Back in the 1980s, Five Star dominated the charts with hits including Rain or Shine and System Addict. After disbanding in 1995, they never reunited as a full five-piece act again
With hits including Rain or Shine and System Addict, all-singing, all-dancing family pop group Five Star were the UK’s answer to Jackson 5 and took the charts by storm back in the 80s.
Formed in 1983, the group, made up of siblings Deniece, Doris, Stedman, Delroy and Lorraine, was the brainchild of their father, and musician, Buster Pearson. Having previously worked with the likes of Otis Redding and Wilson Pickett, Buster saw his children’s undeniable talents as they rehearsed in their living room prior to their music career taking off.
Thanks to their choreographed routines and dazzling costumes, the group were often referred to as being the UK’s version of Jackson 5. Youngest sister Deniece became known as Five Star’s frontwoman and their debut album was released in 1985.
From 1985 to 1988 they had four top 20 albums and 15 top 40 singles including System Addict and Rain or Shine. The band even went on to sell over 15 million records in the 1980s and in 1987 they won the Brit Award for Best British Group.
Despite their chart-topping success, the group opened up on the effect that stardom had on their childhoods after rising to fame in their teens. “In the early days it was hard. We’d be up at 2am, piled up with make-up getting in the back of our little white van, going into smoky little clubs,” Lorraine previously told the Mirror.
“As teenagers we’d be in a limo and watching kids go to school. We didn’t have many friends. We missed going to parties, school trips. My parents were very protective. Friends could never come in.
“Being together, living together, working together was hard and it did cause a lot of arguments. Work was all we did. We did a tour, another album, another tour, TV shows. It was constant, the record companies want to make money out of you whilst you are young.”
In the wake of their success, the family moved from Romford to a mansion in Sunningdale. However, the group’s popularity sadly began to fall and their chart domination dwindled. “It was quite a shock,” Doris told the BBC in 2019.
“We were just there, doing our work and all of a sudden things ground to a halt. You’d think, ‘For what reason? What’s changed?’ We did our job and delivered. Whatever else was going on in the mix with record companies was just politics.”
After moving record labels and releasing more albums, the group officially disbanded in 1995. There have been partial reunions since, though they haven’t reunited as a full five-piece act again.
Many of the siblings left to focus on their own music careers, including Deniece who appeared on series one of The Voice UK. During her stint on the show, the singer made it to the battle rounds before being eliminated.
The oldest of the group, Stedman, also remained in the spotlight and in 2006 he appeared on Channel 5’s All Star Talent Show where he came in third place. Meanwhile in 2008 he was a contestant on BBC’s Celebrity Scissorhands.
Following their time in the group, Lorraine has previously admitted that she hadn’t spoken to her sister Deniece since their father’s death in 2012. “I haven’t spoken to Deniece in three years. We don’t get on. She is very much a diva.
“I haven’t spoken to her since my dad died. Life is too short to be around people who you don’t like and who don’t like you. Deniece is my sister and I love her, but I don’t like her very much,” she said.
The family have most recently been touched by the passing of Stedman, who sadly died at the age of 60. His death was announced on Facebook by a number of his friends. “Very sad to hear about the passing of my friend Stedman Pearson. Gonna miss our chats dude. I have no words. I’m in complete shock.” A second shared: “Rest in peace bro Stedman Pearson too young man,” wrote one.
Taking to X, tributes poured in for the late musician, with one writing: “This week i received the sad news that Stedman Pearson, the eldest of the famous Five Star eighties/nineties family quintet, has passed. I got to know him very well over 14 years, before being entrusted with his unpublished biography which was completed recently.”
A second added: “Was hoping this wasn’t true but I think it sadly is. Anyone who knows me know how much I love Five Star; my childhood was a magical time thanks to their music, mesmerising dance routines and of course the incredible costumes. Such a sad loss. RIP Stedman Pearson.”
