Why have you chosen to release a slushy ballad for your next single?
Antony: We wanted to give people an idea of what's on the album. All Rise and Too Close were more up-tempo, this one shows what we can do vocally wise. On the LP, we've got a lot of Motown, Soul and RnB.
What's If You Come Back To Me all about then?
Antony: It's basically a bloke pleading for that special someone to come back into his life, saying he's sorry for what's he done.
Have any of you ever had your hearts broken?
Simon: Yeah!
Antony: No, because I don't let it!
Simon: He's a liar -- that's why he's so tough now! Everyone has had their heart broken at some time.
Duncan: (At this point, Duncan blasts out I'm Outta Love!) Yeah, once. If you think about it now, I still get a bit upset about it now, especially as she ran off with my best mate!
What's your advice for getting over a broken heart?
Antony: Don't fall in love!
Simon: No, you have to fall in love, but stand up in love and you'll be OK. There's no advice to get over a broken heart -- it just takes time. Be around friends, that always helps. Don't lock yourself in your room and cry.
How much input did you have on the your new album?
Duncan: For a first album, we had a lot of input. I think we're very lucky - as most bands don't get that much input on their first album.
Simon: Yeah, we've spoken to a lot of other bands and they weren't allowed to write anything until their third album. Because we were already a band when we signed, it was a lot easier to write stuff. I think Virgin were very keen to work closely with us and that comes through on the album.
What's your favourite track off the LP?
Duncan: My favourite track today (I have a different one each day!) is Make It Happen. It's a funky little track that we recorded in Norway with the producers, Stargate. We were actually going to call the album Make It Happen!
Antony: One of my faves is Temptation. We co-wrote it and it was one of the first tracks I had involvement in so it's very special.
Simon: I don't know! The best song is um... all twelve of them! I really enjoy all of the tracks.
If you weren't in Blue, would you still buy the album?
Simon: I would! I didn't like Another Level, but I still bought their album and liked it (although I didn't admit it to anyone!).
Duncan: I think our album is quite different to a lot of stuff out there, so I'd definitely buy it!
You were in New York during the recent terrorist attacks -- how has that affected you?
Antony: It was horrible. It wasn't very nice and we don't really like talking about it. However, it has made us realise that life is too short and you've just got to make the most of it.
I saw a couple of people audition on Pop Idol, singing All Rise. How does it feel that people are using your song as an audition piece?
Antony: It is absolutely brilliant! When we went to auditions, we used to belt out Boyzone numbers, so it's wicked to see people trying to get a break using one of our songs!
Simon: To me it's the next step. Every band wants to be able to have tune which is instantly recognisable and have people in the crowd singing it back to you, etc. To pick a song that we've written as well, makes us very proud!
Is being famous as good as you thought it would be?
Antony: Yeah! It's great -- every day is a different day. We're still on a high.
Simon: It's very tiring though! (Points to Lee, who has been fast asleep throughout the entire interview!)
Antony: Yeah, I never though I would say it, as I used to be great at getting up in the morning, but I find it really, really hard now!
Have any of you read Harry Potter? Do you like it?
Duncan: I'm a big Harry Potter fan! I'm 22 and I've never ever in my whole life read a book from start to finish. I always lose interest, but I picked up the Philosopher's Stone and I just couldn't put it down. I read the first three in the space of a few weeks and now I'm about to start the Goblet Of Fire.
Antony: I've not read the books, but I can't wait to see the film.
Duncan: Oh, it's going to be so good! A hundred million pound movie -- it's got to be good! The story is so good that the film is bound to be brilliant.
Antony: I don't think I want to be sitting next to Duncan at the cinema -- he'll be telling me what's going to happen next!
Have you got a fan club?
Duncan: You can get all the latest info about us at
www.officialblue.com It's just about to be redesigned so it's better and bigger than ever!
Antony: We do have a proper fan club - Official Blue Fanclub - that you can join via the Web site. If you join, you receive a fab package including piccies of us mugs, a newsletter, birthday/christmas cards, plus lots of other bits and pieces. We want our fan club to be good!
Do you find that your old friends treat you differently now that you're famous?
Antony: I only speak to two schoolmates and one of them works in Woolworths. He thinks its really funny when he puts our CDs out on display.
Duncan: I've got lots of mates dotted all over the place - from my home county of Devon to London. They all treat me the same, but I think they get a bit annoyed with me because I'm too busy to actually hang out with them at the moment.
Is it hard to lead a normal life? You must get recognised everywhere!
Duncan: It's OK if you're on your own, but as a foursome we would get noticed!
Simon: It's quite strange to know people are staring at you. I hate not being able to make eye contact, but you just have to put your head down and carry on walking. The worse time of the day to be out is when school has finished!
Antony: I went to Brent Cross Shopping Centre a few weeks ago, just having a look round the shops. But then at half three, all the kids came out of school and it started to get tricky. I had to run really quickly, but it is a good feeling and you'd be worried if people didn't recognise you!
You've achieved a far bit at a young age -- do you have any ambitions left?
Simon: Just to continue being happy, to keep our feet on the floor and to look after our families. And just to enjoy it.
What happens if the fame fades away?
Antony: We'd think, well we had fun doing it!
Duncan: We're so lucky to have had a number one, that it wouldn't matter if it went wrong. I'd perhaps try my hand at presenting or acting though.
Antony: I'd hate to have a 9-5 job though, it would have to be something a bit different.
If you had to sing one song for 24 hours non-stop, what would you choose?
Antony: (bursts into song) 'I know a song that will get on your nerves, get on your nerves, get on your nerves...' Actually, I'd sing Tragedy and do all the dance movements!
Duncan: Well, it would have to be All Rise because we've sung it so many times that we know the words off by heart!
