The Wanted Announces New Music 7 Years After They Split
Get ready, you guys, because The Wanted just announced that they’re getting back together more than seven years after they
Lillie Gissen
Get ready, you guys, because The Wanted just announced that they’re getting back together more than seven years after they split! That’s right, not only is the British band — which is made up of Max George, Jay McGuinness, Tom Parker, Nathan Sykes and Siva Kaneswaran — releasing some new music, but they’re also going to hit the stage to perform together for a very special event, and we couldn’t be more excited about it!
For those who missed it, Parker actually announced that he was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor back in October, and now, they shared the exciting news that they are going to reunite to perform at his upcoming charity concert for Stand Up To Cancer. It will take place on September 20, 2021, at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England — we can’t wait!
As for their new tunes, they’re gearing up to release a greatest hits album on November 12, 2021, which will also include favorites like “All Time Low,” “Glad You Came,” “Gold Forever,” “Chasing the Sun,” “Heart Vacancy,” “Lightning,” “Lose My Mind,” “We Own The Night,” “Walks Like Rihanna” and more. But that’s not all. Get this — the LP will also have some brand new songs on it, so you might want to mark your calendars!
“We have been talking off and on for a few years now about getting back together to do something for the [10-year] anniversary but have all been working on other projects at different times so it didn’t happen,” McGuinness explained in a new announcement video. “This is all about having fun with our mates, no pressure, just fun.”
Why Did The Wanted Break Up In The First Place?
For those who don’t know, The Wanted was a British boyband who was put together by Jayne Collins in 2009. During their time together, they released three epic albums, embarked on numerous world tours, broke tons of records and so much more. So why did they breakup, you ask?! Well, according to Parker, George was the one who decided it was time for the band to take a break.
“It was a shock. None of the rest of us had a clue. At the time it was difficult,” he explained in a previous interview. “There can be tension but we’re lads. There’ll be a lot of shouting, then it’s over and done with.”
He also admitted that because One Direction started to gain a lot of attention around the same time, it was hard for them to flourish.
“Deep down I think I knew we’d come to our sell-by date. For every manufactured boy band, there’s a shelf life,” Parker continued. “We were supposed to rival 1D but no one could touch them.”
The musician also explained to Digital Spy, “For The Wanted to try and compete against one of the biggest bands in the world — One Direction — it’s almost impossible. I don’t think any band out there can compete with them at the moment.”
Who Else Is Performing At The Charity Concert?
Well, 1D may have contributed to The Wanted’s downfall, but it looks like there’s no bad blood between them now. How do we know? Well, not alone is Liam Payne performing at the upcoming charity concert, but he even praised Parker’s “strength” after his cancer diagnosis.
“When I heard about what Tom was going through I wanted to reach out to him, he’s showing so much strength and courage and I wanted to offer help and support in any way I could,” he said to DailyMail.
And it meant so much to Parker. He told the outlet, “Liam got in touch after he heard about my diagnosis and was really supportive, it really meant a lot to hear from him, it was such a lovely gesture. We’re both dads now, we spoke about the kids and put all the silly rivalry from years ago aside, life really is too short and I’m so grateful for his support.”
Other performers include Becky Hill, KSI, McFly and Sigrid.
What Has Tom Parker Said About His Cancer Diagnosis?
“Hey guys, you know that we’ve both been quiet on social media for a few weeks and it’s time to tell you why. There’s no easy way to say this but I’ve sadly been diagnosed with a brain tumor and I’m already undergoing treatment,” Parker wrote on Instagram back in October when he first shared the heartbreaking news. “We decided, after a lot of thought, that rather than hiding away and trying to keep it a secret, we would do one interview where we could lay out all the details and let everyone know the facts in our own way. We are all absolutely devastated but we are gonna fight this all the way. We don’t want your sadness, we just want love and positivity and together we will raise awareness of this terrible disease and look for all available treatment options. It’s gonna be a tough battle but with everyone’s love and support we are going to beat this.”
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During an interview with OK Magazine, the musician and his wife, Kelsey Hardwick, said that they went to the hospital after he suffered from two seizures over the summer. He explained, “They pulled the curtain around my bed and said, ‘It’s a brain tumor.’ All I could think was, ‘F**king hell!’ I was in shock. It’s stage four glioblastoma and they’ve said it’s terminal. It was a lot to deal with by myself. I still haven’t processed it.”
In August 2021, however, the singer shared some great news! He revealed that there was a “slight reduction” in the tumor and that things were looking up.
“The last couple of days have been filled with dread and worry but I’m pleased to announce that the results of yesterday’s scan are stable with a slight reduction in the tumor if anything. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to receive this news,” he shared at the time. “We left it a little longer between scans this time just to give time for the medication to work, etc. but overall a great day. Thanks to all our healthcare team. You are truly wonderful.”
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