JLS celebrate 15 years of their Number 1 debut album

It may not seem like it, but it's actually been 15 years since JLS released their debut album. 

At that time, four lads - Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Oritsé Williams and JB Gill - had just come in second place on The X Factor to Bad Boys hitmaker Alexandra Burke, but what followed was nothing less than a winning streak.

Hot of the gate with stylish banger Beat Again (which has aged phenomenally well, let's be honest), which debuted at Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart. Follow-up single Everybody In Love followed suit, gifting the boys the second of five UK Number 1 singles, and JLS, their self-titled debut album, also debuted straight in at Number 1 on the Official Albums Chart, beating out hot competition at the time from chart king Robbie Williams.

Now celebrating 15 years, JLS has been re-issued for its anniversary with some B-sides and brand-new remixes. We sat down with Aston, Marvin and JB to reminisce.

What do you remember about the process of making JLS?

Aston: I can just remember there being so much excitement. We'd obviously just come off [The X Factor] where our sole aim off the back of it was to make music and make a career out of, essentially, what we were doing [live for the nation] once a week.

We didn't have time to stop and think. we just rolled with it. That's just how focused we were at the time. This is the first single, then that's the next single, then this is the album and we have to put on a show and go on tour. 

We didn't want The X Factor to be the end, you've got to hold on to your dream. Grab onto it, as tight as physically possible. 

In terms of debut singles, you couldn't have done much better than Beat Again. What a banger

Marvin: The funny thing about that, George, is that Beat Again wasn't even meant to be the first single...

Well, you made the right decision there, clearly

Marvin: It was a bit of a masterstroke by Jo [Charrington, former Sony A&R]. Everybody In Love was supposed to be the first single, the first time we heard it, we knew it was a hit record. But a few weeks later, we heard Beat Again for the first time, it was called No Beat at the time.

We were actually split [on it], but we recorded it. But we decided to go with Beat Again as the first single, at the time there were massive hits by Akon and Jason Derulo, it was very much that sort of American production. We didn't really know [at the time], whether it was right decision. But then Everybody In Love came out, then the album a week later.

If we went back, would be change anything? 100% not. Beat Again was meant to be the first single. 

The Beat Again video was also iconic, you had four grey t-shirts and a dream

JB: We needed a lot of outfit changes on that video shoot. I was dripping in sweat! That was the first time we'd done proper choreography to a routine and all the staging and the spacing...it was going to another level and it was all off our own backs. It was a definite learning curve for us. It wasn't glitz and glam.

Aston: There was no glitz and glam, the floor [we were dancing on] was fully chipped. We had splinters. It was a real eye-opener for us, like guys, this is show business. We have to make it look like it's all fine and you're not in pain. No sweating, no pain! Just crack on. 

Both Beat Again and Everybody In Love reached Number 1 on the Official Singles Chart - what do you remember about that time? When did you learn you were Number 1?

JB: For Beat Again, we were on the bus on the way to T4 on the Beach (!) and we just went crazy. For Everybody In Love, I actually think we found out live on Radio 1.

JLS, the album, also went to Number 1 in the UK too!

Aston: Marv actually has the best story about this.

Marvin: So, all week we were head-to-head with Robbie Williams to get Number 1. It was neck and neck the whole week. We were closing the gap on him and it was really, really tight. On the Sunday morning [back then, the Official Chart was announced live every Sunday] my phone rings...and it's Robbie Williams. He called us to say congratulations!

And we can't leave without talking about your performance of Everybody In Love and Bad Boys on The X Factor with Alexandra Burke that year - lives were truly changed 

Marvin: That was a massive moment for us. [In the history of The X Factor] it was rare for both the winner and the runner-up to do so well. Alex obviously won the night and went on to have such a successful career. It just made sense for us to come together and do that performance. That was a big moment, and one of our favourite performances.

Can we just take a moment to remember the JLS hoodies, too...

Aston: What was your favourite colour, George?

Red...did you ever have a competition on who sold the most?

Aston: Oh, there was no competition [Aston was the red hoodie]. 

Marvin: I think the printing press actually run out of blue...

Aston: But that's the thing about being in JLS. There's no competition,. You've already won.

Marvin, before we go we have to ask...can you have a word with Rochelle about a The Saturdays reunion please? Pop needs them back

Marvin: I knew this was coming! You know what George, she's downstairs. I'll have a word with her over dinner.

JLS is out now via Sony.