was. new kids on the block from the united states they were enjoying huge commercial success and operating a carefully managed merchandising machine. they even surpassed the superstars of the eighty's like madonna whitney houston prince. and michael jackson michael. michael jackson was the biggest influence on the boy bands since they all combined music singing and choreographed dance routines but for all five of them would be on stage doing what michael jackson did as a one man show. there wouldn't be boy bands if it weren't for michael jackson. the king of pop first achieved success himself as part of