STEPS to release Christmas Album and Tour

Posted 14th May 2012 @ 13.59 by GenSTEPS

We heard whispers last week that STEPS are planning a Christmas album and a Christmas tour for the end of this year and now it's being reported in the Daily Star.

It was suggested to GenSTEPS that this will be the "farewell" tour, ending on December 22nd 2012 "the way it should have" ten years ago.

But the Daily Star have gone as far as to attribute a quote to Claire, stating "We’ve talked about this and to bridge the gap and keep things ticking over, a Christmas album? You know, pop Christmas songs, like Mariah Carey. Also songs that were big at Christmas, like Stay Another Day by East 17."

Faye is quoted as adding “We know that we do want to go forward. We need to find the right team and make the record.”

Will this rumour hold up? As yet, STEPS have not recorded any new tracks.

But here's a bit of enjoyable idle speculation; nearly all members of STEPS have had songs they've written submitted (or resubmitted with amendments) to the songwriting database in the last 2 months.

Missing You - by Lee - 4 April 2012
See Me - by Lee - 4 April 2012
Free - by Lee - 26 Apr 2012
Played My Heart - by H and Claire - 24 March 2012
All I Can Say - by Faye - 9 May 2012
Auf Liebe Eingestellt - by Lisa (and Eliot Kennedy) - 4 April 2012

These tracks could be long lost relics from abandoned solo careers, or they could be submissions for an upcoming STEPS album?

And to clarify, we know some of them have been around for a long time, but the point to note is they've been resubmitted, with amendments, in the last three months.

Ian's baby agony

Posted 14th May 2012 @ 13.50 by GenSTEPS

The Daily Star reports that Ian and boyfriend Craig Ryder have tragically lost their baby.

They chose an unidentified woman from America to carry their baby last year but the singer found out she had miscarried whilst touring with the STEPS Ultimate Tour.

He told The People newspaper, "One week were were showing off our new nappy (diaper) bags, the next week it was over."

"I can still remember listening to the baby's heartbeat in a recording from the 12 week scan and thinking 'That's our little one.' We had a due date - October 8."

"We were thinking of names, and we even planned our first Christmas as a family. We were both ready to be dads."

"Finding out our surrogate had miscarried was like being hit in the face. It was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. I just feel empty and helpless."

He added "I appreciate a lot more what we have together, and what having this child means. When we do finally get there we'll know how lucky we are."

STEPS On The Road Again: Episode 2

Posted 1st May 2012 @ 22.24 by GenSTEPS

On this week's STEPS On The Road Again, the band's tour was plagued with technical problems. Will they ever make it on stage? (Yes. They did.)

Here's what you missed! Click the player for more.

PICTURE: Claire Reveals Biography Cover

Posted 24th Apr 2012 @ 08.32 by GenSTEPS

Claire has revealed the cover for her autobiography 'All Of Me'. It's one of two covers that the book will come with when it is released on 5 July 2012.

In STEPS On The Road Again last night, we saw Claire attend a top secret photoshoot for the autobiography. Not so secret now!

STEPS On The Road Again: Episode 1

Posted 24th Apr 2012 @ 00.16 by GenSTEPS

STEPS returned to Sky Living with their new series STEPS On The Road Again last night. As we've come to expect, it was must-see TV.

Here's what you missed! Click the player for more.

STEPS kick off their Ultimate Tour

Posted 3rd Apr 2012 @ 00.57 by GenSTEPS

STEPS opened their Ultimate Tour in Belfast last night, and the set list did not disappoint. No spoilers here though, if you want to know what songs were performed you'll find all the info on the Ultimate Tour page.

The STEPTOONS return!

Posted 30th Mar 2012 @ 13.26 by GenSTEPS

We've seen STEPS make a successful comeback, and now it looks like their cartoon clones are back too!

STEPS launched their official Merchandise Store today and a 2012 reimagining of the STEPTOONS can be seen on some of the tour t-shirts.

Also available up for grabs are wrist bands, tour programmes, signed postcards and mugs - but no flashing devil horns yet.

STEPS On The Road Again

Posted 27th Mar 2012 @ 14.22 by GenSTEPS

Sky Living have uploaded a trailer for their new series STEPS On The Road Again. There's a bit of new footage, but most of the sobbing shots are from STEPS Reunion, so I think we can assume there aren't as many tears this time round.

http://skyliving.sky.com/steps-reunion/Steps-on-the-road-again-new-series-video-promo

AUDIO: SleazeSisters Mix clip unveiled

Posted 23rd Mar 2012 @ 21.26 by GenSTEPS

Ultimate Steps have posted a clip of the forthcoming '2012' mix of One For Sorrow which has been mixed by the SleazeSisters. It's an arms-aloft, poppers o'clock affair - have a listen below.



They've given their site a facelift too, looks like everybody's spring cleaning this week - be sure to check it out.

VIDEO: STEPS chat to Daybreak, Lorraine

Posted 23rd Mar 2012 @ 12.29 by GenSTEPS

STEPS appeared on Daybreak this morning to chat about the upcoming tour. As expected, the split was dredged up again but the band seemed a lot less uncomfortable answering the questions this time and laughed it all off.

P.S. how AMAZING do they look in this. Loving Claire's hair.

New STEPS releases ahead, but no new material yet

Posted 22nd Mar 2012 @ 22.46 by GenSTEPS

Two new STEPS releases are pencilled in. The first is the STEPS Tour Edition CD, which is basically a 2-disc Ultimate Collection, with the second disc containing all the instrumentals of the songs.

There is one omission - Chain Reaction doesn't appear in karaoke form, for some unknown reason.

The second release is a DVD of the Ultimate Tour, pencilled in for October 8th.

Artwork has been released, but we're told this may change once the tour is underway and photographs have been taken.

In the meantime, take a look at the strange photoshoppery taking place on the Tour Edition CD.

The album cover features one of the early reunion photos that were released, and Lisa's hair has been the subject of some retouching; so why didn't this end up on the album, and which is the original, unmodified shot?

Above: The release photo
Below: The album cover

PHOTOS:
STEPS to perform at PWL Hit Factory

Posted 20th Mar 2012 @ 09.06 by GenSTEPS

STEPS will perform at Pete Waterman's "PWL Hit Factory" gig in London's Hyde Park on July 11th.

Billed as the headline act, they'll be performing will Bananarama, Jason Donovan, Sonia, Hazell Dean, Dead or Alive, Rick Astley and more.

Lisa may also be bumping into her former manager Nathan, as Brother Beyond are on the lineup too.

More Pictures »

REVIEW: STEPS make comeback gig

Posted 19th Mar 2012 @ 11.10 by GenSTEPS

The STEPS reunion was finally completed on Saturday as the band bounced back with their first club gig since splitting 10 years ago.

But they looked a bit different to how we remember - the gig kicked off with a drag queen tribute group performing some cheesy moves in the One For Sorrow video outfits from 1998!

Then, just like Good Steps vs Bad Steps in Summer of Love, the real band took the stage in saucy black outfits, shooing the imposters off!

This was what Lee called the "pre-tour warm up show", starting with Last Thing On My Mind, complete with its original choreography. This was followed by Better Best Forgotten with a few choreography changes in the verses, but the chorus routine we know and love.

Confetti fell from the ceiling as the band launched into Love's Got A Hold On My Heart, with the biggest screams unarguably saved for Claire's solos.



This was a crowd that was not only glad that STEPS were back singing but that Claire - who has admitted she found STEPS so tough - seemed comfortable, happy and glowing on stage with her beaming smile and powerful vocals.

This was a STEPS concert in the truest sense. The headset mics, the memorable routines, the shared glances between the band members.

Claire's nose-wrinkle? Check.

"Ooh ooh"? Check.

"Come on, clap your hands"? Check, thanks Lisa!

And in true STEPS styles, the band members took it in turns to chat to the crowd. After three songs, H took centre stage and thanked the audience for their support, saying it was the first time he could really be himself.

"I've come home tonight" he grinned, with a nod to the adoring fans in the G-A-Y audience, "it's the first time I can be who I am, with you guys."

Lisa too thanked the audience in a speech reminiscent of the Gold Tour, "thanks for making our Ultimate Collection album number ONE!" she cried, to rapturous cheers from the audience.

"There's still tickets left for the tour", she cheekily added.

Headset mics removed, the band stepped behind their mic stands for a performance of It's The Way You Make Me Feel, with the routine we originally saw on This Morning.

The video originally saw a romance blossom between Lisa and H - this time, it was Lee and H who jokingly leaned in for a snog behind their fans at the end of the song.

All the songs were performed live, with outstanding vocals; it's clear the band has been rehearsing heavily. Claire's big notes at the end of It's The Way You Make Me Feel were the best we've ever heard live.

The next song was Deeper Shade Of Blue, with its revised routine as seen on This Morning and then the band disappeared, as is tradition now, before returning for their encore - Tragedy.



At the end of the concert, Claire's eyes filled with tears. "Thank you" she mouthed at the audience as the band left the stage, arms laden with flowers presented to them by club host Jeremy Joseph.

Speaking to GenSTEPS after the performance, Faye said they'd chosen "a range of songs" from their back catalogue to perform.

Ian added "and they're the ones we've rehearsed the most!"

Does this mean we'll see the old routines on the tour?

"You'll have to wait and see" he grinned.

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