The iconic boy band 98 Degrees is making a comeback, and with it comes a trip down memory lane as the group reveals the alternate names they considered before settling on their now-famous moniker.
In a recent Us Weekly cover story, members Jeff Timmons, Justin Jeffre, Drew Lachey, and Nick Lachey shared some of the rejected names from their brainstorming sessions. Among the contenders was “Spontaneous Combustion,” a personal favorite of Justin Jeffre. Nick Lachey, on the other hand, fondly remembers “Inertia” as a name they nearly went with.
It’s worth noting that this creative brainstorming didn’t involve producers or a record label. Unlike many other boy bands of their era, 98 Degrees formed independently before securing a record deal.
According to Jeff Timmons, they initially started as “Just Us” before briefly considering “First Four.” Drew Lachey dismissed the latter as “terrible,” and they also toyed with the idea of “Next Issue,” which didn’t fare much better.
Fortunately, after much deliberation, they settled on the name 98 Degrees, a choice that stuck with them throughout their successful career. As devoted fans of ’90s soft pop may recall, the name 98 Degrees is a reference to the average human body temperature of 98.6℉, symbolizing their passion and commitment to keeping the musical and performance heat alive.
“We voted on it,” explained Drew Lachey, emphasizing their desire to find a name that encapsulated their artistic vision and mood.
In a 2014 appearance on Bethenny Frankel’s short-lived daytime talk show, Timmons revealed that the name 98 Degrees didn’t even originate from the band members themselves. Their manager’s girlfriend at the time, noted for her attractiveness, suggested the name. Timmons recounted, “Our manager, believe it or not, had a really hot girlfriend. She was like, ‘Why not call yourselves 98 Degrees?’ And we were like, ‘Bingo!'”
Now, more than two decades after adopting the perfect name, 98 Degrees is back in action, celebrating their 25th anniversary with a tour that commenced in August.
