New Kids on the Block Facts & Trivia

Brush up on New Kids on the Block facts & order your premium New Kids on the Block tickets to see NKOTB back on tour!

New Kids on the Block: Personal

• The oldest “New Kid” Jonathan Knight was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on November 29, 1968.
• Danny Wood was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on May 14, 1969.
• Donnie Wahlberg was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, on August 17, 1969.
• Jordan Knight was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, on May 17, 1970.
• The youngest “New Kid” Joey McIntyre was born in Needham, Massachusetts, on December 31, 1972.

New Kids on the Block: Early Career

• Donnie Wahlberg was chosen by New Edition producer Maurice Starr to front a new all-male pop group at 15 years old.
• Donnie Wahlberg’s younger brother Mark Wahlberg was a member of the pop group that would become New Kids on the Block.
• Then 12-year-old Joey McIntyre was chosen by Maurice Starr to fill the gap left by Mark Wahlberg.
• In 1986, New Kids on the Block released their debut album on Columbia Records, which featured their single “Be My Girl.”
• Wanting to guide their own success, Donnie Wahlberg, Danny Wood and Jordan Knight each received a producer credit on their follow-up album in 1988.

New Kids on the Block: Success

• In 1988, New Kids on the Block released their second album Hangin’ Tough.
• Hangin’ Tough produced New Kids on the Block’s first Top 10 single “Please Don’t Go Girl.”
• New Kids on the Block soon appeared on the hit TV shows Soul Train and Showtime at the Apollo.
• New Kids on the Block opened for teen pop star Tiffany during her U.S. tour, which quickly sold out of New Kids on the Block tickets.
• In 1989, New Kids on the Block’s second single “You Got It (The Right Stuff)” took over radio and MTV airplay.
• New Kids on the Block’s third single “I’ll Be Loving You Forever” hit No. 1 in June 1989.
• New Kids on the Block once again toured with Tiffany; only this time Tiffany opened for New Kids on the Block, much to the delight of fans with New Kids on the Block tickets!

New Kids on the Block: Rising High

• New Kids on the Block closed out the decade with Merry, Merry Christmas, featuring new songs and old Christmas standards.
• New Kids on the Block’s “This One’s For the Children” became a Top 10 hit in October 1989.
• New Kids on the Block released their third album Step by Step on June 5, 1990.
• Step by Step sold over 20 million albums worldwide.
• New Kids on the Block’s first single “Step by Step” spent three weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
• New Kids on the Block received their own Saturday morning cartoon show in addition to action figures and home furnishings with each member’s likeness.

New Kids on the Block: Magic Tour

• New Kids on the Block embarked on the 1990 Magic Summer Tour, causing venues to sell out of New Kids on the Block tickets.
• Fans with New Kids on the Block tickets saw New Kids on the Block perform “Step by Step,” “This One’s For the Children” and “Tonight.”
• New Kids on the Block filmed its first pay-per-view special “New Kids on the Block: No More Games Live” in front of Rhode Island fans with New Kids on the Block tickets.
• “No More Games Live” was the top-selling pay-per-view event of 1990.

 New Kids on the Block: NKOTB

• New Kids on the Block released Face the Music on January 24, 1994.
• New Kids on the Block shortened their name to NKOTB and adopted a more urban hip-hop sound.
• The second single from Face the Music “Never Let You Go” was a Top 20 hit in Canada.
• After suffering from panic attacks and anxiety, Jonathan Knight left New Kids on the Block. Soon after, NKOTB decided to disband in late 1994.

New Kids on the Block: Reunion

• In 2008, New Kids on the Block reunited to record its first album in 14 years, The Block.
• The Block features a more adult sound than previous New Kids on the Block records.
• The Block debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200.
• New Kids on the Block’s album The Block includes the hot new singles “Summertime” and “Single,” featuring Ne-Yo.
• New Kids on the Block are on tour in support of The Block, performing shows for those lucky fans with premium New Kids on the Block tickets.