Aston Merrygold says he and his JLS bandmates’ children are all “talented” and won’t need to rely on nepotism if they want to make it in music.
All four members of the noughties boy band – completed by Oritsé Williams, Marvin Humes, and JB Gill – are fathers now, and the 38-year-old singer says the JLS brood is so overflowing with talent that they could all make it on their own one day.
Speaking exclusively to BANG Showbiz, he said: “I mean, there’s a lot of them to make JLS Juniors, to be honest.
“Well, we can always try it, but I think at the same time, there’s a lot of solo acts there, I won’t say that for sure. They’re all very, very, very talented children. There won’t be any nepo-baby kind of madness going on there. They will all be flying within their own right. They’re all very bright children, which is lovely.”
The Beat Again hitmaker also gave an update on his ankle injury that required major reconstruction surgery.
Aston had the operation in December after injuring himself in rehearsals for their tour, and defied doctor’s orders to play a concert in Glasgow, albeit seated and on crutches.
Months after the surgery, he admitted he’s still getting used to his new ankle, and if he isn’t active for a while, it can “seize up”.
He said: “It good. It’s just gonna require a lot of training. It’s all brand new in there, which sounds very dramatic, but it is full reconstruction surgery was… It was a success, but I think it’s just something that, you know, I notice if I haven’t really been so active, it just seizes up. It’s a lot better; it’s just taking time to heal.”
He quipped: ”It’d be a lot easier if I was part Transformer.”
Aston added: “But yeah, it’s fine. I’m getting there slowly but definitely, surely. “
The Transformers joke was apt as Aston was speaking to promote his role as an ambassador for the 40th anniversary Apology Tour for The Transformers: The Movie. New research by Hasbro revealed Optimus Prime’s death had a huge emotional impact on children of the ’80s.
To make it up to fans, the iconic 1986 sci-fi animation is heading back to cinemas September 17 to 21, in 4K nationwide.
Head to www.fathomentertainment.com/releases/the-transformers-the-movie-40th-anniversary to sign up to find your nearest screening of The Transformers: The Movie.
Meanwhile, JLS have a bunch of shows left this summer, with the band next due onstage on July 24 at Cougar Park in Keighley. Head to www.jlsofficial.com/events/ for the full dates.