G4 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Guildhall,London |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
|
| Labels | |
| Members |
|
| Past members |
|
| Website | www |
G4 are a four-piece British vocal troupe who first came to prominence when they finished second in Series 1 ofThe X Factor in 2004, and are known for their operatic delivery of modern pop songs. Originally abarbershop quartet,[1] the members met at theGuildhall School of Music and Drama, from which the name G4, standing for "Guildhall 4", derives.
In 2007 the band disbanded, citing disagreements among the members,[2] but reunited in 2014 to celebrate their ten-year anniversary with a number of concerts nationwide, leading to a new album for Christmas 2015.
The group currently consists of original members tenorJonathan Ansell and baritoneMike Christie, with Michael Conway joining afterJai McDowall left in 2025, while Duncan Sandilands replaced former bass singer Nick Ashby in 2019, who had replaced original bassMatt Stiff in 2014.
In 2004, shortly after Stiff replaced original bass Tom Lowe, G4 spontaneously applied toThe X Factor with the intention of using the show to obtain a quote on posters for upcoming concerts and gain publicity – prior to this they performed asbuskers during their free time at college to earn extra money and gain experience.[3][4] Although the band members originally took it in turns to sing lead,Simon Cowell – who had dismissed them as "fat buskers"[5][6] – suggested that Ansell be promoted to the group's frontman.[7][8] Mentored byLouis Walsh, they reached the final, and to date G4 remain one of only two classical-based acts to compete in the live shows, the other beingWelsh baritoneRhydian – coincidentally, both placed second in Series 1 and 4 respectively, but outsold the eventual winners. Cowell, who had mentored Series 1 championSteve Brookstein, later admitted that G4 were the real winners of the competition.[9][10][11][12][13]
Despite their success on the show, G4 later brandedThe X Factor as apantomime due to staged conflict between the judges which overshadowed the contestants.[14] Bass singer Stiff also stated "Backstage Simon would say we were great, but then on camera say nothing. I don't think he wanted us to win and by choosing what he said on camera he knew he had the power to sway votes. He is the ringmaster".[15] In 2013, none of G4's singles appeared onThe X Factor – Greatest Hits album,[16] despite their status at the time as one of the biggest-selling acts in the history of the show.[17]
| [18] Stage | Song | Placement |
|---|---|---|
| Audition | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | – |
| Bootcamp | Original song "Right Now", "I Swear", and "Danny Boy" | – |
| Judges' houses | "Creep" | – |
| Week 1 | "Everybody Hurts" | Safe |
| Week 2 | "Don't Look Back in Anger" | Safe |
| Week 3 | "...Baby One More Time" | Safe |
| Week 4 | "Circle of Life" | Bottom Two |
| Week 5 | "My Way" | Safe |
| Quarter-Final | "You'll Never Walk Alone" and "Somebody to Love" | Safe |
| Semi-Final | "O Holy Night" and "Bohemian Rhapsody" | Safe |
| Final | "Nessun Dorma", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "Creep" | Runners-up |
AfterThe X Factor, G4 signed a £1.5 million album deal withSony BMG.[19] Having not been picked up by Cowell, Sony A&RNick Raphael said that his label decided to pursue the band, stating: "We felt that they were the best act on the show."[20] With the rules ofThe X Factor allowing any non-winning band or artist to sign with anyone,[20] Sony competed with Universal and EMI for G4's signatures.[20] Raphael believed their mentor-turned-manager Walsh accepted Sony BMG's advances because the company had a plan of how to work with them as opposed to their competitors who merely had a desire to sign the band. In addition, Sony also had a definitive date to release any albums and merchandise, as well as organised structure to make their records.[20] During this time, Ansell, who had previously auditioned to be a member ofIl Divo,[21] was offered the role of Prince Tamino inKenneth Branagh's modern adaptation ofThe Magic Flute, but turned it down to remain with the band.[22]
The debut album,G4, was released on 28 February 2005, and contained classical covers of popular pop songs, most of which had been performed onThe X Factor like "Everybody Hurts",[23] with a few opera tunes such as "Nessun Dorma" and "Flower Duet".[24] Most of the tracks are produced byGraham Stack andBrian Rawling. The debut single, "Bohemian Rhapsody" cover, was released on 14 March 2005, and entered the charts at #9.[25] Following the success ofG4, G4 embarked on a 25-day arena tour.[26] The album debuted at the number one spot in theUK Albums Chart on theMother's Day weekend selling 244,671 copies in the first week,[27] becoming the fastest-selling album of 2005. It has sold 611,000 copies as of December 2012.[28]
G4 & Friends was released on 28 November 2005, and followed the same format as their first album, but also included collaborations withLesley Garrett andRobin Gibb, both of whom were special guests during the group's UK tour. Their recording of "Miss You Nights" with original artistCliff Richard was also featured on the latter's albumTwo's Company The Duets.G4 & Friends peaked in UK weekly charts at #6, in Iris weekly charts at #21, and in Scottish weekly charts at #8.[29][30] While not as successful as their first album, it was still certifiedplatinum.[31] Their version of "When a Child is Born", also from the album, was originally in the running to becomechristmas number one for 2005,[32] but was disqualified due to the inclusion of free stickers in the CD case.
In 2005, G4 also launched both the Wonder Mum competition – posing for a photoshoot with each of their own mothers -[33] and the similarly namedG Force ride atDrayton Manor Theme Park,[34][35] and presented a show onClassic FM which showcased their favourite pieces of classical music, along with their own recordings.[36]
G4's third albumAct Three was released on 27 November 2006. Being released in the same week as the third album by the similar bandIl Divo,Act Three peaked at #21 in the UK charts with first week sales of 37,487. The album included a collaboration withStephen Gately on the track "No Matter What", Gately having sung the lead on the original version of the song with his bandBoyzone, and an orchestral arrangement ofGnarls Barkley's "Crazy."[37]Act Three was the last album to feature Stiff's voice singing bass.
During this period, G4 traveled to theSOS Children's Villages inGhana on behalf of Classic Response,[38] completed theLondon Marathon,[39][40] and made a special appearance at the4th of July party atWinfield House where they sang "The Star-Spangled Banner". Towards the end of the year, embarked on a nationwide cathedral tour.[41]
On 5 April 2007, G4 announced onGMTV that they would be splitting after their national tour due to disagreements within the band, with Ansell pursuing a solo career. Tenor Thapa stated: "We did not want to drag on for another couple of years, growing increasingly resentful of each other. We are still friends and we want to stay friends but we won't if we carry on in G4". Ansell also confessed that the group found coping with fame difficult, and being popstars was not the band's lifelong aspiration.[42] They gave their final performance atRomsey on 28 July 2007 before splitting,[43][44] but briefly reunited when they all performed at Ansell's wedding toQuizmania presenter Debbie King in 2009.[45]
In November 2014, after announcing viaTwitter that they would be reuniting, G4 performed at the Barbican Hall with support fromCharlotte Jaconelli. Stiff declined, stating that he wished to focus solely on his opera career, but he was replaced by Nick Ashby, making him the third bass to sing with the group. Originally meant to be a one-night-only concert, G4 later confirmed onThe Alan Titchmarsh Show that they would be touring the country in 2015.[46] Prior to this, the group's first official live performance was at the Leeds Christmas Lights Switch-On alongside formerX Factor winnerSam Bailey.[47][48][49][50]
In June 2015, G4 announced that they would be releasing their fourth albumG4 Christmas viaPledgeMusic.[51] This was followed by "Christmas by Candlelight" Tour of eight dates around the UK in Cathedrals and Churches.[52]
On 6 September 2016, G4 announced another PledgeMusic campaign to fund their fifth studio albumG4 Love Songs[53] including appearances fromMerrill Osmond and Lesley Garrett and the orchestration of the City Of Prague Symphony Orchestra.[54]
On 3 February 2017, G4 released their fifth album,G4 Love Songs. The album launch was held at The Century Club in Soho London, with guest Merrill Osmond. Whilst promoting the album and staying overnight in Birmingham, Ansell and Christie were mugged while cutting through a park.[55]
On 19 July, low tenor Thapa announced on Twitter that he was leaving the group with immediate effect to concentrate on his opera career. G4 announced on social media after a nationwide search that Lewis Raines would be replacing Thapa.[56]
Since that announcement theKing's Singers have posted that Nick Ashby would be joining them from 2019.[57]
During the split, Ansell's solo albumTenor at the Movies reached number 1 on the classical chart, making him the youngest tenor to accomplish this feat.[58][59] In 2012 he was criticised for auditioning forSuperstar after it was revealed he was still rehearsing for another musical.[60][61][62][63] Thapa worked with theNational Chamber Choir in Dublin before moving back to London,[64][65] and was in theScottish Opera's production ofKátya Kabanová.[45] Christie is now a classical composer, having written the operaThe Miller's Wife which was shown at theArcola Theatre in 2013,[66] and Stiff, who returned toClassic FM to present his self-titled music programme has performed in several operas, and has spoken of becoming a lecturer in future.[67][68][69][70]
| Year | Album details | Chart peak positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | |||
| 2005 | G4[71]
| 1 | 4 |
|
G4 & Friends
| 6 | — |
| |
| 2006 | Act Three[73]
| 21 | 50 |
|
| 2015 | G4 Christmas[74]
| — | — | |
| 2017 | G4 Love Songs[75]
| 56 | — | |
| Year | Single | Chart positions[76] | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | |||
| 2005 | "Bohemian Rhapsody"[77] | 9 | 11 | G4 |
| "Life on Mars?" | — | — | ||
| "First of May"/"When a Child Is Born" | — | — | G4 & Friends | |
| 2015 | "One Day More"(featuringCharlotte Jaconelli &Rock Choir) | — | — | Non-album single |
| 2017 | "All I Ask of You"(featuringLesley Garrett) | — | — | Non-album single |
| "Silent Night" | — | — | Non-album single | |
| "When a Child is Born" | — | — | Non-album single | |
| Year | Title |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Happy Mother's Day (The Mother's Day EP) |
| International | |
|---|---|
| Artists | |
