BRIDGET'S GUIDE TO BOY BANDS

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK

After New Edition slipped out of producer Maurice Starr's hands, he returned with a group that built the blueprint of the modern-day boy band.

Boston's New Kids On The Block had something for everyfan. Donnie Wahlberg was the Bad Boy who set a hotel carpet on fire. Joey McEntire was the cute one with the high voice. Jordan Knight was the hearththrob. His brother Jonathan was the sensitive type, and Danny Wood was the other guy.

Between their formation in 1984 and their first demise ten years later, they sold 80 million records. Despite the handicap of being a boy band in an era without a Swedish hit machine assembling their repertoire, NKOTB put out a handful of fondly-regarded singles and have shrewdly managed to exploit fan nostalgia in a series of  successful arena tours. They're doing another one this year with Boyz II Men and Paula Abdul.