No BFF for BBL

AP - They were once the hottest upcoming group in pop music . . . and now, they're back.

The pop sensation BBL caused a quite a stir years ago as they began making a name for themselves in the independent pop music genre. While "indie" is often associated with more organic musical styles such as rock and punk, BBL - Bad Boys of Lufkin - attempted to scale the ladder of success on sheer will power. And a fantastic wardrobe.

Sadly, BBL never made it to the top. On the brink of success, pop music took a turn fatal to the four men who dreamed of bringing their diverse styles to the realm of boy-band pop-making. Suddenly, boy bands were out. Hip-hop was still king, but not for 4 white guys with little to no talent whatsoever.

Fans thought the group was gone forever, but new pictures just released this week prove that BBL is on the way back. Sources reveal that the picture is authentic and that BBL did, in fact, appear at a dance function in Maryland recently.

But many are noticing that BBL doesn't look quite the same.

"Where's Money?" one fan asked.

She's not referring to cash. No, the picture features two new faces, and die-hard fans are not happy. Original members "Money" and "2-Below" aren't in the picture. Founding members "Ice" and "Wings" appear to be surrounded by two new members, both of whom look much younger and hipper than the missing original members.

"I think it's cool," quoted Miles Jones, a long-time fan of the group. "I always liked 2-Below and Money, but for me, Ice and Wings were the real heart of the group."

Industry insiders seem non-plussed. Eddie Bostick of Rolling Stone says changing members is critical for some bands to stay alive in an industry fascinated with youth.

"They're getting on in age," says Bostick. "I think fans will be fine as long as their sound is still true to who BBL really is. But the 2-Below factor could play a part.

Bostick is speaking of the long-time rumor that BBL's silent member, 2-Below, was actually the driving force behind the group's original sound.

"They say 2-Below wrote 'Blue Dilly Dilly,' although that's never been confirmed." Bostick says that if the rumors are true, it could hurt the new and improved BBL.

Jones has heard the rumors;
"I don't think 2-Below wrote 'Blue Dilly Dilly.' It was probably a collaborative effort. Surely, they wouldn't cut the guy who gave them their biggest hit!"

BBL's fate is still unsure, but entertainment experts are all lining up to see what will transpire in this exciting musical drama.

*Wings and 2-Below could not be reached for comment.