BOYBAND Five have issued an apology after eager fans struggled to secure tickets for their highly anticipated reunion tour.
Fans rushed to ticket sites for a chance to see the band again, but a technical glitch disrupted the presale.
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The lads took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the issues, reassuring fans that the problem had been resolved.
They said: “The ticketing sites have been absolutely overwhelmed by all the demand!! It’s caused a few technical glitches but they’re all sorted out now. If you didn’t have luck with the presale earlier, try again now xxx,” they wrote.
Despite the band’s upbeat message, many fans expressed their disappointment over the ticketing fiasco.
One frustrated fan wrote: “None of Ticketek or AXS or Ticketmaster working!!!! Neither Modest works.”
Another added: “Couldn’t get any. Was on there at 10 and redirected at 10:04 to be told none available.”
For some, the experience was not only stressful but heartbreaking, as one said: “Signed in dead on 10am, put my code in, was on the floor map for the O2 at 10:03 and everything was sold out apart from right at the back.
“How is that possible?!? I then got kicked out and wouldn’t let me back in to even check again 🙁 That’s sister’s bday gift ruined lol.”
Others were lucky enough to snag tickets — though not without a bit of panic.
Another said: “I’ve got mine after a little bit of stress. However, I’m beginning to think that standing in the mosh pit at 41 years of age might be a regrettable life choice!! 😂😂😂 Can’t wait!”
Meanwhile, some fans are holding out hope for another chance to get tickets, as oe said: “All the good tickets were gone within a few minutes, hoping for better luck in venue presale or general sale.”
The band stormed the charts in the late 90s and early noughties with feel good hits like Keep On Movin’, Got The Feelin’ and When The Lights Go Out.
The boys – who were all teenagers at the time – were handpicked from 3000 hopefuls, by the same people who put the Spice Girls together.
Band members Abz Love, J Brown, Ritchie Neville, Scott Robinson and Sean Conlon recently announced their comeback – but some fans already aren’t happy.
However, after a breakdown in the group, they split in September 2001.
That’s why Five fans were thrilled when they revealed they were getting back together AND going on a huge tour.
Last week, they announced they would perform 12 dates in cities including London, Newcastle, Aberdeen, Cardiff, and Birmingham with tickets going on sale today at 10am.
However, much like Oasis found on their reunion tour, fans have been left disgruntled after prices soared as demand for tickets went through the roof.
As fans logged on to bag themselves a place on the tour they were faced with long queues and price hikes.
While ticket prices were initially listed between £50.75 to £114.90, The Sun spotted seats going for £130 to £316 at London’s O2 – with the highest price at the venue going for £577 for a Row A ticket.
Outside of the capital, prices had hiked to £110 to £200.
FIVE! TOUR DATES
- Brighton Centre, Brighton: Fri, Oct 31
- Bournemouth, BIC: Sat, Nov 1
- Cardiff, Utilita Arena: Sun, Nov 2
- Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena: Tues, Nov 4
- Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena: Weds, Nov 5
- Manchester, AO Arena: Fri, Nov 7
- Leeds, First Direct Arena: Sat, Nov 8
- Birmingham, Utilita Arena: Sun, Nov 9
- London, The O2: Tues, Nov 11
Fans have now taken to social media to vent, with one writing: “Please sort the tickets out Five! This is not on!”
While another fumed: “I got kicked out of the app 3 times even though was logged in & you can see I am a ‘normal’ buyer! Then it just wouldn’t let me back in…”
Another vented: “Still trying to get a ticket for Five! This queue!”
Fans were also posting screen grabs of their place in the queue to get tickets, with some as high as 2000 people in front of them.
GETTING BACK TO THEIR BEST
Ahead of the tour, which kicks off on October 31 in Brighton, the group is focusing on getting back to their best.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun, Richie said: “I’m not saying our bodies will be temples but we’re back in the gym.”
J added: “I’ve been walking around my living room going over lyrics but it’s mostly all there.”
Fans hoping for new music could be in for a treat too, but when asked about it by The Sun, they remained coy.
“We don’t want to focus on anything other than the tour,” Scott said
“We want to make sure that we give the fans the best show. Once we get out of the other end of that, anything’s up for grabs.”
J also addressed why he decided to return to Five, which came as a huge surprise to fans.
“A few years back I went through a personal thing that was quite stressful and it just brought up a load of stuff,” he told us.
“One of the things that was coming up was Five. It’s the overarching theme of our lives since 1997.
“I was overcome with sadness that I was never going to do this again.
“Around five weeks later Abz messaged and said: ‘I really need to speak with you.’ It was like I had put a prayer out to the world and he answered it.”
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