Boy bands: A guide to the top four ensembles
There’s a new wave of boy bands vying for chart dominance and the hearts of teenage girls. Here’s a handy guide to the top four ensembles. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
By Gerrick D. Kennedy
A void in the R&B boy band market led to the creation of teen act Mindless Behavior. The 15-year-olds went through a rigorous two-year training period before it released its debut record, “#1 Girl,” which bowed at No. 2 on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop album chart.
Fun fact: It was handpicked by Janet Jackson to be the sole opener for dates on the North American leg of her “Number Ones: Up Close and Personal” tour. (Carlo Allegri / Associated Press)
Created to anchor a Nickelodeon series, Big Time Rush has won over dedicated “Rushers” with two hit albums, blockbuster tours and made-for-TV films, including the Beatles-themed “Big Time Movie,” which attracted 13 million total viewers when it aired this month.
Fun fact: Before their self-titled show, members of the quartet had acting credits on series such as “iCarly,” “Friday Night Lights,” “ER” and “Gilmore Girls.” (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
Pieced together by reality show magnate Simon Cowell and Nicole Scherzinger after auditioning as solo acts on the U.K. edition of “The X Factor” in 2010, One Direction are wooing girls with their British charm, poster boy faces and syrupy sweet pop lyrics about teenage love.
Fun fact: Kelly Clarkson helped pen the track “Tell Me a Lie” off of its debut, “Up All Night.” (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images)
