Bobby Brown was one of the founding members of New Edition; however, he left the group in early 1986, reuniting with the band several years later before again departing in 1997.
There are several explanations for Bobby Brown's first departure. Initially Brown cited mistreatment by the group’s management and the prospect of a solo career but has since said he was kicked out of the band. However, Tresvant said Brown was not kicked out but chose to leave for his own reasons.
Nonetheless, Brown reunited with New Edition at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards, and in 1996, he performed on the New Edition album Home Again. However, in 1997 he left the group again due to his struggles with drug addiction and alcoholism. He again reunited with in 2005 and has been regularly performing with the band since the death of Michael Jackson in 2009, an event which reunited all six original members.