Abz Love Explained

Abz Love
Birth Name:Richard Abidin Breen
Birth Date:29 June 1979
Birth Place:London, England
Years Active:1997–2003
2013–present
Current Member Of:Boyz on Block

Richard Abidin Breen (born 29 June 1979), better known as Abz Love, is an English singer, rapper, and songwriter. Love was a member of the boy band Five and is a current member of the supergroup Boyz on Block.[1]

In 2003, he released his debut solo album Abstract Theory, which earned him a further three top-ten hits.[2] In 2013, he appeared on All Star Mr & Mrs and became the runner-up for Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother 12. In 2015, Love starred in BBC Two's documentary series Country Strife: Abz on the Farm, followed by a Christmas special titled Country Strife: Abz on the Christmas Farm.

Early life

Richard Abiden Breen was born in London to Turkish father Turan Sanveren and Irish mother Kathleen Breen. He was raised on a council estate in Hackney, East London where he was brought up until he left home at 16 to join boyband Five.[3] [4] He won a scholarship to attend the Italia Conti Stage School[5] where he studied acting. One day his teacher suggested he audition for a boy band that was being groomed by Simon Cowell.

After performing in front of Cowell and a panel of managers, Love was chosen from over 3,000 auditionees to be in the band Five (also known as 5ive). He changed his name to Abs in order avoid confusion with bandmate Ritchie Neville.

Five went on to have international success winning a Brit Award for Best Pop Act 2000, an MTV award and ASCAP awards for songwriting. Love and fellow Five members Jason "J" Brown and Sean Conlon were involved in writing many of the band's hits such as "Everybody Get Up", "Keep On Movin'" and "If Ya Gettin' Down".

Career

1997–2001: Five

In 1997, Love auditioned for Five, a new boy band-style group with "attitude and edge" and was eventually selected to be part of the band along with Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson, Sean Conlon and Jason "J" Brown. Five subsequently were signed by Simon Cowell and BMG/RCA for a six-album deal. Five went on to enjoy massive success worldwide, selling over 20 million records in their four years.[6] The group sold around 20 million copies worldwide.[7] The band split up on 27 September 2001.[8] In 2006 Five attempted a comeback without Conlon, but failed to sign with a new label and the band disbanded again.[9]

2002–2003: Abstract Theory and hiatus

After Five split, Love was signed to Sony BMG by Simon Cowell as a solo artist and became the only band member to release a solo album. Abstract Theory had three top 10 hits on the UK Singles Chart with "What You Got" (4), "Stop Sign" (No. 10), and "Miss Perfect" (No. 5). Abstract Theory reached No. 29 on the UK Albums Chart. Love was fired from Sony in December 2003, changed his name to Abz Love and took a long hiatus from his music career.[10]

2013–2018: Five reunion and television

In January 2013, Five returned to star the ITV2's reality show The Big Reunion.[11] Brown didn't want to rejoin the group and Five announced that they were considering a new fifth member for the comeback, but withdrew to continue with the original four-member lineup.[12] The band decided to continue as a four-piece performing live touring Europe.[13] Also in 2013, Love was runner-up of Celebrity Big Brother 12.[14] [15] Love said he agreed to join the reality show because he was financially broke and living with his aunt Wendy.[16] In August 2014 Love left Five, citing creative differences – years later he said he was unhappy just singing the hit songs and not recording new material.[17]

In 2015 he starred in his own reality show Country Strife: Abz on the Farm, a docu-series aired on BBC Two about his rural life in a farm in Wales.[18] [19] The show became a cult hit with viewers and critics alike.[20] [21] [22] In January 2016, Abz released his first solo single in over a decade, "Cockadoodledoo".[23]

2019–present: Boyz on Block

Since 2019, he has been part of the supergroup Boyz on Block, along with Ben Ofoedu from Phats & Small, Dane Bowers from Another Level and Shane Lynch from Boyzone.[24] On 20 November 2020, the group released their first single, a cover of East 17's 1994 single "Stay Another Day", featuring Tony Mortimer.[25] [26] They have been performing live touring Europe ever since.[27]

In 2022, he joined the tenth series of dating reality show Celebs Go Dating, aired on Channel 4.[28]

Personal life

From 2009 to 2017, Love dated singer Vicky Fallon. In 2013 Love said that he has Asperger syndrome, a mild form of autism.[29]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positions
UK
[30] 		SCO
[31]
Abstract Theory
  • Released: 1 September 2003
  • Label: Sony BMG
29 38
Golden[32]
  • Released: 21 July 2020
  • Label: DK
  • Format: Digital download
— —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Extended plays

Title! scope="col" style="width:18em;"
EP details
The Starkid[33]
  • Released: 29 June 2019
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download
Love VI[34]
  • Released: 1 November 2021
  • Label: Self-released
  • Format: Digital download

Singles

Single! scope="col" rowspan="2"
YearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
AUS
[35] 		BEL
[36] 		EUR
[37] 		IRL
[38] 		ITA
[39] 		NL
[40] 		NZ
[41] 		SCO
[42] 		SWE
[43]
"What You Got"20024 33 35 20 9 37 37 7 4 40Abstract Theory
"Shame"— 64 — — — — — 35 — —
"Stop Sign"200310 56 — — 21 — — — 6 —
"Miss Perfect"
5 — — — 13 — — — 6 —
"Cockadoodledoo"[44]
2015— — — — — — — — — —rowspan=5
"Tictok"[45] 2022— — — — — — — — — —
"Faith"[46] — — — — — — — — — —
"Evol"[47] 2023— — — — — — — — — —
"You"[48] — — — — — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Other appearances

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
2013The Big ReunionHimselfSeries 1
Celebrity Big BrotherContestantSeries 12
2015Country Strife: Abz on the FarmHimselfBBC Two's reality show
Country Strife: Christmas Farm
2022Celebs Go DatingEpisode: "Abz Love"

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MTV . Abs Breen . 19 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110921061250/http://www.mtv.co.uk/artists/abs-breen . 21 September 2011.
  2. Web site: Abs Abstract Theory Review. Bren . O'Callaghan. BBC. 8 September 2003. 19 September 2011.
  3. News: Hurriyet. Five grubunun Türk yıldızı . 19 September 2011.
  4. Book: Netter, Matt. 1999. Five: A Biography. Pocket Books. 0671036394. 65. registration.
  5. Web site: Italia Conti . Celebrating 100 Years: 1911-2011 . 20 September 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110713064640/http://www.italiaconti.com/Prospectus.pdf . 13 July 2011.
  6. Web site: Certified Awards . Bpi.co.uk . 4 March 2019 . 24 January 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130124005813/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certified-awards.aspx . dead .
  7. Web site: Sunner . Amber . Everything you need to know about Abz Love . . 21 January 2022 . en . 31 October 2021.
  8. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/ritchie-neville-pop-from-the-box/id1534001364?i=1000623380480
  9. News: 5ive: "We're gay". https://web.archive.org/web/20120919025929/http://www.mtv.co.uk/news/5ive/39386-5ive-we-re-gay. dead. 19 September 2012. 27 September 2006. MTV. 30 March 2007.
  10. Web site: 5ive (Five) - BBC Radio One Interview for The Big Reunion [HD]]. www.youtube.com.
  11. Scottlarock5. Robinson. Scott. 258865157898371073. I can confirm that five we'll take part in the big reunion on @itv2 Sometime next year We are all Looking forward to the show #willbegreat.
  12. Web site: Boy band 5ive hunting for new member. MSN. 23 January 2013. 17 January 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192203/http://music.msn.com/music/article.aspx?news=785696. 29 October 2013. dead.
  13. Web site: 5ive post plea for fifth member on Facebook ahead of reunion 12 years after parting ways. Duncan. Amy. 17 January 2013. Metro. 23 January 2013.
  14. News: Buchanan . Daisy . 22 August 2013 . Abz Love profiled: Big Reunion star and 5ive frontman revealed as Celebrity Big Brother 2013 housemate . Daily Mirror . 5 January 2023 . en.
  15. News: Leigh . Rob . 13 September 2013 . Charlotte Crosby wins Celebrity Big Brother 2013 . Daily Mirror . 13 September 2013 . en.
  16. Web site: 30 January 2020 . What is Abz's net worth? Five singer appears on Celebrity Come Dine with Me! . Williams . Helen . 5 January 2023 . Reality Titbit . en-US.
  17. Web site: INTERVIEW : Abz (5ive). Brad S.. 1 September 2014. auspOp. 25 June 2016.
  18. Web site: Former Five star Abz swaps the stage for a farm in Wales in new BBC Two show. Kathryn Williams. 20 May 2015. walesonline.
  19. Web site: 5ive's Abz Love and girlfriend Vicky Fallon to star in own TV show. Reveal. Nat Mags.
  20. Web site: Country Strife: Abz on the Farm review – braving cabbages in a hilarious escapade. Wollaston. Sam. 17 August 2015. The Guardian. 2016-06-28.
  21. Web site: Abz on the Farm: Five's former rapper is a star reborn. https://web.archive.org/web/20151017013044/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/country-strife-abz-on-the-farm-bbc2-tv-review-5ives-former-rapper-is-a-star-reborn-10457855.html . 2015-10-17 . limited . live. Jones. Ellen E.. 16 August 2015. The Independent. en-GB. 2016-06-28.
  22. Web site: Country Strife: Abz on the Farm, BBC Two, review: 'hilarious'. O'Donovasn. Gerard. 16 August 2015. The Telegraph. 2016-06-28.
  23. News: Abz from 5ive can't believe his Brit Award has raised more than £1m on eBay: 'All I needed was a bit of soil and it's gone nuts'. https://web.archive.org/web/20150913043508/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/abz-from-5ive-cant-believe-his-brit-award-has-raised-more-than-1m-on-ebay-all-i-needed-was-a-bit-of-soil-and-its-gone-nuts-10492997.html . 2015-09-13 . limited . live. Eleftheriou-Smith. Loulla-Mae. 9 September 2015. The Independent. 11 September 2015.
  24. Web site: Boyz on Block lift lid on trashing hotels and 'freeing zoo animals' in 90s. 22 September 2021 . Daily Mirror.
  25. Web site: Boyband supergroup Boyz on Block unveil their first single, a cover of East 17's Stay Another Day. Copsey. Rob. . 20 November 2020.
  26. Web site: Boyz on Block - Stay Another Day. . 20 November 2020.
  27. Web site: Boyz on Block to cover East 17's Christmas classic 'Stay Another Day'. 20 November 2020.
  28. Web site: Celebs Go Dating announce Ulrika Jonsson, Abz Love, Chloe Brockett, Miles Nazaire, Nikita Jasmine & Ryan-Mark Parsons as they re-enter the dating game and begin their search for love Channel 4. 2021-10-28. www.channel4.com.
  29. News: Daniels. Colin. 27 August 2013. CBB star Abz Love: 'I have Asperger's'. 8 June 2020. Digital Spy. en-GB.
  30. Web site: The Official Charts Company — Abz Love. 3 May 2013. The Official Charts Company. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110809092918/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/artist/_/abs/. 9 August 2011.
  31. Web site: Scottish Albums Chart - 6 September 2003 - 12 September 2003. Official Charts Company. 2023-03-03.
  32. Web site: Golden. iTunes. 20 August 2023.
  33. Web site: The Starkid. iTunes. 20 August 2023.
  34. Web site: Love VI. iTunes. 20 August 2023.
  35. Web site: Chartifacts — Wednesday 14th November 2012 . ARIA Charts . 11 October 2012 . 13 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140107172907/http://www.australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Abs&titel=What+You+Got&cat=s . 7 January 2014.
  36. Web site: Ultratop Discografie. Ultratop.be/nl/. 25 February 2012.
  37. Eurochart Hot 100 Singles. Music & Media. 20. 37. 11. 7 September 2002.
  38. Web site: Discography on Ireland . Irishcharts.ie. Hung Medien . 24 April 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090602061251/http://www.irishcharts.ie/search/placement . 2 June 2009.
  39. Web site: Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana . Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. 20 August 2023.
  40. Web site: Dutch chart history . 18 August 2012 . Dutch Singles Chart / Hung Medien . charts.org . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140109064844/http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Abs&titel=What+You+Got&cat=s . 9 January 2014.
  41. Web site: Chart history: New Zealand . 18 August 2012 . New Zealand Singles Chart / Hung Medien . charts.org .
  43. Web site: Swedish Singles Charts. Sverigetopplistan Hung Medien. 5 September 2010.
  44. Web site: Cockadoodledoo. Spotify. 20 August 2023.
  45. Web site: Tictok. iTunes. 20 August 2023.
  46. Web site: Faith. iTunes. 20 August 2023.
  47. Web site: Evol. iTunes. 20 August 2023.
  48. Web site: You. iTunes. 20 August 2023.
  49. Web site: E.S.G.B.. Spotify. 20 August 2023.

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