Yes, he's one and the same, which certainly took the current (Brit.) writer by surprise.
I was a teen still living in the U.K. during the heyday of Bros (so named because two of the trio – Matt and Luke Goss – were twins). They were the epitome of the '80s manufactured pretty-boy boy-band and were not remotely my cup of tea. Hence, they made little impression on me, although their hit "When Will I Be Famous" was inescapable (and much parodied).
Like so many overnight pop phenomena, they released a few massive-selling singles/albums and were known for their rabid following of "Brosettes" – obsessed female fans, one of whom once broke into Matt's house, hid under his bed, and scared the crap out of him when she grabbed him by the ankle, as he related in an interview read in the course of researching this answer.
The typical crash-and-burn scenario quickly ensued, with drummer Craig Logan being the first to depart in 1989 amid rumors of physical exhaustion and mental breakdowns. The brothers continued for awhile, but then became involved in a legal battle with their manager due to a hidden clause in their contract, which ultimately left them bankrupt and permanently damaged their former close-knit sibling relationship.
I hadn't heard, nor indeed thought about them, in a couple of decades until the surprise announcement that Matt Goss, now living in L.A., had teamed up with Pussycat Dolls creator Robin Antin and was bringing a show to the Palms. I had no idea that anyone in the U.S. had ever even heard of Bros (an assumption confirmed by my co-workers) and the colleague who went to review the show at the Palms, which featured Sinatra covers and pop tunes, was somewhat underwhelmed by the performance, although impressed by Goss's seeming ability to "make middle-aged women spontaneously ovulate."
An initial 17-week run at the Palms has now ended and we assumed that was that, but lo and behold, it was announced last week, amidst much fanfare, that the singer had been signed by Caesars Palace to appear indefinitely at Cleopatra's Barge – now renamed "The Gossy Room" (we kid you not). The show, catchily titled Singing Sensation Matt Goss Live From Caesars Palace Produced by Robin Antin, debuts on Friday, March 12. Tickets are priced at $40.
