‘The New Edition Story’ premieres on BET

URBAN soul legends New Edition laid the foundation for how modern-day boy bands look, feel and sound.

Boyz II Men, N’Sync, The Backstreet Boys, New Kids On The Block… all took their cues from Ronnie DeVoe, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell and Johnny Gill.

After 30 years of breaking hearts on the record and from the stage, New Edition finally gets the biopic that their stellar tenure in entertainment so richly deserves. This epic three-part miniseries follows the group from their humble beginnings as kids in Boston to global mega-stardom – weathering the highs and lows of controversy, personnel changes, and the ultimate cost of fame.

‘The New Edition Story’ will air as an exclusive six-hour, three-night event on 23 February, 2 March and 9 March at 21h00 on BET (DStv channel 129).

Part One starts in the year 1978. The city: Roxbury, MA, just outside of Boston. Eleven-year-old Bobby Brown convinces some friends (Ricky Bell, Mike Bivins and Ralph Tresvant) to perform in local talent shows in an attempt to win money (and girls). Once the group is formed, they convince a hot local manager, Brooke Payne, to turn them into talent show winners. The boys are eventually discovered by music impresario, Maurice Starr, who signs them to a record deal. They add a fifth member, Ronnie DeVoe, and their debut song ‘Candy Girl’ hits number one on the charts. Gary Evans, a manager from NYC, promises them a better deal, bigger stardom and more money. When the boys get a new deal with MCA Records in LA, things get off to an inauspicious start when MCA president Jheryl Busby, underwhelmed by his new signing, pushes them to deliver a hit album or else.

In part two it’s 1984, and New Edition is in LA recording their second album. Ralph, fully aware of the resentment from his bandmates, requests more parts for them to sing. The album is a huge hit; but Bobby’s behaviour gets more erratic and outlandish while on the road. Eventually tensions erupt, and the group dynamic takes a pivotal change – the boys vote to kick Bobby out – and New Edition is never the same. Soon Ralph decides that he wants to go solo, leaving remaining members Ricky, Mike and Ronnie stunned. Mike, the group’s de facto leader, adds R&B singer Johnny Gill to the group. Everything comes to an ugly head when the group meets to record their next album.

Finally in part three we find out if the band will finally be able to put their differences behind them or will their unresolved wounds lead to their undoing? –

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