90s pop icon admits they lost out on Glastonbury performance for sad reason

Daily Mirror

21-06-2025

Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins has revealed that the group was asked to perform with the Bee Gees at Glastonbury on the Pyramid stage but was unable to arrange the logistics in time
Steps star Ian 'H' Watkins is one of the most memorable stars of the legendary 90's pop group who took the world by storm with a plethora of hits across the world. But now, it has come to light that there was one part of his pop career that he still holds a level of regret over - and that was missing out on performing at Glastonbury Festival.
The group's song Tragedy attracted the attention of the organisers of Glastonbury which led to an invitation to perform at the sought after Pyramid stage.
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At the time, the hit song sold more than 1.2million copies in the UK.
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Speaking to Metro, the pop star explained: "The Bee Gees asked us to join them on stage. But it was a really late request, and we literally couldn't get it all together in time."
He added: "Of course, some of them have passed away now, so that will never happen again. But that's another little jewel in the Steps crown."
But with the group's musical Here and Now, which is set to tour around the UK ending up at London's West End, it seems the prospect of appearing on the bill of the iconic festival is clearly still on the group's mind.
Ian continued: "We're the only ones, really, from that era that have all the original members and are still going, so it feels like we've earned our stripes by now."
At the time of the height of his career, Ian explained that his sex life was the subject of interest among the media and felt unable to come out as gay.
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Recalling the moment he followed in the media footsteps of Stephen Gately and Will Young, who were revealed as gay, Ian said he received a phone call he had been desperate to avoid while on holiday.
He told the publication: "They knew where I was, who I was with, and why I was there – I had a boyfriend."
He added: "Immediately, I flew back from holiday, told my loved ones, told my family, told my parents, and then the next day, they didn't run the story, because I didn't give them quotes. But they threatened me for many years, and I felt like my coming out story was taken from me; my power was taken away, so it was a really emotional, dark time for me."
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But Ian was not alone. Boyzone star Stephen Gately and N'SYNC's Lance Bass was also struggling with press attention over their sexuality.
Ian added: "If the press knew you were gay, it was a really tricky thing to be seen together or to even admit that you were friends with another closeted gay person."
He then decided to forge firm friendships with his bandmates and other stars including Britany Spears.
Ian continued: "All of her dancers were gay anyway. People thought I was dating Brittany a long time ago, but that obviously wasn't the case – that was strange."