90s UK Girl Group Eternal Recruit New Member for Lucrative 2024 Shows

Leon@TLCArmyApril 20, 2024April 20, 2024 Leave a comment

Legendary 90s girl group Eternal have returned to the music scene after a decade long break since their last reunion in 2014.

Easther and Vernie Bennett made the surprise announcement via British tabloid The Mirror on Feb 26, stating that they have found the perfect member to join them by the name of Christel Lakhdar, hailing from France, who said it was a “dream come true” to join the group.

Vernie admits that the addition of Christel will take the group to the “next level”, adding, “Meeting Christel for the first time just felt right. She’s talented, accomplished and has such an amazing personality. She’s also strong vocally, so our harmonies will be taken to the next level. I think our music followers will love her just as much as we do.”

*Christel Lakhdar on Eternal Photoshoot (2024)*

Easther said she was “really looking forward to dipping my toes in again with a few festivals here and there”, adding: “This new era is all about enjoying the moment.”

Christel said of joining Eternal: “I’ve been singing these songs since [I was] a young age and feel like pinching myself as I’m taking it all in.”

Eternal are being co-managed by their former long-term manager and founder, Denis Ingoldsby, and 23 Management.

They enjoyed incredible success after bursting onto the scene in 1993. Debut album ‘Always & Forever‘, released in the November of that year, peaked at No 2 on the UK chart. It sold more than a million copies in the UK and 10 million worldwide.

The girls reached No 1 on the UK singles chart alongside BeBe Winans with “I Wanna Be the Only One” in 1997 and have had 15 UK Top 20 hits between 1993 and 1999, including “Stay”, “I Am Blessed”, “Angel Of Mine” and “Just a Step from Heaven”.

Former member Louise Redknapp has not been a member of the group since 1995, when she embarked on a solo career, and was only a member during the debut album.

Kéllé Bryan was part of the group from the beginning until her exit in 1998. She briefly reunited with the group in 2014 for the hit ITV2 series, “The Big Reunion”. At the time, Kéllé claimed the reunion gave her a sense of closure, and she healed her relationship with Easther and Vernie.

Kéllé is now a regular host on the ITV daytime television talk show, “Loose Women” and had a reoccurring role on “Hollyoaks”.

Easther and Vernie made a surprise appearance on BBC Radio London on April 17, on the “London Nightlife with Jacqueline Shepherd” show. The sisters reveal that BeBe Winans wrote “I Wanna Be The Only One” specifically for Eternal.

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A post shared by Eternal Forever (@eternalalwaysforever)

“BeBe Winans was one of our favourite gospel singers growing up. So, for us, we were gobsmacked when our management put us together with him, because we didn’t think that it was going to happen”, Easther admits. “He fell in just right. He was like a big brother to be fair. It was amazing to sing with him, and to have him write for us”.

Easther touches on the importance of their success and reaching number one on the charts, something which was a rarity for black artists during the 90s. “It was definitely a surprise [it did so well]. It was almost like when we heard how well we did with “Stay”, we jumped up and start doing the dance routine. Equally, when we heard “I Wanna Be The Only One” was number one and was still doing well, it’s something that every band looks forward to, and what every band works towards. Being a black artist at the time, you know, it’s iconic — not many of us get there. We’re releasing singles all the time, but we never get that number one. So, it’s nice to be able to hold that torch and say, yeah, we did it”.

*First look: Eternal shot by Rupert Bryan (2024)*

Vernie goes on to explain why Christel was chosen to be in the group. “She’s amazing. She has got an amazing vocal, gorgeous personality and we just clicked on the first time that we met. She’s French, so the first time that we met was over Zoom. When we got talking we laughed, and she’s into kickboxing, and she was like, ‘when I come over you girls will be put through your paces’, she’s going to put us through our paces and get ready for these gigs so, she’s on it at a fitness level, and she’s just an amazing girl and we’re really pleased to have her on board”.

Easther adds that Christel will be an important addition to Eternal to improve the look and sound of the group. “I think when you’re thinking of harmonies then it makes sense, and then the visuals — the group looks better as a three piece, it just fits better”.

The ladies made a surprise confession and revealed songs that they didn’t like initially but were proved wrong when they became hits. “Definitely the songs. Having great A&R representatives and Denis Ingoldsby made a massive difference finding the songs”, Easther says. “I must say that we were complete tearaways, because some of the songs that came to us we were like, we’re not doing it, that just doesn’t work for me, I don’t like that one — low and behold those were the one’s that became the hits. Songs fit differently for different artists. One of them [that we didn’t like initially] was “Oh Baby I” and “Someday” — and it became a big hit. When it’s properly done and produced, it makes a big difference.”

*Easther & Vernie Bennett at BBC Radio London (April 17, 2024)*

The big question is, will there be any new Eternal music in the future? “At the moment, it’s like, let’s just dip my toes”, Easther admits. “You’ve taken time out to have kids, your body is moving slow! Decrepit (Laughs). Okay, I’ll speak for myself! This the the way — mandolorian, love that. But yeah, dipping the toes, let’s see what happens. Who knows what the future will bring. What I think is really important is just enjoying it. Enjoying every moment, every gig, every mistake that you make and just laugh at it — it is what it is, so just enjoy the moment”.

When asked about what to expect from the Eternal setlist by Dubai 24 last month, Vernie said, “I think what we’re going to do, because we have so many hits, is we’re going to is have segments, so it goes from one song to the next, so that you can get a feel for some of the songs that we won’t be performing, but you’ll hear them but we won’t be performing them — it was really really tricky to put together the final setlist.

Easther interjects and says, “Do we have a final list? We keep going back and forth. We’re undecided.” Vernie agrees and says, “Yeah, we might swap it at the last minute.”

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A post shared by Eternal Forever (@eternalalwaysforever)

Christel has continued with her routine kickboxing, which she often highlights to her followers on Instagram whilst she waits for the time with Eternal to launch. Christel said that she will be in London “very soon” to start rehearsals for the upcoming shows, kicking off in Dubai on May 4.

At the time of the announcement on February 29, 2024, Christel took to her social media and said that she was “so thrilled” to join Eternal, adding, “Massive thanks and hugs to Vernie Bennett and Easther Bennett for the warm welcome, you’re amazing”. Christel also thanked Denis Ingoldsby and musician Marshall Music for assisting her with the deal, finishing off with, “Can’t wait to be on stage! See you very soon!:

The current tour dates to see Eternal live this year are as follows:

May 4         Back To The 90s, Dubai
July 6          Superboxx, Rochester Castle
July 20        90s Baby, Manchester
August 4    90s Baby, Newcastle
August 24  Back 2 Festival, Notts
Sept 21       90s Reloaded, Minehead

For the latest updates on Eternal’s tour dates head over to www.eternalofficial.co/

Listen to the full episode of Eternal’s interview with Jacqueline Shepherd on BBC Sounds

Interview, Lifestyle, News

T-Boz: “Police Pulled Me Over Just For Driving A Nice Car!”

Leon@TLCArmyJune 29, 2020June 29, 2020 Leave a comment

Earlier this month, Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins took some time out to speak with the hit travel podcast, ‘All The S**t I’ve Learned Abroad‘, with Steph Paige and Andrea Gillis about her travel experiences and opens up about her thoughts and feelings on the Black Lives Matter movement.

Tionne can completely relate to the loss of George Floyd, who was tragically murdered in broad daylight by police last month, as her cousin Eddie Russell Jr was also killed when he was shot by Illinois police in September 2017, despite informing them that he suffered with a mental illness to deter them from using unjust force.

“The only difference with racism [today] is that it’s being taped now. There’s still people doing modern day lynching, and that’s what you’re seeing when you see cases like Ahmaud Aubury and George Floyd”, Tionne says. “I’ve looked up all of these cases — my cousin was actually one of them that was gunned down with AR-15’s and shot 18 times. They blew his jaw off and the back of his head, and he was mentally ill. They told my cousin to call her son out and they gunned him down as soon as he came out of that garage”.

download (8) — Tionne’s cousin Eddie Russell Jr

In the midst of these constant tragedies against black people, Tionne is pleased to see that the Black Lives Matter movement is also being supported by non-black people, who aren’t afraid to use their voices to help to make a change. “I’m looking at all of these races come together to fight for the same thing. Even caucasian people are saying they’re tired of black people being murdered by white cops”, Tionne says. “It broke my heart the other day when Ashton Kutcher almost started crying because his white friends kept saying ‘all lives matter’, and he said no, black lives DO matter.”

Tionne also addresses the fact that a lot of the looting and vandalism isn’t always carried out by black people. With that said, although she doesn’t agree with the looting, she does understand why it happens sometimes. “It might not be right, but I understand it. I might not like it, because I’ve been robbed before when I had my store [Chase’s Closet], but I understand why they’re doing it”, Tionne exclaims.

One of the saddest realities of living in an unjust world as a black person is reassuring the younger generation that they shouldn’t be afraid of all police. Tionne mentions how her children, daughter Chase Rolison and her four year old son, Chance, become very frightened of the police, especially with so much coverage on the brutality against the black community. “It’s a shame that when police are around my daughter she gets nervous, and when I ask her what’s wrong she says it’s because she’s black. My kids shouldn’t have to feel that way”, Tionne explains. “Being black, period, you have to have a different conversation with your child that you don’t really want to have”.

Tionne's children Chase and Chance — Tionne’s children Chase and Chance

Tionne reveals that she was also pulled over by the police just for being a black woman driving a nice car. “I’ve been pinned down with 10 cops and guns at my head. My car light had a short in it, so I pulled over and flicked it on and off, and they said I was doing a gang initiation. They had 10 cops lay me out on the car, pat me down with guns to my head. What if someone’s finger had slipped?”, Tionne says.

In another occasion, while Tionne was 6 and a half months pregnant, driving her Porsche on the way back from recording at DARP studios for a TLC record, when she was once again ambushed by police unnecessarily. “He pulls me over and asks what I’m doing in this neighbourhood and ‘you better recite your address, say it fast and you better not stutter!’. Then he asks me how can I afford this car. But I have to take it because he has a gun and I don’t and I’m being disrespected about something I haven’t done, because of his ignorant issues about the world. When the cops found out who I was, he just threw my licence at me and said that I could go”.

Addressing racial prejudice within the music industry, Tionne vents her frustrations on her group TLC being labelled as an R&B group just because they are black, despite producing pop music. “Predominantly, TLC release universal music. Our music fits every genre — except a country song, but I want to!”, Tionne confesses. “But mostly pop — “No Scrubs” is pop, “Waterfalls” is pop, “Unpretty” is pop. But when you’re black, and do a pop song, they still call it R&B — I’m not just an R&B group, don’t box me in just because of my colour. We have different fights within the industry where if you’re black you get paid less than the white groups.”

To hear more about Tionne’s revelations and experiences, including incidents in Paris and South Africa whilst travelling, and why she wants to visit Bora Bora, check out the full episode below!

Be sure to subscribe to the “All The S**t I’ve Learned Abroad” podcast on Spotify.

Interview, Lifestyle

TLC On Second Diamond Award, Owning Their Masters and Being Sexy On Tour

Leon@TLCArmyJuly 3, 2019July 30, 2025 2 Comments

TLC and the boys — Nelly and Flo Rida — fresh from their joint performance of hits on Good Morning America, stopped by for a catch up on Sway In The Morning.

The trio of hitmaker’s touch on everything from career longevity, accolades, possible future collaborations and the importance of owning your own masters!

Nelly on Lil Nas X being removed from Billboard Country chart

Nelly: It wasn’t right. Especially when you think about a lot of the genre’s of music that black people have been infiltrated by. We’ve had several artists that have infiltrated hip-hop and R&B. Vanilla Ice had a top rap chart and Eminem has just been killing it, but it happens. I didn’t know we were worried about the color in 2019.

Inspiration behind Flo Rida making music

Flo Rida: I think just growing up in Miami, where it’s a gumball of different cultures. And at the same time, we had the people who paved the way, like the 2 Live Crew, Trick Daddy and Trina. So, it was just to hear myself on the radio for the first time. It just came with the territory about being passionate. I was somebody who was a big fan of music and lots of different genre’s. Growing up in a household where my sisters sing gospel music, so watching them entertain gave me the passion to work hard.

TLC out in the public

Chilli: We’re very approachable. We don’t walk around with an entourage. We’ve never been that way. Most times when people see us, they’re like ‘do you know who you look like?’, they’re thinking there’s no way you’d be out by yourself.

T-Boz: ‘T-Boz wouldn’t be in Target’. Uhh, yes I would!

Chilli: Yeah, they’ll say stuff like that!

Diamond-Certified Awards

T-Boz: The diamond award is really special! We’re proud of that one.

Chilli: That’s the most special to us. They’re all amazing. At the end of the day, I don’t think any type of award makes you as an artist. It’s just a blessing to be able to do what we do, have the longevity and the catalog that we all have. Artists pray for stuff like that. When you’re in the studio recording, you don’t know if it will have longevity but time will tell you that.

Sway: What’s the diamond award?

Chilli: It’s for ‘CrazySexyCool’ and we may — we are very close to getting one more for ‘Fanmail’.

T-Boz: But you have to sell 10 million in the States to get one, and not too many people have.

Nelly: Yes you do!

T-Boz: Do you have one too?

Nelly: Gotta know that!

T-Boz: Hello! Let ’em know, Nelly! Do you have one or two?

Nelly: We’re close to two. ‘Nellyville’ is close, but ‘Country Grammar’ is diamond. I got that plaque like two years ago.

T-Boz: But after this tour, we’re gonna get that second one, because those sales go up when you go on tour.

Thoughts on Taylor Swift not owning her masters

Nelly: It’s hers. It’s your work. It depends on whatever you do. If you’re an athlete and somebody has your shoes, but somebody else has control and the option to sell it.

T-Boz: And you have to ask permission to use your own stuff. We were in that situation with Sony. We re-recorded all of our own music. And we own our version of our masters, and we licence out our version. So, — Sony!

Chilli: And it sounds exactly the same, you can not tell the difference.

T-Boz: So, Taylor, honey, just re-record your stuff and licence out your version. You’ll be good. Because, we make some money off of our publishing now! I own all of my publishing now, I’m so excited this year! You don’t even know!

Re-negotiating after a first deal

T-Boz: That’s what we were in [a production deal]. But, how we got screwed, we didn’t get the chance to re-negotiate the second contract, she kept the same terms.

Sway: From the first contract. And now you’re 20 times more valuable.

T-Boz: And that’s ‘CrazySexyCool’ and that’s our biggest selling album, so you can understand why we were upset and holding people hostage and stuff.

Nelly: And setting houses on fire — naw that wasn’t that!

T-Boz: There you go! Everyone’s not arsonists in the group, you know!

Chilli: That was an accident! He didn’t have any shoes for her, so..

T-Boz: That wasn’t the first fire, this one just ignited!

Possible TLC, Nelly & Flo Rida collab

Nelly: It’s hard, but we’re definitely talking about it. We’ve talked about it. We’ve got things in motion. But it’s just getting in there — it’s the time.

T-Boz: I know we’ve been on the road doing spot dates for two weeks. And then we have to go right back in rehearsal. It’s hard, because we don’t usually split up rehearsals. So, we’re learning new material, and going back to old and press, it’s a lot.

Chilli: It’s crazy, but I think it’s a not so bad problem to have.

Nelly: Yeah, you could be sitting at home! (laughs)

T-Boz: So true. It’s a good lot. It’s a blessing. I got money in my pocket (laughs). But it’s stressful, though. I’m not gonna lie.

Nelly: A lotta artists at home! They ain’t touring this summer! (laughs)

Tour expectations

Chilli: The one thing I will say is, with all of us together, everybody can come. Mom, dad, grandma, little kids — it’s definitely that tour. We feel very honored for this package to be together. It took forever to get this thing together, but we did it!

Nelly: Good family affair, man, all but about a minute and 30 — when Chilli starts — gotta be an 18 and over for a minute and 23 seconds! I’m just joking! ‘Kids, go with your momma, I’ma watch this!’

T-Boz: It’s uncomfortable, though! Like, we try not to gyrate on “Red Light Special” no more, and the kids be staring — I can’t do it! I stopped gyrating!

Chilli: We do it in a different way!

Sway: What about us though? I can’t come to a TLC concert with no moves and gyration!

T-Boz: I just twirl around in a circle! We still gyrate a little, just not as much. A little gyration ain’t hurt nobody!

Chilli: In taste!

How the tour came together

Nelly: The girls called and said, ‘yo, we’re going on tour!’ I said ‘oh okay, I’ll be ready’!

T-Boz: We had toured with Nelly together with New Kids On The Block a couple of years ago, and again in Australia. So, we had to find the perfect third person, like, who has a lot of hits, and Flo was perfect! And he said yes, so I was like, ‘awh shoot, it’s happening now!’

Chilli: I called him personally, like, I’m so happy you said yes! I was happy.

Flo Rida: When I heard about it, you didn’t even have to work that hard. When I heard it was ya’ll two, I was like, I’m on.

Current music evolution

Nelly: I understand hip-hop was created by the youth, for the youth. And I understand it has a history, I don’t judge it because I didn’t want to be judged when I first came out. The kids can party to whatever they want. If you don’t like it, there’s another radio station. Some of it I rock with and some of it ain’t for me.

Flo Rida: I appreciate social media, the fact that your everyday Joe can get a chance. I love what’s going on. That’s one less person I have to feed. I can money off this.

T-Boz: I have two statements — I think there is room for everybody, like Nelly says. But, I also think it’s a little different in the aspect that, the originality isn’t the same anymore. A lot of people sound alike. Like, Snoop had his style, and Nelly had his style. Now, everybody sounds the same. Back when we came out, there wasn’t a lot of that. That’s the change I’ve seen, but like he says, there’s room for everybody now.

Chilli: I agree with her 100%, just the originality and the variety is just kinda — not all of it, some people will stand out. But, for the most part, it’s kinda all the same.

Nelly: I blame that on society wanting to make money off of it. Whatever’s winning, is gonna cause a greater demand for it. Now, people have gold singles and I haven’t heard their record on radio!

T-Boz: I’m proud of being a trendsetter though, and you should be, too. I’m proud because of that. I’m never gonna feel bad about that.

Nelly: And that’s why we’re doing a tour, twenty-something years later together!

T-Boz: Hello?! Okay!

Tickets to the TLC, Nelly & Flo Rida tour are on sale right now, head over to LiveNation.com for more details on the hottest show of the summer… a WHOLE LOTTA HITS!

Interview

Chilli Debates Being The ‘Cool’ In CrazySexyCool!

Leon@TLCArmyJune 13, 2019July 30, 2025 Leave a comment

TLC are the headline act at this year’s Twin Cities Pride on June 22 at Loring Park! To celebrate, the beautiful Chilli took some time out to speak to Alexis & Dawn at myTalk 107.1!

You guys have performed at a lot of Pride celebrations. What can we expect at Twin Cities Pride?

Chilli: Well, it’s always a big party. That’s the best way to describe a TLC performance. It’s very entertaining, super high energy. I still go to the gym — I work out, I’ll say that, in addition to everything else!

You are gonna do the songs we all know and love, right? Because Madonna said she isn’t going to do any of her old songs on her tour!

Chilli: Of course! I wouldn’t advise that, she’s the queen! I don’t know why she said that.

She gets a little crazy sometimes!

Chilli: You said that, not me! (laughs)

You had this tomboy image that I loved. I played with boys growing up, and it allowed me to be myself. Did you have any push back with your image when you first came out?

Chilli: Honestly, we did not, with the label. LA [Reid] understood 100% the type of group that we were — and still are. We like to call ourselves prissy tomboys, because we’re still feminine, but we don’t dress all extra, extra sexy.

Well, you’re the sexy one, Chilli!

Chilli: I don’t know how I got that title! When I think of ‘CrazySexyCool’, I think I’m more ‘cool’ than ‘sexy’. We argue that point all the time. But we like to think of it like it’s our version of ‘I’m Every Woman’.

Is the TLC Broadway show still in the works?

Chilli: Yes, we are. It’s funny, because I was not supposed to talk about that at the time (back in March). And I didn’t know until after the fact! Oops! Let’s just say, you heard right!

Do you make your own chili?

Chilli: I don’t even know how to make chili! That’s funny, right? And sadly, I can’t eat chili because I have acid reflux, it hurts my tummy. Maybe make me a white bean chili — and no meat!

What TV shows are you watching?

Chilli: I love Nat Geo Wild! I know, I’m boring. But it’s so soothing and relaxing, and I’m getting educated at the same time. I love Lifetime. I always get caught up in that show ‘Married At First Sight’. I would never do anything like that! I can’t believe they do it. It’s crazy. But it’s good.

Did your think you’d still be touring after all these years?

Chilli: I would always hope and pray that we would be the type of group that could. When your first starting out, you have all these hopes and dreams, and that drives you. When you get involved on the business side, it can taint those dreams. But you can’t let that happen. And when you’re in the studio recording, you hope and pray that this song has longevity. Only time will tell, you just never know. We are so blessed to have the catalog that we have and people still want to hear and see us. It’s amazing.