R&B sensation New Edition is set to bring their iconic New Jack Swing melodies to Las Vegas in the early months of 2024. The Grammy-nominated sextet revealed their plans for “New Edition: Las Vegas,” commencing on February 28. The group is all set for a series of six residency performances at the Wynn Las Vegas’ Encore Theater, a stage graced by music legends such as Diana Ross, Duran Duran, Lionel Richie, and Brad Paisley.
Ronnie DeVoe, a founding member of New Edition, remarked, “We just caught lightning in a bottle.” The renowned group, consisting of Michael Bivins, Bobby Brown, Johnny Gill, Ralph Tresvant, and Ricky Bell, decided to take this step after their mesmerizing tribute performance to the Spinners at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony in New York.
DeVoe emphasized that fans’ fervent requests, particularly via social media, have been urging them to perform in Sin City. He said, “We’re looking to touch that stage and continue on with the legacy.”
Following two highly successful North American tours, New Edition aims to create a more intimate experience at the Encore Theater, accommodating 1,480 attendees.
Bobby Brown elaborated on the unique nature of this residency, stating, “This is going to be more theatrical than our Legacy and Culture tours. This will be a lot more intimate. We wanted it to be up close and personal for our fans.”
New Edition, originating from childhood friends in a Boston housing project, pioneered the modern boy band genre. Their debut album, “Candy Girl,” released in 1983, revitalized teen music with hit singles like “Candy Girl,” “Mr. Telephone Man,” and “Cool It Now.” The group sustained their success beyond their teenage years and laid the groundwork for future boy bands like New Kids on the Block, the Backstreet Boys, and Boyz II Men.
However, New Edition confronted various conflicts during their journey, including Bobby Brown’s erratic behavior leading to his expulsion from the group during a concert tour. Tensions escalated after Brown was replaced by Johnny Gill.
Brown found success as a solo artist with the 1988 hit “Don’t Be Cruel.” Gill and Tresvant embarked on their own solo careers, while Bell, Bivins, and DeVoe formed Bell Biv DeVoe and achieved tremendous acclaim with their 1990 debut album, “Poison,” which achieved quadruple platinum status.
Ultimately, all six members reconciled, reuniting for their sixth studio album, “Home Again,” in 1996. The group has been touring extensively over the past couple of years.
The tours have not only strengthened their cohesiveness but have also provided an opportunity for mutual appreciation. Ricky Bell expressed his gratitude for the group’s enduring success: “We have each other, we have our health, we have our families. Everybody’s still here.”
Michael Bivins assured that the authentic brotherhood displayed during New Edition’s recent tours will be on full display in Las Vegas. “Our audience had the chance to witness growth, bonding, brotherhood,” he noted. “Sometimes that’s more significant than any record because people come looking for division. But I believe we’ll provide the unity.”
New Edition’s last album was released in 2004, but Ronnie DeVoe hinted at the possibility of new music arriving before their Las Vegas residency. “It makes sense,” he said. “I think it’ll be a great time to get in the studio and put our vocals on something new and fresh, so we can deliver that to our fans in anticipation of their residency.”
Written by:
Dana Sterling-Editor
