Terry Coldwell, the band's sole constant member, grew up in Walthamstow dreaming of a music career. He joined the band after a chance meeting with Tony Mortimer, and together with Brian Harvey, they formed East 17. They practiced dance routines in the streets and chose the name East 17 as a tribute to their hometown.
Their Christmas hit, "Stay Another Day," is not inherently festive apart from the bells at the end. The band also gained notoriety for their "bad boy persona" in the 90s. After a temporary breakup in 1997 due to a scandal involving ecstasy, the band has had reunions and breakups.
Terry Coldwell remains the only original member still active, performing nearly 100 shows annually. Despite his age, Terry has no plans to retire and envisions a future where the band starts an agency with a dance studio and booking agency when they are no longer able to perform onstage.