Where Are They Now". Yahoo! Music. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Eternal Music". Kelle Bryan. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ ISBN 0-7535-0427-8.
- ^ "Louise on the World Wide Web". Louise.brigatti.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2012.
- Billboard.
- ^ "Comet among the stars". Thelawyer.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "Comet among the stars".
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C5o1TtAC7L6/?igsh=MTl2c3lrZDZldWxhOA==
- ^ "Exclusive: Louise Redknapp rejects Eternal reunion after gay row involving ex-bandmates". Daily Mirror. 23 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- ^ https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/nineties-girl-band-eternal-reveal-32217275
- ^ https://cass.independent-review.uk/home/publications/final-report/
- ^ https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0hl7qvn
- ^ https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/nineties-girl-band-eternal-reveal-32217275
- ^ https://www.instagram.com/p/C37c_-ELMw0/
- ^ "KELLE BRYAN". Officialcharts.com. July 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ "ASWARD - Artist - Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ "ASM Artist Management Profile". Archived from the original on 29 January 2011.
- ^ "James Ingham's Jog-On to Cancer party | CAPITAL PICTURES". Capitalpictures.photoshelter.com. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
- ^ blur win British Group presented by Vic Reeves & Bob Mortimer | BRIT Awards 1995. BRITs. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ M People win British Dance Act presente by Isaac Hayes | BRIT Awards 1995. BRITs. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Blur win British Album presented by Cindy Lauper | BRIT Awards 1995. BRITs. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 June 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ Massive Attack win British Dance Act | BRIT Awards 1996. BRITs. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2021. Retrieved 26 October 2021 – via YouTube.
- ^ "BBC News | UK | Nominations for 1998 Brit Awards".