British boyband JLS have announced they are splitting up after five years together, but Aston Merrygold, Marvin Humes, Jonathan "JB" Gill and Oristé Williams insist they will remain the best of friends. "It's just that time," Aston said of the split. "We are still best of friends and always will be – but this is the end." Marvin, who is expecting his first child with his wife, Saturdays singer Rochelle, added: "It's an emotional time. There's no getting away from that. We have been through so much together.
"We never wanted to overstay our welcome. We never wanted to be that band where people said, 'Oh, bloody hell. It's JLS again.' "We wanted to finish on a high. The last five or so years have been nothing short of incredible. It has been an incredible journey."
The R&B group, who finished second to Alexandra Burke on 2008's X Factor, have five No. 1 hits and two Brit awards under their belts. They will bow out with a farewell tour planned for December, a final single and greatest hits album.
Apparently, the band deliberated over their decision for months. In a statement on their website, they said: "To each and every JLSter, our beloved fans around the world. We wanted to make sure that you heard it from the four of us, that we have decided to bring our time as a band to an end. "It has been the most incredible journey over the last six years and we have achieved more things than we could have ever dreamed possible. Thanks to all of you guys, your support, your dedication and your love, you have changed our lives forever and we wouldn't be where we are today without you.
"We are currently in the studio working on what will be our last album - Goodbye: The Greatest Hits. We will be bringing you a new single later in the year to coincide with the album and the tour. "Goodbye: The Greatest Hits Tour will be the last time that we will perform together as a 4 and we want to make sure that this tour is the best ever and that we end on a high! We will always remain brothers and friends and we will always be your boys."
