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23 Apr – After teasing fans with a countdown timer that appeared on the Johnny's Entertainment website, Japanese boy band NEWS has confirmed their hopes that they would be making their comeback into the music scene.
According to Tokyo Graph, the news was also announced by NEWS member Koyama Keiichiro on his radio show "K-chan News", revealing that the now four member boy band is currently working on a new single and a best-of album, with the release date yet to be determined.
The selection of the songs that would make it into the best-of album is open for public voting on the group's special website and at the Johnny's Entertainment website, which will begin on 18 April. Fans would be able to vote up to four songs from any of their released albums and singles, and the votes would be counted to determine the final track list.
A tour is also planned but no details have been revealed as yet.
The originally 9 member band was formed back in 2003. However, the membership gradually reduced with the departure of Takahiro Moriuchi shortly afterwards. This was followed by Uchi Hiroki and Kusano Hironori who were forced to quit the band when they were caught underage drinking in 2006.
After their performance at the Music Station Super Live in December 2010, the band suddenly went silent. In 2011, Ryo Nishikido and Tomohisa Yamashita were announced to have left the group. A press statement of the agency at the time said Nishikido had to concentrate on his activities in Kanjani8 while Yamashita was concentrating on his solo career.