Having whipped a nation of screaming girls into a frenzy with their hip thrusts and energetic dance routines in the 90s, 911 are ‘Bodyshakin' more than ever at Butlins. We caught up with lead singer Lee Brennan…

When and what was your first introduction to the world of music and entertainment?

Football was my first love – I was mad on it. But when I realised that dream wasn't going to come true for me, I decided I wanted to work in music. I wasn't a stage kid – the extent of my exposure to music was singing along to the radio to Michael Jackson. And I suppose my dad might have been an influence as he was a musician in bands. I wrote to the manager of a local radio station in Carlisle to ask if he could help me get into the business.

How did you get together with the other two boys to form 911?

The radio station had passed my letter onto a manager who was looking to put a boyband together. He was already managing two dancers called Spike and Jimmy who appeared on the late-night TV show ‘The Hit Man and Her' and he was looking for a third member to make up 911. He called me from Scotland and I went up to Glasgow to meet him and play him some tracks I'd put together. He liked me, I gave up my job in a 10-pin bowling alley and the rest is history.

What's the most memorable moment of your career from back then?

It has to be our first ever gig in a store in Glasgow called Bankrupt Clothing. I had two left feet back in those days so I had to work really hard on my dancing. I just remember performing and thinking ‘this is fantastic!

What's the best ever gig you've played?

There isn't really a single gig. Touring around the UK was fantastic because we would play to arena crowds of around 12,000 people. There was one awesome gig in Singapore where there were around 70,000 in the audience. It was incredible – we walked out into a pitch-black auditorium that was a sea of red and blue neon glow sticks being held up.

What led to the band splitting live on the Chris Moyles show in 2000?

We'd already been planning it for about five months at that point. We'd had the greatest hits album out and we just thought it was a good time to move on. Personally, I just needed space to find myself again and have a bit of normality after five years of touring.

Do you miss the buzz of the charts?

It was a terrific buzz at the time but I don't miss it. Now the pressure's off and we can just enjoy performing without the added stress of achieving sales or having a hit. And I never look back, I only look forward.

What do you think of other hit boybands such as Take That and Westlife reforming now they're older?

The boyband industry has moved on and grown up, so it's a good time for comebacks. Plus I think Take That look even better than they did before and they're even more successful. I love Take That – they've opened the door for other bands to reform.

You had some pretty vigorous dance routines, including a distinctive hip thrust to ‘Bodyshakin'. How do your moves now compare to the mi-90s?

Even though we still do the routines I seem to get away with not too much dancing. We may be a bit older but we still put on a great show.

How does being in the music industry compare to back then?

It has changed so much. The 90s were all about Pop music and we had events like the Smash Hits Road Show that were just brilliant. I love the live bands we have these days, but there's not much Pop for kids. I think there's still a gap in the market for a cheesy act like Steps or S Club 7.

You appeared in ITV show ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time' and were in the final. Was this a help or a hindrance to your career?

We were already doing gigs again by then, but it gave us the chance to let people know that we were back. It was the first time we had done live TV for about six years and it was definitely worth it – we got around 50 gigs off the back of that show.

You've performed in Aladdin and have pursued acting roles – anything in the pipeline at the moment?

I've done five years of panto now and I love it. I have an agent who looks out for opportunities for me but I'm not actively pursuing acting roles.

Tell us about the performing arts school that you've set up.

It's called Star Act, it's in a venue in Brentford in West London and the course takes place every Saturday for 12 weeks. It's for kids aged 5 to 16, and it's like a theatre school where you sing, dance and act. I direct and have teachers working for the company. It's great fun.

Spike Dawbarn runs Popskool – a performance academy. Have you ever had any involvement in that enterprise and is there any rivalry?

I have no involvement and there's no competition at all. My school is more theatre-related and his is more modern street dance and singing.

You've written tracks for bands such as Blue in the past. Do you still enjoy the challenge of writing?

That was a long time ago. I do have a studio in my house and I love writing but I don't have the time any more. It's a hobby now, but in the future, you never know.

How would you describe your current stage show?

In a word – energetic. We've always worked hard on our stage shows and I think it comes through in the sheer energy of our performance.

What do you love about performing at a Weekender?

It's mad. You're guaranteed a good time as there's a few thousand people watching you who are up for a laugh and a good time.

Any exciting plans for the near future?

I'm taking up photography and hope to go professional with it. I love to try different things.

When can you see them?

• Skool Reunion, Skegness 13 - 16 March 2009
• Skool Reunion, Bognor Regis 20 - 22 March 2009
• 90s Reloaded, Bognor Regis 24 - 27 April 2009

IN THE KNOW

Lee Brennan, Spike Dawbarn and Jimmy Constable formed the boyband 911 in 1995. While gigging around the country, they signed a record deal with Virgin Records in 1996. The band went from strength to strength, going on to sell over seven million records, release four albums and have ten UK Top 10 singles, including a number one with 'A Little Bit More '. More classics soon followed, notably 'Party People ', 'The Journey', 'Night to Remember', 'More Than A Woman' and the dance hit 'Bodyshakin '.

For more information on Star Act visit www.staract.co.uk

To find out more about Lee and 911 visit www.lee-brennan.com