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Sean Conlon left 5ive due to mental health - and was replaced with cardboard cut-out

EXCLUSIVE: 5ive band members Sean Conlon and Scott Robinson have opened up about mental health and bad-boy status from their time in the band - and even confessed that Sean was oddly replaced with a cardboard cut-out after his exit

Boyband 5ive formed in 1997 under the same management as the Spice Girls, and achieved immediate success. Topping the charts throughout their careers, include 3 number one hits, the teenage heartthrobs were on the road to success and labelled as the 'bad boys of pop'.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Star, Scott Robinson from 5ive admitted that they used to party but not to the extent that everyone thought.

"I used to drink a lot, I like a beer, but I shock people. I've never ever ever in my whole life taken a drug. People cant get their head around that because its thrown at you in the industry but its never been my thing.

Sean added: We did like a drink, we did go out a lot but youd be surprised.

Despite their bad boy label, the band were young and they struggled with the fame which resulted in mental health problems. Sean Conlon left the band but in 5ives music video for their 2001 single Lets Dance, a cardboard cut out of the band member was used in his place.

[Boyband 5ive were branded as 'bad boys' but said Westlife were worse]

Boyband 5ive were branded as 'bad boys' but said Westlife were worse(Image: Redferns)

Sean admitted: I was having a few mental health issues, but back then it wasn't really recognised. Nobody had the sympathy or the compassion we have now. I was really struggling, I was just so young, with the fame and everything. I had to get my head around all the pressures.

The guys had to carry on, we had a single to release, the label had to carry on and the next minute I was a cardboard cut out. I dont think theyd do that today.

Scott continued: It was a weird thing because it wasn't like we were given an option, it was like Seans gonna be a cardboard cutout in this video, and thats it. It was a weird situation.

We weren't even allowed to say what had happened, we said he had glandular fever.

[5ive topped the charts during their career and had 3 number one hits]

5ive topped the charts during their career and had 3 number one hits(Image: Getty Images)

The lads opened up about the hardships of their careers and reflected on how pop stars were treated in the late 90s and early 00s. Robinson said: People only see the glitz and the glamour, they see you in Top Of The Pops, they dont see the 19 hour days.

Sean also said: Thing is, back then in that era of 90s music, they thought you had to work as much as possible because it was going to be so short lived that you had to sell as many records as possible. I dont think anyone would have predicted that we would still be singing the tunes in arenas and theatres 20 years later.

"Thing is now, with pop and boy bands, theyre aware that it can last a lot longer. Theres no need to panic, if the fans are there and the music is there, youve got good art. You dont need to burn."

[5ive are back as a trio]

5ive are back as a trio(Image: Redferns via Getty Images)

Although they spoke about the downsides, they wanted to emphasise that there were happy moments too. It becomes so difficult at the end. We had some amazing times, we won loads of awards and sold loads of albums but there were dark times, said Robinson

Sean spoke of the lack of support they received: If what was happening then was happening now, I dont think wed have split up in the way that we did. I think we would have had the help around us, been protected, probably preserved, and it wouldnt have ended how it did.

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