By Mark Shales & Danielle Wainwright
Teen heartthrobs The Wanted treated fans to a show-stopping performance last night as they headlined Key 103 Live at the Manchester Arena.
MM managed to grab a few minutes with band-members Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran and Bolton’s own Tom Parker to discuss America, their crazy female fans and their love for Manchester.
The lads gained global recognition in 2011 when breakthrough-hit Glad You Came went multi-platinum in both hemispheres, but Tom admitted it was nice to be back in the North West.
“It’s always good to be back in my home city, I’ve been back to see my mum and dad for Sunday dinner” said the 24-year-old.
“We turned on the lights here last year which was really cool and it’s always good to go-out when we’re back.
“Canal Street’s a well good night out, I’ve been there a couple of times.”
Key 103 Live was the boys’ first performance in Manchester since Nathan’s career-threatening surgery on his vocal cords, and the lads were more than happy to reunite with the teen idol.
Nathan re-joined the band in June after a two-month absence with a haemorrhaged nodule and was delighted to be enjoying the finer things in life once more.
“I’m feeling wonderful, it’s great to have been given the all-clear,” Nathan said, before Tom playfully interjected: “He can have sex again now!”
Nathan continued: “I went through a vocal rehab which was honestly fascinating – I learnt loads.
“It was just basically just very intense vocal lessons, so I feel like I’ve improved.”
Fellow band mate Siva was pleased to have the five-some together again and gushed: “We hadn’t heard him sing for two months but since coming back his ability to control was as strong as ever,” said the 24-year-old. “It’s like nothing ever happened.
The boys are preparing to jet across the pond for their latest American tour which begins in Costa Mesa, California on August 7, but as well as their adventure being an amazing experience , Tom admitted the State-side travelling could be pretty draining on the band.
“America was great last time,” he said “It was more exhausting than being over here though, because you’re doing such a wide amount of things in such a short space of time.
“There are just so many different places to go; it really takes it out of you.”
The globe-trotting comes ahead of the release of third-album Word of Mouth, launched on September 16, which includes chart-topping single Walks Like Rihanna.
But although being the love of millions of teenage girls across the globe has its advantages, Tom revealed it could sometimes get a bit daunting.
“Our fans are mental, but very loveable,” Tom added. “They vary from country-to-country as well.
“In Spain they’re forward and very grabby with our privates so we’re always like ‘wow, all right guys, you’ve got to buy me a drink first’.
“We get sent lots of presents as well, mainly naughty underwear and plenty of native sweets and chocolate – The chocolate was so good.”
The lads expressed a desire to work with fellow-Key103 Live performer John Newman, and hinted at a possible upcoming collaboration with rapper and producer Naughty Boy.
And when asked of any activities the lads would love to be able to do, “I love skiing but we are not allowed to do it,” said Tom.
“It’s in our contract not to do dangerous sports; we may end up breaking our legs!”
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