# Ronnie DeVoe Confirms Bell Biv DeVoe Rumors at 57

At 57, Ronnie DeVoe has finally confirmed what fans long suspected: Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD) was never meant to exist. Formed by default after New Edition’s stars pursued solo careers, DeVoe, Ricky Bell, and Michael Bivins were the three left behind, doubted by the industry for lacking a lead singer.

What emerged from this rejection, however, became a revolutionary force in R&B, though not without violent internal conflicts that once saw guns drawn on stage before 10,000 fans.

At 57, Ronnie Devoe FINALLY Confirms The 'New Edition' Rumors

New Edition’s 1988 *Heartbreak* album, produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, marked their peak with double platinum status and sold-out tours. Yet, behind the success, fractures grew. Ralph Tresvant’s star power, Johnny Gill’s soulful ballads, and Bobby Brown’s solo triumph with *Don’t Be Cruel* (8 million copies sold) fueled individual ambitions, tearing the group apart.

After a tense afterparty at The Forum in Los Angeles, Ralph announced solo plans, leaving DeVoe, Bell, and Bivins as the overlooked trio. The industry wrote them off as expendable backup singers, but Jam and Lewis urged them to create together, offering a consolation project with a meager $350,000 budget from MCA Records.

Determined to shed New Edition’s wholesome image, BBD sought raw authenticity inspired by Bobby Brown’s edge and Public Enemy’s hip-hop aggression. Unable to afford top producers like Teddy Riley, they collaborated with hungry talents like Dr. Freeze, whose track *Poison*—a fusion of R&B melody and hip-hop grit—became their manifesto.

At 57, Ronnie DeVoe Finally Confirms The 'Bell Biv Devoe' Rumors

MCA executives despised it, deeming it too aggressive for R&B and too melodic for hip-hop, pushing for a safe ballad instead. BBD refused, choosing to fail on their terms. Through grassroots efforts like a 12-city basketball tournament tour and a gritty video, *Poison* exploded, hitting number three on the Hot 100 and driving their album to 4 million sales by 1990, outpacing most New Edition records.

Success couldn’t heal New Edition’s wounds. By 1996, solo careers faltered, and MCA pushed for a reunion with *Home Again*, which debuted at number one. However, the tour was chaotic—egos clashed, rehearsals were skipped, and performances suffered.

Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, and Ronnie DeVoe relaunch Bell Biv DeVoe

The breaking point came on February 11, 1997, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, when Bobby Brown overstayed his solo set. Ronnie interrupted, sparking a backstage brawl involving security teams and a cocked gun, halting the show. Bobby and Bivins left the tour, and New Edition went on hiatus, proving a full reunion was impossible amid lingering resentments.

Reflecting on BBD’s origin, DeVoe revealed it was born from rejection, not choice. Yet, their determination birthed a legacy—*Poison* pioneered a street-level New Jack Swing, influencing acts like Boyz II Men and Usher.

Despite conflicts, a 2017 BET miniseries, *The New Edition Story*, saw all six members reconcile as producers, revisiting their fractured past. BBD proved background singers could become legends, turning dismissal into a defining revolution in music history.