Brian McFadden misses sausages and football while he is living in Australia.
Brian McFadden misses sausages and football.
The former Westlife singer - who moved to Australia in 2006 to be with ex-fiancée Delta Goodrem - misses UK culture and is looking forward to moving back to Ireland to be closer to his daughters.
He exclusively told BANG Showbiz: ''I miss Sausages. The sausages in Australia are f***ing disgusting. I've never had a good sausage in Australia, ever, and the first thing I do as soon as I get back is a proper British and Irish sausage. Miss them.
''I do miss is football. Even though we watch it in Australia I miss the banter over in the UK. In Australia we don't have that culture of sitting in a pub on a Saturday watching the football and having a pint.''
Brian only gets to see his two daughter Molly, 11, and Lily-Sue, 10- with ex-wife Kerry Katona - twice a year in their school holidays. However, he hopes to rekindle his career in the UK in order to be closer to them.
He said: ''I'd like by the end of this year to be able to maintain my career here again.
''I would like to have a little success here to be able to be close to my girls and be close to my family and friends again and be able to work closer to home would be nice.''
Brian's fourth album, 'The Irish Connection' - which sees him perform a number of Irish folk songs - as well as duets with Ronan Keating and Sinead O'Connor - will be available from March 4.
Former Westlife star Brian Mcfadden has urged pop sensation Justin Bieber to take a break from his busy career or risk burning out early.
The Irish singer cited exhaustion as one of the key factors for his departure from the boyband in 2004 and warns the Baby hitmaker to learn from his story and slow down before it is too late.
He tells Entertainmentwise.com, "I think with One Direction and Justin Bieber, the difference is, there's five of them boys (in One Direction) so, one of them might have a bad day but the rest of the four can keep it going.
"But Justin just seems to be constantly going, working so hard, so someone's going to have to tell him to take a break soon. That's what happened to me. If I'd been able to take a break before Westlife, I probably would have still been in Westlife.
"You have to be in control of it and take the time off and enjoy it because you don't want to get to the stage where you're not enjoying it anymore. This is the best job in the world, but as long as you appreciate what you're doing."
Former Westlife star Brian Mcfadden was bombarded with death threats from One Direction fans after suggesting Niall Horan would be the first to quit the group.
The Irish singer was asked about the boyband in a recent interview with Britain's Real Radio Yorkshire and MCFadden singled out Horan when the host urged him to pick which singer he thought would be the first to launch a solo career.
MCFadden now reveals the comment sparked a backlash from the group's fans and he received a slew of threatening messages via Twitter.com.
He says, "I wouldn't wanna (sic) f**k with their fans. I was asked who I thought would be the first to leave One Direction on the radio - I didn't know (who to choose), but they (the hosts) said to pick one, so I said Niall because I'm Irish, he's Irish, and he has that glint in his eye. Then I get these Twitter comments from nut jobs (sic) like, 'Go f**king kill yourself'. I'm like, 'Calm down.' They're f**king nuts... It's different now because of Twitter - you can see how crazy people are."
Brian McFadden has ''grown up'' since meeting Vogue Williams and says he and his model spouse love nothing more than quiet nights at home.
Brian McFadden has ''grown up'' since meeting Vogue Williams.
The 33-year-old singer - who married the model in September 2012 after 18 months of dating - insists he has settled down and he now prefers quiet nights at home with his 27-year-old spouse to nights out.
He said: ''She's a great girl. We've changed each other. The two of us grew up and settled down when we met each other. Going out is a rare event now.
''I play golf while Vogue walks the dog and goes to the gym, then in the evening we watch a box set of 'Lost'.''
Despite feeling content in their home life together, Brian - who has daughters Molly, 11, and Lilly-Sue, 10, with ex-wife Kerry Katona - and Vogue insist they are in no rush to start a family, but when the time comes, the former Westlife singer is willing to put his career on hold.
Vogue said: ''I don't feel I'm in any rush but it's one of the reasons I wanted to make a base here [in London].
''I think 30 would be a good age - I still have lots of things I want to achieve.''
Brian added in an interview with Britain's HELLO! magazine: ''I'd like to see Vogue concentrate on her career. I'd be happy to be a stay-at-home dad.''
Brian McFadden wants to reunite with Westlife.
The 33-year-old singer was part of the boy band's original line-up alongside Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan,
but quit the group in 2004 leaving them to continue as a four-piece for eight years until they split last year.
Brian hopes to work with the guys in the future and thinks there could be an opportunity when they aren't all so busy with their new careers.
Former bandmate Shane is releasing his first solo album 'You and Me' this November, Nicky has moved into TV and is presenting 'The Hit' alongside Aidan Power, while Mark is currently a coach on talent contest 'The Voice', Ireland.
Talking on UK TV show 'Daybreak', Brian said: ''I would definitely love to do something with the guys one day.
He explained: ''I don't think it's going to happen for a long time, the boys are all going off on their solo ventures now.''
Despite his enthusiasm he insists he would never appear on reality documentary series 'The Big Reunion', which has seen several successful pop bands reform for tours.
The musician - who is married to Irish DJ and reality star Vogue Williams - said: ''I wouldn't [reunite], not for 'The Big Reunion' or something like that but I would love to do something with them again of course we used to have so much fun touring and singing together so I would never rule it out.''
Brian has released four well-received solo LPs, the most recent being 'The Irish Connection', and he insists he isn't worried about Shane's new music eclipsing his, as he is a fan of his single 'Everything to Me'.
He explained: ''I really like what he's doing. I wouldn't say there's competition because obviously we're in different times in our career, this is his first single out and it's all an exciting time for him, it feels like I've been doing it for a long time. We've got different styles as well at the moment and I think he's really creating his own sound.''
This Morning (Picture: Xposurephotos.com) .The Irish star will host the segment - previously
fronted by Coleen Nolan - over
the summer alongside main presenters
Stephen Mulhern and Matt Johnson,
with other guest hosts set to include
TOWIE's Gemma Collins and X Factor finalist
Johnny Robinson.
And Egan, who recently bid farewell to Westlife
after the band split - admitted he was thrilled
to be a part of the show.
'I've always enjoyed This Morning,
so I was delighted when
I got a call to be part of the team,' he told The Sun.
'The Hub is such a great way
to interact with viewers discussing different topics -
some serious and some light-hearted.
The singer recently
joined Caroline Flack
for a guest presenting spot
on The Xtra Factor (Picture: Twitter/Caroline Flack) .'I've also heard that it is a lovely team there,
so I'm really looking forward to sharing
the screen with Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Lansbury.'
Executive producer Karl Newton said that viewers
'were in for a treat' with Egan's arrival. '
He is sure to brighten up our overcast summer,'
he added.
The singer -
who is married to Hollyoaks actress Jodi Albert -
has already had some experience
in front of the camera,
having also stood in for
Olly Murs as co-host of
The Xtra Factor during last week's boot camp stage.
He has also been a coach on the Irish version of The Voice.
th a bunch of friends in tow.
On Saturday night they had a few jars in the newly-opened nightclub Aqua.
Kian Egan joins Caroline Flack at bootcamp
as guest host of The Xtra Factor Olly Murs might need to watch his back as
Westlife star steps comfortably into his shoes
KIAN Egan has been loving his new role
as guest host of The Xtra Factor.
The Westlife star has joined
leggy presenter Caroline Flack
for The X Factor bootcamp, filling in for cheeky chappie
Olly Murs while he continues his tour.
Kian Egan, who has revealed
he won't even be getting paid for the stand in stint,
seems to be having
so much fun that we're
a little bit worried he won't be giving
Olly his job back without a fight.
On his first day, Kian took to
Twitter to voice his excitement about
his new role saying:
"Hello twitter world! It's ben a while.
So I'm up in Liverpool today!
For what you ask!!!
Well all I say is watch out Olly Murs!! Ha ha."
Despite the singer's enthusiasm for the show,
Kian is already a coach on Irish talent show
The Voice of Ireland, which he will be returning
to in September for a second series.
In the mean time,
we're more than happy to have
you gracing our teleboxes, Kian.
FORMER boyband star Kian Egan WILL
return to The Voice ?
despite landing his first major gig on British telly. 0 comment
The Westlife star
is set to fill in for Xtra Factor?
s Olly Murs during the bootcamp stages of the ITV show this summer.
But his breakthrough filming stint will finish before The Voice of Ireland returns to our screens here.
An insider revealed: ?The job with ITV doesn?t rule out Kian for The Voice.
?The bootcamp stages will take place later in the summer
but the Voice won?
t begin filming again until September/October.
?His new role still gives him plenty of
time to get back working on another series.?
Egan?s new presenting role is a massive coup
for the singer ?
just weeks after Westlife went their separate ways.
The Irish Sun has learnt
the dad-of-one will begin filming
with co-host Caroline Flack next month.
Our source added: ?
This is a massive deal for Kian and if it goes well,
could lead to more work with ITV.
?He is close to all
the X Factor crew and has maintained contact with
Simon Cowell ? Kian is very much on Simon?s
radar and he knows he wants a huge TV career if possible.?
We revealed in April how The Voice?s four coaches are set to return for a second series.
Kian, 32, who made a name for himself as an outspoken judge, said: ?I?d do it again, yes. Why not??
Kian Egan is not being paid anything for his role filling in for Olly Murs on The Xtra Factor.
The Voice of Ireland judge told The Mirror: ?
The role on the Xtra Factor ?
I?m doing that for free because it?s only
a stepping stone rather than a full time thing. From that perspective, it?s not about the money,
it?s about having some fun?.
He also recently tweeted a
warning to current host Olly Murs warning him he?s
after his seat ? ?Well all
I say is watch out Olly Murs!! Ha ha,?
he tweeted.
The Sligo native also revealed that
the stint on the ITV2 show has also given his
the opportunity to do some bonding with
Westlife manager and X Factor judge Louis Walsh.
?It?s real fun to be around him because even when he was managing
Westlife we wouldn?t
have spent this much time together?.
While Kian says judging is ?
something I really enjoy doing on The Voice?,
he said if a chair was offered to him
on the X Factor panel he would jump ship.
?The X Factor is a huge show that if I was asked to join,
it would be something very hard to turn down?, he said.
However he is currently enjoying his role as stand
in presenter on Xtra Factor while Olly Murs is on tour.
?It?s a fantastic thing to
be part of and to be able
to hang out backstage with all the contestants and judges,
just getting to know
everybody, is great?.
- Independent.ie reporters
Caroline Flack and Kian Egan were full
of smiles at the X Factor auditions. During
the X Factor bootcamp phase of the process,
Caroline Flack has been joined by Westlife's Kian Egan for presenting duties.
Kian Egan offered solo slots after Westlife spilt Jul 25th, 2012
Westlife star Kian Egan says he’s been offered
a number of solo slots at gigs and festivals
around the country,
but he’s turned them down.
The Voice of Ireland coach reckons
it’s too soon since the break-up of the boyband.
Egan is instead planning to put together
a rock group for some shows next year.
I've no time to take a break says Kian
Saturday July 28 2012
THE days of Westlife may be over,
but Kian Egan is still as busy as ever --
and he's even put off any
summer holidays or romantic getaways.
The Sligo native has revealed that although
he no longer has concert dates and tour commitments,
himself and wife Jodi have opted to
spend time at home this year instead
of heading off on a vacation
with their son Koa.
"He's seven months and we're really getting
a feel for it all now. He's energetic, wants to be doing stuff.
"We're going to do a winter holiday next year,
when Koa's a bit older,"
said the 32-year-old, who added that
the family may even decide to
enjoy their time off in Ireland,
as the cold weather doesn't bother them.
"At the moment, we're over and back
between Ireland and the UK and we're happy with that."
offers
Kian told the Herald that things are going
extremely well for him so far on his own and that
there is more work than he expected
so soon after hanging up his mic.
"I'm back working quicker than I thought,
the offers are coming in.
If there's another career for me that comes out of Westlife,
that's great," he said.
Although he has some experience
as a boss from working
with Jodi's former girl group Wonderland,
Kian admitted that he is putting
his management plans on hold for the foreseeable future.
"I've always leaned towards TV or music management.
But unless you have
the right people or if you are without a record label,
you're really up against it ... it's not worth it at the moment.
I want to stay from it for now.
"Maybe in a few years, Irish boy bands do really well
worldwide, like Westlife or Boyzone as Louis has done it.
I'd like to team up with him or do it on my own,
but not for another 10 years," he added.
labutler@herald.ie
Saturday September 22 2012
WESTLIFE singer Kian Egan launches his new UK TV career in earnest tonight when he joins leggy
presenter Caroline Flack for X Factor's Bootcamp.
Kian, who has revealed he won't even be getting paid for the stint, is standing in for cheeky chappie Olly Murs.
After turning his back on 14 years with chart-topping
Westlife, the former singer's new career is off to a flying start.
This weekend sees the return of X Factor
Bootcamp where the judges' favourites from the auditions
will be put through their paces in tough sessions.
Those who make the cut can look forward to a visit to the glamorous homes of Gary Barlow, Louis Walsh,
Tulisa Contostavlos or Nicole Scherzinger in
a bid to make it onto the live shows.
Kian kicked off his TV career as a coach
on RTE's talent show The Voice and returns this month for a second series.
In July he joined ITV's This Morning show
and presented The Hub section of the popular morning programme.
X Factor's Bootcamp is notoriously tough
and can make or break even the strongest singers.
Just finished my first solo shoot for Fabulous magazine.
Really great day..
Kian Egan: ‘It’s a relief to be out of Westlife’
He’s gone from being in one of the world’s
biggest boy bands to flying solo.
And in his first interview since Westlife split,
Kian Egan reveals he’s reinventing himself as a TV star
By Eimear O’Hagan, photography by Mark Hayman
Just a few months have passed since
Westlife sung their final key
change and ditched the infamous bar stools for good.
And so we were expecting
Kian Egan
to be in a reflective mood, maybe even
in mourning for his 14-year music career.
After 50 million album sales,
surely it must be tricky adjusting to
life after one of the
most successful boy bands of all time?
Apparently not.
Arriving at the Fabulous shoot, straight from
his new presenting slot on This Morning,
Kian, 32, is buzzing with excitement about the future.
Despite being dismissed
as little more than a backing singer to lead vocalists
Shane Filan, 33, and Mark Feehily, 32, it’s Kian who’s hit the ground running when it comes to solo success.
With a new TV career, he’s also relishing having more time to spend with his wife, ex-Hollyoaks star Jodi Albert,
29, and their 10-month-old son Koa. It’s no wonder there’s a twinkle in his eye.
So, Westlife are no more! Why did the band decide to split this year? We’d been going for so long that it had all become normal for us, and when that happens,
the buzz and passion leave and it stops being as good as it used to be.
Did things get tricky for you guys towards the end? The last few years in
Westlife were really stressful.
The music industry is fickle and had changed
so much since we started. Keeping the music to the same standard, putting a tour together
that would be as successful as the last one,
being scrutinised by the media… it’s hard.
You joined the band as a teenager –
that’s a huge part of your life devoted to the band. None of us had ever done anything else with our lives.
We left school, joined Westlife and fell on our feet.
The band became so big, so fast, and we did so much,
but for our sanity
we needed to get away from it and do something different.
Is it true that tensions in the band led to the split? That wasn’t the case at all.
The only arguments we ever had –
and they were more debates than arguments –
were about music.
What was the best song on an album?
What should be the next single?
That sort of thing.
We never fought about petty things.
Have you any regrets about calling it a day when you did? No, we made the right decision.
If we’d tried to keep it going for another couple of years, it could have gone bad.
With four people wanting different things,
we might have fallen out.
We were grown-up about it
and it was better to end on a high than let things deteriorate the way some bands do.
Who else closed the curtain the way we did, performing to 80,000 people two nights in a row?!
How did you feel the morning after your last gig at Dublin’s Croke Park? After partying until the wee hours, I can hardly remember that morning! That night the four of us, our partners and oldest friends went to a pub and spent the night drinking and reminiscing.
The news broke about Shane’s bankruptcy during that final tour. What was your reaction when you found out about his problems? We were all devastated for him. He was one of those people who got hit really badly by the recession. I hope he’s going to have an amazing solo career.
What’s life like now post-Westlife? I feel a sense of relief if I’m being really honest.
For the first time in 14 years, I can make a decision without having to consult with three other people. I don’t have to worry about leaving Jodi and Koa at home for months on end while I’m touring. I can have a normal life.
How is fatherhood? It’s amazing. It’s changed my world. It’s not as tough as I thought it would be because Koa’s a really easy baby.
I go into his room in the morning and he’s standing up in his cot singing. We have great help from both sides of the family, so Jodi and I still get time for each other.
As well as This Morning, you’ve signed as a judge on Ireland’s The Voice. Is TV where you want to be? TV definitely feels very natural to me.
Music was always my first passion in life, and I still love listening to it and playing my guitar, but TV is a new challenge and it’s exciting. I know I have to start at the bottom and work my way up, which I’m prepared to do, and I can’t believe the roles I’ve been given already. It’s amazing.
You’re joining Holly Willoughby on the new series of Surprise Surprise, too. What’s it like being part of such an iconic show? Nerve-racking! I watched it growing up, – it was a Saturday-night tradition in my house – so to be part of it now is surreal. Even Holly confessed she was nervous about filling Cilla Black’s shoes.
What music are you listening to at the moment? I’m a rock fan at heart. I grew up listening to rock and heavy metal like Guns N’ Roses and Metallica. Then my tastes broadened and I started listening to pop. I’m a fan of the Foo Fighters, and have seen them play twice this year. I’m also loving Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix.
Very diverse! Should Westlife’s manager Louis Walsh still be on the X Factor panel? Isn’t it time for a new judge? No way! The man knows what he’s talking about, and Simon knows it. When it comes to talent, he’s the one to listen to. All Gary ever says is: “Oh I think you’re great” or: “Oh I don’t think you’re good”, and Tulisa sits back as if she’s half paying attention. I think Nicole is good – she’s really passionate. But without Louis the panel would fall to pieces.
Who are you backing this year? Ella is an amazing talent.
She could be the next Leona Lewis.
What do you predict the other
Westlife boys will end up doing? I think Shane and Mark will always be singers.
Nicky [Byrne, 34] is on Strictly now,
and I think he’s interested in TV.
Finally, will Westlife ever reunite? It’s not on the cards. We didn’t split
with a view to getting back together in five years. If we were to reunite,
it would be as a one-off and that would be it.
Music News Kian Egan won't go solo Thursday 1 November 2012
Westlife's Kian Egan has insisted that
he will not be releasing any solo material,
because he would feel under
too much pressure.
Kian Egan and wife Jodie Albert
The Flying Without Wings singer split up with his band
this summer after 14 years together,
but Kian admitted that he couldn't achieve
the same success of Westlife on his own.
Speaking at at the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Award, the 32-year-old singer said: "I think the idea of going solo is a huge amount of pressure to get it all right, and coming out of a band that's been so successful, I think it's going to be a huge pressure for any of us to try and release solo music and make it as big and successful."
Egan is now focusing on work as
a TV presenter along with acting as a coach on music talent show The Voice of Ireland.
Westlife Kian: I won't go solo
Kian Egan is enjoying TV presenting work and spending time at home with wife Jodi Albert and their baby
Westlife's Kian Egan has insisted he won't be releasing any solo material - because he'd feel under too much pressure.
The Irish boyband split up this summer after 14 years together in which they notched up 14 number one singles and a string of hit albums and Kian doesn't think he could live up to that on his own.
He revealed at the Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Award: "I think the idea of going
solo is a huge amount of pressure to get it all right,
and coming out of a band that's been so successful,
I think it's going to be a huge pressure for any of us to try and release solo music and make it as big and successful."
The 32-year-old is now focusing on work as a TV presenter, working on The Xtra Factor, Surprise Surprise,
This Morning and as a coach
on music talent show The Voice of Ireland.
Kian said: "I kind of feel like the TV is a natural fit.
So for me this is a lot less stressful, it's a good challenge,
it's new, it's different and it's really enjoyable."
He has also been enjoying time with
wife Jodi Albert and their 10-month-old son Koa.
He said: "I'm kind of keeping busy, not too busy,
it's nice to have a bit of down time and
spend a bit of time at home with Jodie and the baby.
Just relaxing, chilling out and little bit of work."
Thursday Nov 29 2012
Kian Egan has revealed
his son is already a budding musician
at just 11 months old.
The singer-turned-Voice judge and his
former Hollyoaks star wife Jodi Albert
became parents to son Koa in December 2011,
and he is already showing he has inherited his dad's musical talent.
Kian revealed: "He's super interested in music.
I sit him on my knee when I play the piano and
I play the guitar to him,
but he's definitely interested in music
and he's definitely got an ear for it.
"He's already sitting there
with one finger on the key on the piano
rather than just slapping all the keys with his hand.
And he's plucking the string, rather than just slapping the guitar. So he certainly has a little thing for it."
Kian is happy for Koa to follow in his footsteps and become a musician. "If it happens for him naturally that he wants to play piano and guitar then he will," he added.
Since Westlife split, Kian has become a TV presenter on This Morning and The Xtra Factor and a coach on The Voice of Ireland. And he revealed now he thinks of music as more of a hobby.
He said: "I write songs,
but I kind of just do them for myself, just for the fun of it.
Sitting jamming with my guitar and mucking around.
"I might play it to a few people and go, what do you think of this, but I'm not that kind of person that needs to get out there and push my songs in people's faces. It's not really me."
Kian Egan is a Homer Simpson fan
Breaking Bad
I started watching it after a recommendation from a friend. It’s about a teacher who becomes a crystal meth cook – it has an interesting storyline and is really gripping. The show is just made very well. I just really enjoyed the whole thing.
True Blood
I’ve been watching season five: it’s just a great show,
isn’t it? My wife got me into it. I think it keeps getting better and better as the show’s gone on. The whole storyline, with different things coming in, such as black magic and witches and all of that, is very, very good. This has a much darker twist to it than things like the Twilight saga.
Homeland
Like Breaking Bad, this is a show I started watching but my wife slowly drifted away from it.
I think Homeland and Breaking Bad are a little bit more boys’ shows. I think Homeland is very good. The fact that something is happening all the time and that Brody is not just pretending to be this guy who’s working for the wrong side, he’s actually active – I think that is what kind of got me.
My favourite TV character
The first thing that popped into my head was Homer Simpson. I’ve been watching The Simpsons since I was a child and I still find myself putting it on. I just think the way it’s written for Homer Simpson, it’s so funny it just gets me, you know what I mean? It’s either him or Cartman from South Park – they are both cartoon characters and can get away with a lot more. The ridiculousness of it all is just fantastic.
Thursday Dec 27 2012
WESTLIFE'S Kian Egan has revealed he would love the opportunity to host his own cookery TV show.
The singer - who lives with his former Hollyoaks star wife Jodi Albert and one-year-old son Koa - has been doing a lot of TV presenting since Westlife split and would love to combine his new career with his love of cooking.
Kian revealed: "I've always been the chef in our house, it's something I really enjoy doing. I love the satisfaction of cooking a nice meal for people.
"I've talked about a food show to quite a few people - any kind of food show that comes up I'd love to be a part of it.
"I'm experimental, I get out my cook books and learn bits and pieces here and there, and then
I won't look at a cook book for six months and I'll be putting the ingredients that I've learned about together. My weekly shop starts to expand and get a bit more exotic,
rather than just the bog standard things I used to cook a few years ago."
Kian, who returns shortly on the 'Voice of Ireland' judging panel, has already ruled out a solo singing career, following the break up of Westlife earlier this summer.
"I think the idea of going solo is a huge amount of pressure to get it all right, and coming out of a band that's been so successful, I think it's going to be a huge pressure for any of us to try and release solo music and make it as big and successful," the Sligo based star has said.
His friend and former band member
Nicky Byrne,
has also expressed an interest in getting into TV work -
and recently competed in the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing,
as well as taking part in the Christmas Day RTE special
Among the huge crowd at a packed Croke Park were these Westlife fans in the front row who had travelled from Germany to see their idols
Monday June 02 2008
WESTLIFE lived the dream as they wowed 82,000 fans at a sold-out Croke Park last night.
The Westlife lads arrived on stage to the sort of roar normally reserved for a goal by home team Dublin in the All-Ireland Final.
With an explosion of fireworks, and dwarfed by crazed dancers on stilts, they launched into 'Hit You With The Real Thing' then 'World of Our Own'.
The group tore through a selection of hits, including 'What Makes a Man' and 'Uptown Girl', which got the sea of fans, some wearing bunny ears and carrying banners, singing and dancing.
The set was huge, with massive screens beaming the boys' every move to the people below.
Kian Egan told the crowd it was a perfect 10th birthday present for the band.
"To be here in our national stadium in front of over 85,000 people is unbelievable," he said.
WESTLIFE celebrated their triumphant Croke Park concert over the weekend by partying into the early hours with friends and family at an exclusive after-show party.
The bash took place at Floridita on Dublin's Abbey Street. The band was joined by friends and family, including manager Louis Walsh and ex-Ireland soccer international David O'Leary.
Band members Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily made a quick dash to the Four Seasons Hotel after the gig to scrub up before arriving at the after show party.
The nightclub was decked out in Westlife regalia, including an ice sculpture commemorating the band's 10 years at the top of the charts.
Kian Egan arrives at the after-show party in Floridita with Jodi Albert
If you were lucky enough to go to Westlife's 10 year anniversary gig at Croke Park ...
NICOLE LOVES NICKY wrote... OMG Croke park was AMAZING! The atmosphere there was brill! I loved it when Nicky got every1 to scream 4 da camera! N then you got all emotional...... fairplay 2 Mark by the way 4 mentioning Kevin. BEST CONCERT EVER!!!! Love ya lots like jelly tots! xxxxxxxxx TEN MORE YEARS!
P.S Any1 who was at Croke Park, what did the lads sing after When you're lookin like that cause we had 2 run like mad yokes 2 get our train!!!!???
Kariea wrote... Karina love's Markie westlife r the biggest band ever thts y i love u guys u rock my world i've seeing u guys since i was 19yrs old and now i'm 261/2 i've sence u guys 21 times in concert . I love all ur songs right swear it again to the rose. my fav song is i'm alaready there and the easy way. ilove u guys always and forever espc Mark Feehily love u biggest fan eva love Karina. xoxoxxoxoxoxoxoxoxox o
ClaireLovesWestlife wrote... omg what a concert was class
aww bless ya mark fair play for mentionin kevin bet yuu where surprised by the out-come of the fans
i had a lovely day and the concert was fab heres to another 10 years
ily wl xxxx
Kariea wrote... KARINA LOVE'S MARKIE I WAS NOT AT CORK PARK LAST NITE WESTLIFE R THE BSET BAND IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD BECAUSE THEY R UNBREAKABLE UNTOCHABLE UNBELIVLEABLE AND I WILL ALWAYS LOVE THEM FORVER BECAUSE THEY MIND MY FRIAGEL HARET AND I'M ALREADY THERE LOVE KARINA XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX FROM LUTON XXXXXXXXXXXXX
mc89c wrote... omg, i wasnt able to go...got my leaving cert starting on wed!! cant wait til killarney tho...only 20 days left!!!!! cant beleive its been 10 years already guys!! well done!!!
kianstheman wrote... OMG - Croke was FAB! Great atmoshpere in Dublin from the minute we touched down. Great seats, great view, great guys, great gig. great everything! Well worth it! Can't wait for DVD, hope your families will be in it, cos they got a good reception too! Cheers to all the fellow westlifers we spoke to who had also travelled afar. Love you guys - I hope it's a quick year!
cha_feehily wrote... Actually,,I couldnt watch ur concert.. And june 1st was the terrible day for me. Looking at the clock and thinking bout u all day long..That hurts me.. But thats ookay.. GuyZ, U've been such a long journey.. With or without brian, people still love u.. C0z u can prove it to the world that u are the biggest band and still will be.. GuyZ,,u're so great and awesome.. I never had a feeling like this with one band.. But u can change what im feeling. Westlife made me falling love with their amazing songs and voices.. And also Mark, u made me fallen into ur world.. Love u mark.. Always will..
shexi x wrote... Oh My God Lads !! Last Night You Where AMAZING =O ! The Atmosphere In Croke Park Was The Best You Guys Were Brilliant.You Made Me Cry And EveryThing ! haha =] I cant Believe That 10 Years On You Are Still Here. I hope To God That You Wont Stop At 10 And You Will Come Back To Us in a Year.if You Dont iL Have a Serious Crying Episode !=] I Love You Guys Sooo Much
jordanlvnnicky wrote... AM SO GUTTED A COULDNT MAKE CROKE A BET IT WAS AMAZING BUT HELL BRING ON 2010 LADS CANT WAIT !! LOVE YAZ XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XX
emsbarry wrote... I was at Croke Park and it was amazing. Ye were brilliant. I came along way and had to leave at 5 o'clock the next morning and we couldn't get a taxi. But it was worth it just to see ye. Enjoy your year off and ye better come back cos i will definitely go to the next concert as i have been to all of the concerts ye have ever done. Looking forward to when ye get back.
*-Westlife-* wrote... Thankyou SHEEPY4444 I must b a bit back dated, ha LOL Gess u went to Croke Park last night bet it was more than AMAZING!! im going to see them in 26 days in devon, plymouth.
Love you forever Mark, Shane, Kian and Nicky YOUR MY MOST LOVABLE BOYBABD EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
grace92xxx wrote... OMG I still can't get over the concert last nite in croker! It was AMAZING and the atmosphere was electric, everyone had a great time and it was the best concert ever! Can't wait to buy d dvd cause it should b real good. Me and my mate were so sad when it was over but we can't wait till 2010...enjoy your year off you guys really deserve it Love Grace xxxxxxxxxx
Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne of Westlife attend a press conference at MasterCard Center ahead of Beijing concert as a part of 2012 World Farewell Tour on February 21, 2012 in Beijing, China.
15/11/2010 Westlife think their new album is the most real
and personal they
have ever written.
The Irish band comprising
Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan are set to release their 11th album, Gravity, later this month.
The group are struggling to comprehend
how successful they have been,
and can't believe
they have been in the industry for so long.
They are all proud of their latest release, with Nicky explaining it's the album they have had the most input on.
We're a lot older now,
so if you look at someone like
[British boyband] JLS,
their fan base is so young so everybody is rushing out and downloading their stuff.
I suppose it's the same with
Take That as well, where the older you get and the longer you're in the market it's a little bit more difficult,
Nicky explained, when asked if he gets nervous when debuting material. We are 12 years in,
we have a new single and a new album and it really feels special. We worked with a guy in America,
we wrote a lot of this album. For the first time
this album feels real, it feels personal and like we got involved.
Kian was equally as glowing about the new record,
and took time to tell fans how much the group appreciate their support.
He is still shocked that so
many people have stuck by the group for 12 years,
and says performing live is one of the things he enjoys most.
We feel like we're here 12 years later still doing it, still being a part of Westlife. So many people out there are still continuously going out, buying tickets for our concerts, buying our albums... it's amazing, he told a UK TV show.
Last Sunday, they appeared with Take That and JLS on The X Factor, as Cowell's last remaining act (boy band One Direction) fought to stay in the competition.
'One Direction have got it all to come,' says Nicky. 'When we look back over Westlife, I'm sure there's a movie in there somewhere.'
'We've always had this squeaky clean image,'
says Nicky. 'At the start, we were put in these almost feminine white outfits and given cheesy dance routines,
but that's not who we were.' Indeed, but not the happy,
clappy version that the music industry has long had us believe. I meet the members of Westlife
in a swanky London hotel, where they're sprawled comfortably in squishy armchairs, revealing, with astonishing honesty, the truth about their success - and their true feelings about former band member Brian McFadden - for the first time.
The boys, you see, aren't really boys anymore. They're into their 30s now with wives (Nicky,
Shane and Kian are married), partners (Mark Feehily, who came out as gay five years ago,
lives with his long-term partner Kevin McDaid) and children (Nicky and Shane are parents). Time enough to tell it the way it was.
'We've always had this squeaky clean image,' says Nicky. 'At the start, we were put in these almost feminine white outfits and given cheesy dance routines, but that's not who we were. Eventually you have to say:
"This isn't the way I want to do this. That's not the song I want to sing."
'We know now we can just be men.
That's a lot more honest.
Things like Mark coming out make you realise you have to be. We lost dads.' He gestures to Kian who, like Nicky,
lost his father last year.
'You realise that life is too short. When my dad died, it was time to grow up and be a man. Having kids changes you too.'
Kian continues: 'We used to slag each other off. It became abusive to the point where people were hurt.
Him over there,' he nods at Mark.
'We used to call him fat lips. 'One Direction have got it all to come': The group pose with the X Factor boyband after performng on last week's results show 'Because he was quiet,
we used to pick on him even more. We called him weirdo and used to say: "Go on off to your closet, hang upside down and read your book."
'We went through a huge roll of emotions with each other.
We all got upset.
We were all in arguments over silly things like who sat in that seat first, and then it would snowball into:
"You're fat. You're this or you're that."'
Mark nods: 'Once or twice a week, the public would see us for a few minutes in our perfectly preened and tailored outfits with our perfect hair and make-up, singing this lovely, pure love song that was not urban and not rock. So we'd show this happy, public face, but there's another you when you're in the hotel room.
'Back then, all I wanted to do was go home for a long, long time. It wasn't all bad, but there were a lot of feelings that started to creep into my mind. I didn't want to be there getting picked apart by everyone.
'My weight's always fluctuated from chubby to above normal and I didn't like my bad points being pointed out. I didn't think anyone had the right. There was a time I was very unbalanced.
'I'm involved in charities in Ireland now. One is called Aware and it is based around suicide, particularly in young kids. It's something that's very close to my heart. I'm not saying I ever planned anything, but you go to quite a deep, dark place and there's no one to turn to. 'I'm lucky. I'm living proof it's better to not choose [suicide], and fight your way through it. But it wasn't easy. I buried my feelings of unhappiness deep inside myself.
'We were Westlife, the most famous band in the world, probably, bar America. I couldn't go home. We were the poster children for the big dream coming true.'
Mark was one of the six young lads from Sligo, western Ireland, who dreamed of pop success. For him, he says, it was all about music. He never wanted to be famous. Shane did. 'I wanted the applause, the admiration,' he says.
'I didn't want to just be a pop star. I wanted to be the biggest pop star on the planet.' As did Kian. He was one of seven children and says music was his life. He, Shane and Mark, together with three other local Sligo lads (Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron and Michael Garrett) put a CD together and sent it to Louis. 'We were definitely scared of him': The boys with former manager Louis Walsh Shane explains: 'My mother was from the same town as Louis. They actually knew each other so she rang him and said: "My son's in a boy band. I think you should see them."
And so the boys met him, only to be immediately confronted by the brutal, cut-throat nature of the music industry. Kian says: 'We handed him the CD with pictures of the six of us. He covered one of the guy's heads with his thumb and said: "Looks much better, doesn't it?"'
That guy was Derrick, the first of the Sligo six to be booted out of the band. 'We were supporting the Backstreet Boys and Derrick was jumping around all over the place on stage. Louis called me and said: "I'll manage you, but you'll have to do one thing." I asked: "What's that? We'll do whatever it takes."
'He goes: "Get rid of the big guy." No disrespect to Mark, but I thought he was talking about him. I said: " Louis, you can't get rid of him. His voice is insane." He was like: "No, no, no. Not the singer. The big guy who's jumping around like a lunatic up there. Get rid of him."'
Derrick was Shane's best friend and it fell to him to break the news. 'It was fecking horrendous,' says Shane. 'It was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to tell somebody. It was like I was saying: "We can't be friends any more because I'm going off to do this band with Louis Walsh and you're not invited."'
Are they friends now? 'No,' says Shane. 'I saw him the other day and he waved to me. We've had a couple of conversations, but I'm sure that he despises Westlife. He's still a nice guy but I don't know if he'll ever get over it.'
Kian interrupts: 'Of course he's upset. They're all upset. You're driving around in Bentleys and Ferraris, living in a castle at the top of the hill and he's working in a pub.' Shane considers this: 'It's like winning the lottery and then getting the ticket taken off you.'
Within a matter of weeks, Graham, Kian's best friend, was also dropped from the band. Michael soon followed when Louis auditioned Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden, as he sought to create the perfect, clean-cut boy band.
Shane says: 'We began to think there'll be nobody fecking left. We all thought we'd be next for the chop. It was cut-throat.' Nicky agrees: 'When Michael was let go, Louis was in the room.
'The tour manager called out the names of who was going to be in the band. Michael had his head down and Louis was winking at me going, "You're safe." When Michael lifted his head up, Louis would go deadpan.
'Then the tour manager said the five members are, bang, bang, bang, and not Michael. Michael's phone rang and he threw it across the room. We all stood up, slapped him on the shoulder and walked out of the room.
'Louis walked out, head down. The moment the door closed, Louis was bouncing around: "Did you ring your mother? Here, ring your mother," and gave me his mobile phone.'
Within days, the boys were being spun into a wholesome boy band for the teen market. Louis dressed them in white, sat them on stools and edited Shane's childhood sweetheart, Gillian (now his wife and mother to their three children), out of the mix.
'I had to hide my relationship,' says Shane. 'It was drilled home that girlfriends were not part of the boy-band image. Except for Nicky's.
He was dating Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's daughter, Georgina.' Again, Shane apes Louis: 'Use it. It's a good story.'
The lads all laugh. There is an easy humour and obvious close friendship between them these days, something that was wholly absent in the early years. Kian says: 'We were five 19-year-old guys in a hotel in London.
'What were we going to do with ourselves? We had no money. We were given £15 a day, if that, for food by our record label. We were just doing silly things to pass the time. We used to wrestle each other to the point it would get serious.'
Shane chips in: 'I remember picking up Brian and throwing him across the bed and on to the floor. You start getting aggressive. And with a five-piece band, someone always has to stand in the middle.
'We're glad he left': Former Westlife member Brian McFadden with his fiancee Delta Goodrem 'That was a huge issue for us and it's one that One Direction have ahead of them. Louis had already managed Boyzone, and Ronan Keating was the front man with the other four just standing around him, before he went solo.
'We didn't want that to happen to our band. So they certainly didn't want me and Mark standing in the middle. We did most of the singing. If we were allowed to get too big, that would be dangerous. All of a sudden, one member leaves and the band's f***ed.'
Which is of course what happened when, six years after Westlife was formed, Brian, who had forged a high-profile relationship with Kerry Katona, wanted out. This is the first time the boys have spoken openly about his departure. 'We were at a press conference following a music award,' says Nicky. 'Kerry was in the jungle and every single question was directed to Brian about her. When we left the room, we had an argument.
'We said: "We know you had to answer the question, by why didn't you move things on to why we're actually here?" He didn't like that. We'd had a few drinks and Brian slunk off back to his dressing room saying he was leaving.
'I thought: "OK, yeah," and ignored him. The next day he had a photoshoot. The hairdresser rang me up and said: "He's serious." That frightened me because he'd sobered up. 'The next day we had rehearsals because we were touring in three weeks. He turned up and started to rehearse, not mentioning a thing.
'At the end of rehearsals, we decided to meet to talk that evening. He came in, sat down and said: "I want to hang up my boots. I've given six years to Westlife. Now I've got two kids. I want to be at home and can't devote time to both."
'We begged him to stay, offered to go to counselling. We said we're doing something wrong, let's get to the bottom of it. Don't let this great thing go if it's just about a daft argument. These are silly things we can fix." But he didn't want to know. He left and we called Louis.'
Shane continues: 'Louis said: "There were only four in the Beatles." But that night was the first time the bubble slightly burst. No band had survived one of their members leaving - not the Spice Girls, not Take That.
'We said to Louis: "Do you think it will work?" He said: "Trust me. It'll work."' Which, of course, it did. While Brian met with moderate success as a solo artist, Westlife went from strength to strength, with three more number one albums in the UK and numerous awards.
Shane says: 'All of a sudden, the rows over standing in the middle, the slagging each other off, all went out the window. Suddenly these three people became the most important people to me and my career.'
His fellow band members agree. 'We're glad he left,' says Kian. 'We're a better band without him. I don't think we'd be the band we are today if he was still in it. He understands that.
'Now we don't take anything for granted. We just live every day, every album, every song, because you don't know what's round the corner. Now we don't care what you call us - men or boys. As long as we're successful, that's the only compliment we need.'
And what does Louis think? 'Oh we're all fond of Louis,' says Shane. 'Simon's now doing to him what he did to us, so he's gone and got everything done.
'His hair's browner, his teeth are whiter and he seems to be using moisturiser a bit more too.'
Again, he launches into an impression of Louis and, again, his band mates are in stitches. Me too.
SINGER Brian McFadden is begging Westlife to let him rejoin them - so they can challenge Take That in the charts. Brian, 30, who quit the Irish boyband in 2004, tweeted:
"I had a dream
I was back on stage with Westlife playing some crazy-sized football stadium.
Westlife score tenth number one LP November 2010 Westlife have triumphed in the battle of the boybands in Ireland this week as their eleventh LP debuts at number one.
Graivty is the group's tenth number one album following 2009's Where We Are's peak at number two. Take Take hold the number two spot with JLS scoring a number four debut for their second album.
The top ten albums this week: 1. (*) Westlife - 'Gravity' 2. (1) Take That - 'Progress' 3. (2) Rihanna - 'Loud' 4. (*) JLS - 'Outta This World' 5. (7) Susan Boyle - 'The Gift' 6. (4) The Script - 'Science & Faith' 7. (3) Bon Jovi - 'Greatest Hits' 8. (4) Bruce Springsteen - 'The Promise' 9. (3) Kings of Leon - 'Come Around Sundown' 10. (8) Pink - 'Greatest Hits... So Far!!!
Westlife star says they nearly split up
Westlife star Mark Feehily has said that the group considered splitting up last year.
Speaking to the Daily Star, he said: "We talked about it long and hard last April. We came close to throwing in the towel."
"Financially we could have retired - we could retire tomorrow. But it wasn't about that."
"The music started to become about how many units we sold rather than about us making something we felt passionate about."
"It was partly why we took a break for a year back in 2008."
Nicky Byrne said: "We talked about why we were doing Westlife and we agreed it was because we loved it."
"We're passionate about the band and so we decided that if we were to come back, we'd come back on our own terms."
X Factor: Westlife star Kian Egan says show stifle other pop acts By Dean Piper 28/11/2010
Westlife star Kian Egan says The X Factor is stifling other pop acts - stopping them enjoying the chart success the deserve.
The outspoken singer says he wishes it was easier for new groups to make their mark without appearing on the talent show.
Kian, 30, says: "There are some great pop acts out there. There's The Saturdays, Professor Green, N-Dubz and The Wanted.
"But they have to work so hard to get into the charts and they're up against the huge machine of The X Factor.
"We should be celebrating this sort of talent, giving new pop acts the credit they deserve. The music industry is hard enough as it is."
Kian says he is a fan of former X Factor contestants Olly Murs, JLS and Diana Vickers - but feels they have had an easier ride from the industry. He said: "If you've been on the show then it's easier to get a hit nowadays. It's not that the acts are rubbish - they're far from it. But the amount of them makes it tough for new acts to break through. It's almost like if you haven't been on the show then you can't have a success these days."
Kian, who has sold 40 million albums with Westlife, also revealed the boyband will never again let ex-bandmate Brian McFadden perform with them.
Earlier this week Brian, who left in March 2004, tweeted his Twitter followers saying he dreamt of rejoining.
But Kian says: "Brian will never come back into Westlife. It's nearly seven years since he left now and we've all moved on.
"Its not in a 'forget you' kind of way. It's in a 'he left us so long ago now' way.
"He called me after his Twitter comments the other day. Did Brian regret walking out on Westlife? Probably, yes.
"Also, to be totally honest he almost cost us what we had worked so hard for when he walked out on us.
"At the end of the day he walked out on my band. We could have easily ended and been over for good because of him.
"We talk nowadays and don't get me wrong there's no bad air between him and us. But we're happy the way we are."
Kian says he is now concentrating on the band's new album and tour DVD, as well as his work as manager of girl group Wonderland.
His wife, Hollyoaks actress Jodi Albert, is a member of the band.
Westlife star dismisses split reports Wednesday 1 December 2010
According to a report in Daily Star, Feehily previously said: "We talked about it long and hard last April. We came close to throwing in the towel."
In a posting on his Twitter page, the singer later said: "Westlife were not close to splitting up in April 2009."
"We reached a Y (fork) in the road&said we MIGHT AS WELL stop unless we did it right! X (sic)".
Westlife: 'We became a tribute act' 02 December 2010
Irish boyband Westlife have revealed that they were unhappy performing covers on their previous albums.
In an interview with a British newspaper, the group discussed their discomfort at being forced to continually release covers of other people's songs. "We were sick of doing covers and didn't want to turn into a tribute act." said Shane Filan.
Westlife claimed that they had to stand up to Simon Cowell, who manages their record label, because they feared that they were becoming a tribute band.
"Simon Cowell might run our record label but we had to put our foot down with him. We didn't want to be that band going on The X Factor then releasing one single and then going on tour. We wanted to make a proper album and to be able to put out three or four singles from it."
He continued: "We're in our 30's now and wanted to go back to the kind of stuff we were making when we first came out: big, original pop songs."
In the interview, band member Mark Feehily also revealed that Cowell was keen on them releasing a movie themes tribute album: "Simon bandied about the idea of a 'Westlife at the movies' album but we said no. It wasn't close to our heart and it felt like we were moving away from what we were all about."
WESTLIFE TOUR WILL WOW FANS
Westlife's UK and Ireland arena tour, planned for March, will be bigger and better than ever Westlife's UK and Ireland arena tour, planned for March, will be bigger and better than ever
10 December 2010 By Kim Dawson WATCH out for an entirely fresh live set for next year Westlife tour.
The manband UK and Ireland arena tour, planned for March, will be bigger and better than ever.
Shane Filan, 31, told me: We have a new musical director, who brought on a new band.
Tonight was our first time playing together, so it was good to do that before we start tour rehearsals in January.
We want to bring together some new ideas. But after Mark Feehily's partner Kevin McDaid, 26, produced the gorgeous photos used in their latest artwork, he is set to stay on.
Mark, 30, said: Kevin and I are such a good partnership, and I'm heavily involved in our artwork selection so it makes sense he will do our tour programme again like last time.
The Irish foursome will push the button on the National Lottery show on Saturday but won't be rushing home to watch The X Factor final. Nicky Byrne, 32, explained: My twin sons Rocco and Jay are performing in their first Christmas nativity on Sunday so I need to get back for that.
As if that wasn't cute enough to make me coo, Nicky admitted he and Shane go on man dates when away from their wives and nippers.
He added: Shane and I go to the cinema and Nandos.
Westlife LP remains at number one Friday, December 10 2010, By Ryan Love, Westlife Rihanna Michael Bublé Music Westlife continue their reign on top of the Irish album chart this week with their LP Gravity.
Despite climbs from both Rihanna and Michael Bublé, the Irish group could not be moved in their third week.
A relatively stagnant top ten saw just one new entry, coming from The Priests at number nine.
The top 20 sees the Glee cast debut at number 12 with Volume 4 of the show's soundtrack.
Meanwhile, Alexandra Burke's repackaged version of Overcome charts at&
Westlife wow fans at Metro Radio Arena gig 15 Mar 2011 Irish boyband Westlife have thrilled thousands of their fans with a concert at the Metro Radio Arena as part of their latest national tour.
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cant wait til killarney tho...only 20 days left!!!!! cant beleive its been 10 years already guys!! well done!!! 
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