what is starsailor's financial state right now?

the singer's down to his last 200 bob

Doesn't this depend on lifestyle?

I mean, if fame and wealth made them into Coke, then they might be in for trouble soon, but if they have invested their money more wisely, they may stay well-off.

Sheena Easton hasn't had a hit since the mid 80s, but she is still one of the wealthiest persons in Britain due to having invested her income from back then wisely.

I played football with James Walsh in Belfast last summer. His wife is from here, not sure if they're still living here but they did for a while at least. He's more rubbish at football than I (which is fairly rubbish) but seemed like a very nice man. If exceedingly shy. I didn't ask him how wealthy he was.

are things bleak for the band or will they have made enough money to retire on a reasonable wage?

i would seriously doubt they made enough money to retire, not by a long shot.

will they have paid their advance back by now? how rich will they be, if at all? ie. enough to buy a house, mansion, swimming pool? if they get dropped do they owe their record label money for the rest of their lives?

i understand that if a band is released from their contract they would still be covering their advances with any future sales that the label still held rights to, but not beyond that.

i don't think hiring phil spector would have been cheap, so i'd bet $$ on them not having recouped