Lee Ryan has become the latest member of boy band Blue to be declared bankrupt.
The group recently announced that they would release future music independently after being dropped by Sony Music due to disappointing sales of comeback album ‘Colours’.
Other members Simon Webbe, Duncan James and Antony Costa were all declared bankrupt shortly after their company, Blueworld, went into administration in May 2013.
Ryan’s creditor Capquest Investments filed the petition back in January, with Ryan declared bankrupt on April 13, The Guardian reports.
Earlier this year, upon reports of their parting with Sony, Blue posted an impassioned message via their Facebook page to assure fans they won’t be going quitting music. They also addressed the perceived negative coverage they’ve been receiving in the press.
“Sadly there are still those ‘journalists’ that find it fun and amusing to preach their negativity and vitriol towards us,” wrote the group. “Those that don’t listen to the fans who buy our music and come and see us live. Those that smile to our face and stab us in the back. They have always been around and perhaps just like us – they are not going anywhere either.
“So let the haters hate and in the meantime we are going to keep on doing what we love for everyone that enjoys Blue and what we stand for, our music. We don’t need to prove who we are, or ask permission to be here. We love Sony Music who have supported us and licensed the album for the UK and supported us on tour and we look forward to the rest of this year and the next as we move into ‘Fifteen Years of Blue’.”
The group reformed in 2011 after a six-year hiatus. They’ve since gone on to release two albums, ‘Roulette’ in 2013 and ‘Colours’ last March. Both peaked at Number 13 in the UK Album Chart.