John Hendy, once a defining face of 90s boyband East-17, now finds himself scaling a different kind of heights – literally. The singer, known for his role in the iconic Christmas hit “Stay Another Day,” has traded the stage for a roofer’s harness, embracing a life far removed from the glitz and glamour of pop stardom.
East-17 exploded onto the music scene in 1991, a grittier alternative to the polished image of Take That. With 18 top 20 singles and four top 10 albums, the Walthamstow-formed band captivated a generation, fueled by a sound that blended hip-hop, R&B, and a raw, rebellious energy.
“Stay Another Day,” released in 1994, remains their enduring legacy. The song, a Christmas number one, carries a poignant weight, penned by bandmate Tony Mortimer following the tragic loss of his brother. Despite its heartbreaking origins, the song continues to resonate, reappearing on the charts year after year.
But the fairytale often fades. Despite the band’s success, the financial realities proved less glamorous than fans imagined. While Tony Mortimer continues to receive substantial royalties from “Stay Another Day,” John, Brian Harvey, and Terry Coldwell were excluded from those earnings.
Today, John documents his life as a roofer on TikTok, sharing videos of his work with a growing audience of 6,000 followers. He films himself on rooftops, tools in hand, radiating a quiet contentment. It’s a return to a trade he knew before fame, a grounding force in a life that once spun wildly out of control.
The comments section is filled with a mix of nostalgia and surprise. Fans fondly recall their teenage years soundtracked by East-17, while others express disbelief that a star who once sold millions of records is now earning a living through manual labor. “East17 was my teens!,” one fan wrote, adding they’d still ask for an autograph even on a scaffolding.
John’s story is a stark reminder that success doesn’t always translate to lasting wealth. During the pandemic, he and his family faced hardship, even requiring a stay in a hostel for 18 months. Yet, he remains remarkably grounded, insisting he harbors “no regrets.”
“I haven’t even got a house, and people think you’re millionaires,” he recently shared. “We should have all come out with a house, at least.” Despite this, he acknowledges the inherent trade-offs of fame, stating, “You can’t have one thing and not the other.”
He left East-17 after a disagreement with Terry Coldwell and a newer member, Robbie Craig. The original lineup has fractured, with Terry being the sole remaining founding member in the current iteration of the band. A full reunion seems unlikely, as Terry has stated that none of the original members currently speak.
John’s journey is a testament to resilience and a refusal to be defined solely by past success. He’s embraced a new chapter, finding fulfillment in honest work and a quiet life, proving that sometimes, the greatest reward isn’t fortune, but a sense of purpose and a firm grip on reality.
