The former lead singer of 1980s boy band Brother Beyond still loves what he does - and he has a much better life balance these days. Andrew White speaks to Nathan Moore ahead of an appearance in Darlington.
Nathan Moore from Brother Beyond loves being Nathan Moore from Brother Beyond.
But he's only Nathan Moore from Brother Beyond on a weekend. From Monday to Friday, he's Nathan Moore the property manager.
"I might be fixing the toilet one day and singing the next - but I'm happy to be both people," he says.
Nathan, who is headlining an 'old school disco' night in Darlington later this year, is still best known for being the lead singer of the boy band that had a huge hit in 1988 with the Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) produced single 'The Harder I Try'.
These days, he is a stalwart of the 1980s revival circuit - regularly performing alongside the likes of Kim Wilde, Go West, Nik Kershaw and Sonia.
But that's now backed up by his property management business, so that "one day, when it all stops, I won't be on the floor".
"I'm super grateful," he tells me.
"What happens is, after you've had your success and then it drops away, the phone doesn't ring for about a decade. For about 10 years, nobody calls you, nobody wants to hear your voice. Then slowly but surely, things come around again.
"Now, the 80s are going strong again. I see these people more now than I ever did back at the height of my success. I might bump into Kim Wilde at a hotel in Paris - and in five years I've done 50 shows with Go West.
"I see them all so much, but it's nice - we're all happy doing what we're doing. We have different lives in the week, but at weekends it's really enjoyable. Our life balance is much more there."
It was Nathan's wife who persuaded him that he needed another string to his bow after a lifetime in the music business often left him in financial difficulties or broke - and that's how they got into property management.
He's now loving life in Lancashire with his wife, his son and his new business interest, while still being Nathan from Brother Beyond on weekends.
But it could have been all so different if it hadn't been for The Harder I Try. And how it came about is what he calls "one of those lucky moments in life".
Brother Beyond was already signed to EMI. The band had released four singles, but with a lot of money spent on expensive videos and the debts mounting it seemed likely they would be dropped.
Then came the moment which changed Nathan's life. One of the lots at a music business charity auction was for a record written and produced by SAW for an artist of the winning bidder's choice.
EMI put in a bid for £25,000 and won the auction - and Brother Beyond got the deal.
"The rest is history," says Nathan, adding: "If we hadn't had that record, I wouldn't be here talking to you now."
After Brother Beyond - who had another big top 10 hit with 'He Ain't No Competition' - Nathan had further international success with another boy band, World Apart, with a number one album and a string of top 10 hits in France, and he also had a spell in music management.
But it's his days with Brother Beyond for which he is still best known -and Nathan is as enthusiastic a performer now as he was back then.
"I enjoyed being in a boy band and being a pop star. It was a dream being on Top of the Pops - it's the Holy Grail of being a pop star and I did it. It was just brilliant," he says.
"I always enjoyed being Nathan from Brother Beyond - and I still do. What's not to love?"
And that's why you'll find him performing in Darlington later this year.
James Watson - the man behind the DL21 radio show - is bringing back his 'School Disco' nights to The Forum Music Centre, in Darlington, which was so popular before Covid put paid to it.
Nathan will be the star draw for the first event in November, which will also see DJs spinning some sounds from the 70s, 80s and 90s - as well as some current tunes.
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"I get the feeling that James is a real music enthusiast and loves putting on events in his local area - and I'm happy to be part of it," says Nathan.
"From my point of view, I'm going to be taking people on a bit of a musical journey.
"They're going to get the best of Brother Beyond and the biggest hit from my other band - Worlds Apart - as well as all the other stuff I do.
"I'm going to do two sets and I'll do a meet and greet with people after, so I'll be there and available for anyone who wants a photo with me and to say 'hi'."
Mr Watson said: "Following the success of several 'School Discos' before 2020, lots of people had asked me recently if they would be on again, so I’ve brought it back - and this time I’m taking it up a gear.
"DJs will be spinning the sounds from the school days of the 70s, 80s, 90s and probably throwing in some current tunes to keep the party bouncing
"I am so proud to have Nathan appearing and performing two exclusive live sets at the disco.
"Tickets have been flying out the door since they went on sale so I’m expecting this to be a sold-out event very soon - and it’s not on until November."
- The 'Disco' event is on at The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, on Saturday, November 23, from 7pm to midnight. Tickets, priced £14, are available from www.theforumonline.co.uk
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