Boy band Blue burst on to the music scene over 15 years ago and the four-piece are now set to release their first book, detailing their rise to fame over the years, the highs and the lows.

Here, they talk to Lucy Mapstone about their journey, mental health issues and their plans to make new music as they head to Waterstones in Bluewater this weekend to meet fans.

Blue were undoubtedly one of the biggest boy bands in the Noughties and, although they may consider themselves to be no longer "current", they believe they have much more to offer their fans.

Simon Webbe says with unwavering confidence: "I don't think we've peaked yet, musically. "We've still got that hunger to create and we've got that more than ever. I truly believe, listening to us singing in the studio, even us singing live together like we did the other day with a live band, we hold our own and we actually surprise people."

The band will be in Kent promoting their first book - All Rise: Our Story, published this week, which promises to "tell their full, no-holds-barred story in their own inimitable words".

Penned by journalist Caroline Frost after speaking to Lee, Antony, Duncan and Simon, separately, the book sees them each retelling their version of different moments in their career, which makes for interesting reading.

But why have the band, who formed in 2000 and gone on to enjoy their own successes either as solo artists or actors, chosen to reunite now to release a tell-all book?

"It just felt like it was the right time," said Duncan, who reveals that the financial crises that hit them all at different times over the years held them back until now.

"We've been through so much together as a band... the highs, the lows," he says, adding that the process felt "almost like a therapy session."

The book shines a light on many of their struggles, including Chatham-born Lee's cancer scare, Simon's battle with depression, and Duncan's friendship with the late Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, but it also focuses on the highs, not least three UK No.1 albums, two Brit Awards and 16 million record sales.

From the moment their debut single All Rise dropped in 2001, Blue barely stopped until their hiatus in 2004. They reformed later, representing the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest and later taking part in The Big Reunion.

"I know we kind of highlight the negatives, but I hope people understand that in this book there are a lot of highs as well," says Simon.

Duncan says: "We all had our own stuff going on but we never actually talked about it to one another, because we were all too frightened to bring our own issues to the table."

"You get on stage and the magic of Blue would appear, we'd sing together and be smiling and happy, we'd be in a really good place. We'd come off buzzing, and we'd all think everything was great.

"But it was the times when you'd go to your bedroom, your hotel room at the end of the night, and you'd close the door and be on your own and you'd think, 'I wish I could have talked to the boys, it'll be fine tomorrow'.

"And then tomorrow never comes. When we took the break and had a lot more time on our hands, that's when the little demons would start to rear their heads."

Now aged between 34 and 39, Blue still can't quite believe how young they were when they were thrust into the spotlight back in 2001, which they describe as "overwhelming."

There is, now, the possibility of fresh music.

"We love making music, we love singing together, we love performing together," says Duncan. "And it's like, we may not be as current now as we once were, but why can't we still make music? Just because we're a bit older and may have had our success, whatever certain people may think, I think that if you love doing something, if you enjoy being together and making music together and performing together, why stop your enjoyment because other people say you're not cool enough any more?"

Blue: All Rise: Our Story is published on Thursday, October 19.

DETAILS

The boys will be meeting fans and signing copies of Blue: All Rise at Waterstones in Bluewater on Sunday, October 22 at 1pm. The event is free, but fans need a copy of the book to meet the band, and are advised to arrive early to avoid disappointment.
For more details call 01322 624831.