A LOOK at the route to fame that one of the UK's biggest pop bands took.

2000 - 2001:

The ITV show Popstars is aired, with Kevin, Tony, Jessica, Michelle and Kelli five among thousands of hopefuls hoping to be plucked from obscurity to win a place in pop band. They make it to the last 10.

February 2001:

Disappointment for Kevin, as he misses out on the chance to form part of the band Hear'Say. Instead he meets up with the other four who missed out and a band initially called Liberty is born. After talks with Richard Branson's record company V2 a six album deal is struck.

June 2001:

V2 receive a letter from a little-heard of band called Liberty asking Kevin's band to change its name.

September 2001:

Liberty burst on to the scene with their first single Thinking it Over. It enters the charts at number five and sells over 100,000 copies.

January 2002:

With the two Liberties unable to agree, the contest over the band's name ends up in court. The new Liberty agrees to change its name to Liberty X.

May 2002:

Thinking it Over, Liberty X's first album hits the shops.

May 20 2002:

Liberty X's third single Just a Little sweeps to number one. It sells half a million copies and is the sixth biggest seller of the year.

February 9 2003:

Liberty X the first and only band to play three tracks live on Radio One's top 40 countdown as part of the 50th anniversary of the charts.

February 20 2003:

The band wins a Brit award for Best British Single with Just a Little.

May 2003:

Just a Little wins an Ivor Novello.

And, coming up...

October 2003:

Liberty X's second album (as yet untitled) will hit the shops.

February 21 2004:

The band play at Manchester Arena as part of their nationwide arena tour.