Taiwan boy band F4 (right to left): Jerry Yan, Vic Zhou, Ken Chu and Vanness Wu. The group have renamed themselves JVKV. [File Photo: pp258.com]
Fans of Taiwan boy band F4 pay attention: your idols have abandoned their name. They now want you to scream "JVKV" instead.
The group's new name is combination of the first letters from each member's English name.
Jerry Yan, Vic Zhou, Ken Chu and Vanness Wu became extremely sought-after throughout Asia in 2001, following the release of the TV series "Meteor Garden," in which the four young heartthrobs play a group called the "Flower Four."
Angie Chai, the drama's producer, explains that the use of the name F4 was permitted by the Japanese publisher of "Hana Yori Dango," or "Boys over Flowers," the comic book the drama was based on. However, Japan has adapted their own version and now the publisher hopes the name of F4 will no longer be used in unofficial "Hana"-related contexts.
She has acknowledged that changing the band's name is not going to be easy, as "F4" has become deeply rooted in fans' hearts.
After "Meteor Garden," the four boys have been seeking to develop careers in both acting and music - together as well as separately.
In 2001, they signed a record deal as F4 with Sony, and since then, have released two albums.
Each member has also produced solo works already.
