R&B Group New Edition Talks New Album and Tour

n the '90s, Ronnie DeVoe, Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant, along with Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins and Bobby Brown, dominated the R&B music scene as New Edition. More than 30 years later, the group is still going strong, currently on tour and working on new music. Last month, we spoke with DeVoe, Gill and Tresvant to get a glimpse into what the future holds for the longtime boy band.

What has kept you all going for over 30 years?

Ralph: "We always come out with quality albums, quality shows, we take the outfits and what we're dressed in seriously. I think that's one of the main things that help's us to sustain. Also, we're pretty talented cats.

What has been a career highlight for the group?

Ralph: "The lifetime achievement award Soul Train gave us recently just sort of sums up a lot of the work and time we've put into the business. It was fulfilling to see them give that back to us like that. I thought that was a special highlight. At the end of the day we can't pick one favorite moment, and for each of us it would be different, but a lifetime achievement award says, 'After 30 years you've been in this game, we appreciate you.'"

If they made a New Edition movie, who would play each of you?

Johnny: "Denzel Washington."

Ronnie: "I'm going to split it up, because there would have to be a younger version of me too. I would have to go with Lil Bow Wow for the younger version, and let's say Terrance Howard in the later years."

Ralph: "For me, I don't know, man. I think it would be someone up and new. Maybe even my sons, they could play me. They kind of look like me, they've kind of got the abilities that I have."

Is there any new music in the works?

Johnny: "We have a song that we did, all of us, called "Me to You." After this tour, we're looking forward to getting this New Edition project up and running, and recording hopefully by 2015."