Jeremy Williams-Chalmers, Arts Correspondent
Don't Make Them Wait: 911 Are Back For Their 30th Anniversary
Photo courtesy 911
It’s a milestone that feels surreal not only for fans but also for the band themselves. When asked whether they ever imagined they’d still be performing 30 years later, the answer is immediate. “Definitely not,” they admit. Lee continues, “When we split in 2000, we thought that was it. We didn’t really understand nostalgia back then.” It’s a concept that has since reshaped the music landscape, giving new life to acts from the era. “People love nostalgia – we all do. We just didn’t realise it at the time. So to still be here after 30 years, still enjoying it… it’s amazing.”
Back in the beginning, the mindset was far more short-term. “We always just took it one day at a time,” Jimmy explains. “At first it was, ‘Will we even get signed?’ Then it was about making the albums. We never really looked beyond that.” That grounded approach perhaps explains their longevity — there was never a grand plan, just a focus on the moment.
Anyone who has seen 911 perform in recent years will know they have lost none of their trademark energy, even if a few of the more ambitious dance moves have quietly been retired. “We’ve taken a fair few of the big moves out,” Spike says with a laugh, “but we’re still high energy.” Staying performance-ready is part of the routine. “You’ve just got to keep in shape. If we didn’t, we’d probably be totally out of shape. It gives you something to focus on — the gym, staying fit — so you can still pull off the show.”
As for what fans can expect from the anniversary tour, the details remain under wraps. “We haven’t had that full conversation yet,” Jimmy teases, “but there’ll definitely be something different in there. There always is.” Pressed further, they remain tight-lipped. “We can’t tell you. You’ll have to come to the show.” The same coyness applies to the prospect of new material. “Secret… conversations… who knows?” he continues, hinting that while the tour will celebrate the past, the future may not be entirely off the table.
Before their own headline dates, the band are heading out on the road with Blue, a pairing that feels both natural and long overdue. “We’ve known the lads for years,” Jimmy says. “We’ve done shows together in Asia, and we get on really well. Even the crews — it’s such a small world.” The opportunity came together quickly, but the decision was an easy one. “It was a bit of a surprise, but we thought, why not? They’ve got loads of hits, same as us. It’s going to be great.”
The industry they return to, however, is vastly different from the one they first conquered. “Back then, Top of the Pops was everything,” Lee reflects. “You’d wait all week to see where you were in the charts. Now, people don’t really care about charts in the same way.” The rise of streaming and social media has fundamentally changed how music is consumed and promoted. “It’s a massive change. For us, it’s a learning curve now – the way we used to do things doesn’t work anymore.” Adapting to platforms like TikTok and the constant presence of online audiences is a far cry from the magazine covers and television appearances that once defined pop success.
While many of their contemporaries have embraced reality television as a way of reconnecting with audiences, 911 have largely steered clear. “We did The Big Reunion, which was about music, and that was great,” Spike says. “But the rest… not really our thing.” That said, there is some curiosity. Jimmy suggests the jungle would be appealing “just for the experience”, while he points out that Strictly would suit Spike's dance background. They joke about Big Brother and even more unlikely options, but the tone remains light-hearted rather than serious, with Jimmy noting that it's harder to get into these things than people might think.
Ultimately, the focus is firmly on the fans and the shared experience that has kept the band going for three decades. “Nostalgia’s huge,” Lee says. “People want to go back to their younger years – whatever that means to them.” For many, those fans are now balancing busy adult lives, families and responsibilities. “They’ve probably got kids now… they just want a couple of hours to escape.” That is precisely what 911 aims to provide. “Come and relive your youth. High energy, fun, sing-along, dance… just a great night out.” It is less about reinvention and more about celebration — a chance to reconnect with a moment in time that still resonates.
Thirty years on, 911 are not simply revisiting the past — they are embracing it, celebrating it and bringing it back to life on stage. If their enthusiasm is any indication, the party is far from over, and they may try to bring MN8 out of the musical wilderness to join them as one of their contemporaries yet to reform.