Steps

The British dance-pop group Steps was formed in 1997 and consists of members Lee Latchford-Evans, Claire Richards, Lisa Scott-Lee, Faye Tozer, and Ian "H" Watkins. Their formation resulted from auditions organized by Steve Crosby, Barry Upton, and manager Tim Byrne following an advertisement in The Stage newspaper.

Their debut single, 5,6,7,8, a techno and line dance track released in 1997, achieved lasting success in the UK and reached number one in Australia. Signed by impresario Pete Waterman, they went on to score hits with covers such as Last Thing on My Mind by Bananarama and Tragedy by the Bee Gees, the latter giving them their first UK number one in January 1999. Their first album, Step One (1998), was certified five times platinum.

The period from 1999 to 2001 was marked by high productivity and international success. Their second album, Steptacular (1999), also debuted at the top of the UK charts. They were nominated for a BRIT Award in the Best Newcomer category and served as the opening act for Britney Spears‘s US tour in 1999. Their third album, Buzz (2000), spawned further hits like Stomp, their second number-one single.

The compilation Gold: Greatest Hits (2001) became their second number-one album. Shortly after, the group disbanded on 26 December 2001, following the departure of Claire Richards and Ian "H" Watkins to form the duo H & Claire.

Steps reformed in May 2011 for a documentary series on Sky Living, accompanied by the release of a new compilation, The Ultimate Collection, which reached number one. A sold-out UK tour followed in 2012. The group then released a Christmas songs album, Light Up The World, in November 2012 before taking a hiatus.

In 2017, for their 20th anniversary, Steps officially announced their comeback and released the album Tears on the Dancefloor. This revival continued with the albums What the Future Holds (2020) and What the Future Holds Pt. 2 (2021), featuring collaborations with Michelle Visage and covers of tracks like The Slightest Touch by Five Star.

In August 2022, the compilation Platinum Collection debuted at number one, making Steps the first British mixed-gender group to achieve a number-one album in four different decades. In 2024, they announced the creation of a jukebox musical, Here & Now, based on their greatest hits. In total, the group has sold over 22 million records worldwide and achieved 14 consecutive top 5 singles in the UK.