A few weeks ago, VH-1 re-launched its highly addictive “rocumentary” series, “Behind the Music,” with profiles on Lil’ Wayne and Pink. Thursday night, it was R&B; singer, Bobby Brown’s turn to offer a mea culpa for his well-publicized antics. The episode covered Bobby’s days with R&B; group, New Edition, his late 80’s superstardom and of course, his rocky marriage to pop princess, Whitney Houston.
Like all “Behind the Music” episodes, this one began with Bobby’s humble beginnings in the Boston projects and how even at a young age, he was into drugs. It was after witnessing the stabbing death of a friend that 12-year old Bobby turned his attention to music. He hooked up with neighborhood buds, Ralph Tresvant, Michael Bivins, Ronnie DeVoe and Ricky Bell. The group, which frequently drew comparisons to the Jackson 5, went on to hit the top of the R&B; charts with such hits as “Cool it Now,” “Mr. Telephone Man” and “Candy Girl.” Bobby however began to chafe against the constraints of the group’s bubblegum image and staged such rebellious acts as not wearing certain outfits for photo shoots and hogging the spotlight during live shows. Fed up with Bobby’s massive ego, his band mates voted unanimously to boot him out of New Edition.
Though his first solo album, 1986’s “King of Stage” was a moderate success, his 1998 release “Don’t Be Cruel” exploded, dominating the charts with such hits as the title track, “Roni,” “Every Little Step,” and Bobby’s signature tune, the No. 1 Billboard smash, “My Prerogative.” “Don’t Be Cruel” was the biggest selling album of 1989, went platinum seven times over and garnered Bobby a 1990 Grammy for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance. Bobby believed he could do no wrong and burned through money, drugs and women at an alarming rate. At the time Bobby was worth $30 million.
Brown recalled his troubled marriage to Whitney Houston, describing how they met at the 1989 Soul Train Music Awards and began to date shortly after. After the couple wed in 1992 (Bobby says Whitney proposed to him), Whitney starred in “The Bodyguard” and the following year gave birth to the couple’s daughter, Bobbi Kristina. Whitney, already a superstar, went into the stratosphere with the release of “The Bodyguard.” Bobby took some time off to stay home and during Whitney’s recent chatfest with Oprah Winfrey, she asserted Bobby was extremely jealous of the attention she got for “The Bodyguard,” especially since Brown’s own career had cooled.
Bobby claimed his drug use escalated during his marriage to Whitney and that the five year period between his 1992 album “Bobby,” and 1998 bomb, “Forever” literally went up in smoke because he can’t remember any of it. There was a New Edition reunion during that time, though once again, Bobby’s gargantuan ego took over.
Between Bobby’s drug use and multiple arrests for massive amounts of back child support owed, DUI’s, drug possession, traffic and probation violations, he was becoming known less for performing and more for being in jail. He was later charged with domestic abuse after striking Whitney in the face, causing a bruise and a cut; he pled guilty, though he claims he never raised a hand to Whitney. Bobby said during “Behind the Music,” that he and Whitney were both destructive personalities and intimated the majority of his actions stemmed from a lack of love from Whitney.
Bobby said his ill-advised reality show, “Being Bobby Brown,” which aired for one season on Bravo, was a wake-up call for the mess that his marriage was and after he and Whitney divorced, he discovered he was broke. He said “Whitney’s people” handled his money and due to a prenuptial agreement, he received nothing from Whitney by way of spousal support or a settlement. Bobby hit bottom as he was left homeless and after living in his car for a time, briefly moved in with so-called Video Vixen, Karrine Steffans (she later posted video of Bobby snoring on her couch). Bobby called that his lowest moment and vowed to get his life together.
Bobby went on to star in the CMT reality series, “Gone Country,” and now performs with former New Edition members Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill (Bobby’s replacement in New Edition) as Heads of State. He also just had his fifth child with girlfriend, Alicia Etheridge. He also says he and Whitney are now friends.
Clearly, this was filmed before Whitney’s ratings-grabber with Oprah, so I wonder if he still thinks he and his ex-wife are friends.
“Rock of Love” star and former Poison front man, Brett Michaels is next up to receive the “Behind the Music” treatment. Welcome back, “Behind the Music,” and here’s to all new tales of sex, drugs and rock and roll.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Brown
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Edition
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don%27t_Be_Cruel_(album)
