All may not be well in boy-band paradise. New Kids on the Block played a much-anticipated set in New York City Thursday night, but one of the members didn’t make it through the whole show.
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The '80s boy band was playing the show for iHeartRadio, and according to Billboard, Jonathan Knight walked offstage about halfway through the group’s hour-long set. Those in attendance said that when the show started, Knight was out of synch with the other guys as soon as the set began. He reportedly didn't join in for "the act's trademark arm-waving on its 1989 Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 ‘Hangin' Tough.’"
Fans also said Knight stayed at the back of the stage most of the time, and at one point even seemed to receive a phone call on his cell phone.
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“The quintet — Donnie Wahlberg, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood, Jordan Knight and brother Jonathan — was in seemingly good spirits before the show in a video interview with Billboard, discussing its hit-packed past and declaring hopes to remain together indefinitely,” said Billboard.
The other four New Kids on the Block tried to make Knight feel more at home during the performance, but when he was supposed to sing a song by himself things got worse. Knight began “Survive You”, from their new album 10, but awkwardly laughed, tried to sing and then stopped. He then walked off stage and never came back.
The singer has suffered from anxiety issues for years, and this might have just been too much for him. Before the show, he may have given away a warning to the stress he was feeling by tweeting “#ifeelnaked.” Friday morning, he tweeted again, this time presumably talking about his performance. He said only, “I’m sorry…”
New Kids on the Block have released two studio albums in the last five years, after taking a hiatus in 1994.
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“10 is expected to debut in the top 10 of next week's Billboard 200 albums chart, while lead single 'Remix ' enters the Adult Top 40 airplay chart this week at No. 39,” said Billboard.