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25 years of Blue: their brotherhood, getting cancelled & nearly saying no to All Rise
Feb 8, 2026
Blue are back and here to chat all about their biggest hit, "All Rise", the song they nearly turned down. We find out their biggest behind the scenes secrets and why their brotherhood is so strong.
#blue #allrise #music #00s #00smusic
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0:00
We've got a lot of stories to tell, me and the boys
0:02
Sometimes you just have to just learn to just not tell them. Hi, I'm Simon Webb
0:08
I'm Anthony Costa. And I'm Duncan James. And I'm Lee Ryan. And this is All Rise Unpacked
0:15
The song All Rise came to us. Mr Webb had the idea of the chorus
0:20
We were already writing in Norway at the time with Stargate. And our original single was going to be If You Come Back, wasn't it
0:27
Yeah. that was like if you come back if you come back and then we're not really feeling it this is not
0:32
really what we want to be doing and uh it was a different production different sound and then when
0:37
he got played back to the rental company they phoned us and said all rise is your first single
0:42
we were like absolutely no way because it's awful um but it's what you hear today that made us where
0:49
we are today in layman terms the the version that we recorded all rise to was nothing like
0:54
you hear today it was a completely different backing track and it was a very tough backing
0:59
track it was right it was very yeah it was weird and we're like what and they made us sing it so
1:05
regimented like this like and then they put this soft harmonica sound on it and they flipped the
1:10
whole production and then what you hear today is the all rise that we didn't actually record it
1:15
exactly yeah but i knew that was going to happen he knew i knew he didn't know i didn't and then he
1:20
He wrote the rap. Wrote the rap, wrote the chorus, yeah. Yeah, Clement with the melodies and all that stuff
1:25
But yeah, it was our first ever release. I'm very, very proud of it
1:29
And it was our first ever video shoot as well. Yeah. I don't think we expected it to block as big as it did
1:36
I mean, I just remember, like, we were just four normal lads with a hope and a dream
1:42
And the next minute, it was like, in at number four, it's blue with all eyes
1:47
And then it was, like, happening all over the world. like this impact that it had was just it was the same it was insane it was really um it did such a
1:56
great job for us that record didn't it i think all rise is definitely a fan favorite it's the
2:01
probably the song that we open pretty much 99 of our shows with because it's just such a great
2:07
opener that harmonica sound when it kicks in everybody knows what's coming the uh the the
2:12
The party's about to go on. Yeah, they know it. It's one for the money and a free ride, ride, ride, ride
2:17
You know, in the intro. But yeah, it's definitely a party starter
2:22
And what I really love about it, because it's our 25th anniversary, so you could say from Top of the Pops to TikTok
2:28
you know, the industry has changed, but our bond hasn't. Yeah. Yeah, we do remember the first time Top of the Pops
2:35
It was a nightmare. It was a crazy time because no one knew this
2:39
we had to have like a TV edit for different shows. and we literally never heard of it before
2:45
We were like, wow, we've got to do a TV edit. This is exciting. And it was like three minutes exactly, wasn't it
2:50
And it was like longer. Couldn't be longer. And it was that thing of rushing on stage
2:55
rehearsing it, doing it and off. And then it was like, wow, we've just performed at Top of the Pops
2:59
Insane. Amazing time. I just remember having Stave Fright because obviously with Top of the Pops
3:05
you grow up watching it, watching the reaction that your parents have to their favourite artists
3:09
and all of a sudden you're actually on that stage. And I just remember my voice went
3:15
And we were singing live. So the edit came back and they had to put in the actual record
3:20
over my voice, which was a saviour, to be honest. But yeah for me it was a bit of a nightmare But it because you sounded great and we all sounded road people Yeah man You sing a lot of love I was like yep
3:35
It was amazing, wasn't it? It was like 23 hours, wasn't it? But the styling was terrible
3:40
Awful. Hated it. Because you just live for like doing a video
3:44
And then the stylist we had, she was like, yeah, just wear that, just wear that. And we were like, oh, okay
3:49
And then we just like, four blokes just come off the street, like, trying to be a band
3:53
didn't it? Yeah. Isn't it? I think it actually worked in our favour. I did like it
3:57
Because I think the song was then, rather than people looking at the video
4:01
and looking at our styling, which was just plain, like you were saying
4:04
Boys Next Door, I think that the song itself would shine through
4:09
And I think it kind of played in our favour, but without people actually knowing it. And here we are, 25 years later
4:13
It means Simon, turn up today for work in the same outfit. Yes, that's what happens
4:19
when you're together for 25 years. It's like we are in sync, you're like, tell us something
4:23
Out of sync. Anthony clearly didn't get in the moment, did you? Oh, I did say to you last night, boys, I'm wearing blank
4:28
I missed it, I was asleep. Yes, it was a conscious decision
4:34
because our influences predominantly were R&B based and when the rental company said about too close
4:41
and I was like, yeah, this is a banging tune, boys, we've got to do it and we all agreed
4:46
and it just went from there and there. Yeah, the song does always get a little bit of a mixed reaction
4:51
In different places, you've got to give them the lyric sheets, seven year old where you're performing and stuff in certain countries we can't change the lyric yeah
4:57
so baby why you lying or why you always lie and i'm jogging that's the other one in it yeah that's
5:03
the latest one but it was a great song for blue because it was our first number one first number
5:09
one it did yeah we were so blessed to be in an era where records cds sales meant something you
5:18
You know, there was tapes, tape recorders, vinyl. And I think I'm so happy we lived that
5:25
because it was that excitement of releasing a song on a Monday morning
5:29
knowing where you're going to be, whereabouts, on a Wednesday, Thursday, latest
5:33
Midweeks. Hearing the charts on a Sunday. Yeah. That was the excitement, whereas now I ain't got a clue
5:40
We've got a song out, which is amazing, but I don't know what chart exists and how it works
5:45
There's a whole different kettle of fish now, isn't it? Yeah, you've got a... Streaming, the downpost... Yeah, you've got a 10 o'clock in the morning chart
5:51
12 in the afternoon chart, 3 o'clock at night on a Thursday evening
5:55
It's like, I don't get it. I wish we were back then, but obviously you've got to move with the times
6:01
If social media existed back then, I think we would have probably all been cancelled straight away
6:06
Yeah, none of us have got a filter. Not really. Yeah. I think we've had our moments over the years being quite..
6:13
And I think we'll leave it at that. Yeah, let's just leave it there. Let's just leave it there. Let's leave it there. Yeah. Good job, really
6:19
We'll just leave it there. We'll leave it there. I think when we first got that phone call
6:26
about working with Serrat and John, that was a real pinch me moment, wasn't it
6:31
Can you remember? We were at an award show, and he was on the other table, and we were on a table with a record label
6:36
and he said to me, Duncan, go up to Elton and ask if you'll be in the video shoot
6:40
And we were like, I was like, I can't do that. I'm like, come on, go and ask him. And we all walked up like
6:45
I walked up and then faded into the back. And when Lee's got something to ask you
6:50
It's like that mean with that Simpson mean, isn't it? Where he goes in and out of the bushes
6:54
Yeah but yeah it was an amazing moment for us It was I think most of all what was great for us is to have Sir Routon a massive fan of the first ever All Rise album You know he invited us to his house for dinner and as we were sitting around the table and he just said
7:08
look this is my favourite album of the year and you boys have a chance to have a great career
7:12
You know just stick together and make it all about the music and you know you'll go for it
7:17
Which we think is great advice. Hence why I've got a 25th anniversary album coming soon. Yes
7:24
I think it does carry that same weight because it's nostalgia, isn't it? It's people remembering that you and reminding people
7:30
that we did actually sing with a legend like Sir Elton John and Stevie Wonder
7:36
And I think it's an applause to us really, isn't it? Because if they didn't rate us as a band
7:40
then we wouldn't have been given a chance. So I think for us, it's a great testament that we can actually go out there
7:45
and say we did this, whether you like us or not, we've got that in our back pocket that we sang with this legend
7:51
Working with Stevie was such a beautiful moment because he just was such a special human being
7:57
I mean, he is, he's just, he's such an amazing talent. And I'm growing up, I'm listening to him as a little boy, you know, all of his songs and everything
8:04
and then getting an opportunity to work with him and to shoot a music video
8:08
And when he talks to you, he holds your hand and he's so powerful. And, you know, and he's just, he's touching you
8:15
And he's like, oh my God, I'm talking to Stevie Wonder and he's holding my hand. Anyway. I know what you're thinking
8:19
No, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no. I'm thinking that them hands have played legend songs like over the years
8:25
Yeah, that's what you're thinking. Go on, Thunks. Well, first of all, I'm really great. I have a lot of gratitude for all of you
8:34
You've all been my brothers. I don't have any brothers or sisters
8:40
I'm only child. So I have only child syndrome. but i inherited three three brothers who i love very dearly and you're my family
8:49
bless you well you know that you know mr we're right and lee as well
8:56
yes late cheers yeah what lee said that's what i've got to say keep it simple keep it brief now um obviously you know i i always see
9:09
our bond as something strong and something that i can't really put get my head around because we're
9:13
four boys who were born on four corners of the uk that came together at a certain point at a
9:19
certain time to make this these special albums that we've got to make over the years and all of
9:24
these music videos and to be able to look across on the stage and know that's what our brother
9:30
that's my brother it's it's a it's a moment that is unexplainable and that nobody else can
9:37
understand but us so i think that's and if you come to blueside you probably think why are they
9:41
always laughing we're always laughing because this is like we'll look we'll clock somebody
9:44
doing something it's just like it's just fun it's just funny yeah
9:48
i think what'll make this one bit special is the fact that we are celebrating 25 years and it's due
9:55
to the fact that the people coming to see us supported us on our journey from may 2001 to
10:00
the present day so i think all we've got to do is put on a good show fingers crossed and and they
10:06
can go away happy and enjoy that experience because 25 years it's a celebration it won't
10:11
come around again do you know what i mean so and we're just really grateful that we're still here after all this time we're still putting out new music yeah and uh yeah we
10:19
we we love what we do we love singing together we love performing and we love you know having
10:25
a having a party with the fans and just getting them to sing one of our songs back and all the hits and you know taking a trip down memory lane reminiscing all the stories and stuff So yeah it just what it about man
10:36
I mean, it's generations. It's the generations as well. I think that's the biggest impact
10:40
I think the record label did a statistic for us and they said, you are now a family band
10:44
where on our first All Right, I think it was One Love Tour? Was that our first
10:48
Yeah, One Love. One Love Tour. You would see grandma sitting down with granddad going
10:53
sitting there and then you saw the mum and then the kids
10:57
and the kids going who are they and stuff like that now those kids have grown up and are now bringing
11:02
their kids along and that's what we've seen over the years so
11:05
almost three decades we don't like to say fans we like to call them family
11:11
they're more like family now exactly we love Ollie's a legend yeah proper good lad legend
11:19
level headed got his head screwed on and he's a grafter so it's fair play
11:23
to him fun to be around loves his games he does like he's got loves it loves his darts loves his
11:29
yeah anything that's competitive he's a proper lad that's what he is he's like a proper yeah and
11:34
what i love about him more man united fan good lad i did say that he's his missus well she'd
11:39
probably get sick of watching the same geezer do you know what i mean no but no i'm saying well our missus is doing it is that our missus do so my miss was excited to meet ollie so and
11:47
like you're like yours so vice versa i was like yo get your hand off his chest
11:51
His pecs are massive. Never have any regrets. That's my word of wisdom. Well I have no regrets because look at where we
12:05
are now, 25 years on. Who could have imagined that when we started 25 years later we'd be here
12:12
releasing our 25th anniversary album. Reflection for me would be that we've
12:15
just grown gracefully and and organically and i think that's that's a testament as i keep saying
12:22
to us as a band i think very much it's about being humble i think we've always been a humble
12:28
band and i think even more now getting an opportunity to still be here it makes you more
12:33
grateful grateful and humble and feeling because it was a whirlwind it was a whirlwind in the
12:38
beginning it was hard to appreciate it i think yeah it was it was like next thing you know right
12:43
after three years, we're going to take a break. And it was like, whoa. And then that all stopped
12:48
But they didn't be able to come back together and it'd still be the same, but stronger
12:53
One of the nicest things I get to hear is like people who meet us, they all come up and they say the same thing
12:57
They say, you lot are just like really nice, normal lads. And I think that's such a testament
13:02
You know, we had never gone around with big egos or attitudes. I mean, maybe back in the day, there was moments
13:08
Yeah, that was our shyness, by the way, because we were shy and humble. It might've been taken as arrogance
13:13
but it wasn't so anybody out there that might have been offended please come back you single out soon
13:17
your album tour tickets and all that yeah but yeah no I think we just
13:22
just grateful that we're still still doing it still doing it it's great
13:27
hi I'm Simon Will I'm Anthony Costa I'm Duncan James and here's Lou
13:31
here somewhere and we're three members of the band Blue we just want to say
13:36
thank you so much for all the support over the years yes and if you want to find out
13:41
what we're doing which by the way is our 25th anniversary We've got a tour, we've got an album that's coming up, but it's at Official Blue, right across social media platforms
13:48
And we've got a brand new single out. Check it out. It's called One Last Time. Thank you for your support. We love you
13:52
Banger. Bye. Bye
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