Many musicians have had a “sliding doors moment” - a decision or chance event that completely changed the trajectory of their career.

From stars being asked to join another group, leaving bands behind or choosing not to record that hit record, BBC Bitesize takes a look at the stars whose careers could have been very different.

Colin Farrell and Boyzone

Actor Colin Farrell could have followed a very different path in life, when he looked set to join the Irish boy band Boyzone. Describing the experience on The Late Late Show, Farrell said that he was discovered by Boyzone manager Louis Walsh whilst dancing in a nightclub in Dublin. Walsh told Farrell that he was putting a boyband together and invited him to audition.

The following day Farrell attended the audition, singing George Michael’s Careless Whisper. In a 2019 interview, he recalled the ‘terrible’ rendition and was asked to sing it for a second time - for the wrong reasons.

“The next day my mom said, ‘Louis Walsh is on the phone,’” Farrell explained. But ultimately it wasn’t meant to be, with Walsh replying, “hey Colin, this is not gonna work out". Dreams dashed!

Boyzone went on to become one of the most successful boy bands in Britain, selling over 25 million records worldwide. Meanwhile Farrell became a critically acclaimed actor, starring in The Penguin and the Golden Globe winning The Banshees of Inisherin. I guess life really is a rollercoaster!

Slash and Kiss

Born Saul Hudson, rockstar Slash is best known for being the lead guitarist of American band Guns N’ Roses. Formed in the 1980s their hits include Sweet Child O' Mine and Paradise City.

The line-up of the band has changed over the years – but Slash has been there from the beginning.

But Slash was also considered for another famous rock group – Kiss. It has been widely reported that Slash auditioned to join the band, who formed back in 1973, when he was a teenager.

In his memoir, Kiss founding member Paul Stanley says the audition went well, but that ultimately Kiss decided Slash was too young to join the band. A few years later, Guns N’ Roses burst onto the scene and Slash secured his place in rock super stardom.

Nicole Scherzinger and The Black Eyed Peas

In 1995, The Pussycat Dolls were founded by American dancer and choreographer Robin Antin as an all-female burlesque dance troupe. A decade later, The Pussycat Dolls rebranded as a pop girl band and topped the charts with debut single Don’t Cha.

Lead vocalist Nicole Scherzinger is now famous as a solo artist, talent show judge and star of the West End. But before joining The Pussycat Dolls, Scherzinger was part of another girl group, Eden’s Crush, who were formed in 2001 on American reality show Popstars. After the group disbanded, she was approached by rapper and singer-songwriter Will.i.am to join The Black Eyed Peas.

In 2003 Will.i.am told BuzzFeed that he’d met Nicole backstage at a show and asked her to join the group but she turned him down. The pair have worked together numerous times since then though – including on The Pussycat Dolls’ song Beep.

In March 2026, it was announced that Nicole Scherzinger, Ashley Roberts and Kimberly Wyatt had reunited as The Pussycat Dolls for a new single and world tour.

Tom Fletcher and Busted

British singer, songwriter and author Tom Fletcher first shot to fame in the early 2000s as one quarter of award-winning band McFly.

With hits like Five Colours in Her Hair and All About You, McFly made history as the youngest band in the UK to have a debut album reach number one.

But before McFly formed, Fletcher was part of the original line-up of another successful British band – Busted.

Fletcher went to the same school as Busted member Matt Willis and was even at the same audition for the band as singer and guitarist Charlie Simpson. In a 2014 interview on The Jonathan Ross Show, Tom said he believed he was in Busted for “24 hours” before the decision was made for the band to continue as a trio.

However, that wasn’t the end of his journey with Busted. Fletcher is credited as co-writing several Busted hits including Crashed the Wedding, and in 2014, McFly and Busted formed super group McBusted – so Tom got there eventually.

Daryl Hall and Van Halen

Formed in 1970, American pop-rock group Hall & Oates are widely recognised as the best-selling music duo of all time. Comprising of Daryl Hall and John Oates they released 18 studio albums and had six number one singles in the US.

Known for songs like Maneater, I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do) and You Make My Dreams (Come True), they released their first single, Rich Girl, in 1977.

But in recent years, Daryl Hall confirmed a long standing rumour that he was approached in the 1980s to join rock band Van Halen.

In a 2022 interview with New York radio station Q104.3, Hall said Eddie Van Halen was at one of his shows and asked him to join the band.

“He was half joking, but I think he was serious, I really do believe he was serious. And I took it seriously,” Hall said.

This article was written in March 2026