Avenue

The five-piece pop group Avenue survived a front-page TV talent show controversy to become the first major boy band to be launched in the U.K. in four years. Formed in 2006 by pop guru Ashley Tabor, all five members had previous performing experience. Max George had played football for the England Schoolboys; Ross Candy was an alumni of the Guildford Academy of Contemporary Music; Jonny Lloyd had been a dancer for Geri Halliwell and Girls Aloud; Scott Clarke had appeared as a Gryffindor in the first Harry Potter movie; and Jamie Tinkler had been part of the short-lived Steps sound-alikes Pop!, who had three Top 40 hits in 2004. The band auditioned for the third series of The X Factor, and after progressing through to the "boot camp" stage, was chosen by mentor Louis Walsh to appear in the live finals. But after the program producers found out that Avenue already had a management deal, a breach of the show's rules, they were kicked off the show and replaced by Eton Road. Despite recording half an album's worth of material, Avenue were dropped by Tabor, just days before they were due to shoot the video for their debut single. Undeterred, the group continued, and -- with the help of Max's dad, who knocked down the doors of nearly every record company in London -- secured a deal with Island Records and Crown Music Management, home to Sugababes. After Tinkler left to pursue a solo career, the group drafted in Liverpudlian Andy Brown, who had been part of a Beatles tribute band, after spotting him singing on YouTube. After moving into a five-bedroom Victorian house in Camden, the bandmembers started writing their own material with the help of Anders SG from Alphabeat, rock band Orson, and the creative forces of AATW Records. After a launch showcase in London, they embarked on an extensive schools tour but unfortunately couldn't reignite interest in the flagging boy band genre -- their debut single, "Last Goodbye," only charted at number 50 -- although Max George went on to join hitmaking boy band the Wanted in 2009. ~ Jon O'Brien