The Wanted

The members of U.K. band The Wanted have worked to redefine the label “boy band” their own way and make their mark with fans since forming in 2009.

The pop group comprising bassist Max George, drummer Jay McGuiness, guitarists Siva Kaneswaran and Nathan Sykes and pianist Tom Parker teamed up following a series of auditions and went to work building its fanbase.

Photo: Courtesy CAA

A 2010 self-titled debut and 2011’s Battleground landed high on the U.K. charts and yielded a string of hit singles including “All Time Low” and “Glad You Came.”

“Glad You Came” earned RIAA platinum certification in March and was nominated for best single at this year’s Brit Awards.

The Wanted has gone from performing at small clubs to festivals and arenas, opening for Justin Bieber and Britney Spears, with the guidance of manager Scooter Braun, who also manages Bieber, and Creative Artists Agency’s Bobby Cory in the U.S. and Paul Franklin in the U.K.

The band’s goal to duplicate its success in the States commenced earlier this year with an initial 10-date trek.TV appearances including “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” “American Idol” and “The Voice” helped introduce The Wanted to American audiences.

Photo: Simon Webb
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That was followed up by a U.K. arena tour that included headlining the 20,000-capacity The O2-London and the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena.

A second round of U.S. dates, with a stop in Canada and the U.K., will keep The Wanted on the road through the end of August.