BBMak

Though frequently viewed as the British counterpart to the Backstreet Boys, O-Town, and similar U.S. pop acts, BBMak set themselves apart through their choice to perform on their own instruments and compose most of their material. Mark Barry, Christian Burns, and Stephen McNally came together as the trio in 1996 after first crossing paths during separate band gigs across North West England. The three eventually parted ways with those earlier groups to launch BBMak, cutting a demo that prompted a trip to London in search of a recording contract. Their return to Liverpool yielded no deal, yet a strong showing at an industry showcase quickly sparked a bidding war that ended with the independent Telstar label securing the band’s commitment. The group’s debut single, “Back Here,” topped charts in both the U.K. and Japan during 1999. Their first full-length release, Sooner or Later, also found notable traction, attaining gold certification stateside following its 2000 Hollywood Records rollout. Two years afterward the musicians resurfaced with the polished pop of Into Your Head, an album whose weak sales hastened the trio’s 2003 disbandment.