Editing New Kids on the Block (section)

===1993–1995: ''Face the Music'' and split===
{{Main article|Face the Music (New Kids on the Block album)}}
In 1993, after having split from Maurice Starr, the group shortened their name to the [[initialism]] NKOTB. In January 1994, their fourth studio album, ''Face the Music'', was released. Their first studio album in close to four years, ''Face the Music'' was a musical departure from the group's previous efforts. Nearly all the songs were written and/or co-produced by the group. In spite of some positive critical reception, the album failed to live up to commercial expectation.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/boyz-to-men-the-not-so-new--kids-on-the-block-938740.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220618/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/boyz-to-men-the-not-so-new--kids-on-the-block-938740.html |archive-date=June 18, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Boyz to men: The (not so) New – Kids on the Block|date=September 23, 2008|newspaper=independent.co.uk|access-date=September 23, 2008 | location=London}}</ref> The album's final single to chart was "[[Dirty Dawg]]" (which featured a rap cameo by [[Nice & Smooth]]), peaking at No. 66 on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="billboard" /><ref>{{cite news|last=Mayer |first=Andrea |title=Take That, take 2: A Boy Band Does the Inconceivable: Makes a Successful Comeback |date=March 7, 2007 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/take_that.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311225918/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/music/take_that.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 11, 2007 |access-date=January 26, 2008 |work=CBC News }}</ref> The follow-up single, "[[Never Let You Go (New Kids on the Block song)|Never Let You Go]]", failed to chart in the U.S., but did reach No. 42 in the [[UK Singles Chart]] and No. 18 in the [[Canada|Canadian]] charts.

NKOTB went on tour to support the album, playing smaller venues such as clubs and theaters, as opposed to the arenas and stadiums they were once accustomed to. After experiencing increased [[panic attacks]] and anxiety, Jonathan Knight left the band. Shortly thereafter, the remaining four decided to officially disband the group.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20132995,00.html|title=Renewed Kid |last=Tauber|first=Michelle |date=November 20, 2000|magazine=People|access-date=September 23, 2008}}</ref>

After the group's split, most of the group members started families and began to venture into other avenues. Jonathan Knight and Danny Wood maintained low profiles, while the other three continued their careers individually. Wahlberg, in particular, followed the lead of his younger brother, [[Mark Wahlberg]], and started an acting career. McIntyre and Jordan Knight recorded solo albums in 1999. In 1999, MTV attempted to reunite the group and get them to perform on that year's [[MTV Video Music Awards|VMAs]]. All of the members were on board for the project, except Jonathan. Without him, the performance did not happen.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bottomley |first=C. |title=Older Kids on the Comeback |date=April 30, 2001 |url=http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1443264/20010430/new_kids_on_the_block.jhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070131122150/http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1443264/20010430/new_kids_on_the_block.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 31, 2007 |access-date=January 26, 2008 }}</ref> In 2004, [[Aamer Haleem]], host of VH1's ''[[Bands Reunited]]'', also attempted to convince each of the members of New Kids on the Block to reunite for a one-night performance for the show. This time Jonathan agreed. However, McIntyre, Wahlberg, and Wood all declined. While Wood and Wahlberg declined on-camera interviews, McIntyre cited that the only way he would perform with the band was if the group would make the decision to reunite permanently.<ref>{{cite magazine| title=Group Therapy: VH1 struggles to get ''Bands Reunited''| url=https://ew.com/article/2004/09/03/vh1-struggles-get-bands-reunited/| access-date=January 26, 2008| magazine=Entertainment Weekly| date=September 3, 2004| archive-date=March 5, 2008| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305193141/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,688817,00.html| url-status=live}}</ref>