Dinsdag 14 januari 2014
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Vrijdag 20 december 2013
Hampton Court Palace Festival 2011 - Westlife in Concert -
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Dinsdag 26 november 2013
vervolg . westlife 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006
Anyone ready to write-off Irish boyband
Westlife as too rich,
too old or not too bothered to keep their legions
of fans interested and buying their
records should think again -
the boys are back...
Ever since Brian McFadden left Westlife speculation has been rife in the media on the inevitable breakup of the remaining members - but by the looks of things Nicky, Shane, Kian and Mark are going to be clocking up Number Ones for another few years yet...
ShowBiz Ireland caught up with the boys recently as they slowly made their way through London's Standsted Airport and the hoards of screaming teenage fans with police, bodyguards and security staff trying their best to get the Irish lads to their destination.
If there is any doubt that Westlife fans are dwindling in numbers just look at these photos - just being amongst the thousands of screaming girls gave our photographer a taste of what Beetlemania must have been like in the 60s!
And even though Mark has come-out as gay and reportedly going to marry boyfriend Kevin McDaid and Shane has just had a baby with wife Gillian the boys look hungry again to take back the pop charts with a new album and upcoming duet with Diana Ross...
Plus Kian Egan's new surfer look is bound to keep their female fans' hearts pounding for another few years to come!
Ever since Brian McFadden left Westlife speculation has been rife in the media on the inevitable breakup of the remaining members - but by the looks of things Nicky, Shane, Kian and Mark are going to be clocking up Number Ones for another few years yet...
ShowBiz Ireland caught up with the boys recently as they slowly made their way through London's Standsted Airport and the hoards of screaming teenage fans with police, bodyguards and security
staff trying their best to get the Irish lads to their destination. If there is any doubt that Westlife fans are dwindling in numbers just look at these photos - just being amongst the thousands of screaming girls gave our photographer a taste of what Beetlemania must have been like in the 60s!
And even though Mark has come-out as gay and reportedly going to marry boyfriend Kevin McDaid and Shane has just had a baby with wife Gillian the boys look hungry again to take back the pop charts with a new album and upcoming duet with Diana Ross...
Plus Kian Egan's new surfer look is bound to keep their female fans' hearts pounding for another few years to come!
RUN FOR YOUR (WEST) LIVES!
Shane Filan swept out to sea - May 2005
THE Westlife star almost drowns on holiday in Miami after being swept out to sea by a freak wave. He is rescued by a lifeguard at South Beach as his pregnant wife Gillian watches in horror.
Shane says: "I thought I was going to die. I'm lucky to be alive. It was one of those moments when your life flashes before your eyes."
Promoting: The single You Raise Me Up
Kian Egan chased by lion - April 2005
FELLOW Westlifer Kian is nearly savaged by a lion while on safari in Durban, South Africa, after he leaves his tour guide's vehicle. Kian says: "It was the most terrifying few seconds of my life and I have never run so fast."
Promoting: Tour of South Africa.
Shane Filan swept out to sea - May 2005
THE Westlife star almost drowns on holiday in Miami after being swept out to sea by a freak wave. He is rescued by a lifeguard at South Beach
as his pregnant wife Gillian watches in horror. Shane says: "I thought I was going to die. I'm lucky to be alive. It was one of those moments when your life flashes before your eyes."
Promoting: The single
You Raise Me Up Kian Egan chased by lion - April 2005
FELLOW Westlifer Kian is nearly savaged by a lion while on safari in Durban, South Africa, after he leaves his tour guide's vehicle. Kian says: "It was the most terrifying few seconds of my life and I have never run so fast."
Promoting: Tour of South Africa.
EXCLUSIVE: WESTLIFE'S MARK: I'M GAY
SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE
By Caroline Hedley 19/08/2005
WESTLIFE star Mark Feehily (second from left) opened his heart yesterday to reveal that he is gay.
The 25-year-old pin-up said: "I want people to know the truth. I am gay and I'm very proud of who I am.
"I'm not asking for sympathy, or to be a role model for someone else.
"I simply felt it was the right time to tell the truth."
Mark, who is in a relationship with singer Kevin McDaid, 21, said: "In the past I haven't felt the need to say anything about my sexuality.
"But I want people to know I'm very comfortable with who I am."
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Mark and Kevin, who was in boy band V, met a few months ago.
Mark said: I'm not worried about how people react because I'm happy being who I am.
"I'm still the same person the day I was before. I'm sure Westlife fans will be pleased I'm happy. I don't think it changes anything."
Mark said: "All the lads in Westlife have settled down and are in relationships, so why can't I be?"
Loyal bandmates Kian Egan, 25, Shane Filan, 26, and Nicky Byrne, 26, all knew Mark was gay but have never spoken about it in public.
It's now 5.30am and Westlife are watching the sun come up from the terrace of Westlife's £1,000-a-night Ritz Carlton beach villa in Bahrain.
It's the penultimate night of the band's 56-date world tour and, having spent five hours necking champagne and ice, Shane is a bit worse for wear.
In a few weeks, his wife Gillian will give birth and the 26-year-old is finding it hard to concentrate on anything but the impending arrival.
The couple are expecting a girl and they've already named her Nicole. Nursing a grainy mobile phone picture of the scan, Shane coos: "Isn't she just beautiful? I just can't wait to be a daddy.
"I was speaking to Brian McFadden the other day and he keeps telling me how fatherhood's the best thing ever. To experience it will be incredible."
Just as things are in danger of becoming overly sentimental, Mark retreats to the kitchen and returns with two pints of nearly-neat vodka.
Glugging on one, he hands me the other with an assurance that it will "get me going".
Meanwhile the other inebriated lads debate whether to jump into their private pool, fully-clothed. It seems being in each other's company so much brings out their inner teens.
"We've been together seven years and we're pretty much like family," says Shane.
Kian, 25, agrees, saying: "The thing is we don't have egos among ourselves. A lot of bands have split up due to ego clashes - people getting above themselves and thinking they can do things by themselves.
"I would hate to do this by myself. I wouldn't like travelling around the world on my own."
Nicky, 26, chips in, "We were lucky to make it but it's even harder to stay successful - there are always new kids on the block. A lot of the new bands want to go to heaven but none of them want to die. No one wants to do that hard work."
After seven years at the top, do they still get starstruck?
"Kevin Spacey was pretty cool - very funny. And meeting Pope John Paul II was special," says Shane.
Westlife have had 12 No.1 singles and played to over three million fans on four sell-out arena tours. And they're not planning to stop.
I READ somewhere that we were going to call it a day in 18 months' time," says Shane. "That's bulls**t.
"If our next album's successful we'll make another one. We are still selling out concerts all over the world and it's a fantastic job."
Not that it's all work and no play. The boys boozed heavily in the early days and still like a drink or three.
"We're not as bad now but we still go out two or three nights a week and get absolutely plastered," admits Kian. "But we have to stay in shape and we work out most days, even when we really don't feel like it."
His face lights up when he gets a text from his girlfriend, Jodi Albert
The ex-Hollyoaks star is ready to walk down the aisle, but he won't be tied down just yet.
"I'm always taking the mickey out of her and saying I want five kids, so maybe the idea is settling in her brain," he laughs.
"But as for marriage, well we've only been together two years...
"You've got to be with someone for at least five years before you settle down. we're both young."
Shane is wed to Gillian Walsh and Nicky is married to Irish premier's daughter Georgina Ahern.
"That's just the way it is at the moment and I'm cool with it," he insists. "I'm building a house in Ireland and when I'm not working that takes up most of my time."
SHOWBIZ EXCLUSIVE
By Caroline Hedley 19/08/2005
WESTLIFE star Mark Feehily (second from left) opened his heart yesterday to reveal that he is gay.
The 25-year-old pin-up said: "I want people to know the truth. I am gay and I'm very proud of who I am.
"I'm not asking for sympathy, or to be a role model for someone else.
"I simply felt it was the right time to tell the truth."
Mark, who is in a relationship
with singer Kevin McDaid, 21, said: "In the past I haven't felt the need to say anything about my sexuality. "But I want people to know I'm very comfortable with who I am."
Advertisement
Mark and Kevin, who was in boy band V, met a few months ago.
Mark said: I'm not worried about how people react because I'm happy being who I am.
"I'm still the same person the day I was before. I'm sure Westlife fans will be pleased I'm happy. I don't think it changes anything."
Mark said: "All the lads in Westlife have settled down and are in relationships, so why can't I be?"
Loyal bandmates Kian Egan, 25, Shane Filan, 26, and Nicky Byrne, 26, all knew Mark was gay but have never spoken about it in public.
It's now 5.30am and Westlife are watching the sun come up from the terrace of Westlife's £1,000-a-night Ritz Carlton beach villa in Bahrain.
It's the penultimate night of the band's 56-date world tour and, having spent five hours necking champagne and ice, Shane is a bit worse for wear.
In a few weeks, his wife Gillian will give birth and the 26-year-old is finding it hard to concentrate on anything but the impending arrival.
The couple are expecting a girl and they've already named her Nicole. Nursing a grainy mobile phone
picture of the scan, Shane coos: "Isn't she just beautiful? I just can't wait to be a daddy. "I was speaking to Brian McFadden the other day and he keeps telling me how fatherhood's the best thing ever. To experience it will be incredible."
Just as things are in danger of becoming overly sentimental, Mark retreats to the kitchen and returns with two pints of nearly-neat vodka.
Glugging on one, he hands me the other with an assurance that it will "get me going".
Meanwhile the other inebriated lads debate whether to jump into their private pool, fully-clothed. It seems being in each other's company so much brings out their inner teens.
"We've been together seven years and we're pretty much like family," says Shane.
Kian, 25, agrees, saying: "The thing is we don't have egos among ourselves. A lot of bands have split up due to ego clashes - people getting above themselves and thinking they can do things by themselves.
"I would hate to do this by myself. I wouldn't like travelling around the world on my own."
Nicky, 26, chips in, "We were lucky to make it but it's even harder to stay successful - there are always new kids on the block. A lot of the new bands want to go to heaven but none of them want to die. No one wants to do that hard work."
After seven years at the top, do they still get starstruck?
"Kevin Spacey was pretty cool - very funny. And meeting Pope John Paul II was special," says Shane.
Westlife have had 12 No.1 singles
and played to over three million fans on four sell-out arena tours. And they're not planning to stop. I READ somewhere that we were going to call it a day in 18 months' time," says Shane. "That's bulls**t.
"If our next album's successful we'll make another one. We are still selling out concerts all over the world and it's a fantastic job
." Not that it's all work and no play
. The boys boozed heavily in the early days and still like a drink or three. "We're not as bad now but we still go out
two or three nights a week and get absolutely plastered," admits Kian. "But we have to stay in shape and we work out most days, even when we really don't feel like it." His face lights up when he gets a text from his girlfriend, Jodi Albert
The ex-Hollyoaks star is ready to walk down the aisle, but he won't be tied down just yet.
"I'm always taking the mickey out of her and saying I want five kids, so maybe the idea is settling in her brain," he laughs.
"But as for marriage
, well we've only been together two years... "You've got to be with someone for at least five years before you settle
down. we're both young." Shane is wed to Gillian Walsh and Nicky is married to Irish premier's daughter Georgina Ahern.
"That's just the way it is at the moment and I'm cool with it," he insists. "I'm building a house in Ireland and when I'm not working that takes up most of my time."
ROBBIE LOSES OUT TO WESTLIFE
2/11/2005
ROBBIE Williams might need Intensive Care after being beaten to No. 1 in the midweek album chart by Westlife, who sold 65,000 copies of Face To Face.
WESTLIFE'S 13TH NO1
31/10/2005
WESTLIFE were celebrating their 13th No 1 single last night after You Raise Me Up stormed straight to the top of the UK charts.
The latest offering from the Irish boy band - who have sold more than 25million albums worldwide - knocked the Arctic Monkeys back into the No2 spot.
2/11/2005
ROBBIE Williams might need Intensive Care after being beaten to No. 1 in the midweek album chart by Westlife, who sold 65,000 copies of Face To Face.
WESTLIFE'S 13TH NO1
31/10/2005
WESTLIFE were celebrating their 13th No 1 single last night after You Raise Me Up stormed straight to the top of the UK charts.
The latest offering
from the Irish boy band - who have sold more than 25million albums worldwide - knocked the Arctic Monkeys back into the No2 spot.22 dec 2010, 05:56
Westlife wil duet met Take That
25 oktober 2006
AMSTERDAM - De Ierse popgroep Westlife wil een duet opnemen met Take That. De Ieren zijn blij dat de Britten weer bij elkaar zijn, net als andere groepen uit de jaren negentig zoals All Saints.
"Take That was een van de groepen die me inspireerden om dit te doen en All Saints was ook een extreem gave band", zegt Westlife-lid Mark Feehily in diverse Britse media. "Ik sta altijd open voor samenwerking. In het verleden hebben we duetten opgenomen met meisjes als Delta Goodrem en Diana Ross, maar dit is weer eens wat anders."
Westlife werd in 1999 opgericht door voormalig Boyzone-zanger Ronan Keating. Inmiddels heeft de groep wereldwijd zo'n 25 miljoen albums verkocht. Met covers als 'Uptown girl', 'Mandy' en 'Against all odds' scoorden de jongens ook in Nederland hits.
25 oktober 2006
AMSTERDAM - De Ierse popgroep Westlife wil een duet opnemen met Take That. De Ieren zijn blij dat de Britten weer bij elkaar zijn, net als andere groepen uit de jaren
negentig zoals All Saints. "Take That was een van de groepen die me inspireerden om dit te doen en All Saints was ook een extreem gave band", zegt Westlife-lid Mark Feehily in diverse Britse media. "Ik sta altijd open voor samenwerking. In het verleden hebben we duetten opgenomen met meisjes
als Delta Goodrem en Diana Ross, maar dit is weer eens wat anders." Westlife werd in 1999 opgericht door voormalig Boyzone-zanger Ronan Keating. Inmiddels heeft de groep wereldwijd zo'n 25 miljoen albums verkocht. Met covers als 'Uptown girl', 'Mandy' en 'Against all odds' scoorden de jongens ook in Nederland hits.
Westlife No.1 In Irish Album & DVD Charts - 9 December 2006
The Things They Say
"I don't care if he has had a pop at us yet or not. To be honest, I'd never heard of PAUL WELLER until last week. So there." WESTLIFE singer NICKY BYRNE slams the former THE JAM rocker at the Brit Awards last night 15FEB
16/02/2006
"I don't care if he has had a pop at us yet or not. To be honest, I'd never heard of PAUL WELLER until last week. So there." WESTLIFE singer NICKY BYRNE slams the former THE JAM rocker at the Brit Awards last night 15FEB
16/02/2006
The Things They Say
"When we started out we had girls bringing their bras and chucking them on stage - now they bring their kids. It's scary." WESTLIFE are wary of their ageing fans. 04/06/2006
"When we started out we had girls
bringing their bras and chucking them on stage - now they bring their kids. It's scary." WESTLIFE are wary of their ageing fans. 04/06/2006
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Dinsdag 26 november 2013
westlife 2003 - 2004 - 2005 - 2006
WHEN Westlife singer Nicky Byrne
went down on one knee and asked his
beautiful girlfriend
Georgina Ahern to marry him
his eyes filled with tears.
For his grandad - the one person with whom
For his grandad - the one person with whom
he had shared the secret
that he would propose on Christmas Day
did not live to see the spectacular
diamond ring slipped on her finger.
"It was a day of very mixed emotions,"
"It was a day of very mixed emotions,"
Nicky recalls.
"It was magical but bittersweet.
Grandad would have so loved
to see me getting married."
Nicky, 24, reveals how he had confided in
grandad Bernard McGarry - and tells how
his beloved grandparent
had carried his secret
engagement plan to the grave.
He says: "When Georgina and
He says: "When Georgina and
I bought our dream house in Malahide
just outside Dublin,
I just knew it was
the perfect place to ask her to marry me.
"I wanted the timing to be really special and
"I wanted the timing to be really special and
I knew we would be inviting both our families
there for Christmas.
The house was going to look like something
out of a fairytale
and I knew that was when I would ask her.
"But grandad was quite poorly and
"But grandad was quite poorly and
I was worried he might not make it to Christmas.
So one day in September,
when it was just me and him in the room,
I told him what I was going to do.
"He was thrilled.
"He was thrilled.
He squeezed my hand and congratulated me.
The following month grandad died and
I was so pleased I had shared my plan with him.
"He didn't tell a soul,
"He didn't tell a soul,
not even my nana who
he had been married to for more than 50 years.
When I told her he had known she said: 'Really?
He never told me'."
Nicky and Georgina -
Nicky and Georgina -
the 24-year-old daughter of
Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern
- have been together for eight years
but are yet to set a date for their wedding.
And there are no plans
for a double wedding with bandmate
Shane Filan and his business
graduate fiancee Gillian Walsh.
Incredibly, Shane also proposed on Christmas Day.
He says:
Incredibly, Shane also proposed on Christmas Day.
He says:
"The most nerve wracking part
was asking Gillian's dad for permission.
I think it's something every
for three years and say
they hope to walk down the aisle
in the next 18 months.
But the band has an
incredibly punishing year ahead.
Their new single
Their new single
Tonight is released on March 3 and they begin
a gruelling world tour in April.
Heartthrob Shane says:
"The fans have been wonderful about
the engagement.
"There might be a few who are unhappy but
"There might be a few who are unhappy but
I think most realise we are normal lads
who have personal lives.
If we're happy, hopefully
they will be happy for us too."
The Westlife weddings
The Westlife weddings
will leave just two bachelors in the band
Mark Feehily and Kian Egan.
Bryan McFadden
Bryan McFadden
broke a million hearts in January
last year when he married former Atomic Kitten
Kerry Katona.
The couple,
The couple,
who have a 16-month-old daughter,
Molly, are expecting their second
child next month.
And it's not just the 22-year-old who is eagerly
And it's not just the 22-year-old who is eagerly
awaiting the new arrival - the rest of
the band are just as excited.
Unashamedly soppy over the imminent birth,
Unashamedly soppy over the imminent birth,
they admit babies make them broody.
Kian, 22, says: "When Bryan and Kerry had Molly
you could see the real meaning
of what it's all about.
"It made us realise we get stressed about
"It made us realise we get stressed about
silly little things.
Molly makes us look at the other side of life that
we haven't had a chance to experience yet
and it
makes us realise that having love in your life
is so important.
"Of course Molly will grow up with nice things
"Of course Molly will grow up with nice things
around her.
But without the love of her family,
the nice things aren't important.
"In us, she has four uncles who adore her.
"In us, she has four uncles who adore her.
Life is about happiness,
not wealth, not even success but happiness.
Molly has brought that back to us."
Bryan says angel-faced Molly
Bryan says angel-faced Molly
worships her famous uncles
but thinks they are all her dads.
With a broad grin, Bryan says:
With a broad grin, Bryan says:
"When Molly sees a picture of me in a magazine,
she points to it and says 'Daddy,' and we all go 'Ah'.
"But then she'll point to Mark and say 'Daddy'
"But then she'll point to Mark and say 'Daddy'
and then Kian and say
'Daddy' and on she goes right
through the band.
"People often say to me
"People often say to me
it must be hard trying
to juggle being a pop star
with family life but it can be just
is about to get married.
He works nine to five and has a child
but I get to see more of Kerry and Molly
than he does of his family."
Watching Bryan with his family
Watching Bryan with his family
or seeing his engaged bandmates
with their sweethearts heightens
the loneliness Mark confesses to feeling.
Millionaire Mark admits
Millionaire Mark admits
he can never be sure
if a girl likes him or what he represents.
"It's difficult to find someone
who is genuine and who wants
to be in a real relationship
with me rather than because
I'm part of Westlife," he says.
His long eyelashes
His long eyelashes
sweep down from his blue eyes and
he looks crestfallen.
Mark, 21, says: "There are a lot
of vultures out there who
would pounce on you
because of Westlife.
"If we go to a club in London,
"If we go to a club in London,
there will be a good few people in
there who will have heard of Westlife.
"While you have
"While you have
to accept that and live with it
that and live with itbecause you are in a successful band,
it's difficult to deal with the fact
that people only ever see you as Westlife.
"We are all willing to sacrifice
"We are all willing to sacrifice
certain things for the band but
it is difficult when it comes to relationships.
There's a lot of people
who pretend to be something
they're not and sometimes
girls coming up to me to talk but
when I see what Bryan,
Shane and Nicky have,
I want to find someone special too.
"I'm at the point now where
"I'm at the point now where
I believe I'll have to wait for a while."
P IN-UP Kian,
P IN-UP Kian,
who recently parted from Scandinavian
dancer Jessica Forsman, agrees it
he says. "When we go out
it has to be somewhere which
can facilitate us.
"It sounds a bit fancy
"It sounds a bit fancy
but we have to go into the VIP section.
I actually despise them because
I want to meet real people but
it's difficult because of
a record-breaking 11 consecutive
number one songs,
including Flying Without Wings,
and topped the charts with their latest album,
Unbreakable, The Greatest Hits Volume One.
But they are worried about sustaining
their amazing level of success.
Kian says: "When we started off
Kian says: "When we started off
we never expected any of
the success we have at
the minute and
never expected to get as far as we have got.
"It's always scary when you see new bands
"It's always scary when you see new bands
coming out and
you see music
changing and people liking
different types of music."
The Irish boys
The Irish boys
three from Sligo
and two from Dublin
marvel at their fan base,
which ranges from toddlers to
a great gran in her 90s.
And the lads adore seeing the
And the lads adore seeing the
"mums in leather trousers".
It is these older fans who help make
the band's tours a sell-out.
Mark says: "I love to look into a crowd
Mark says: "I love to look into a crowd
and see a bunch of
mums in leather trousers
dancing away and going crazy.
"Every band is marketed - we are too -
"Every band is marketed - we are too -
but it gives you a feeling that
we have got a wider appeal."
Kian adds: "When we first came
Kian adds: "When we first came
out you would see three women
with four kids but now they leave
the kids at home and come
by themselves and that's very cool."
They would love to sing with
They would love to sing with
Bryan Adams or
Celine Dion but what about pop
diva Britney Spears?
"Nah," says Bryan. "She can't sing."
Bryan says with a grin:
Bryan says with a grin:
"The lifestyle in which we grew
up is so different to
the lifestyle we have in Westlife
that it wouldn't be difficult
to fall into the trap of becoming a big
international popstar persona
and end up hanging around with people
like Britney.
But we work hard to keep
our feet on the ground."
The boys hope that
The boys hope that
when the time comes for the band to bow out,
each Westlife member will still
care enough about
the others to take part in a reunion.
Kian says: "We know
Kian says: "We know
this isn't going to last for ever
but I would wish in 20 or
30 years time we will be able to get back
together and sing one of our hits.
"Robbie Williams
"Robbie Williams
would never touch Take That again
and Ronan Keating would never
that I'm sure we would
still get together
when this eventually comes to an end."
Hopefully that moment is
Hopefully that moment is
still some time away
Band in floods of tears after split with Bryan
10/03/2004
left Westlife fans sobbing their hearts out.
And when
Bryan McFadden said his goodbyes
to the rest of the band yesterday
it was just as emotional.
As Bryan revealed why
As Bryan revealed why
he had decided to quit
the chart-topping boyband,
tears rolled down his cheeks.
His wife Kerry was in floods,
His wife Kerry was in floods,
fellow Westlifer Kian Egan was also crying,
while Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Nicky
Byrne clearly struggled to keep it together.
The band, who have had 12 No 1 singles,
The band, who have had 12 No 1 singles,
told 3am about
the painful split at the plush
Bryan was "like splitting up from a girlfriend
after five wonderful years together"
and revealed they had even
considered counselling
in an attempt to make him stay.
Meanwhile, a visibly shaken Bryan revealed,
Meanwhile, a visibly shaken Bryan revealed,
"It's absolutely
nothing to do with the other four guys.
"It's hard juggling two lives.
"It's hard juggling two lives.
And for the past year,
especially after my daughter
Lilly-Sue was born,
I haven't been able to commit
100 per cent to my family or Westlife.
I felt it was the right time to stand back
and concentrate on my family."
The father-of-two
The father-of-two
dropped his bombshell
following the Meteor Awards
in Dublin on March 2.
"It's been weighing on
"It's been weighing on
my mind for the past six months,
" admitted Bryan, 23.
"After the Meteor Awards we talked things
through and the decision was
made in the past couple of days.
"The group understand
"The group understand
that family is very important to me.
They know there is no point me being in
the band if I'm not happy and
they respect my decision."
He insisted that it was his decision
He insisted that it was his decision
and he wasn't influenced by wife Kerry,
the I'm A Celebrity... winner.
"There's no TV or music work lined up,
"There's no TV or music work lined up,
I just want to have a break
and be with my family," said Bryan.
"Yes, I'll be a house-husband for a bit,
but I'm cr*p at housework."
He claimed his departure bears
He claimed his departure bears
no similarity to Robbie Williams
quitting Take That.
"Robbie left because
he didn't like the other people
in the band and they didn't like him,"
he said.
"I'm leaving because
"I'm leaving because
I have a wife and two children.
I need to spend more time with them."
The others remain optimistic
The others remain optimistic
about their future as a four-piece.
Nicky told us, "It was such a shock.
Nicky told us, "It was such a shock.
I said, 'Let's go to a counsellor
so we can sort this out and get to
the bottom of what was making Bryan unhappy'.
"We were prepared to
"We were prepared to
do anything to stop him leaving.
But in the end he was adamant
and there was nothing
we could say or do to change him mind."
Mark Feehily added,
Mark Feehily added,
"It's better he leaves before we hit the road.
It would have been a disaster
if he'd pulled out halfway through the tour,
or if his heart wasn't in it.
Maybe that would have damaged
our friendship and we
didn't want that to happen."
Westlife are now working on an album
Westlife are now working on an album
of duets which will feature the likes
of Lionel Richie, Diana Ross
and Donna Summer.
And they say their 70-date world tour,
And they say their 70-date world tour,
which kicks off in Belfast on March 29,
will be their "best ever".
Shane added:
Shane added:
"We have defied the odds so many times
and we hope we will continue
to do so for many years to come."
So do we lads,
So do we lads,
Archive
THE REAL REASON WHY BRYAN QUIT WESTLIFE
He's managing new band tipped for big time
By Andy Rudd 15/03/2004
Westlife star Bryan McFadden has been
THE REAL REASON WHY BRYAN QUIT WESTLIFE
He's managing new band tipped for big time
By Andy Rudd 15/03/2004
Westlife star Bryan McFadden has been
secretly managing a rock band for
the past year and plans to
launch them on to the music scene this summer.
Bryan, 24, talent spotted South Africangroup
Bryan, 24, talent spotted South Africangroup
Franklin while on honeymoon in Sun City in 2002.
He was "blown away"
He was "blown away"
by their music and signed them up.
But he kept the deal
under wraps because he
didn't want to be seen working with a rival band.
Bryan has been bankrolling them and has
Bryan has been bankrolling them and has
already shelled out more
than £300,000 on wages, travel and recording costs.
He said: "Franklin are a brilliant
He said: "Franklin are a brilliant
band with a great sound which is
why I am backing them.
"It's a very exciting time for them at
"It's a very exciting time for them at
the moment and hopefully everything will go to plan.
The music
I want to do won't be in competition
with Westlife either.
"Franklin do rock music which is
"Franklin do rock music which is
different to Westlife and
my own solo stuff will be different again."
He moved them from their
He moved them from their
Johannesburg home to Ireland
early last year and hopes
they will break into
the Irish, UK and European music markets.
Bryan announced last week that he was quitting boy
Bryan announced last week that he was quitting boy
band Westlife to go solo and spend
more time with I'm A Celebrity
winner wife Kerry and daughters
Molly and Lily Sue.
He told distraught fans:
He told distraught fans:
"I just feel it's the right time to concentrate on
singer Ronan Keating's.
He announced in August 1999 that
He announced in August 1999 that
he was quitting Boyzone to go solo
then went on to co-manage Westlife.
Bryan has been busy writing
Bryan has been busy writing
and producing songs with Franklin.
He has already showcased
He has already showcased
the band to family and friends
including Westlife
at Precious nightclub in Belfast.
Major record companies including BMG,
Major record companies including BMG,
Universal and Polydor are interested
and insiders are
tipping Franklin for the big time.
Singer Bryan will co-manage them with best friend
Singer Bryan will co-manage them with best friend
Mark Murphy. Mark said:
"They are definitely up there in the league
of play and will be huge.
and will be huge.They love Ireland."
A friend of the band said:
A friend of the band said:
"They can't believe their luck.
They are on the brink of achieving
what they have been dreaming about for years.
"Nobody imagined things would turn
"Nobody imagined things would turn
out how they have.
Everyone has put a lot of hard work
and time into the band and now
it looks as if all that has finally paid off."
Westlife, who were on the eve of
Westlife, who were on the eve of
an American tour when Bryan,
quit have vowed to go on.
They have been one of the world's
They have been one of the world's
most successful boy bands.
They topped the charts for the past five years
They topped the charts for the past five years
with 12 number one hits
and sold 320 million records worldwide.
De Ierse popformatie
Westlife veroverde een paar
jaar geleden met verschillende hits
de wereld en intussen hoort Westlife
met meer dan 30 miljoen verkochte albums
wereldwijd bij de toppers.
De band is ongekend populair
De band is ongekend populair
en zorgt overal waar ze optreedt voor volle zalen.
Westlife zanger Byrne Nicky
Westlife zanger Byrne Nicky
kwam op 06.04.04 met zijn vrouw
Georgina Aherne (dochter
van de Ierse Minister President)
naar de Alpha Klinik.
Hij had kort voor een live optreden in het
Olympisch Stadion van München
zijn knie ernstig geblesseerd.
In de kliniek werd een ernstige keuzing
van de knie en een los zittende
meniscus geconstateerd.
De behoorlijk opgezette knie werd
met injecties behandeld om de zanger
ondanks
de pijn toch in staat te stellen op te treden.
Ook onder het Alpha Klinik
Ook onder het Alpha Klinik
personeel bevonden zich vele fans:
en die kwamen natuurlijk naar
het concert om de zanger en
zijn band luidkeels toe te juichen
Mark Feehily could lose his sight - October 2004
MORE misery for Westlife when Mark is
MORE misery for Westlife when Mark is
warned he could go blind due to
of permanently damaging his peepers
after excessive exposure to
camera bulb-popping.
He says: "Photographers
He says: "Photographers
complain and ask why
I sometimes wear sunglasses
but I have no choice unless
I want to ruin my eyesight for ever."
Sunday October 10 2004
THERE'S no love lost between
Sunday October 10 2004
THERE'S no love lost between
Mark Feehily
of Westlife and Kurt Cobain's widow.
Mark was trying to enjoy a performance
Mark was trying to enjoy a performance
of Alicia Keyes
at the recent World Music Awards in Las Vegas
when Courtney Love - plus ca change
was determined to be heard above all else.
"Can you shut the f*** up!" Feehily bravely
informed the psychotically-inclined Miss Love.
Like Vincent Browne,
it is an unconscionably long time
since Courtney's gargoyle gob last fell shut.
For which Feehily surely deserves an award.
Westlife better off without Brian
August 25 2004,
Westlife star Nicky Byrne
has told The Sun that
the group is better
off without former member
Brian McFadden.
"We are stronger than ever,"
"We are stronger than ever,"
Nicky insisted. "Brian was just going through
the motions and you cant go on like that.
"He didnt want to be
"He didnt want to be
in Westlife and we wanted him to go.
He now looks physically
better and as a foursome were
better than ever."
Despite Nicky's comments,
Despite Nicky's comments,
the Westlife boys are apparently
of the band, added,
"We will keep going until we are
not having fun,
and right now we are having a great time."
The group are currently
The group are currently
working on their next album.
Geschreven door westlife om 00:00
Reageer op dit bericht
Zondag 24 november 2013
div afbeeldingen westlife 8
*
Geschreven door westlife om 00:00
Reageer op dit bericht
Zaterdag 23 november 2013
1 ex westlife - brain mcfadden
brain 12 april een ram dus ..
de Ram
is een energiek en geïnspireerd persoon, een initiatiefnemer die risico's niet uit de weg gaat. Omdat hij onafhankelijk is ingesteld, heeft hij de goedkeuring van anderen niet per definitie nodig. Hij verzet zich dan ook sterk als andere mensen hem denkwijzen of werkmethoden proberen op te leggen.
Zijn temperament is groot. Hij kan snel boos worden, maar is dat nooit lang: zodra hij zijn boosheid geuit heeft, is het over. Hij is een mens die snel vergeet en vergeeft. Inherent aan een dergelijk temperament is zijn directheid en het gegeven dat hij te hard van stapel kan lopen. Hij gelooft in directheid, duidelijkheid en volstrekt eerlijk zijn.
Hij doet de dingen die gedaan moeten worden het het liefst alleen. Werkt hij in teamverband, dan heeft hij moeite met het feit dat anderen de dingen anders of langzamer aanpakken. Hij kan op dergelijke momenten snel zijn geduld verliezen. Het gevoel dat hij gehinderd wordt door anderen is dan sterk
Brian McFadden (Dublin, 12 april 1980) is een Ierse zanger, vooral bekend geworden als lid van Westlife.
Biografie
Brian begon zijn muziekloopbaan in een tienerbandje genaamd Cartel, maar hij werd beroemd als lid van de groep Westlife met wie hij in Engeland 7 opeenvolgende nummer-1 hits scoorde, genoeg om in het Guinness Book of Records te komen staan.
Hij was getrouwd met Kerry Katona (van de Britse meidenband Atomic Kitten), met wie hij twee dochters heeft: Molly en Lilly Sue.
Op 9 maart 2004 kondigde hij aan Westlife te verlaten, omdat hij te weinig tijd kon doorbrengen met zijn gezin. Al snel begon hij met het maken van een solo-single Real to me, waarmee hij meteen weer een nummer-1 hit scoorde in Engeland. Enkele maanden later verscheen zijn eerste solo-cd Irish son.
Zijn huwelijk liep echter in deze tijd op de klippen en ze besloten te scheiden.
Nu is hij gedumpt door zijn platenmaatschappij. Reden hiervoor zouden de dramatische verkoopcijfers van debuutalbum zijn.
Brian's eerste solosingle, 'Real to me', was een nummer één-hit in Engeland. Poging twee om door te breken als internationale soloartiest mislukte daarentegen. Zijn tweede single 'Everybody's someone' die hij opnam met countryzangeres Leann Rimes was niet erg geliefd bij het publiek. 
Eerder al heeft McFadden geprobeerd zich weer bij de formatie Westlife te voegen, maar deze zeggen nu gewend te zijn aan het performen met 4 man.
Brian McFadden - Real To Me
Brian McFadden Anonymous @ Westlife's HMV signing
Brian Mcfadden - Irish Son
Brian McFadden - Sorry Love Daddy
Brian McFadden-Can you tell us about the tattoo
nog samen met westlife
Westlife with Brian
Brian Leaves Westlife
Wednesday March 28th, 2007
Brian McFadden: marriage to Kerry Katona was a showbiz sham
Former Westlife star Brian McFadden has admitted he only married ex-wife Kerry Katona for the big party - and the money from selling the photos. 
The couple were reportedly paid a six-figure amount by a magazine for the 2002 wedding and had two daughters together before separating in 2004. 
Brian told Reveal magazine recently: ut wasnt a real wedding. We were getting married to have a big party and get loads of money for it - and to appear showbiz.
The day my marriage ended was on the stag night [when Brian had a one-night stand with a lapdancer]. That was the time I felt this is not supposed to be. At first, I denied the lapdancer thing, but then I was taken to court for calling her a liar.
Me and Kerry didnt even see each other on our wedding night.
If we hadnt had kids, the marriage wouldn,t have lasted as long as it did. I was too young to understand what having kids meant. Having a child was like getting a dog.
Kerry had previously said that Brian dumped her but Brian now claims it was a mutual decision: Kerry had taken the kids and was living with her mum. I was in New York and she phoned me and asked Don,t you love me any more? I said: Not like I did at the start. She said: Neither do I. We have to end it.
I left it at that, then got another call [from Kerry] saying um having a press conference to say weure separating. I want to move on with my life.I felt relieved, although I felt sad for the children.
After the press conference she phoned again and said um having nothing to do with this, you ure the one leaving me. I don,t want to break up.I said Are we getting back together? And she said No. Then it spiralled out of control. All of a sudden it was: He didn,t love me any more, and wants to break up.
I dont talk to her now. But if I had to, I only do it for the sake of the kids.
My private life became as artificial as my pop life in Westlife, but I couldnt see it at the time. We became a showbiz couple, and everyone was talking about us. That swept me off my feet.
After we had the first baby, bought a house and spent time together, I woke up one morning and realised 8this is not what I want to do with my life. We dont have anything in common.
Brian is now dating former Neighbours star Delta Goodrem while Kerry married Mark Croft in a private ceremony in Gretna Green last month.
Brian McFadden calls ex-wife Kerry Katona an unfit mother.
Tuesday May 23rd, 2006 at 4:09 pm by Heather
When it came to getting custody of their children, Brian McFadden promised to drop bombshells when the case got to court but it sounds like he already started launching attacks on ex-wife Kerry Katona.
Kerry has a different best friend practically every month and recently she seems to have a different man just as often. She,s an unfit mother, he told Star magazine.
She lays down crazy demands about when I can visit, designed to make it impossible for me to see them.
If we can,t sort this out and I have to do it in court it will be a miracle if a judge doesnt give the girls to me.
Kerry is, naturally, denying his claims: um happy for Brian to see the girls but he got to understand theyre at school and have their own routines. All I want is for Brian to be reasonable but he wont.
Kerry Katona woedend op ex-man Brian McFadden
Kerry Katona heeft uitgehaald naar haar ex-man Brian McFadden. De oud-zangeres van Atomic Kitten zegt in The Mirror dat haar ex-man door en door slecht is.
Kerry Katona heeft uitgehaald naar haar ex-man Brian McFadden. De voormalige zangeres van Atomic Kitten zegt in de Britse krant The Mirror dat haar ex-man door en door slecht is. Zij reageert op uitspraken die de ex-Westlifezanger volgens haar heeft gedaan.
McFadden zou haar gezegd hebben alleen met de 26-jarige zangeres getrouwd te zijn vanwege het feestje en het geld dat de media voor de foto's van het huwelijk betaalden. Hij zou verder de komst van hun twee dochters, Molly en Lilly-Sue, hebben vergeleken met de aanschaf van een hond.
Katona laat de krant weten dat hun kinderen uit liefde geboren zijn. "Ik kan niet geloven dat Brian zo gemeen en harteloos is", zegt ze. "Je kinderen met honden vergelijken is wel het gemeenste wat je kunt doen."
McFadden kan zich niet veel negatieve publiciteit meer veroorloven. Eerder liet Westlife weten McFadden niet meer terug bij de band te willen, en tot overmaat van ramp werd hij door zijn platenlabel Sony BMG gedumpt.
Katona en McFadden trouwden in 2002 in Ierland en vierden hun huwelijksreis op Mauritius. Ze kregen in 2001 hun dochter Molly en in 2003 Lilly-Sue. Het stel scheidde in 2004 na amper drie jaar huwelijk.
Delta's true blue Brian
June 11, 2008 12:00am
IRISHMAN Brian McFadden wants to call Australia home. He told Confidential he would seek Australian citizenship after he married Delta Goodrem.
The former Westlife singer told Confidential he would seek Australian citizenship after he married his fiancee, songbird Delta Goodrem.
"Absolutely, yes," he said when asked if he would eventually become an Australian.
"When Delta and I get married and some day we do have kids, we see Australia as the place we want to raise them. When I do get married I will apply for citizenship."
McFadden said he would keep his European passport.
The singer hosts Foxtel's Football Superstar show and is filling in for two weeks on the FOX FM breakfast shift.
Yesterday, on his first day, he arrived half an hour late at 5.30am, but the group made light of it. According to FOX, he didn't sleep in; his schedule said 5.30am and not 5am.
Goodrem is spending most of this year promoting her records overseas, and it's been tough for the couple being apart.
"We have done everything together the last four years, and it's difficult to do all these things on our own.
But it's something that is only short term, and hopefully in a few months we will be back together," McFadden said.
The couple's wedding probably won't be this year.
"We have to decide where we're going to have it. Until we've set a destination, we won't start planning at the moment. We have to think through the right time, so all our family can be there."
McFadden is enjoying the good reception he has had from Australians.
"I've been here since February, and I've already made so many friends and have been offered all these gigs. Maybe they like the Irish accent."
Brian McFadden doesn't like the way his daughters speakBrian McFadden: I hate my daughters' skanky accents
Former Westlife star doesn't like Molly and Lilly-Sue sounding like their mum Kerry Katona
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Brian McFadden has revealed he hates his children's northern accents.
The former Westlife star has 2 daughters with ex-wife Kerry Katona, 27 Molly, 6, and Lilly-Sue, 5. 
But Brian can't stand their Warrington twang.
'It's horrible the way they speak,' he tells the Daily Star. 'They have skanky northern English accents.
'It makes me want to scream.'
And Irishman Brian who's engaged to 23-year-old Aussie singer Delta Goodrem doesn't mince his words when talking about his ex, either, describing her as 'a disgusting human being'.
'Me and my family have been put through hell by her. She uses my two girls as a weapon in her childish games. She is an embarrassment to me, my family and my children.'
Brian, 28, is currently seeking custody of his daughters.
Brian to write autobiography?
Brian McFadden has apparently threatened to unleash a war of words against ex-wife Kerry Katona.
The former Westlife singer is in talks with a ghost writer about writing his first autobiography and has vowed to reveal all about his relationship with the 27-year-old mother of his children.
The pair are currently embroiled in a custody battle over daughters Molly, six, and Lilly Sue, five, and have traded many insults in the papers.
Brian told New! magazine he has resisted writing a tell-all book until now but said: "I am pushed into a corner really and I have taken years of personal attacks. I don't care what the public believe but all I ask is that they give me this one chance."
The 28-year-old singer is engaged to Australian singer and former Neighbours star Delta Goodrem, 23, and hopes to win custody of his daughters.
Brian McFadden has apparently threatened to unleash a war of words against ex-wife Kerry Katona.
The former Westlife singer is in talks with a ghost writer about writing his first autobiography and has vowed to reveal all about his relationship with the 27-year-old mother of his children.
The pair are currently embroiled in a custody battle over daughters Molly, six, and Lilly Sue, five, and have traded many insults in the papers.
Brian told New! magazine he has resisted writing a tell-all book until now but said: "I am pushed into a corner really and I have taken years of personal attacks. I don't care what the public believe but all I ask is that they give me this one chance."
The 28-year-old singer is engaged to Australian singer and former Neighbours star Delta Goodrem, 23, and hopes to win custody of his daughters.
McFadden in his own right
Wednesday 30 July, 2008
HE may be better known in Australia as Delta Goodrem's fiance but Brian McFadden is a star in his own right.
An original member of the chart-topping pop band Westlife, he left the group in 2004 to embark on a solo career.
Now he's bringing his musical talents to Rooty Hill RSL on August 8 to help promote his debut solo album Set In Stone.
With two hit singles already from the album Like Only a Woman Can and Twisted McFadden says the response to his music in Australia has been amazing.
"Twisted has been getting some good airplay and everything's going better than expected," he told the Mt Druitt-St Marys Standard.
"I'm delighted. I wasn't expecting it (the album) to get going as quickly as it has."
With Set In Stone McFadden said he wanted to show some depth and variety.
He said Twisted ("a pure pop song with raging power") showed a lighter side of his music.
He said it was especially chosen from the more than 150 songs he wrote for the 10-track album because of its energy.
McFadden's creative input is evident in every song, something he's been allowed to do only since leaving Westlife.
"I much prefer being on my own. You're more in control of where you go and what you do," he said.
"There are a lot of people that help me like my manager, Delta and friends. I need that network but I still work on my own."
McFadden said his relationship with Australia was something he cherished.
He was recently the host of FOX8's Football Superstar, which gave him a chance to explore his second love football.
He said playing a pre-season game with Sydney FC was a highlight.
So with a marriage to Delta sometime in the future, would the Irishman settle in Oz?
"I don't think I could settle anywhere," he said.
"I have kids in England (from a previous marriage) and I will always be between here and there. I've been doing that all my life."
Brian McFadden interview
Friday August 08, 2008
Former Westlife singer Brian McFadden is to perform in New Zealand.
'Twisted' video - courtesy of Universal Music
'Like Only a Woman Can' - Universal Music
Interview with Brian McFadden
Our celebrity gossip blogger, Myrddin Gwynedd, caught up with former Westlife singer Brian McFadden this week for a chat about his new single and album.
McFadden, currently in Auckland to promote his new album, Set In Stone , revealed that he plans to bring his Live & Twisted tour to New Zealand in October.
The pop singer will play two intimate shows in Auckland and Wellington.
Fans will get up close and personal with the Irish singer-songwriter at Wellington's Bar Bodega on Friday, October 3, and in Auckland at the Transmission Rooms on Saturday, October 4.
McFadden last visited New Zealand in April, and recently completed a stint as co-ost on Auckland's
Is McFadden really anti-gay?
Published: Today
BRIAN McFADDEN has sparked outrage by saying heterosexual men should not wear pink.
The ex-WESTLIFE star shocked listeners on a New Zealand radio show, saying: "If you are not gay, a man should not be wearing pink.
"Saying pink is a form of red is the same as saying homosexual is a form of male."
Understandable, gay rights activists have accused the singer of homophobia.
A local Auckland charity have spoken out, with Rainbow Youth co-ordinator Robert Marshall saying: "It's the sort of stuff that gets said every day in the schoolyard. A lot of young people are quite impressionable, and when they see celebrities saying stuff like that, they think it's OK to say it themselves."
Life without Brian ... Westlife
Meanwhile Brian revealed the moment he wanted to quit his former boyband was when they were asked to record a cover of BARRY MANILOW's Mandy.
The Irish singer announced his departure just months later and started making plans for a solo career.
He said: "We never got any respect as artists because we didn't write all the songs and we weren't a self-producing product. We were being controlled more like puppets than anything else."
But despite his fizzling career, he's the last one laughing having traded in KERRY KATONA for DELTA GOODREM.
.....
Published: Today
BRIAN McFADDEN has sparked outrage by saying heterosexual men should not wear pink.
The ex-WESTLIFE star shocked listeners on a New Zealand radio show, saying: "If you are not gay, a man should not be wearing pink.
"Saying pink is a form of red is the same as saying homosexual is a form of male."
Understandable, gay rights activists have accused the singer of homophobia.
A local Auckland charity have spoken out, with Rainbow Youth co-ordinator Robert Marshall saying: "It's the sort of stuff that gets said every day in the schoolyard. A lot of young people are quite impressionable, and when they see celebrities saying stuff like that, they think it's OK to say it themselves."
Life without Brian ... Westlife
Meanwhile Brian revealed the moment he wanted to quit his former boyband was when they were asked to record a cover of BARRY MANILOW's Mandy.
The Irish singer announced his departure just months later and started making plans for a solo career.
He said: "We never got any respect as artists because we didn't write all the songs and we weren't a self-producing product. We were being controlled more like puppets than anything else."
But despite his fizzling career, he's the last one laughing having traded in KERRY KATONA for DELTA GOODREM.
.....
McFadden apologises for gay remarks
Wednesday, September 3 2008,
Brian McFadden has apologised for causing offence by claiming that only gay men should wear pink clothing.
The former Westlife singer said he was only having a "light-hearted conversation" on the radio when he made the comments and insisted that they were not meant to be taking seriously.
Speaking at UNICEF's Soccer Aid event, McFadden told DS: "I made the joke when I was on a radio station in New Zealand.
"Some woman rang in and said my husband wears pink. I was winding her up, saying, 'He must have a dark secret'. But then it got completely taken out of context.
"It went on every bloody gay website in the world and people called me homophobic. It's ridiculous!"
He continued: "It wasn't a big deal on the day, people were laughing. One person got offended, put it on a website and everyone jumps onboard.
"I apologise if I upset anybody, but it was supposed to be a light-hearted conversation."
Wednesday, September 3 2008,
Brian McFadden has apologised for causing offence by claiming that only gay men should wear pink clothing.
The former Westlife singer said he was only having a "light-hearted conversation" on the radio when he made the comments and insisted that they were not meant to be taking seriously.
Speaking at UNICEF's Soccer Aid event, McFadden told DS: "I made the joke when I was on a radio station in New Zealand.
"Some woman rang in and said my husband wears pink. I was winding her up, saying, 'He must have a dark secret'. But then it got completely taken out of context.
"It went on every bloody gay website in the world and people called me homophobic. It's ridiculous!"
He continued: "It wasn't a big deal on the day, people were laughing. One person got offended, put it on a website and everyone jumps onboard.
"I apologise if I upset anybody, but it was supposed to be a light-hearted conversation."
Saturday, August 16 2008
McFadden reveals Westlife frustration
Brian McFadden realised that he wanted to quit Westlife when the group were asked to record a cover of Barry Manilow's 'Mandy', he has revealed.
The Irish singer announced his departure just months later and started making plans for a successful solo career.
"We never got any respect as artists because we didn't write all the songs and we weren't a self-producing product," McFadden explained. "We were being controlled more like puppets than anything else."
Speaking about 'Mandy', he continued: "They were formulating how to get a No.1 record. I wanted to write my own songs and sing my own music."
McFadden's debut solo song 'Real To Me' topped the UK singles chart in 2004. However, his album Irish Son and future single releases suffered as a result of the backlash surrounding his marriage split with Kerry Katona.
"That has shaped my career," he admitted. "Hero to villain literally in one weekend."
Brian has released his second album Set In Stone in Australia, where it has been a top five hit. The LP will hit shops in the UK next year.
McFadden reveals Westlife frustration
Brian McFadden realised that he wanted to quit Westlife when the group were asked to record a cover of Barry Manilow's 'Mandy', he has revealed.
The Irish singer announced his departure just months later and started making plans for a successful solo career.
"We never got any respect as artists because we didn't write all the songs and we weren't a self-producing product," McFadden explained. "We were being controlled more like puppets than anything else."
Speaking about 'Mandy', he continued: "They were formulating how to get a No.1 record. I wanted to write my own songs and sing my own music."
McFadden's debut solo song 'Real To Me' topped the UK singles chart in 2004. However, his album Irish Son and future single releases suffered as a result of the backlash surrounding his marriage split with Kerry Katona.
"That has shaped my career," he admitted. "Hero to villain literally in one weekend."
Brian has released his second album Set In Stone in Australia, where it has been a top five hit. The LP will hit shops in the UK next year.
brain mcfadden kids
molly & lilly
molly & lilly
The new life of Brian
5/11/2008 1:00:00 AM
BACK in July, Irish musician Brian McFadden made an appearance on ABC1's music trivia comedy Spicks and Specks.
It wasn't his first time on the show, but for the many Australians tuned in, his tongue-in-cheek treatment of Guns N' Roses' Patience was significant.
The Irish boy-band superstar, who quit Westlife in 2004, flexed his sense of humour and further endeared himself to a country's people who tend not to pander to musicians who take themselves too seriously.
"That was just a bit of fun. We had a laugh," McFadden recalled before going on to explain the welcome embrace of Australians.
"It's been amazing. It makes you really feel at home you know, especially after the treatment I got in England with the press."
Formed in 1998, when McFadden was 18, Westlife stormed the UK charts with 14 number-one singles - the third-highest in UK history. Only Elvis Presley and The Beatles prevented Westlife from taking the top spots.
The UK boy bands of the era, such as Take That and Boyzone were pop-culture phenomenons. Spawned by the success of the Spice Girls, all-female groups like The Sugababes and Atomic Kitten were also created.
The "treatment" by the UK press McFadden referred to was part of the fallout after his 2002 marriage to Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona ended in 2004, and his decision (also in 2004) to quit Westlife.
"To come to a new country and be so welcomed it's like a safe haven now for me Australia. It's like my safe place to go to."
His relationship with fellow musician and former Neighbours actor Delta Goodrem started after his split from Katona, but the UK press went with different stories and the accusations flew.
McFadden has since enjoyed an extended stay in Australia and his new album - made both in the UK and Sydney - reflected that.
"I've spent a lot more time than I expected to spend here," he said.
"I originally came over just to release my album here, maybe spend five or six weeks and do the album in the UK."
With his life splashed all over the media, it's hard not to read into the emotional, sometimes bitter, lyrics of his new album Set In Stone.
"All my songs are quite personal," McFadden answered when asked of his lyrics' autobiographical nature.
"I can't write any other way. I write songs and whatever comes out comes from the heart. I find it hard to manipulate a song with something I'm not really feeling.
"If I don't believe it how can anybody else believe it? I have to believe it first."
Goodrem has songwriting credits on Set In Stone and McFadden said working together again was a pleasure. They initially collaborated on Together We Are One which they wrote, along with Guy Chambers, for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
"We decided we worked well and we ended up writing a couple (of songs) for my album and doing half her album and I think that's how we are going to work for the future - do a lot together.
"Especially at the moment, being in different parts of the world all year. It gives us a chance to spend time together as well."
Goodrem has spent most of 2008 in the US while McFadden has happily carved out a niche for himself in Australia.
"I got here and had so much fun ... and ended up doing the football show. I just never really got a chance to leave," he laughed of the circumstances that led to him hosting Foxtel's Football Superstar.
With the first season in the bag he said he is in talks about doing a second.
"I didn't have any interest in doing TV presenting at the time ... and they said you get to play football everyday. And I was like `I'm in, I'm in!'," he laughed.
The 28 year old said he is not really longing for home because Australia reminds him of Ireland.
"The only thing that's different is the weather. The people in Australia are pretty similar to the Irish - the same kind of humour, fun-loving people."
On Set In Stone, Goodrem's father Dennis is included on McFadden's list of thankyous and he agreed when asked if his fiancee's dad wasn't the only one he felt he had to win over when he fell for Goodrem.
"I had a lot of things to prove when I got to Australia ... I'm doing my best to live up to her good name."
Brian McFadden will appear at Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart, November 14; and Launceston Country Club, Launceston, November 15.
5/11/2008 1:00:00 AM
BACK in July, Irish musician Brian McFadden made an appearance on ABC1's music trivia comedy Spicks and Specks.
It wasn't his first time on the show, but for the many Australians tuned in, his tongue-in-cheek treatment of Guns N' Roses' Patience was significant.
The Irish boy-band superstar, who quit Westlife in 2004, flexed his sense of humour and further endeared himself to a country's people who tend not to pander to musicians who take themselves too seriously.
"That was just a bit of fun. We had a laugh," McFadden recalled before going on to explain the welcome embrace of Australians.
"It's been amazing. It makes you really feel at home you know, especially after the treatment I got in England with the press."
Formed in 1998, when McFadden was 18, Westlife stormed the UK charts with 14 number-one singles - the third-highest in UK history. Only Elvis Presley and The Beatles prevented Westlife from taking the top spots.
The UK boy bands of the era, such as Take That and Boyzone were pop-culture phenomenons. Spawned by the success of the Spice Girls, all-female groups like The Sugababes and Atomic Kitten were also created.
The "treatment" by the UK press McFadden referred to was part of the fallout after his 2002 marriage to Atomic Kitten's Kerry Katona ended in 2004, and his decision (also in 2004) to quit Westlife.
"To come to a new country and be so welcomed it's like a safe haven now for me Australia. It's like my safe place to go to."
His relationship with fellow musician and former Neighbours actor Delta Goodrem started after his split from Katona, but the UK press went with different stories and the accusations flew.
McFadden has since enjoyed an extended stay in Australia and his new album - made both in the UK and Sydney - reflected that.
"I've spent a lot more time than I expected to spend here," he said.
"I originally came over just to release my album here, maybe spend five or six weeks and do the album in the UK."
With his life splashed all over the media, it's hard not to read into the emotional, sometimes bitter, lyrics of his new album Set In Stone.
"All my songs are quite personal," McFadden answered when asked of his lyrics' autobiographical nature.
"I can't write any other way. I write songs and whatever comes out comes from the heart. I find it hard to manipulate a song with something I'm not really feeling.
"If I don't believe it how can anybody else believe it? I have to believe it first."
Goodrem has songwriting credits on Set In Stone and McFadden said working together again was a pleasure. They initially collaborated on Together We Are One which they wrote, along with Guy Chambers, for the 2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games opening ceremony.
"We decided we worked well and we ended up writing a couple (of songs) for my album and doing half her album and I think that's how we are going to work for the future - do a lot together.
"Especially at the moment, being in different parts of the world all year. It gives us a chance to spend time together as well."
Goodrem has spent most of 2008 in the US while McFadden has happily carved out a niche for himself in Australia.
"I got here and had so much fun ... and ended up doing the football show. I just never really got a chance to leave," he laughed of the circumstances that led to him hosting Foxtel's Football Superstar.
With the first season in the bag he said he is in talks about doing a second.
"I didn't have any interest in doing TV presenting at the time ... and they said you get to play football everyday. And I was like `I'm in, I'm in!'," he laughed.
The 28 year old said he is not really longing for home because Australia reminds him of Ireland.
"The only thing that's different is the weather. The people in Australia are pretty similar to the Irish - the same kind of humour, fun-loving people."
On Set In Stone, Goodrem's father Dennis is included on McFadden's list of thankyous and he agreed when asked if his fiancee's dad wasn't the only one he felt he had to win over when he fell for Goodrem.
"I had a lot of things to prove when I got to Australia ... I'm doing my best to live up to her good name."
Brian McFadden will appear at Wrest Point Entertainment Centre, Hobart, November 14; and Launceston Country Club, Launceston, November 15.
McFadden 'dumps' Katona designer gear
Tuesday, January 2009,
Brian McFadden has revealed that he gave away all of Kerry Katona's clothes to his relatives.
The former Westlife singer admitted that he got rid of all of Katona's designer gear by giving it to members of his family.
"I invited all my sisters' friends and all my cousins around to the house and literally opened up the wardrobe and said, 'Have what you like'," he said on his Fox FM breakfast show.
"All my cousins, they live down in the country in Ireland so they live on farms and stuff, are all walking around small villages in Dolce & Gabbana dresses and Gucci shoes and the like.
"She [Katona] did not know, but she knows now."
McFadden recently denied claims that he will seek custody of his daughters
Tuesday, January 2009,
Brian McFadden has revealed that he gave away all of Kerry Katona's clothes to his relatives.
The former Westlife singer admitted that he got rid of all of Katona's designer gear by giving it to members of his family.
"I invited all my sisters' friends and all my cousins around to the house and literally opened up the wardrobe and said, 'Have what you like'," he said on his Fox FM breakfast show.
"All my cousins, they live down in the country in Ireland so they live on farms and stuff, are all walking around small villages in Dolce & Gabbana dresses and Gucci shoes and the like.
"She [Katona] did not know, but she knows now."
McFadden recently denied claims that he will seek custody of his daughters
brain mcfadden - twisted (live)
McFadden signs up for TV role again
Former Westlife star Brian McFadden has signed up to present a second series of the Australian reality television show 'Football Superstar'.
According to TV Tonight, the singer will co-host the show with Lee Furlong later in the year.
McFadden previously hosted the Fox8 programme last June.
AdvertisementSpeaking about the show, he said: "I had an absolute blast filming the first series and am really excited to be back at the helm again."
"We uncovered some serious talent in season one which is testament to the growing popularity of football in Australia. I can't wait to see who we discover this year."
McFadden is set to marry his long-term girlfriend, singer Deltra Goodrem, next Christmas.
Former Westlife star Brian McFadden has signed up to present a second series of the Australian reality television show 'Football Superstar'.
According to TV Tonight, the singer will co-host the show with Lee Furlong later in the year.
McFadden previously hosted the Fox8 programme last June.
AdvertisementSpeaking about the show, he said: "I had an absolute blast filming the first series and am really excited to be back at the helm again."
"We uncovered some serious talent in season one which is testament to the growing popularity of football in Australia. I can't wait to see who we discover this year."
McFadden is set to marry his long-term girlfriend, singer Deltra Goodrem, next Christmas.
Delta and Brian call wedding off
May 24, 2009 12:00am
SINGERS Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden have put off their Christmas wedding, but have insisted their relationship isn't onthe rocks.
McFadden told The Sunday Telegraph he was still madly in love with Goodrem, but simply too busy to walk down the aisle.
Gallery: The many faces of Delta Goodrem
"We were sitting down to try to organise the wedding and we were thinking, `We're never going to get this wedding organised by Christmas','' said McFadden, 29.
Gallery: McFadden McMaddened
"I know if we don't get married, everyone is going to say there are problems because we pushed the wedding back.
"But we want to get married and take a nice block of time off, like three months, enjoy our families being there and have a nice honeymoon ... not get married between gigs.''
The pair spent much of the past 18 months apart as Goodrem based herself overseas, attempting unsuccessfully to break into the competitive American market.
Now back in Australia, Goodrem is getting ready to begin work on her fourth album.
And McFadden is about to launch a new music project named Wall Of Sound with former Savage Garden producer Rob Connolly. He is also busy filming the second series of Foxtel's Football Superstar.
"Since Christmas, we've only spent about one day apart, which is great,'' said the former Westlife singer. ``Hopefully the rest of the year it will be like that.
"I know she's going to go back to America and she's about to get knee-deep into her new record, so we're planning each week as it comes.''
The pair announced their engagement in November 2007, having met two years earlier while working together on a duet, Almost Here.
McFadden was then married to former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona, with whom he has two daughters: Molly, 7, and Lily-Sue, 6. He and Goodrem have carefully kept the details of their planned nuptials secret.
Even close friends and family had been kept inthe dark on the wedding and invitations were expected to be sent out at the last minute to protect their privacy.
"I've been waiting but nothing's arrived,'' said one close friend, who did not want to be named.
"It's going to be in a magazine so they are keeping everything secret.
"Maybe I'll just get a text a few hours before.''
Earlier this year, Goodrem even indicated she may design her own wedding dress.
May 24, 2009 12:00am
SINGERS Delta Goodrem and Brian McFadden have put off their Christmas wedding, but have insisted their relationship isn't onthe rocks.
McFadden told The Sunday Telegraph he was still madly in love with Goodrem, but simply too busy to walk down the aisle.
Gallery: The many faces of Delta Goodrem
"We were sitting down to try to organise the wedding and we were thinking, `We're never going to get this wedding organised by Christmas','' said McFadden, 29.
Gallery: McFadden McMaddened
"I know if we don't get married, everyone is going to say there are problems because we pushed the wedding back.
"But we want to get married and take a nice block of time off, like three months, enjoy our families being there and have a nice honeymoon ... not get married between gigs.''
The pair spent much of the past 18 months apart as Goodrem based herself overseas, attempting unsuccessfully to break into the competitive American market.
Now back in Australia, Goodrem is getting ready to begin work on her fourth album.
And McFadden is about to launch a new music project named Wall Of Sound with former Savage Garden producer Rob Connolly. He is also busy filming the second series of Foxtel's Football Superstar.
"Since Christmas, we've only spent about one day apart, which is great,'' said the former Westlife singer. ``Hopefully the rest of the year it will be like that.
"I know she's going to go back to America and she's about to get knee-deep into her new record, so we're planning each week as it comes.''
The pair announced their engagement in November 2007, having met two years earlier while working together on a duet, Almost Here.
McFadden was then married to former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona, with whom he has two daughters: Molly, 7, and Lily-Sue, 6. He and Goodrem have carefully kept the details of their planned nuptials secret.
Even close friends and family had been kept inthe dark on the wedding and invitations were expected to be sent out at the last minute to protect their privacy.
"I've been waiting but nothing's arrived,'' said one close friend, who did not want to be named.
"It's going to be in a magazine so they are keeping everything secret.
"Maybe I'll just get a text a few hours before.''
Earlier this year, Goodrem even indicated she may design her own wedding dress.
By Melanie Finn
Wednesday September 02 2009
Brian McFadden helped his elder daughter celebrate her birthday after flying back home from Down Under.
The former Westlife star flew back in the wake of ex-wife Kerry Katona's alleged meltdown.
And the devoted dad made sure to pay a special dedication to his daughter Molly as she marked her eighth birthday.
He sent special wishes to his elder child on his popular Twitter page, where he first revealed his plans to fly back to Ireland. "Happy birthday baby girl X," he wrote on his home page.
Brian has been on red alert for the past week, since Kerry was snapped allegedly taking drugs at her home -- in Warrington, England -- which she shares with her hubby Mark Croft and four children.
But the singer became so concerned for the plight for his two children, Molly and Lilly-Sue (7), that he jetted back over the weekend.
An incriminating video of the former Atomic Kitten star emerged just after Brian's two children returned to Britain after spending a three-week holiday with their dad in Ireland.
Just a few days later, Kerry was arrested by police after her accountant David McHugh claimed she had assaulted him during a heated meeting in his office.
After returning to her Cheshire home, she collapsed in hysterics and threatened to slash her wrists.
Her arrest came soon after she lost her €300,000 contract with Iceland, her last high-profile job after MTV axed her reality show.
Now Brian is said to be gearing up for a custody battle with the troubled reality star, as he has expressed his hope of bringing his daughters back to live in Ireland.
"He may live in Australia, but he's mad about his two girls and would do anything for them," said a source.
"He feels like all this bad stuff is unfolding around them without being able to do anything about it, and he's sick and tired of reading about the latest saga in Kerry's troubled life.
Wednesday September 02 2009
Brian McFadden helped his elder daughter celebrate her birthday after flying back home from Down Under.
The former Westlife star flew back in the wake of ex-wife Kerry Katona's alleged meltdown.
And the devoted dad made sure to pay a special dedication to his daughter Molly as she marked her eighth birthday.
He sent special wishes to his elder child on his popular Twitter page, where he first revealed his plans to fly back to Ireland. "Happy birthday baby girl X," he wrote on his home page.
Brian has been on red alert for the past week, since Kerry was snapped allegedly taking drugs at her home -- in Warrington, England -- which she shares with her hubby Mark Croft and four children.
But the singer became so concerned for the plight for his two children, Molly and Lilly-Sue (7), that he jetted back over the weekend.
An incriminating video of the former Atomic Kitten star emerged just after Brian's two children returned to Britain after spending a three-week holiday with their dad in Ireland.
Just a few days later, Kerry was arrested by police after her accountant David McHugh claimed she had assaulted him during a heated meeting in his office.
After returning to her Cheshire home, she collapsed in hysterics and threatened to slash her wrists.
Her arrest came soon after she lost her €300,000 contract with Iceland, her last high-profile job after MTV axed her reality show.
Now Brian is said to be gearing up for a custody battle with the troubled reality star, as he has expressed his hope of bringing his daughters back to live in Ireland.
"He may live in Australia, but he's mad about his two girls and would do anything for them," said a source.
"He feels like all this bad stuff is unfolding around them without being able to do anything about it, and he's sick and tired of reading about the latest saga in Kerry's troubled life.
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Zaterdag 23 november 2013
2 WESTLIFE 2009
Westlife's Feehily wants critics to lay off
Westlife land at two with 'What About Now', narrowly missing out on a 15th UK chart-topper
1. (1) Cheryl Cole: 'Fight For This Love'
2. (-) Westlife: 'What About Now' 
3. (-) Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne: 'Down'
4. (2) Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida: 'Bad Boys'
5. (9) Michael Bublé: 'Haven't Met You Yet'
6. (11) Black Eyed Peas: 'Meet Me Halfway'
Westlife land at two with 'What About Now', narrowly missing out on a 15th UK chart-topper
1. (1) Cheryl Cole: 'Fight For This Love'
2. (-) Westlife: 'What About Now'
3. (-) Jay Sean ft. Lil Wayne: 'Down'
4. (2) Alexandra Burke ft. Flo Rida: 'Bad Boys'
5. (9) Michael Bublé: 'Haven't Met You Yet'
6. (11) Black Eyed Peas: 'Meet Me Halfway'
7. (3) Chipmunk: 'Oopsy Daisy'
8. (5) Whitney Houston: 'Million Dollar Bill'
9. (4) Robbie Williams: 'Bodies'
10. (7) Black Eyed Peas: 'I Gotta Feeling'
8. (5) Whitney Houston: 'Million Dollar Bill'
9. (4) Robbie Williams: 'Bodies'
10. (7) Black Eyed Peas: 'I Gotta Feeling'
Mark Feehily says he’s fed up of people criticising Westlife for doing cover songs.
The 29-year-old vocalist said he was annoyed his group – who have had 14 number one hits and sold more than 43 million records sold worldwide - were “misunderstood”.
The ‘Flying Without Wings’ vocalist said: “Our record company, they don’t want to take risks, so they are happier to do more covers.
“To anyone who criticises what we do, we actually do a lot of original pop songs and a lot of our best songs, a lot of our number one singles, are actually original pop songs. “
Although he added: “We definitely did go too far, we did too many covers. That’s something we allowed to happen and shouldn’t have.”
Despite this, Westlife’s new single ‘What About Now’ is actually a cover of a track by Daughtry, an American rock band.
Defending their choice, Feehily said: “It’s a cover in the way that it’s been recorded by another artist but it’s not a cover in the way ‘Mandy’ was, in that it’s been a massive hit already.”
2009
Westlife Nicky's father dies, aged 60
Wednesday, November 4 2009,
Westlife have cancelled their current promotional tour after singer Nicky Byrne's father died at the age of 60.
The band had been in London to support their comeback single 'What About Now' but Byrne has now returned to Ireland to support his family following Nicky Snr's death from a suspected heart attack, the Daily Mail reports.
An official statement read: "The family would like to confirm the sad news of the very sudden loss of a husband, dad and grandad today.
"A wonderful man who will be sadly missed by everyone whose life he touched. The Byrne family would like to ask that you respect their privacy at this time."
A spokesman for the group added: "The boys in the band's main priority is looking after Nicky at this tragic time."
Bandmate Kian Egan, who lost his own father to cancer in July, told the Irish Independent: "It's been such a shock. Everyone feels so sad. It was just so sudden and unexpected."
The group's founder Louis Walsh said: "Westlife are all devastated. They can't believe a second father is dead."
Wednesday, November 4 2009,
Westlife have cancelled their current promotional tour after singer Nicky Byrne's father died at the age of 60.
The band had been in London to support their comeback single 'What About Now' but Byrne has now returned to Ireland to support his family following Nicky Snr's death from a suspected heart attack, the Daily Mail reports.
An official statement read: "The family would like to confirm the sad news of the very sudden loss of a husband, dad and grandad today.
"A wonderful man who will be sadly missed by everyone whose life he touched. The Byrne family would like to ask that you respect their privacy at this time."
A spokesman for the group added: "The boys in the band's main priority is looking after Nicky at this tragic time."
Bandmate Kian Egan, who lost his own father to cancer in July, told the Irish Independent: "It's been such a shock. Everyone feels so sad. It was just so sudden and unexpected."
The group's founder Louis Walsh said: "Westlife are all devastated. They can't believe a second father is dead."
New album for Westlife
Pop's most enduring group, Westlife, have finally emerged from the studio after a year-long break to present their brand new album, 'Where We Are'.
Spending much of 2009 hidden away in studios across Europe and the US, Westlife have been quietly creating their most exciting album to date. 'Where We Are' features work from pop's finest craftsmen, including grammy nominated Ryan Tedder (Leona Lewis, Beyonce) Steve Robson (James Morrison, Take That) Steve Booker (Duffy) Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters (Whitney Houston, Anastacia.) and Shaznay Lewis, who co-writes a track with band member Mark Feehily.
These stellar production teams have helped the boys create a new and contemporary sound, whilst retaining those classic Westlife soaring melodies and rousing lyrics. Featuring the already massive hit single 'What About Now' it's a collection bound to excite fans and pop enthusiasts alike.
Perhaps best showcasing this new sound is 'Shadows', co-written by Backstreet Boy A. J. Mclean. A classic Westlife choral anthem, peppered with a futuristic military drum roll fashioned by urban-pop maestro Ryan Tedder. The song sets the benchmark for the sound which brings Westlife bang up-to-date on the eve of the new decade.
Elsewhere 'The Difference' visits rockier terrain, while 'Another World' allows Mark Feehily's exquisite vocal to escalate to gospel territory, a moment sure to thrill live. 'I'll See You Again' laments the passing of a loved one, set to a haunting landscape of piano, synths and acoustic guitar, a moment surely relatable.
Shane Filan of the band says "We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record, working with new producers and writing songs for the album ourselves. After eleven years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."
Westlife's new material is the first since 2007's 'Back Home', which became the band's seventh number one album, spending two months in the Top Ten and selling over 1 million copies in the UK alone.
No pop band can compare to Westlife's extraordinary success. During their 11 years at the top of pop's hierarchy, the band has sold over 40 million records globally. In the UK alone they have scored nine multi-platinum albums and a record breaking 14 No.1 hits (behind only Elvis and The Beatles). They have also picked up innumerable awards and appeared on hundreds of magazine covers around the world. They are the only recording artists to win the prestigious 'Record Of The Year' an incredible four times (other top awards include two BRITS and an MTV Europe Award). Westlife are also the biggest selling Arena act ever, holding the record for the most concerts held at Wembley Arena, an incredible 23.
Pop's most enduring group, Westlife, have finally emerged from the studio after a year-long break to present their brand new album, 'Where We Are'.
Spending much of 2009 hidden away in studios across Europe and the US, Westlife have been quietly creating their most exciting album to date. 'Where We Are' features work from pop's finest craftsmen, including grammy nominated Ryan Tedder (Leona Lewis, Beyonce) Steve Robson (James Morrison, Take That) Steve Booker (Duffy) Louis Biancaniello and Sam Watters (Whitney Houston, Anastacia.) and Shaznay Lewis, who co-writes a track with band member Mark Feehily.
These stellar production teams have helped the boys create a new and contemporary sound, whilst retaining those classic Westlife soaring melodies and rousing lyrics. Featuring the already massive hit single 'What About Now' it's a collection bound to excite fans and pop enthusiasts alike.
Perhaps best showcasing this new sound is 'Shadows', co-written by Backstreet Boy A. J. Mclean. A classic Westlife choral anthem, peppered with a futuristic military drum roll fashioned by urban-pop maestro Ryan Tedder. The song sets the benchmark for the sound which brings Westlife bang up-to-date on the eve of the new decade.
Elsewhere 'The Difference' visits rockier terrain, while 'Another World' allows Mark Feehily's exquisite vocal to escalate to gospel territory, a moment sure to thrill live. 'I'll See You Again' laments the passing of a loved one, set to a haunting landscape of piano, synths and acoustic guitar, a moment surely relatable.
Shane Filan of the band says "We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record, working with new producers and writing songs for the album ourselves. After eleven years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."
Westlife's new material is the first since 2007's 'Back Home', which became the band's seventh number one album, spending two months in the Top Ten and selling over 1 million copies in the UK alone.
No pop band can compare to Westlife's extraordinary success. During their 11 years at the top of pop's hierarchy, the band has sold over 40 million records globally. In the UK alone they have scored nine multi-platinum albums and a record breaking 14 No.1 hits (behind only Elvis and The Beatles). They have also picked up innumerable awards and appeared on hundreds of magazine covers around the world. They are the only recording artists to win the prestigious 'Record Of The Year' an incredible four times (other top awards include two BRITS and an MTV Europe Award). Westlife are also the biggest selling Arena act ever, holding the record for the most concerts held at Wembley Arena, an incredible 23.
Where We Are
Shane says: "We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record, working with new producers and writing songs for the album ourselves. After eleven years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."
Shane says: "We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record, working with new producers and writing songs for the album ourselves. After eleven years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."
Westlife star Nicky Byrne lays his father to rest in emotional ceremony
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated on 07th November 2009
Westlife star Nicky Byrne laid his father to rest today in an emotional ceremony.
The 31-year-old's face was contorted by grief as he acted as pallbearer for his father Nicky Sr.
Earlier the grieving star and his family had been joined by Nicky's Westlife bandmates as they sang at the service in tribute to the 60-year-old, a musician and singer on the cabaret scene.
Grief: Westlife star Nicky Byrne (R) helps carry his father's coffin to the hearse at at Lawrences Church in Balldoyle, Dublin today
Amongst the mourners were writer Cecelia Ahern and her boyfriend athlete David Keoghan, Irish TV chef Terry McCoy, Miriam Ahern, the former Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, Irish singer Michael English, Boyzone singer Ronan's wife Yvonne Keating, Irish TV producer Bill Hughes, and Gaelic footballer Gary Kavanagh.
Famous faces: X Factor judge and Westlife founder Louis Walsh joined former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the service
Nicky Sr, who had his own band called 'Nicky and the Studz', was the person who inspired a young Byrne to go into the music business and the pair used to sing karaoke together.
The pair were partularly close and in December, Byrne threw a lavish party at a Dublin hotel for Nicky Sr 60th birthday and presented his father with a Harley-Davidson motorbike as a present.
His sudden death earlier this week left Byrne devastated. He was in London on a promotional tour and immediately flew home to Ireland.
By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated on 07th November 2009
Westlife star Nicky Byrne laid his father to rest today in an emotional ceremony.
The 31-year-old's face was contorted by grief as he acted as pallbearer for his father Nicky Sr.
Earlier the grieving star and his family had been joined by Nicky's Westlife bandmates as they sang at the service in tribute to the 60-year-old, a musician and singer on the cabaret scene.
Grief: Westlife star Nicky Byrne (R) helps carry his father's coffin to the hearse at at Lawrences Church in Balldoyle, Dublin today
Amongst the mourners were writer Cecelia Ahern and her boyfriend athlete David Keoghan, Irish TV chef Terry McCoy, Miriam Ahern, the former Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, Irish singer Michael English, Boyzone singer Ronan's wife Yvonne Keating, Irish TV producer Bill Hughes, and Gaelic footballer Gary Kavanagh.
Famous faces: X Factor judge and Westlife founder Louis Walsh joined former Irish Taoiseach Bertie Ahern at the service
Nicky Sr, who had his own band called 'Nicky and the Studz', was the person who inspired a young Byrne to go into the music business and the pair used to sing karaoke together.
The pair were partularly close and in December, Byrne threw a lavish party at a Dublin hotel for Nicky Sr 60th birthday and presented his father with a Harley-Davidson motorbike as a present.
His sudden death earlier this week left Byrne devastated. He was in London on a promotional tour and immediately flew home to Ireland.
United in grief: Brian McFadden's mother Mairead McFadden, Westlife member Mark Feehily and his boyfriend Kevin McDaid, Brendan McFadden
Tuesday - November 17 - 2009
Westlife to switch on Christmas lights
Westlife, who will switch on the Christmas lights in Grafton Street this evening, have dedicated their new album to the fathers of Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne who died this year.
Egan (29), who lost his father Kevin in July to cancer, said 2009 had been an extremely tough year for the band. His wife Jodi Albert also suffered a bereavement when her grandfather died.
Byrne's father Nicky snr (60) died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this month. The death of Boyzone's Stephen Gately also affected Westlife as both bands are close.
The album sleeve for Where We Are was due to go to the printers on the day that Byrne's father died.
The day Nicky's father died, a girl from the record label rang me and said, 'we have enough time to put Nicky's father on the dedication if he would like that'," Egan said.
We rang Nicky reluctantly because it was all so sudden for him. Luckily we had enough time. It would have felt wrong if the album was only dedicated to my father.
Mr Egan, a father of seven, died in July after a year long battle with cancer. Pictures of him and Mr Byrne will be on the inside cover the album.
We never had to deal with death ever as young adults. This year it seems that we have to deal with a lot of it. It makes you question what life is all about, his son said.
It has been a very strange and difficult year for us. I had not been to a funeral since I was a child when I think about it. All of a sudden in the last six months we have been to four funerals, two of them being parents of Westlife
The new album includes a song about death entitled I'll See You Again .
The first time I heard it, it nearly broke my heart, but then as I kept listening to it, I thought that it really fits. Anybody in the world who hears this song will see that it really means something for anybody who was lost somebody. It will really touch them emotionally,Egan explained.
Egan accepted criticisms Westlife had played it safe in the past by covering well-known songs such as Bette Midler's The Rose and Michael Bublé's Home were valid. He said the new album marks a departure from that with 11 original songs out of 12, mostly written by American songwriters.
It features only one cover, What About Now , a song by the American group Daughtry which is the first Westlife single from the new album.
Looking back, we had one too many well-known cover songs," Egan said. If we'd gone out there singing songs like The Rose and Home for the rest of our career, we would not enjoy it as much.
The album also features a rare self-penned Westlife track Reach Out , co-written by band member Mark Feehily.
We went through a phase in the early part of our career where we did want to write our own songs and we did, but they were crap in comparison with all the other great songs that we had, Egan said.
If we wanted to write the album ourselves, we could, but we know we're not naturally gifted songwriters. We know our strength is in singing the songs and performing them on stage.
Westlife to switch on Christmas lights
Westlife, who will switch on the Christmas lights in Grafton Street this evening, have dedicated their new album to the fathers of Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne who died this year.
Egan (29), who lost his father Kevin in July to cancer, said 2009 had been an extremely tough year for the band. His wife Jodi Albert also suffered a bereavement when her grandfather died.
Byrne's father Nicky snr (60) died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this month. The death of Boyzone's Stephen Gately also affected Westlife as both bands are close.
The album sleeve for Where We Are was due to go to the printers on the day that Byrne's father died.
The day Nicky's father died, a girl from the record label rang me and said, 'we have enough time to put Nicky's father on the dedication if he would like that'," Egan said.
We rang Nicky reluctantly because it was all so sudden for him. Luckily we had enough time. It would have felt wrong if the album was only dedicated to my father.
Mr Egan, a father of seven, died in July after a year long battle with cancer. Pictures of him and Mr Byrne will be on the inside cover the album.
We never had to deal with death ever as young adults. This year it seems that we have to deal with a lot of it. It makes you question what life is all about, his son said.
It has been a very strange and difficult year for us. I had not been to a funeral since I was a child when I think about it. All of a sudden in the last six months we have been to four funerals, two of them being parents of Westlife
The new album includes a song about death entitled I'll See You Again .
The first time I heard it, it nearly broke my heart, but then as I kept listening to it, I thought that it really fits. Anybody in the world who hears this song will see that it really means something for anybody who was lost somebody. It will really touch them emotionally,Egan explained.
Egan accepted criticisms Westlife had played it safe in the past by covering well-known songs such as Bette Midler's The Rose and Michael Bublé's Home were valid. He said the new album marks a departure from that with 11 original songs out of 12, mostly written by American songwriters.
It features only one cover, What About Now , a song by the American group Daughtry which is the first Westlife single from the new album.
Looking back, we had one too many well-known cover songs," Egan said. If we'd gone out there singing songs like The Rose and Home for the rest of our career, we would not enjoy it as much.
The album also features a rare self-penned Westlife track Reach Out , co-written by band member Mark Feehily.
We went through a phase in the early part of our career where we did want to write our own songs and we did, but they were crap in comparison with all the other great songs that we had, Egan said.
If we wanted to write the album ourselves, we could, but we know we're not naturally gifted songwriters. We know our strength is in singing the songs and performing them on stage.
November, 2009
Westlife: Us against the world
It has been a year of sorrow and loss for Westlife. Or, as Nicky Byrne puts it, 'It has been a shit year and I can't wait to see the back of it.' In their only in-depth interview this year, the four members of the band tell Barry Egan how tragedy has made brothers of them. Photography by Sarah Doyle
Sunday November 29 2009
May, 2003: I get to spend two ostensibly fun days and nights in London in the company of Westlife. At 3am one night, Louis Walsh and I are standing in the courtyard of the Conrad Hotel overlooking Chelsea Harbour when one Robbie Williams comes over and tries to wind up the Westlife manager. The ex-Take That singer repeatedly says to Louis: "What did you mean, man? I respect you . . ." A few months before, Louis, being Louis, had dubbed Robbie "a bad karaoke singer" in Heat magazine.
Standing to our immediate left, Kian Egan is waiting by his brand-new BMW. Then Louis, myself and Kian make our excuses and leave Mr Williams to argue with himself.
Five hours earlier, Kian and his bandmates had been mobbed by thousands of teenage girls as they attempted to leave Wembley Arena. I wonder whether a certain insufferable glamour model was in the audience, not least because that day's newspaper featured the particularly tender headline: "Jordan -- I want to f**k Kian".
The day before, the band are in their dressing room before the show. Outside, in the backstage area, Georgina Ahern looks utterly gorgeous in a demure, summery dress, wandering around happily as her fiance Nicky prepares to go on in front of 15,000 fans. When Westlife -- Kian and Mark and Shane and Nicky and a fella by the name of Bryan McFadden -- take the stage, each song is greeted with a veritable volcanic eruption of pubescent squeals: the choruses of Tonight and then Flying Without Wings building over soulful, multilayered, five-part harmonies are not your average boy band fare.
"Westlife are a great, great vocal group," Louis tells me during the show. "They appeal to everybody. It's not just to kids. Mammies and daddies and twenty-somethings love them. That's why they sell so many records."
"The one thing that Westlife have and that Boyzone and Take That didn't have -- it's not about one person," Bryan tells me after the show. "With Take That, Gary was the singer and Robbie was the joker. In Boyzone, it was Ronan and the other four. In our band, we are all singers."
I meet Nicky and Georgina the following morning over breakfast. I ask Nicky how they met. "We met in first year when we were like 12 or 13," Nicky says fondly, "but we didn't really talk to each other then. We were a little bit shy. She was more shy than me. We started going out when we were 16."
During the 48 hours I spend with the band, they all appear happy young people untouched by life's pain and suffering, especially Nicky Byrne who, like a young Larry Mullen in his jeans and jacket, walks around like a personification of love's young dream with Georgina.
November, 2009: Nicky Byrne's face carries the permanent, troubled aura of someone who only two weeks ago lost his father. He is standing in the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin's Ballsbridge. He points to the room opposite and says that his father, Nikki, often came here for Westlife album launches and after-show parties. It is still too soon to put any kind of proper perspective on losing his father but Nicky, who was always mature, says he is still in shock. And shock is probably an understatement. "I still don't believe it. Actually, it's not that I don't believe it's real, I can't believe it's real. I can't," Nicky says.
"I hate to sound like I'm sorrowful," he adds, needlessly. "People have dealt with grief before me and people will deal with it tomorrow and the next day. But he was the youngest 60 years. He was so full of life. He had everything going for him. He was fit and healthy. He loved his job. He loved his motorcycle. He loved his gigs at the weekends. He sang. He played guitar and he could play a bit of keyboards but his main thing was vocals."
You obviously came to music through your father?
"I spent all my childhood watching my dad sing," he answers, immediately. "He went out gigging seven nights a week. Every night after dinner, he would get his clothes on and go out singing. You would see him going out during the summer in pale blue trousers and flowery shirts. He was a cabaret star."
Nikki's favourite song, the song he always did without fail, was Honey (I Miss You), made famous by Bobby Goldsboro. At the funeral in St Laurence O'Toole Church in Baldoyle in early November, Nicky asked his mother, Yvonne: "Do you want me to sing Honey?"
She said: "No way -- I couldn't hear that."
The song Nicky did sing with Westlife at the funeral was Please Stay by The Cryin' Shames.
"It was a song that my dad always wanted Westlife to do," he recalls. "He always thought the song would suit Westlife, and me in particular. It was one of those songs that I never did. And I did it at the funeral. I said in my eulogy, 'It is probably a bit late, Dad, but I'm doing it now for you.'"
His father singing was Nicky's earliest childhood memory. He can remember Nikki singing at the Racecourse Inn in Baldoyle, or at the Grand Hotel in Malahide throughout his childhood.
"There are hundreds of people, thousands probably, walking around this city whose weddings my dad sung at. He was such a likable man. He always had a smile," says Nicky, almost smiling himself.
I ask Nicky what his oul' fella was like.
"Oh, he had bundles of energy," he smiles, adding that the Sunday before his father died he was playing football with Nicky's godson, Zack, in the garden. "I never thought we'd only have him until he was 60. I thought we'd have him until he was at least 75 or 80. But it wasn't to be."
There is a long pause. Then Nicky says: "My dad looked amazing in the coffin. He didn't look dead. He looked asleep. I have seen so many people over the years in coffins that had illness and they deteriorated and they looked terrible. He looked like he was asleep. I have a picture of him on my phone. I can't believe he is not just awake. But all those things help.
"You know, I think talking about him kind of helps it," he adds, leaving the sentence hanging there.
One of toughest parts of losing his father so suddenly was that Nicky never got a chance to say goodbye. "I was chatting to him on Saturday night, Halloween night, and he died Tuesday morning," he says. "He was out in the house on the Saturday night. We had a fancy dress for the kids and a few of the friends' kids and my dad was over and I was chatting to him. He seemed in good health and in good form."
And then he says: "I had a bad day on Sunday. And my mam had a bad day on Sunday. It is just so strange. I mean, where do you even start to pick up the pieces? His birthday is coming up on December 14 and Christmas after that. Last month, we were talking about Christmas. He was looking forward to his Christmas gigs at the Regency Hotel on the Airport Road. It is all such a punch in the face. It is like a steam train. Every morning, I get up, I feel sick."
Death of a loved one, I say, makes you realise what forever means: you will never see that person ever again in this world.
"I know," Nicky says. "The finality of it all kills me. The fact that I can never see him; the fact that I can never talk or have a laugh with him or anything like that. I suppose when you realise that, that's a bad day. Other days, you still think you have all the memories and a million photographs of him. Things like that, I suppose, help. A part of you dies with them and obviously you learn to cope and you do your best, especially when you're married and you have kids. But a part of me died with him."
His and Georgina's twins, Rocco and Jay, have been told that their grandad has gone to God. They call Nikki 'Grandad Nucan'. Ten years ago, Nicky explains, his father came in from a night out with his wife, and was plastered. When Nicky started to rib his father for being drunk, he said, "I'm not drunk at all. I could drive from all the way to Nucan and back."
"He meant to say Lucan," Nicky explains. "From that day on, his nickname was Nucan. The boys called him that. I told them that Grandad Nucan is in heaven and he is a star. So at every night at nighttime they point up at the stars to Grandad Nucan."
In July of this year, another member of Westlife, Kian Egan, had his father, Kevin, die after a long battle with cancer. The new Westlife album Where We Are is dedicated to both Nicky and Kian's late fathers.
It was a very difficult time, Kian says. He and his bride, Jodi Albert, had planned to get married in Barbados in May. But his dad, he recalls, got progressively very ill, fast. "And by Christmas of last year we knew he wouldn't be here by this time next year," Kian says. "We had to try and make a final decision on whether to move the wedding or not; you know, was he going to be able to come to the wedding, etc. So that was a whole rigmarole in itself.
"He wanted us to go ahead with the wedding. So we did. Then we came and we were on cloud nine for a week. But then we were kicked off it with my dad on his deathbed. He was dead on July 19.
"It was a very strange year," Kian says. "But that was meant to be for me."
Some people say that a man truly stops being a boy and only really becomes a man when his father dies, I say.
"My dad was a teacher in his role to me as a father," Kian says. "He would teach you how to do something. That was the type of man he was. He was a quiet man but he read books on how to fix an engine."
Kian's mother said to him recently: "Death comes in waves."
"There has been so many deaths around us this year," Kian adds. "So I kind of hope that our wave is over and that is it."
Boyzone singer Stephen Gately's sudden death on October 10 was another part of the dark wave that hit Ireland this year, lest we forget.
"People tend to forget about how powerless everyone is against the reality of the inevitable," says Mark Feehily. "It definitely does bring it right to the front of your mind. Stephen was so young. Kian's dad's death was prolonged. Nicky's dad's death was so sudden. It instilled in me, in a way, that whole thing of 'Get out there and do it before it is too late. Don't leave things unsaid.'
"Over the past year I have taken time to be able to hear myself think by taking some time away from Westlife. I took time to decide what I liked about life and what I didn't like about life. And it is quite difficult to do that in the middle of the madness. I am following my gut and believing in myself more. I stand up for what I believe. Automatically I started being happier. I wrote a song on this new Westlife album. It's called Reach Out. I've been putting my songwriting off with Westlife." His dreams, growing up in Sligo and watching Top Of The Pops, were, he says, always to sing and write songs.
So, Jedward -- pop heroes or the end of civilisation as we know it?
"I have grown to like them an awful lot," says Mark. "Some people hate them. I look at them as two 18-year-old lads from Dublin over in London and they have become the two most famous people in the country overnight. I look at them and hope they are OK and hope they can cope with all the madness. I am so close to it because I can understand to a certain extent what they are going through."
How did you deal with being judged?
"I didn't deal well with it, because I don't think I have ever been designed to be, like, a pop star. I hated it all. I couldn't believe there were people who would just casually say to you, 'You need to lose weight', or, 'You look terrible', or, when you were singing your heart out, 'That was fucking shit'. I was brought up by a lovely family with two lovely grannies, Bridget and May. So I was brought up to be nice to people."
2009 for Westlife's Shane Filan was, he says, both joyful and horrific. He started the year with him and his wife Gillian having their first son, Patrick -- someone for four-year-old Nicole to play with. "So that was great to be at home with the new baby," Shane says. "It was a big family year for me; to stay at home a lot, and doing normal stuff like having me pints in the normal pub with my father-in-law. But then, as the year went on, Kian's dad got sick and he was dealing with that the whole time. It was hard to see that. Then he died and then Stephen died and then Nicky's dad. There was so much sorrow and sadness in the year for us."
Westlife are like a band of brothers, I say.
"That's really true," he says. "We always were close but I think now we are closer than ever. We see each other like brothers. We feel like giving each other a hug more often."
So, you will be watching Nicky at this very difficult time for him?
"Oh yeah," he says instantly. "We've got to take care of him. Me and Mark, we still have our dads, but our job now is to make sure Kian and Nicky are OK in their personal lives and try to make things easier on them whatever way we can; because there are going to be really hard days for them, I'm sure. We just got to look after each other now because, as a band, without each other we don't have a band.
"It has been such a strange, strange year," he adds.
"The whole year was very strange," concurs Nicky. "Imagine: two months before my dad, Kian's dad passed away from his illness; he had been sick for a while and he didn't make Kian's wedding in Barbados. And then there was Stephen at 33. That was impossible to comprehend.
"I'll tell you what," Nicky adds, "it has been a shit year and I can't wait to see the fucking back of it, to tell you the truth."
It must have taught you a hard lesson of how random and cruel life can be.
"Absolutely. When Stephen died, I remember going to the funeral and we had to fly to Iceland the next day to shoot a video. On the plane it was just so morbid, the four of us. It only really sunk in then.
"I noticed this with my own dad's death. At the funeral, as sad as it is, you are on a bit of a high because everybody is around you and you are doing so many things. But even a day or two afterwards . . . everyone is gone, and you are alone with just your close family. I have been going to the graveyard. It's just, he was my best friend. I bought him a motorbike for his 60th last December. I bought him a brand new Merc in 2002. It is just so hard to even consider at the minute. I don't know where to start. I really don't."
Westlife's new album, 'Where We Are', is out now
Westlife: Us against the world
It has been a year of sorrow and loss for Westlife. Or, as Nicky Byrne puts it, 'It has been a shit year and I can't wait to see the back of it.' In their only in-depth interview this year, the four members of the band tell Barry Egan how tragedy has made brothers of them. Photography by Sarah Doyle
Sunday November 29 2009
May, 2003: I get to spend two ostensibly fun days and nights in London in the company of Westlife. At 3am one night, Louis Walsh and I are standing in the courtyard of the Conrad Hotel overlooking Chelsea Harbour when one Robbie Williams comes over and tries to wind up the Westlife manager. The ex-Take That singer repeatedly says to Louis: "What did you mean, man? I respect you . . ." A few months before, Louis, being Louis, had dubbed Robbie "a bad karaoke singer" in Heat magazine.
Standing to our immediate left, Kian Egan is waiting by his brand-new BMW. Then Louis, myself and Kian make our excuses and leave Mr Williams to argue with himself.
Five hours earlier, Kian and his bandmates had been mobbed by thousands of teenage girls as they attempted to leave Wembley Arena. I wonder whether a certain insufferable glamour model was in the audience, not least because that day's newspaper featured the particularly tender headline: "Jordan -- I want to f**k Kian".
The day before, the band are in their dressing room before the show. Outside, in the backstage area, Georgina Ahern looks utterly gorgeous in a demure, summery dress, wandering around happily as her fiance Nicky prepares to go on in front of 15,000 fans. When Westlife -- Kian and Mark and Shane and Nicky and a fella by the name of Bryan McFadden -- take the stage, each song is greeted with a veritable volcanic eruption of pubescent squeals: the choruses of Tonight and then Flying Without Wings building over soulful, multilayered, five-part harmonies are not your average boy band fare.
"Westlife are a great, great vocal group," Louis tells me during the show. "They appeal to everybody. It's not just to kids. Mammies and daddies and twenty-somethings love them. That's why they sell so many records."
"The one thing that Westlife have and that Boyzone and Take That didn't have -- it's not about one person," Bryan tells me after the show. "With Take That, Gary was the singer and Robbie was the joker. In Boyzone, it was Ronan and the other four. In our band, we are all singers."
I meet Nicky and Georgina the following morning over breakfast. I ask Nicky how they met. "We met in first year when we were like 12 or 13," Nicky says fondly, "but we didn't really talk to each other then. We were a little bit shy. She was more shy than me. We started going out when we were 16."
During the 48 hours I spend with the band, they all appear happy young people untouched by life's pain and suffering, especially Nicky Byrne who, like a young Larry Mullen in his jeans and jacket, walks around like a personification of love's young dream with Georgina.
November, 2009: Nicky Byrne's face carries the permanent, troubled aura of someone who only two weeks ago lost his father. He is standing in the Four Seasons Hotel in Dublin's Ballsbridge. He points to the room opposite and says that his father, Nikki, often came here for Westlife album launches and after-show parties. It is still too soon to put any kind of proper perspective on losing his father but Nicky, who was always mature, says he is still in shock. And shock is probably an understatement. "I still don't believe it. Actually, it's not that I don't believe it's real, I can't believe it's real. I can't," Nicky says.
"I hate to sound like I'm sorrowful," he adds, needlessly. "People have dealt with grief before me and people will deal with it tomorrow and the next day. But he was the youngest 60 years. He was so full of life. He had everything going for him. He was fit and healthy. He loved his job. He loved his motorcycle. He loved his gigs at the weekends. He sang. He played guitar and he could play a bit of keyboards but his main thing was vocals."
You obviously came to music through your father?
"I spent all my childhood watching my dad sing," he answers, immediately. "He went out gigging seven nights a week. Every night after dinner, he would get his clothes on and go out singing. You would see him going out during the summer in pale blue trousers and flowery shirts. He was a cabaret star."
Nikki's favourite song, the song he always did without fail, was Honey (I Miss You), made famous by Bobby Goldsboro. At the funeral in St Laurence O'Toole Church in Baldoyle in early November, Nicky asked his mother, Yvonne: "Do you want me to sing Honey?"
She said: "No way -- I couldn't hear that."
The song Nicky did sing with Westlife at the funeral was Please Stay by The Cryin' Shames.
"It was a song that my dad always wanted Westlife to do," he recalls. "He always thought the song would suit Westlife, and me in particular. It was one of those songs that I never did. And I did it at the funeral. I said in my eulogy, 'It is probably a bit late, Dad, but I'm doing it now for you.'"
His father singing was Nicky's earliest childhood memory. He can remember Nikki singing at the Racecourse Inn in Baldoyle, or at the Grand Hotel in Malahide throughout his childhood.
"There are hundreds of people, thousands probably, walking around this city whose weddings my dad sung at. He was such a likable man. He always had a smile," says Nicky, almost smiling himself.
I ask Nicky what his oul' fella was like.
"Oh, he had bundles of energy," he smiles, adding that the Sunday before his father died he was playing football with Nicky's godson, Zack, in the garden. "I never thought we'd only have him until he was 60. I thought we'd have him until he was at least 75 or 80. But it wasn't to be."
There is a long pause. Then Nicky says: "My dad looked amazing in the coffin. He didn't look dead. He looked asleep. I have seen so many people over the years in coffins that had illness and they deteriorated and they looked terrible. He looked like he was asleep. I have a picture of him on my phone. I can't believe he is not just awake. But all those things help.
"You know, I think talking about him kind of helps it," he adds, leaving the sentence hanging there.
One of toughest parts of losing his father so suddenly was that Nicky never got a chance to say goodbye. "I was chatting to him on Saturday night, Halloween night, and he died Tuesday morning," he says. "He was out in the house on the Saturday night. We had a fancy dress for the kids and a few of the friends' kids and my dad was over and I was chatting to him. He seemed in good health and in good form."
And then he says: "I had a bad day on Sunday. And my mam had a bad day on Sunday. It is just so strange. I mean, where do you even start to pick up the pieces? His birthday is coming up on December 14 and Christmas after that. Last month, we were talking about Christmas. He was looking forward to his Christmas gigs at the Regency Hotel on the Airport Road. It is all such a punch in the face. It is like a steam train. Every morning, I get up, I feel sick."
Death of a loved one, I say, makes you realise what forever means: you will never see that person ever again in this world.
"I know," Nicky says. "The finality of it all kills me. The fact that I can never see him; the fact that I can never talk or have a laugh with him or anything like that. I suppose when you realise that, that's a bad day. Other days, you still think you have all the memories and a million photographs of him. Things like that, I suppose, help. A part of you dies with them and obviously you learn to cope and you do your best, especially when you're married and you have kids. But a part of me died with him."
His and Georgina's twins, Rocco and Jay, have been told that their grandad has gone to God. They call Nikki 'Grandad Nucan'. Ten years ago, Nicky explains, his father came in from a night out with his wife, and was plastered. When Nicky started to rib his father for being drunk, he said, "I'm not drunk at all. I could drive from all the way to Nucan and back."
"He meant to say Lucan," Nicky explains. "From that day on, his nickname was Nucan. The boys called him that. I told them that Grandad Nucan is in heaven and he is a star. So at every night at nighttime they point up at the stars to Grandad Nucan."
In July of this year, another member of Westlife, Kian Egan, had his father, Kevin, die after a long battle with cancer. The new Westlife album Where We Are is dedicated to both Nicky and Kian's late fathers.
It was a very difficult time, Kian says. He and his bride, Jodi Albert, had planned to get married in Barbados in May. But his dad, he recalls, got progressively very ill, fast. "And by Christmas of last year we knew he wouldn't be here by this time next year," Kian says. "We had to try and make a final decision on whether to move the wedding or not; you know, was he going to be able to come to the wedding, etc. So that was a whole rigmarole in itself.
"He wanted us to go ahead with the wedding. So we did. Then we came and we were on cloud nine for a week. But then we were kicked off it with my dad on his deathbed. He was dead on July 19.
"It was a very strange year," Kian says. "But that was meant to be for me."
Some people say that a man truly stops being a boy and only really becomes a man when his father dies, I say.
"My dad was a teacher in his role to me as a father," Kian says. "He would teach you how to do something. That was the type of man he was. He was a quiet man but he read books on how to fix an engine."
Kian's mother said to him recently: "Death comes in waves."
"There has been so many deaths around us this year," Kian adds. "So I kind of hope that our wave is over and that is it."
Boyzone singer Stephen Gately's sudden death on October 10 was another part of the dark wave that hit Ireland this year, lest we forget.
"People tend to forget about how powerless everyone is against the reality of the inevitable," says Mark Feehily. "It definitely does bring it right to the front of your mind. Stephen was so young. Kian's dad's death was prolonged. Nicky's dad's death was so sudden. It instilled in me, in a way, that whole thing of 'Get out there and do it before it is too late. Don't leave things unsaid.'
"Over the past year I have taken time to be able to hear myself think by taking some time away from Westlife. I took time to decide what I liked about life and what I didn't like about life. And it is quite difficult to do that in the middle of the madness. I am following my gut and believing in myself more. I stand up for what I believe. Automatically I started being happier. I wrote a song on this new Westlife album. It's called Reach Out. I've been putting my songwriting off with Westlife." His dreams, growing up in Sligo and watching Top Of The Pops, were, he says, always to sing and write songs.
So, Jedward -- pop heroes or the end of civilisation as we know it?
"I have grown to like them an awful lot," says Mark. "Some people hate them. I look at them as two 18-year-old lads from Dublin over in London and they have become the two most famous people in the country overnight. I look at them and hope they are OK and hope they can cope with all the madness. I am so close to it because I can understand to a certain extent what they are going through."
How did you deal with being judged?
"I didn't deal well with it, because I don't think I have ever been designed to be, like, a pop star. I hated it all. I couldn't believe there were people who would just casually say to you, 'You need to lose weight', or, 'You look terrible', or, when you were singing your heart out, 'That was fucking shit'. I was brought up by a lovely family with two lovely grannies, Bridget and May. So I was brought up to be nice to people."
2009 for Westlife's Shane Filan was, he says, both joyful and horrific. He started the year with him and his wife Gillian having their first son, Patrick -- someone for four-year-old Nicole to play with. "So that was great to be at home with the new baby," Shane says. "It was a big family year for me; to stay at home a lot, and doing normal stuff like having me pints in the normal pub with my father-in-law. But then, as the year went on, Kian's dad got sick and he was dealing with that the whole time. It was hard to see that. Then he died and then Stephen died and then Nicky's dad. There was so much sorrow and sadness in the year for us."
Westlife are like a band of brothers, I say.
"That's really true," he says. "We always were close but I think now we are closer than ever. We see each other like brothers. We feel like giving each other a hug more often."
So, you will be watching Nicky at this very difficult time for him?
"Oh yeah," he says instantly. "We've got to take care of him. Me and Mark, we still have our dads, but our job now is to make sure Kian and Nicky are OK in their personal lives and try to make things easier on them whatever way we can; because there are going to be really hard days for them, I'm sure. We just got to look after each other now because, as a band, without each other we don't have a band.
"It has been such a strange, strange year," he adds.
"The whole year was very strange," concurs Nicky. "Imagine: two months before my dad, Kian's dad passed away from his illness; he had been sick for a while and he didn't make Kian's wedding in Barbados. And then there was Stephen at 33. That was impossible to comprehend.
"I'll tell you what," Nicky adds, "it has been a shit year and I can't wait to see the fucking back of it, to tell you the truth."
It must have taught you a hard lesson of how random and cruel life can be.
"Absolutely. When Stephen died, I remember going to the funeral and we had to fly to Iceland the next day to shoot a video. On the plane it was just so morbid, the four of us. It only really sunk in then.
"I noticed this with my own dad's death. At the funeral, as sad as it is, you are on a bit of a high because everybody is around you and you are doing so many things. But even a day or two afterwards . . . everyone is gone, and you are alone with just your close family. I have been going to the graveyard. It's just, he was my best friend. I bought him a motorbike for his 60th last December. I bought him a brand new Merc in 2002. It is just so hard to even consider at the minute. I don't know where to start. I really don't."
Westlife's new album, 'Where We Are', is out now
Westlife Look To Put Tough Year Behind Them
December 02, 2009
Westlife have admitted they can't wait to see the back of 2009 following a year of personal tragedy.
December 02, 2009
Westlife have admitted they can't wait to see the back of 2009 following a year of personal tragedy.
Saturday, December 5 - 2009
Westlife 'unconcerned by singles' success'
Westlife have declared that they are not concerned about having number one singles, claiming that they are more interested in conquering the album charts.
The band released latest album Where We Are on Monday and are hoping to hit the top spot come the weekend.
"Getting the album to number one is more important than having a number one single for us and Simon [Cowell] agreed," Westlife singer Shane Filan said.
"He pushed us to make a great album. He agreed we needed to up our game and not to record as many covers. We needed to get back to making great pop music."
Filan also spoke about how the Irish group changed direction on the LP, adding to Playlist: "Simon got us in with everyone we wanted to work with. And we only hired producers we haven't worked with before.
"Simon and Louis Walsh think it's the best album we've ever made."
December 4 - 2009
Ireland this week.The top ten albums in full:
1. (1) Susan Boyle: 'I Dreamed A Dream'
2. (-) Westlife: 'Where We Are'
3. (2) JLS: 'JLS'
4. (3) Black Eyed Peas: 'The E.N.D.'
5. (5) Michael Bublé: 'Crazy Love'
6. (4) Lady GaGa: 'The Fame Monster'
7. (6 ) Leona Lewis: 'Echo'
8. (-) Andrea Bocelli: 'My Christmas'
9. (7) The Priests: 'Harmony'
10. (8) Mario Rosenstock: 'Gift Grub 10
Westlife 'unconcerned by singles' success'
Westlife have declared that they are not concerned about having number one singles, claiming that they are more interested in conquering the album charts.
The band released latest album Where We Are on Monday and are hoping to hit the top spot come the weekend.
"Getting the album to number one is more important than having a number one single for us and Simon [Cowell] agreed," Westlife singer Shane Filan said.
"He pushed us to make a great album. He agreed we needed to up our game and not to record as many covers. We needed to get back to making great pop music."
Filan also spoke about how the Irish group changed direction on the LP, adding to Playlist: "Simon got us in with everyone we wanted to work with. And we only hired producers we haven't worked with before.
"Simon and Louis Walsh think it's the best album we've ever made."
December 4 - 2009
Ireland this week.The top ten albums in full:
1. (1) Susan Boyle: 'I Dreamed A Dream'
2. (-) Westlife: 'Where We Are'
3. (2) JLS: 'JLS'
4. (3) Black Eyed Peas: 'The E.N.D.'
5. (5) Michael Bublé: 'Crazy Love'
6. (4) Lady GaGa: 'The Fame Monster'
7. (6 ) Leona Lewis: 'Echo'
8. (-) Andrea Bocelli: 'My Christmas'
9. (7) The Priests: 'Harmony'
10. (8) Mario Rosenstock: 'Gift Grub 10
Westlife exclusive
We were at parties with beautiful women and we wondered why Mark wasn't chatting up
Talking to The Sun ... Westlife's Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filey chat with Gordon Smart
GORDON SMART
Bizarre Editor
Published: 26 Dec 2009
WESTLIFE are modern pop legends. Under the watchful eye of SIMON COWELL they have dominated the charts for a decade, selling more than 45million records.
Here, on Day One of our exclusive two-day special on the band, MARK FEEHILY talks about his decision to reveal his homosexuality and band mate NICKY BYRNE recalls meeting the world's most important man.
Since coming out in The Sun, Mark says he feels as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
The Irish heart-throb revealed his homosexuality in August 2005. Up until then he had kept it from his legions of fans, but the burden of secrecy took its toll.
"I spent a lot of my teenage years and early 20s in a very dark place," says Mark, now 29.
Happy now ... Kevin McDaid and boyfriend Mark Feehily
"There's a real misconception about when I came out.
"I didn't tell the guys when I was 18 or 16 or anything. It took me a long time to sort everything out in my own mind before I was open to anyone about it.
"I just shoved it all down and ignored my feelings and paused, closing the door and leaving it."
Mark, now settled with long-term boyfriend KEVIN MCDAID, says: "It wasn't hiding a secret from the guys or the public. I didn't have any love life or relationship or sex life at all.
"That's why things went so dark for me. It was like a ticking time bomb but now I am so happy."
Bandmate and friend Nicky says he is relieved his pal can finally relax, and that he wasn't surprised to hear he was gay.
"We are at the best of parties with the best-looking women," says Nicky, 31.
"Obviously if you have a girlfriend it's a different scenario but if you looked at Mark, and he didn't have a girlfriend, we kept wondering why he wasn't chatting up the girls. I always knew with Mark. He had what people say is a swagger but it was a gay swagger, that thing going on.
"But you never say anything because it's no one's business.
"I remember the day he told Shane and me. We were all jumping around, hugging and everything. At last he felt comfortable in himself.
"I remember ringing round when the story came out. I rang one of my mates to tell him Mark was gay and he said, 'Make sure you tell him we are all behind him'. Then he panicked and said, 'No, no. Don't say it like that'. "
More than four years after going public over his sexuality, Mark says he is happier and stronger than ever.
He says: "I am embracing getting older. I feel more powerful against all the badness because I know how to deal with it better than I did. I know how to protect myself. I know more about life.
"Don't get me wrong, no one looks forward to getting grey and old and bald and wrinkly but I feel happier now than I ever have."
Critics
Westlife, whose album Where We Are is out now, have come under fire from critics who object to their boy-band brand of pop.
Nicky says: "People say we are not cool but I feel that's something to be proud of. I feel that's cool.
"After 11 years in the music industry and being at all the parties in the world, to have what I have and live the life I live, I am proud of it."
Mark added: "We're desensitised to people calling us s*** now.
"We don't get so worried about people slagging us off any more. We're numb to it."
Westlife were discovered by music industry supremo Simon Cowell. Although they weren't discovered through a talent show like most of Cowell's signings, the lads can empathise with new acts, including X Factor winner JOE MCELDERRY.
"One thing about Joe is he's very innocent and naive," says Nicky. "He was going on about how he doesn't really drink and he just wants to be around the house with his mum and he's a virgin.
"I just think all of that in one day? If he was more mature he wouldn't have gone down that road but he's only a kid."
Mark adds: "We were green like Joe once. When we started off everyone was so passionate and full of life. There were all sorts of positive and negative moments.
"I look at JLS and they remind me so much of us. Their eyes are so wide open. They are loving it, enjoying every minute.
"Since we started there have been BUSTED, BLUE, 5IVE. There has always been another band. We can all co-exist, no one has to go."
I wasn't hiding anything. I didn't have any love life or sex life at allMARK
Earlier this month the band met BARACK OBAMA at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and ended up being introduced to another US mega star.
Nicky says: "We were in a holding room with WILL SMITH and his wife. We got a picture taken with them. Will was so cool.
"We were talking about the guy with him who was a humanitarian who he was shadowing as research for a movie. He just stood in the corner chatting to everyone and we were all in another corner going 'it's f****** Will Smith!'
"Will was great. He told us this story how he was preparing all these questions about humanitarianism for the big interview with Obama. He said he was up all night practising the delivery and then when he met him he was telling himself to be on the ball.
"Then he met him and just said, 'What's it f****** like being the president of the United States?'"
Mark adds: "A security guard stuck his head in the door and asked for a picture with Will and handed me the camera.
Foreign
"It helped break the ice. A few other people started queuing for pics then."
Nicky says: "Meeting Barack Obama was incredible. It felt really important. On the bus going there we were with DONNA SUMMER, WYCLEF, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD and other foreign artists.
"You couldn't get anywhere near him without being vetted or given some sort of security clearance.
"We were meeting the President of America so it was incredible.
Mark says: "I came away thinking what an amazing person. The President was impressive too. He handled the situation so well, meeting everyone."
In 2003 Nicky married childhood sweetheart Georgina, daughter of former Irish Prime Minister BERTIE AHERNE. Still talking about meeting Obama, he says: "We were doing the picture and there was a moment when there was a silence waiting for the pic to be taken.
"So I asked Mr Obama if he was familiar with Bertie Aherne.
"He said yes and I told him I was married to his daughter.
"He said he was a great guy and to tell him he said hello. There were more flashes and we broke the ice then.
"I think I must be the diplomat in the band. He is a man of the people. He was cool, genuine. He was like a cool dad."
The band are enjoying continued success, despite being one man down from the original line-up. BRIAN MCFADDEN left the band in 2004 and has since become engaged to Aussie actress DELTA GOODRAM. "Brian lives in Australia now so we hardly see him but when we do it's a happy reunion," says Mark. "It's weird not knowing his day-to-day life any more. He has never said to any of us he regrets it."
Nicky says: "We played in Soccer Aid together last year and we hadn't seen each other for a while. It was great.
"He told me he never regretted leaving the band but he did hate it when we did Croke Park. He said that killed him.
So what's next for the lads?
"We've met Barack Obama, performed for the Pope, duetted with MARIAH CAREY," says Nicky. "We even knew Simon Cowell before he was really famous.
"Ten years on we are very alive and the passion is still there. We dream about the next goal all the time."
We were at parties with beautiful women and we wondered why Mark wasn't chatting up
Talking to The Sun ... Westlife's Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Shane Filey chat with Gordon Smart
GORDON SMART
Bizarre Editor
Published: 26 Dec 2009
WESTLIFE are modern pop legends. Under the watchful eye of SIMON COWELL they have dominated the charts for a decade, selling more than 45million records.
Here, on Day One of our exclusive two-day special on the band, MARK FEEHILY talks about his decision to reveal his homosexuality and band mate NICKY BYRNE recalls meeting the world's most important man.
Since coming out in The Sun, Mark says he feels as if a weight has been lifted from his shoulders.
The Irish heart-throb revealed his homosexuality in August 2005. Up until then he had kept it from his legions of fans, but the burden of secrecy took its toll.
"I spent a lot of my teenage years and early 20s in a very dark place," says Mark, now 29.
Happy now ... Kevin McDaid and boyfriend Mark Feehily
"There's a real misconception about when I came out.
"I didn't tell the guys when I was 18 or 16 or anything. It took me a long time to sort everything out in my own mind before I was open to anyone about it.
"I just shoved it all down and ignored my feelings and paused, closing the door and leaving it."
Mark, now settled with long-term boyfriend KEVIN MCDAID, says: "It wasn't hiding a secret from the guys or the public. I didn't have any love life or relationship or sex life at all.
"That's why things went so dark for me. It was like a ticking time bomb but now I am so happy."
Bandmate and friend Nicky says he is relieved his pal can finally relax, and that he wasn't surprised to hear he was gay.
"We are at the best of parties with the best-looking women," says Nicky, 31.
"Obviously if you have a girlfriend it's a different scenario but if you looked at Mark, and he didn't have a girlfriend, we kept wondering why he wasn't chatting up the girls. I always knew with Mark. He had what people say is a swagger but it was a gay swagger, that thing going on.
"But you never say anything because it's no one's business.
"I remember the day he told Shane and me. We were all jumping around, hugging and everything. At last he felt comfortable in himself.
"I remember ringing round when the story came out. I rang one of my mates to tell him Mark was gay and he said, 'Make sure you tell him we are all behind him'. Then he panicked and said, 'No, no. Don't say it like that'. "
More than four years after going public over his sexuality, Mark says he is happier and stronger than ever.
He says: "I am embracing getting older. I feel more powerful against all the badness because I know how to deal with it better than I did. I know how to protect myself. I know more about life.
"Don't get me wrong, no one looks forward to getting grey and old and bald and wrinkly but I feel happier now than I ever have."
Critics
Westlife, whose album Where We Are is out now, have come under fire from critics who object to their boy-band brand of pop.
Nicky says: "People say we are not cool but I feel that's something to be proud of. I feel that's cool.
"After 11 years in the music industry and being at all the parties in the world, to have what I have and live the life I live, I am proud of it."
Mark added: "We're desensitised to people calling us s*** now.
"We don't get so worried about people slagging us off any more. We're numb to it."
Westlife were discovered by music industry supremo Simon Cowell. Although they weren't discovered through a talent show like most of Cowell's signings, the lads can empathise with new acts, including X Factor winner JOE MCELDERRY.
"One thing about Joe is he's very innocent and naive," says Nicky. "He was going on about how he doesn't really drink and he just wants to be around the house with his mum and he's a virgin.
"I just think all of that in one day? If he was more mature he wouldn't have gone down that road but he's only a kid."
Mark adds: "We were green like Joe once. When we started off everyone was so passionate and full of life. There were all sorts of positive and negative moments.
"I look at JLS and they remind me so much of us. Their eyes are so wide open. They are loving it, enjoying every minute.
"Since we started there have been BUSTED, BLUE, 5IVE. There has always been another band. We can all co-exist, no one has to go."
I wasn't hiding anything. I didn't have any love life or sex life at allMARK
Earlier this month the band met BARACK OBAMA at the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony and ended up being introduced to another US mega star.
Nicky says: "We were in a holding room with WILL SMITH and his wife. We got a picture taken with them. Will was so cool.
"We were talking about the guy with him who was a humanitarian who he was shadowing as research for a movie. He just stood in the corner chatting to everyone and we were all in another corner going 'it's f****** Will Smith!'
"Will was great. He told us this story how he was preparing all these questions about humanitarianism for the big interview with Obama. He said he was up all night practising the delivery and then when he met him he was telling himself to be on the ball.
"Then he met him and just said, 'What's it f****** like being the president of the United States?'"
Mark adds: "A security guard stuck his head in the door and asked for a picture with Will and handed me the camera.
Foreign
"It helped break the ice. A few other people started queuing for pics then."
Nicky says: "Meeting Barack Obama was incredible. It felt really important. On the bus going there we were with DONNA SUMMER, WYCLEF, NATASHA BEDINGFIELD and other foreign artists.
"You couldn't get anywhere near him without being vetted or given some sort of security clearance.
"We were meeting the President of America so it was incredible.
Mark says: "I came away thinking what an amazing person. The President was impressive too. He handled the situation so well, meeting everyone."
In 2003 Nicky married childhood sweetheart Georgina, daughter of former Irish Prime Minister BERTIE AHERNE. Still talking about meeting Obama, he says: "We were doing the picture and there was a moment when there was a silence waiting for the pic to be taken.
"So I asked Mr Obama if he was familiar with Bertie Aherne.
"He said yes and I told him I was married to his daughter.
"He said he was a great guy and to tell him he said hello. There were more flashes and we broke the ice then.
"I think I must be the diplomat in the band. He is a man of the people. He was cool, genuine. He was like a cool dad."
The band are enjoying continued success, despite being one man down from the original line-up. BRIAN MCFADDEN left the band in 2004 and has since become engaged to Aussie actress DELTA GOODRAM. "Brian lives in Australia now so we hardly see him but when we do it's a happy reunion," says Mark. "It's weird not knowing his day-to-day life any more. He has never said to any of us he regrets it."
Nicky says: "We played in Soccer Aid together last year and we hadn't seen each other for a while. It was great.
"He told me he never regretted leaving the band but he did hate it when we did Croke Park. He said that killed him.
So what's next for the lads?
"We've met Barack Obama, performed for the Pope, duetted with MARIAH CAREY," says Nicky. "We even knew Simon Cowell before he was really famous.
"Ten years on we are very alive and the passion is still there. We dream about the next goal all the time."
We slagged off Simon"s shoes and high trousers before anybody knew who he was
By GORDON SMART
Bizarre Editor
Published: 28 Dec 2009
IT may have been a grim 12 months for Westlife but Simon Cowell's favourite band are looking forward to a great 2010.
And the key to that will be keeping their most famous fan happy.
The lads, still our top-selling boy band after 11 years, are pop guru Simon's breakthrough success story.
And they constantly remind the record company chief he was not always the stellar name he is today.
In the final day of our Westlife series, Shane Filan reveals: "The big reason we still do so well is down to our relationship with Simon.
"We have worked together for 11 years and things go from strength to strength. Simon speaks highly of us, which means the world."
Missed ... Stephen Gately
But Kian Egan points out: "We used to slag him off about his shoes and his high trousers before anybody knew who he was.
"We used to slag off the shoes so badly, the big heels. Cobbler's shoes, we called them.
"We used to pull his trousers down lower and pull the T-shirt down and rip the p**s out of him, mocking his posh accent.
"As soon as he got on TV, people saw exactly what we saw and started to do the same thing."
Shane adds: "We were one of the first bands on Simon's S Records label, which he sold to BMG for £22million.
"He got a lot of money then before TV took over."
Despite almost 50million record sales, 14 number one songs and a host of sold-out tours, Westlife are still hungry for more.
"We're pocket change to what Simon makes annually but we've got history with him," says Shane.
"The hardest thing to do in our situation is sustain success.
"Every year is like a mountain to climb for us, even though people expect us to succeed now. We s**t ourselves before the midweek chart - we are still so ambitious."
The past year has seen the band rocked by tragedy. They have been hit by what they call "a big wave of death" that has struck their friends and family.
The recent loss of close pal and Boyzone singer Stephen Gately hit them hard, but Kian also lost his father, as did bandmate Nicky Byrne.
But with their usual upbeat, positive attitude they are now even more determined to appreciate everything they have and continue to enjoy life to the full.
Westlife have spent the best part of a year out of the spotlight, but in my interview with Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark Feehily it was obvious they have used this testing 12 months to grow stronger.
Kian told me about the terrifying moment they discovered their good pal Stephen had passed away and Shane, 30, says: "Until then, we hadn't really thought about people from our generation not being here.
"As singers we are always thinking about the next album, the next tour, the family growing.
"You don't think about being dead. You would never think that about someone in your own band.
"If one of us died... it's a terrible thought but that would be it. Over. We couldn't carry on as a band.
"For us, it makes you realise how important the other members of the group - your dearest friends - are to you, and it makes you appreciate life an awful lot more."
Kian, 29, adds: "I had been out in the local with mates, gone home and fallen asleep on the couch.
"A mate rang me and told me about Stephen and I thought it was nonsense. I rang Louis Walsh (Boyzone's and Westlife's manager) and sure enough got the same response. It was truly awful.
"It has been a really tough year. On top of that both my dad and Nicky's dad died either side of that. My dad was 64 and had been sick for a year.
"My mum said to me we are at that age now where we start losing people.
"My grandmother, my wife Jodie's grandfather, Nicky's dad, my dad, Stephen...
"My mum said in her life, death sadly comes in waves and we are experiencing one of those big waves now. At the funeral of Stephen the four of us sat together with our partners.
"Brian (ex-Westlife member McFadden) happened to be sat in front of us. I remember looking at Brian and just feeling so sad, realising life is too short.
"We all felt the same - like we all needed to give him a big hug. I felt so sad towards him.
"Once the Boyzone speeches came out we were in pieces."
Shane adds: "It was after 1am when I found out about Stephen. I rang Louis and it was like 'boom'.
"He told me it was right and said he couldn't speak. I will never forget it as long as I live.
"In Ireland Stephen was a massive icon, a true pop star. He was one of us and he was dead.
"It just doesn't happen, so it was truly upsetting and tragic.
"We appreciate each other so much more since.
"We're thankful for what we've got and for having each other because life is so precious, and sometimes you can forget that."
By GORDON SMART
Bizarre Editor
Published: 28 Dec 2009
IT may have been a grim 12 months for Westlife but Simon Cowell's favourite band are looking forward to a great 2010.
And the key to that will be keeping their most famous fan happy.
The lads, still our top-selling boy band after 11 years, are pop guru Simon's breakthrough success story.
And they constantly remind the record company chief he was not always the stellar name he is today.
In the final day of our Westlife series, Shane Filan reveals: "The big reason we still do so well is down to our relationship with Simon.
"We have worked together for 11 years and things go from strength to strength. Simon speaks highly of us, which means the world."
Missed ... Stephen Gately
But Kian Egan points out: "We used to slag him off about his shoes and his high trousers before anybody knew who he was.
"We used to slag off the shoes so badly, the big heels. Cobbler's shoes, we called them.
"We used to pull his trousers down lower and pull the T-shirt down and rip the p**s out of him, mocking his posh accent.
"As soon as he got on TV, people saw exactly what we saw and started to do the same thing."
Shane adds: "We were one of the first bands on Simon's S Records label, which he sold to BMG for £22million.
"He got a lot of money then before TV took over."
Despite almost 50million record sales, 14 number one songs and a host of sold-out tours, Westlife are still hungry for more.
"We're pocket change to what Simon makes annually but we've got history with him," says Shane.
"The hardest thing to do in our situation is sustain success.
"Every year is like a mountain to climb for us, even though people expect us to succeed now. We s**t ourselves before the midweek chart - we are still so ambitious."
The past year has seen the band rocked by tragedy. They have been hit by what they call "a big wave of death" that has struck their friends and family.
The recent loss of close pal and Boyzone singer Stephen Gately hit them hard, but Kian also lost his father, as did bandmate Nicky Byrne.
But with their usual upbeat, positive attitude they are now even more determined to appreciate everything they have and continue to enjoy life to the full.
Westlife have spent the best part of a year out of the spotlight, but in my interview with Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark Feehily it was obvious they have used this testing 12 months to grow stronger.
Kian told me about the terrifying moment they discovered their good pal Stephen had passed away and Shane, 30, says: "Until then, we hadn't really thought about people from our generation not being here.
"As singers we are always thinking about the next album, the next tour, the family growing.
"You don't think about being dead. You would never think that about someone in your own band.
"If one of us died... it's a terrible thought but that would be it. Over. We couldn't carry on as a band.
"For us, it makes you realise how important the other members of the group - your dearest friends - are to you, and it makes you appreciate life an awful lot more."
Kian, 29, adds: "I had been out in the local with mates, gone home and fallen asleep on the couch.
"A mate rang me and told me about Stephen and I thought it was nonsense. I rang Louis Walsh (Boyzone's and Westlife's manager) and sure enough got the same response. It was truly awful.
"It has been a really tough year. On top of that both my dad and Nicky's dad died either side of that. My dad was 64 and had been sick for a year.
"My mum said to me we are at that age now where we start losing people.
"My grandmother, my wife Jodie's grandfather, Nicky's dad, my dad, Stephen...
"My mum said in her life, death sadly comes in waves and we are experiencing one of those big waves now. At the funeral of Stephen the four of us sat together with our partners.
"Brian (ex-Westlife member McFadden) happened to be sat in front of us. I remember looking at Brian and just feeling so sad, realising life is too short.
"We all felt the same - like we all needed to give him a big hug. I felt so sad towards him.
"Once the Boyzone speeches came out we were in pieces."
Shane adds: "It was after 1am when I found out about Stephen. I rang Louis and it was like 'boom'.
"He told me it was right and said he couldn't speak. I will never forget it as long as I live.
"In Ireland Stephen was a massive icon, a true pop star. He was one of us and he was dead.
"It just doesn't happen, so it was truly upsetting and tragic.
"We appreciate each other so much more since.
"We're thankful for what we've got and for having each other because life is so precious, and sometimes you can forget that."
29 December 2009
Westlife credit Cowell with album release
Westlife star Nicky Byrne has said that the group wouldn't have released an album this year if it wasn't for Simon Cowell's help and encouragement.
Speaking to RTÉ.ie, the singer said of 'X Factor' judge Cowell: "What he is with us is... he's honest.
"What he sees is what he says. But we've a good relationship with him, especially this year, even stronger. This is our eleventh year with him."
Speaking about how the new album came about, he said: "We had a big meeting with him in August in his house in Beverly Hills... It's a tiny little house... By the time you walk around it you're tired!
"It was a great meeting and it was real positive.
"He kind of heard where we were coming from and agreed with it and was on the same page and that's how we got working on this album.
"Otherwise there wouldn't have been an album for Westlife this ye
Westlife credit Cowell with album release
Westlife star Nicky Byrne has said that the group wouldn't have released an album this year if it wasn't for Simon Cowell's help and encouragement.
Speaking to RTÉ.ie, the singer said of 'X Factor' judge Cowell: "What he is with us is... he's honest.
"What he sees is what he says. But we've a good relationship with him, especially this year, even stronger. This is our eleventh year with him."
Speaking about how the new album came about, he said: "We had a big meeting with him in August in his house in Beverly Hills... It's a tiny little house... By the time you walk around it you're tired!
"It was a great meeting and it was real positive.
"He kind of heard where we were coming from and agreed with it and was on the same page and that's how we got working on this album.
"Otherwise there wouldn't have been an album for Westlife this ye
29 December 2009
WESTLIFE - WESTLIFE STILL SOUR OVER GELDOF SNUB
WESTLIFE STILL SOUR OVER GELDOF SNUB
Irish band WESTLIFE are still fuming after BOB GELDOF snubbed them over 2004's Band Aid II single - because he could have raised more cash for charity if he'd included them.
The former Boomtown Rats star left the Flying Without Wings hitmakers off the charity song, dismissing them at the time as "not relevant".
But the four-piece is still reeling from the snub because they believe Geldof was just on a "power trip".
Singer Kian Egan says, "I think that was pretty rich given he only started his international campaigning when he realised the Boomtown Rats weren't relevant any more."
Bandmate Nicky Byrne adds, "Bob Geldof didn't include us on the Band Aid II single, even though we were the biggest band at the time. He could have made even more money for charity by having us sing, but he chose (British groups) Busted and Sugababes because he was on some sort of elitist power trip."
The group's Mark Feehily is also sick of their 'uncool' image: "We are a pop group, striving to make the best pop music we can. We don't claim to be anything other than good singers, and to dismiss us just because we might not be to some rock critic's taste, is to insult the millions of people who buy our records and enjoy what we do."
WESTLIFE - WESTLIFE STILL SOUR OVER GELDOF SNUB
WESTLIFE STILL SOUR OVER GELDOF SNUB
Irish band WESTLIFE are still fuming after BOB GELDOF snubbed them over 2004's Band Aid II single - because he could have raised more cash for charity if he'd included them.
The former Boomtown Rats star left the Flying Without Wings hitmakers off the charity song, dismissing them at the time as "not relevant".
But the four-piece is still reeling from the snub because they believe Geldof was just on a "power trip".
Singer Kian Egan says, "I think that was pretty rich given he only started his international campaigning when he realised the Boomtown Rats weren't relevant any more."
Bandmate Nicky Byrne adds, "Bob Geldof didn't include us on the Band Aid II single, even though we were the biggest band at the time. He could have made even more money for charity by having us sing, but he chose (British groups) Busted and Sugababes because he was on some sort of elitist power trip."
The group's Mark Feehily is also sick of their 'uncool' image: "We are a pop group, striving to make the best pop music we can. We don't claim to be anything other than good singers, and to dismiss us just because we might not be to some rock critic's taste, is to insult the millions of people who buy our records and enjoy what we do."
Westlife talk of being cool
December 29, 2009
London: Irish pop band Westlife has in a recent interview discussed about how they were cool despite there being reports that they weren't.
The interview between the boys, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, and Mark Feehily and Judith Woods started off with the four talking about what they had done to be deemed cool.
In the middle of the discussion, Egan, 29, rolled up his trouser leg and flashed a heavily tattooed calf in Woods' direction.
"Look, this is Buddha! Is that cool enough for you? Is it?" the Telegraph quoted him as saying.
"I've got a palm tree and waves and a Hawaiian flower on the other one. What have you got to say about that?" he stated.
Baby-faced Byrne, 31, was next to proclaim how cool he was.
"I've got a Hummer golf buggy - and I don't even play golf! How much more rock-and-roll can you get?" he asked.
Filan, 30, who is the relaxed one, joined in the fray, announcing with perfect deadpan timing that he has "a big, fat house, way, way bigger than anything Bob Geldof's got. Two fat houses, in fact. And loads of cars and watches".
Then Feehily, 29, the soulful one, reminded him that he's also got a helicopter.
"There you go, I'm so crazy and cool that I'd forgotten I have my own helicopter. Who says we're boring now?" Filan added.
The whole outburst from the boys had started after a remark about their rather bland reputation and how one critic said Westlife "were so anodyne as to make Boyzone look like Led Zeppelin at their most orgiastic".
"Honestly, we're not dull," Byrne, who is married, with two-year-old twins, had protested.
"We're the life and soul of any party - Barack Obama said he'd love to go for a pint of Guinness with us some time.
"Just because we're fit and healthy and don't look like drug addicts or as if we haven't washed, doesn't make us uncool. It makes us normal," he stated.
Feehily, who along with Filan sings the majority of the group's vocals, also came to the band's defence.
"Excuse us if we get a bit defensive, but this whole 'cool' thing is a sideshow that distracts from our music," he said.
"We are a pop group, striving to make the best pop music we can. We don't claim to be anything other than good singers, and to dismiss us just because we might not be to some rock critic's taste, is to insult the millions of people who buy our records and enjoy what we do," he stated.
Filan also joined in by stating that it did not matter if they were seen as cool or not.
"We've had an amazing time, travelling the world, singing songs we love, meeting the fans and becoming financially secure," he said.
"If our only problem is that somehow we're not deemed cool enough, well I think we can live with that," he added.
December 29, 2009
London: Irish pop band Westlife has in a recent interview discussed about how they were cool despite there being reports that they weren't.
The interview between the boys, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, and Mark Feehily and Judith Woods started off with the four talking about what they had done to be deemed cool.
In the middle of the discussion, Egan, 29, rolled up his trouser leg and flashed a heavily tattooed calf in Woods' direction.
"Look, this is Buddha! Is that cool enough for you? Is it?" the Telegraph quoted him as saying.
"I've got a palm tree and waves and a Hawaiian flower on the other one. What have you got to say about that?" he stated.
Baby-faced Byrne, 31, was next to proclaim how cool he was.
"I've got a Hummer golf buggy - and I don't even play golf! How much more rock-and-roll can you get?" he asked.
Filan, 30, who is the relaxed one, joined in the fray, announcing with perfect deadpan timing that he has "a big, fat house, way, way bigger than anything Bob Geldof's got. Two fat houses, in fact. And loads of cars and watches".
Then Feehily, 29, the soulful one, reminded him that he's also got a helicopter.
"There you go, I'm so crazy and cool that I'd forgotten I have my own helicopter. Who says we're boring now?" Filan added.
The whole outburst from the boys had started after a remark about their rather bland reputation and how one critic said Westlife "were so anodyne as to make Boyzone look like Led Zeppelin at their most orgiastic".
"Honestly, we're not dull," Byrne, who is married, with two-year-old twins, had protested.
"We're the life and soul of any party - Barack Obama said he'd love to go for a pint of Guinness with us some time.
"Just because we're fit and healthy and don't look like drug addicts or as if we haven't washed, doesn't make us uncool. It makes us normal," he stated.
Feehily, who along with Filan sings the majority of the group's vocals, also came to the band's defence.
"Excuse us if we get a bit defensive, but this whole 'cool' thing is a sideshow that distracts from our music," he said.
"We are a pop group, striving to make the best pop music we can. We don't claim to be anything other than good singers, and to dismiss us just because we might not be to some rock critic's taste, is to insult the millions of people who buy our records and enjoy what we do," he stated.
Filan also joined in by stating that it did not matter if they were seen as cool or not.
"We've had an amazing time, travelling the world, singing songs we love, meeting the fans and becoming financially secure," he said.
"If our only problem is that somehow we're not deemed cool enough, well I think we can live with that," he added.
westlife takeover GMTV 2009 december
THE WESTLIFE STORY - 2009 -
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Zaterdag 23 november 2013
1 WESTLIFE 2009
Westlife
Nicky, Kian, Mark and Shane - No pop band can compare to the remarkable success of Westlife! In their ten years on top, they have sold over 40 million records globally. In the UK alone they have scored nine multi-platinum albums and a record breaking 14 No.1 hits (behind only Elvis and The Beatles). Westlife have also picked up innumerable awards and have appeared on hundreds of magazine covers around the world. Over the years, Westlife's music has evolved from teen pop to an adult contemporary sound, with an emphasis on ballads.They are the only recording artists to win the prestigious Record Of The Year an incredible four times (other top awards include two BRITS and an MTV Europe Award).
Westlife are also the biggest selling UK Arena act ever, holding the record for the most concerts held at Wembley Arena, an incredible 27. In celebration of this, March of this year saw the band immortalised in Wembley Square of Fame with a plaque of their handprints, joining such legends as Madonna, George Michael, Kylie and Dolly Parton.
On the 1st June 2008 Westlife returned to their home country of Ireland to play the biggest concert of their career to date. Fresh from the success of their massive Back Home world tour, the band played to a sell-out, 82,500 strong crowd at Croke Park Stadium, Dublin in honour of Westlife 10th anniversary. A truly unforgettable occasion for Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane.
Currently on a well deserved one year break, Westlife are due back in July 2009 for what promises to be another successful year.
..
Tuesday March 17 2009
Boyzone and Westlife go head to head tonight at Dublin's Meteor Awards -- and singer Nicky Byrne is hopeful his band will come out on top.
Both bands are bidding to clinch the coveted Best Irish Pop Act Award.
Westlife have already scooped a staggering eight Meteor Awards in just ten years -- but Nicky is hoping Westlife will get number nine tonight at the glittering awards ceremony.
Despite collecting a clutch of awards at the ceremony over the years, winning a Meteor is still something Westlife star holds dear.
"I will have the fingers crossed but just being nominated again was a big thrill for all of us," he said.
Both Nicky and Shane will be flying in for the music bash in the RDS tonight -- Kian Egan and Mark Feehily couldn't make it due to other commitments.
Nicky's wife Georgina and Shane's wife Gillian will be accompanying their husbands as they celebrate their achievements.
Father-of-two Nicky, who is married to former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's daughter, Georgina, said of the awards: "I am really looking forward to the Meteors -- it's always a great night.
"It's great to be nominated by the fans, that's what means so much,"
The band have been off the scene since last summer -- but their blistering performance in Croke Park last June might just be enough to tip the category in their favour.
Some 82,000 fans flocked to Croke Park in June to catch their band play its biggest gig. Brian McFadden recently revealed his biggest regret on leaving Westlife was missing the opportunity at the Croker gig.
..
18.03.2009
Westlife Win A Meteor!
A huge congratulations to the boys, who scooped the Best Irish Pop Act prize at last night's Meteor Awards.
Nicky, Shane, Kian and Mark were thrilled to have won and would like to pass on their thanks to everyone who voted for them and helped them pick up the award for the eighth consecutive year!
In other news, Nicky was recently named most stylish man in Ireland by VIP, so would like to say a big thank you to all of you who cast your votes.
...
Friday May 08 2009
Westlife star Kian Egan was exchanging vows with stunning Jodi Albert this afternoon.
Jodi became the third member of the exclusive 'Westwives' club, following in the footsteps of Georgina Ahern and Gillian Filan.
westlife Best Irish pop Act 2009
Irish musicians celebrated St Patrick's Day at the Meteor Ireland Music Awards in Dublin last night. favourite Irish bands Boyzone partied at the ceremony alongside Westlife's Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne, who collected the group's gong for Best Irish Pop Act.
..
Friday June 26 2009
Westlife star Nicky Byrne could have bitten off more than he can chew this week -- after revealing how he is in agony after getting his wisdom teeth removed.
He was sent reeling by the painful procedure, with the married dad needing stitches in his mouth and having to eat soft baby food as he recovers from the operation.
The Dubliner said he had 10 stitches in his gum and "feels like s**t".
"Jaw swollen but feel a lot better considering... last night was in agony - very sore mouth," he said on his Twitter page.
Jelly
And he had to resort to chowing down on lemon and lime jelly in the aftermath of the procedure, which can leave patients unable to eat properly for several days due to the swelling of their mouth.
At least the proud dad had a nice weekend -- he celebrated Father's Day with his wife Georgina Ahern and their twin boys Rocco and Jay (2) with a relaxing meal in the Castleknock Hotel.
Nicky has just a few weeks left enjoying some quality time with his family at their Malahide house before he hits the road again with Westlife.
The popular foursome will be heading to the States next month to start work on their long-awaited album, following a year-long break
...
Monday July 06 2009
Westlife frontman Shane Filan has revealed that he is preparing for a third edition to his family.
Shane's wife Gillian told her husband the news just before his 30th birthday party at their Sligo mansion. And the singer announced that his childhood sweetheart was pregnant after he blew out the candles on his birthday cake in front of 150 guests.
In a speech, the singer said that he was bowled over by the news.
"My wife Gillian has been asking me a lot about what I'd like for my birthday. I thought she was going to get me a watch or something," Shane said.
"But she has definitely surprised me -- by telling me she is pregnant with our third child."
The crowd burst into cheers and then hit the dance floor in celebration. Shane's Westlife bandmates then hit the stage for an impromptu gig, performing their hits World of Our Own and Flying Without Wings.
The Filans already have one daughter, Nicole (3), and a 10-month-old son Patrick. "I'm absolutely delighted," said Shane.
.
17 Jul 2009
Westlife singer Nicky Byrne has got the eye of the tiger as he prepares to launch a pop comeback.
The Dublin star has taken up boxing to get in shape for Westlife's big return to the charts later this year.
Nicky, 30, told the Irish Daily Mirror: "I'm really into it. It's such a tough sport but I have been doing all the workouts and the sparing sessions and all.
"When we took a year off I really wanted something to keep me in shape.
"Boxing is perfect because it works you out on a physical and mental level. I love it."
Nicky's bandmates Kian, Shane and Mark have also been hitting the gym to get in their best shape for their upcoming 50-date tour next year.
Shane said: "It's a tough schedule to be on the road and working late hours all the time so we want to be 100% ready for it."
Credit/Source: The Irish Daily Mirror
..
Westlife singer Nicky Byrne has got the eye of the tiger as he prepares to launch a pop comeback.
The Dublin star has taken up boxing to get in shape for Westlife's big return to the charts later this year.
Nicky, 30, told the Irish Daily Mirror: "I'm really into it. It's such a tough sport but I have been doing all the workouts and the sparing sessions and all.
"When we took a year off I really wanted something to keep me in shape.
"Boxing is perfect because it works you out on a physical and mental level. I love it."
Nicky's bandmates Kian, Shane and Mark have also been hitting the gym to get in their best shape for their upcoming 50-date tour next year.
Shane said: "It's a tough schedule to be on the road and working late hours all the time so we want to be 100% ready for it."
Credit/Source: The Irish Daily Mirror
..
Wednesday July 22 2009
Kian Egan and his brother, Tom, carry their father Kevin's coffin
WHEN Kian Egan stepped up to the altar yesterday for the most difficult performance of his career, his friends stood solid by his side.
The four members of the world's most successful boyband, Westlife, faced the congregation to sing a solemn version of 'You Raise Me Up' in tribute to Kian's father, Kevin, who died of cancer last Sunday.
"Myself and the guys would like to sing this song for my dad. I feel the words of this song really represent the type of man my father was," said an emotional Kian at his father's Requiem Mass in Sligo Cathedral.
And when Kian struggled to fight back the tears as Shane Filan sounded the opening lyrics, he felt the comforting arm of Mark Feehily around his shoulders.
He was finally composed enough to join in a roof-raising final chorus of the moving song which gave the band a number one hit. Then as the last notes still lingered in the hallowed arches, and the congregation wiped away the tears, pals Mark, Shane and Nicky embraced their grieving friend.
Beloved
Father-of-seven Kevin died in the arms of his beloved wife, Patricia, and surrounded by his children and grandchildren at his home on the Strandhill Road last Sunday morning.
"Dad died at home in mommy's arms as she was saying 'I loved you from the moment I first saw you, and I will love you for always'," his daughter Vivienne said.
In a moving tribute, she said her father encouraged all his children to be the best people they could be.
"He loved everything to do with all the Westlife things that happened over the years." But she said her father was so proud of all of his children, "whether they were a Westlife singer or a parent or school teacher".
Kevin, who was in his mid-60s, was too ill to attend Kian's wedding to former soap actress Jodi Albert in Barbados last May.
Leading the mourners yesterday were his wife Patricia, daughters, Vivienne, Marielle and Fenella, and sons Kian, Tom, Gavin and Colm.
Westlife manager Louis Walsh joined hundreds of mourners in the church to pay his respects.
Later, Kian left with the cortege, with his new wife Jodi by his side. They headed to his father's final resting place on the Strandhill Road, not far from the family home that had been a gift from Kian several years ago.
Westlife have postponed recording of their new album to give tragic star Kian Egan time to grieve
Kian Egan and his brother, Tom, carry their father Kevin's coffin
WHEN Kian Egan stepped up to the altar yesterday for the most difficult performance of his career, his friends stood solid by his side.
The four members of the world's most successful boyband, Westlife, faced the congregation to sing a solemn version of 'You Raise Me Up' in tribute to Kian's father, Kevin, who died of cancer last Sunday.
"Myself and the guys would like to sing this song for my dad. I feel the words of this song really represent the type of man my father was," said an emotional Kian at his father's Requiem Mass in Sligo Cathedral.
And when Kian struggled to fight back the tears as Shane Filan sounded the opening lyrics, he felt the comforting arm of Mark Feehily around his shoulders.
He was finally composed enough to join in a roof-raising final chorus of the moving song which gave the band a number one hit. Then as the last notes still lingered in the hallowed arches, and the congregation wiped away the tears, pals Mark, Shane and Nicky embraced their grieving friend.
Beloved
Father-of-seven Kevin died in the arms of his beloved wife, Patricia, and surrounded by his children and grandchildren at his home on the Strandhill Road last Sunday morning.
"Dad died at home in mommy's arms as she was saying 'I loved you from the moment I first saw you, and I will love you for always'," his daughter Vivienne said.
In a moving tribute, she said her father encouraged all his children to be the best people they could be.
"He loved everything to do with all the Westlife things that happened over the years." But she said her father was so proud of all of his children, "whether they were a Westlife singer or a parent or school teacher".
Kevin, who was in his mid-60s, was too ill to attend Kian's wedding to former soap actress Jodi Albert in Barbados last May.
Leading the mourners yesterday were his wife Patricia, daughters, Vivienne, Marielle and Fenella, and sons Kian, Tom, Gavin and Colm.
Westlife manager Louis Walsh joined hundreds of mourners in the church to pay his respects.
Later, Kian left with the cortege, with his new wife Jodi by his side. They headed to his father's final resting place on the Strandhill Road, not far from the family home that had been a gift from Kian several years ago.
Westlife have postponed recording of their new album to give tragic star Kian Egan time to grieve
.
Westlife promise 'strongest album yet'
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 12:57 BST
By David Balls, Music Reporter
Westlife have promised that their upcoming ninth studio album will be the group's strongest to date.
The Irish boyband, who have not released any new material for two years, insisted that they will surprise fans when they return later this year.
"The album will have no covers at all - we want it to be our strongest ever," Shane Filan told the Irish Daily Mirror.
"We're working on it in the studios at the minute and it's really exciting. We took a decision that we didn't want to do any covers at all this time round and give the fans 100% new material.
"We know this has to be something special because we have been away for over a year. I think everyone is going to be really surprised when they hear it."
Guy Chambers, former Savage Garden star Darren Hayes and Ryan Tedder, who penned Leona Lewis's 'Bleeding Love', are all rumoured to have contributed material for the new record.
"We're lucky to be working with some amazing writers and I'm sure this album is going to bring us back with a bang," Filan added.
"We want great up-tempo songs and some really strong ballads. That's what we made our name with and that's what we want to do again.
"The plan is to release the album before Christmas and then hit the road for a tour next year."
Westlife have sold over 40 million copies of their nine previous albums, seven of which were bestsellers in the UK
Tuesday, August 11 2009, 12:57 BST
By David Balls, Music Reporter
Westlife have promised that their upcoming ninth studio album will be the group's strongest to date.
The Irish boyband, who have not released any new material for two years, insisted that they will surprise fans when they return later this year.
"The album will have no covers at all - we want it to be our strongest ever," Shane Filan told the Irish Daily Mirror.
"We're working on it in the studios at the minute and it's really exciting. We took a decision that we didn't want to do any covers at all this time round and give the fans 100% new material.
"We know this has to be something special because we have been away for over a year. I think everyone is going to be really surprised when they hear it."
Guy Chambers, former Savage Garden star Darren Hayes and Ryan Tedder, who penned Leona Lewis's 'Bleeding Love', are all rumoured to have contributed material for the new record.
"We're lucky to be working with some amazing writers and I'm sure this album is going to bring us back with a bang," Filan added.
"We want great up-tempo songs and some really strong ballads. That's what we made our name with and that's what we want to do again.
"The plan is to release the album before Christmas and then hit the road for a tour next year."
Westlife have sold over 40 million copies of their nine previous albums, seven of which were bestsellers in the UK
.
Westlife: 'We've taken a new direction'
Thursday, October 15 2009, 20:37 BST
By Oli Simpson
Westlife have admitted that they took a "new direction" on their upcoming single.
'What About Now', the Irish boyband's first release since 2007's Back Home album, will be the first track taken from forthcoming LP Where We Are.
Singer Mark Feehily told The Mirror: "We wanted the first single from our new album to be somewhere between the Westlife sound our fans know and love, and the new direction we're heading in.
"We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record. After 11 years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."
'What About Now' is released on October 26. Their tenth studio album Where We Are follows on November 30.
Thursday, October 15 2009, 20:37 BST
By Oli Simpson
Westlife have admitted that they took a "new direction" on their upcoming single.
'What About Now', the Irish boyband's first release since 2007's Back Home album, will be the first track taken from forthcoming LP Where We Are.
Singer Mark Feehily told The Mirror: "We wanted the first single from our new album to be somewhere between the Westlife sound our fans know and love, and the new direction we're heading in.
"We've been experimenting with a fresh vibe on this record. After 11 years we see this as phase two of the Westlife story."
'What About Now' is released on October 26. Their tenth studio album Where We Are follows on November 30.
...
Westlife attend Stephen Gatelys Funeral,
Westlife join mourners in paying tribute to Stephen GatelyBy Mirror.co.uk 16/10/2009
Irish boyband Westlife joined mourners in paying tribute to Gately tonight.
"We are here today as friends of Stephen, not as popstars," the band said in a statement.
"Thank you to the media for respecting that. Stephen Gately played a big part in our story. "We watched him on TV in our early teens. We met him as fans when Westlife first got together and supported Boyzone. We got to know him as a friend over the many times our paths crossed and he would always have that same smile for us any time we bumped into him.
"It's a shame that today we have to say goodbye to him like this. Our love and support goes out to Andy and the rest of Stephen's family. Also to Keith, Mickey, Ronan and Shane, who have lost their best friend.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to them all. We trust they will be left to grieve in peace."
Westlife join mourners in paying tribute to Stephen GatelyBy Mirror.co.uk 16/10/2009
Irish boyband Westlife joined mourners in paying tribute to Gately tonight.
"We are here today as friends of Stephen, not as popstars," the band said in a statement.
"Thank you to the media for respecting that. Stephen Gately played a big part in our story. "We watched him on TV in our early teens. We met him as fans when Westlife first got together and supported Boyzone. We got to know him as a friend over the many times our paths crossed and he would always have that same smile for us any time we bumped into him.
"It's a shame that today we have to say goodbye to him like this. Our love and support goes out to Andy and the rest of Stephen's family. Also to Keith, Mickey, Ronan and Shane, who have lost their best friend.
"Our deepest sympathies go out to them all. We trust they will be left to grieve in peace."
.
Feehily nervous over X Factor show
Westlife's Mark Feehily has admitted he is nervous about the group's 'X Factor' performance this weekend which marks their return to the stage after a year off.
The Daily Mail reports that singer Feehily said "There is always something a little bit scary about the 'X Factor' stage. It's so huge and you have the judges in front of you. It's like being a teenager at your first audition.
"It's strange - we've performed some massive gigs and huge TV shows but 'X Factor' always makes me a little bit more nervous than anything else we do."
AdvertisementThe group has appeared on the show more times than any other act as performers, mentors and even judges. They had originally been due to appear in a month's time but according to Kian Egan, Simon Cowell moved up their performance after he heard their new single. Egan said "He went berserk and said it's too big a song - I want to get them on the show as soon as possible."
Westlife's Mark Feehily has admitted he is nervous about the group's 'X Factor' performance this weekend which marks their return to the stage after a year off.
The Daily Mail reports that singer Feehily said "There is always something a little bit scary about the 'X Factor' stage. It's so huge and you have the judges in front of you. It's like being a teenager at your first audition.
"It's strange - we've performed some massive gigs and huge TV shows but 'X Factor' always makes me a little bit more nervous than anything else we do."
AdvertisementThe group has appeared on the show more times than any other act as performers, mentors and even judges. They had originally been due to appear in a month's time but according to Kian Egan, Simon Cowell moved up their performance after he heard their new single. Egan said "He went berserk and said it's too big a song - I want to get them on the show as soon as possible."
...
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Vrijdag 22 november 2013
div afbeeldingen westlife 7
Geschreven door westlife om 21:04
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Vrijdag 22 november 2013
WESTLIFE ... FAN...FANS 2
westlife fan
DE JONGSTE WESTLIFE FAN ??
WESTLIFE- ARRIVING AT AIRPORT
MEETING - NICKY BYRNE
WESTLIFE - HONG KONG
WESTLIFE - LEAVING BIRMINGHAM HOTEL
mark/kian
2009
great picture of Kian, Shane and Westlife fans
Roll up, roll up -- Westlife to star at top festival 
Nicky Byrne meets fans in Cork yesterday at the launch of Live at the Marquee 
WESTLIFE fans
queued for four hours yesterday to catch a glimpse of their heroes as the world's most successful boy band confirmed they will play Cork's Live at the Marquee festival this summer, writes Ralph Riegel.
Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne were mobbed by fans as they attended the launch of the annual concert series, which they will headline on July 6. They were taken aback by the emotional welcome from a throng of young fans at the Boardwalk Grill in Cork's city centre.
Westlife fever hits Sandown Park Racecourse
Thursday 5th August 2010
Westlife fever is growing outside Sandown Park Racecourse.
The Irish chart toppers are due to play the Esher venue this evening, and adoring fans started queueing by the entrance to the venue on last night, to ensure they could get to the front of the stage.
One fan right at the front of the queue said she and her friends left her home in Grimsby yesterday evening.
She said: "I've been a fan for 12 years now. This is what we do, we camp out so I can to the front.
"They've got good voices, they're sexy, I just love everything about them."
Thursday 5th August 2010
Westlife fever is growing outside Sandown Park Racecourse.
The Irish chart toppers are due to play the Esher venue this evening, and adoring fans started queueing by the entrance to the venue on last night, to ensure they could get to the front of the stage.
One fan right at the front of the queue said she and her friends left her home in Grimsby yesterday evening.
She said: "I've been a fan for 12 years now. This is what we do, we camp out so I can to the front.
"They've got good voices, they're sexy, I just love everything about them."
Natasha "blown away"after meeting Westlife at their homecoming gig in Sligo
Date: 04 August 2010
By James Rogers
LOCAL woman Natasha Woods had a once in a lifetime experience on Friday when she got to meet her heroes Westlife at their homecoming concert in Lissadell House in Sligo.
The 27-year-old landed the dream prize after winning a competition on the Colm and Lucy show on 2FM.
Having made the trip to the North West with her best friend Amy Callaghan, Natasha admitted that she did not know what to expect but told The Dundalk Democrat on Monday that she was "blown away" by how nice Mark, Shane, Nicky and Kian were in person.
"I had a ball. It was absolutely brilliant," she said.
"I didn't expect it at all. Our seats were great and then about 7.45pm we were taken to the courtyard of Lissadell House where we met Louis Walsh. I think he was doing some filming for X Factor so one of the guys from Westlife must be a mentor.
"Then we met Jodi Albert and her band Wonderland who were supporting Westlife. They were really nice but we missed them on stage because we were waiting for Westlife.
"The lads were so nice to us. They had all the time in the world for us and posed for as many pictures as we wanted and signed anything we asked them to. They were so polite and must've given us about 15 minutes.
"They asked us all where we came from and made it feel quite personal. I explained that I had travelled over from Dundalk and Nicky said he had heard me winning the competition on the radio.
"Overall the whole experience was brilliant. I'll never forget it," she said.
Of course, the night didn't end there for Natasha who manages Exhibit in the Marshes Shopping Centre - as she still had the concert to look forward to.
"They were absolutely brilliant live.
"They started with Where We Are and it just got better from there on. I'll See You Again was amazing but my favourite song was Already There.
"It was just an unbelievable show, an unbelievable experience and I'll never forget it."
Date: 04 August 2010
By James Rogers
LOCAL woman Natasha Woods had a once in a lifetime experience on Friday when she got to meet her heroes Westlife at their homecoming concert in Lissadell House in Sligo.
The 27-year-old landed the dream prize after winning a competition on the Colm and Lucy show on 2FM.
Having made the trip to the North West with her best friend Amy Callaghan, Natasha admitted that she did not know what to expect but told The Dundalk Democrat on Monday that she was "blown away" by how nice Mark, Shane, Nicky and Kian were in person.
"I had a ball. It was absolutely brilliant," she said.
"I didn't expect it at all. Our seats were great and then about 7.45pm we were taken to the courtyard of Lissadell House where we met Louis Walsh. I think he was doing some filming for X Factor so one of the guys from Westlife must be a mentor.
"Then we met Jodi Albert and her band Wonderland who were supporting Westlife. They were really nice but we missed them on stage because we were waiting for Westlife.
"The lads were so nice to us. They had all the time in the world for us and posed for as many pictures as we wanted and signed anything we asked them to. They were so polite and must've given us about 15 minutes.
"They asked us all where we came from and made it feel quite personal. I explained that I had travelled over from Dundalk and Nicky said he had heard me winning the competition on the radio.
"Overall the whole experience was brilliant. I'll never forget it," she said.
Of course, the night didn't end there for Natasha who manages Exhibit in the Marshes Shopping Centre - as she still had the concert to look forward to.
"They were absolutely brilliant live.
"They started with Where We Are and it just got better from there on. I'll See You Again was amazing but my favourite song was Already There.
"It was just an unbelievable show, an unbelievable experience and I'll never forget it."
Westlife fans Unbreakable as they brave rain to see lads at STV
Hysteria descended on the STV car park as fans queued up to catch a glimpse of Westlife, ahead of their interview on The Hour.
27 October 2010
The STV car park was awash with Westlife fans this afternoon, as the boyband loving diehards braved the cold, wind and rain, to catch a glimpse of their idols.
And judging by the screams as the Irish stars
tour bus pulled up outside the TV studios, it was well worth the wait.
Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily had a quick smile for delighted fans, as they ran into The Hour for an interview with Michelle McManus and Stephen Jardine.
The pop favourites were doing a whistle stop tour of Scottish media organisations to promote their new single Safe, which is released on November 7, and their 11th (yes, 11th) album, Gravity, which is available from November 11th.
They also spoke about their forthcoming X Factor appearance and revealed they will take to the stage on November 14 scream!
As the fans made their way home sporting their diamante encrusted Westlife hoodies,
the smiles on their faces showed that catching a glimpse of the boys, certainly brightened up their day.
Hysteria descended on the STV car park as fans queued up to catch a glimpse of Westlife, ahead of their interview on The Hour.
27 October 2010
The STV car park was awash with Westlife fans this afternoon, as the boyband loving diehards braved the cold, wind and rain, to catch a glimpse of their idols.
And judging by the screams as the Irish stars
tour bus pulled up outside the TV studios, it was well worth the wait.
Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily had a quick smile for delighted fans, as they ran into The Hour for an interview with Michelle McManus and Stephen Jardine.
The pop favourites were doing a whistle stop tour of Scottish media organisations to promote their new single Safe, which is released on November 7, and their 11th (yes, 11th) album, Gravity, which is available from November 11th.
They also spoke about their forthcoming X Factor appearance and revealed they will take to the stage on November 14 scream!
As the fans made their way home sporting their diamante encrusted Westlife hoodies,
the smiles on their faces showed that catching a glimpse of the boys, certainly brightened up their day.
Lifelong fan Laura Butler on the day the music died as Westlife call it quits
Thursday October 20 2011
I LOST my heart to Westlife 14 years ago -- today I've been left broken hearted by Westlife.
The boyband was the teenage soundtrack to my life and the sad news that they are no more brings me back to younger days with fondness and nostalgia.
A besotted fan from the get-go, I first heard of the then five-piece group when they burst onto the scene in 1999.
As a first-year secondary student, I was holidaying in Connemara with pals, and we were instantly in favour of them and declaring them to be better than anything else in the charts.
dream
A welcome change from Boyzone and the Spice Girls, Westlife garnered lustful sighs from us as we listened to Swear It Again for the first time on the radio.
Animated debate over what their real name was -- "is it Westside or Westlife?" -- quickly followed and my friends and I promptly chose our favourite band members.
After buying their first single and taping my A2 sized poster of Sligo native Shane Filan to my bedroom wall, my adoration for the chart-toppers was firmly cemented when tracks If I Let You Go and I Have A Dream followed.
A year later, when I was 13 and they had almost become a household name -- I spotted them at the baggage area in Dublin airport.
Overcome with a fit of nervousness and the giggles, myself and my shy cousin indiscreetly wandered over in their direction to get a closer look at them -- and managed to find a pen and a scrap of paper to bring with us.
I couldn't have been happier to return from holidays, as I left the airport that day with four out of five autographs -- Brian McFadden failed to impress -- from the group before they were swarmed by excited teens waiting in arrivals.
I seem to have been very lucky when it comes to this band -- I managed to bump into them on a number of occasions over the years, from randomly seeing Nicky Byrne shopping on Grafton Street, to literally walking into Brian McFadden in a Greystones newsagents -- where he lived up the road with ex-Kerry Katona and that just confirmed how cool I thought they were.
From seeing them at the Childline concerts and cheering to turning on the telly to cheer them on at the MTV Europe music awards, their ballads failed to hit a sour note with their adoring fans, myself included.
Although my interest waned in their later years, I've always had a soft spot for their easygoing music, with -- admittedly -- Flying Without Wings in my top five favourites.
I still enjoy belting out a few of the cheesy numbers and tend to always revert back to them when compiling my Christmas playlist for my iPod.
When the lads announced the release of a greatest hits album last week, I had a sneaky suspicion that news of a split would follow.
Crooned
They've gone from being a fresh-faced boyband to a more mature looking manband and I suppose it was only inevitable after 14 years of a hard slog in the business.
And for those of us who grew up with Shane, Mark, Nicky, Kian and Brian, it definitely reminds you of your first dance at the local disco or pretending to be a backing vocalist with a hairbrush as your parents had to suffer Uptown Girl yet another time.
Teenagers now have the likes of Justin Bieber to scream and shout over, but no-one can compare to Louis Walsh's denim-jacket wearing, floppy-haired hopefuls who crooned their way into the lives of many Irish girls and seemed so down-to-earth that we thought we could always walk over and say hello.
Thursday October 20 2011
I LOST my heart to Westlife 14 years ago -- today I've been left broken hearted by Westlife.
The boyband was the teenage soundtrack to my life and the sad news that they are no more brings me back to younger days with fondness and nostalgia.
A besotted fan from the get-go, I first heard of the then five-piece group when they burst onto the scene in 1999.
As a first-year secondary student, I was holidaying in Connemara with pals, and we were instantly in favour of them and declaring them to be better than anything else in the charts.
dream
A welcome change from Boyzone and the Spice Girls, Westlife garnered lustful sighs from us as we listened to Swear It Again for the first time on the radio.
Animated debate over what their real name was -- "is it Westside or Westlife?" -- quickly followed and my friends and I promptly chose our favourite band members.
After buying their first single and taping my A2 sized poster of Sligo native Shane Filan to my bedroom wall, my adoration for the chart-toppers was firmly cemented when tracks If I Let You Go and I Have A Dream followed.
A year later, when I was 13 and they had almost become a household name -- I spotted them at the baggage area in Dublin airport.
Overcome with a fit of nervousness and the giggles, myself and my shy cousin indiscreetly wandered over in their direction to get a closer look at them -- and managed to find a pen and a scrap of paper to bring with us.
I couldn't have been happier to return from holidays, as I left the airport that day with four out of five autographs -- Brian McFadden failed to impress -- from the group before they were swarmed by excited teens waiting in arrivals.
I seem to have been very lucky when it comes to this band -- I managed to bump into them on a number of occasions over the years, from randomly seeing Nicky Byrne shopping on Grafton Street, to literally walking into Brian McFadden in a Greystones newsagents -- where he lived up the road with ex-Kerry Katona and that just confirmed how cool I thought they were.
From seeing them at the Childline concerts and cheering to turning on the telly to cheer them on at the MTV Europe music awards, their ballads failed to hit a sour note with their adoring fans, myself included.
Although my interest waned in their later years, I've always had a soft spot for their easygoing music, with -- admittedly -- Flying Without Wings in my top five favourites.
I still enjoy belting out a few of the cheesy numbers and tend to always revert back to them when compiling my Christmas playlist for my iPod.
When the lads announced the release of a greatest hits album last week, I had a sneaky suspicion that news of a split would follow.
Crooned
They've gone from being a fresh-faced boyband to a more mature looking manband and I suppose it was only inevitable after 14 years of a hard slog in the business.
And for those of us who grew up with Shane, Mark, Nicky, Kian and Brian, it definitely reminds you of your first dance at the local disco or pretending to be a backing vocalist with a hairbrush as your parents had to suffer Uptown Girl yet another time.
Teenagers now have the likes of Justin Bieber to scream and shout over, but no-one can compare to Louis Walsh's denim-jacket wearing, floppy-haired hopefuls who crooned their way into the lives of many Irish girls and seemed so down-to-earth that we thought we could always walk over and say hello.
Westlife fans queue for farewell tickets
From left, Westlife fans Rachael Cromarty (23), Vickey Lax (31), Michelle Watson (40), Nicola Hall (28).
Published on Friday 21 October 2011 12:14
WESTLIFE fans camped out for three days to get their hands on tickets for their heroes’ last live shows.
Superfans Nicola Hall, 28, her mum Sharon, 53, and friends Vickey Lax, 31, and Wendy Reed, 56, and her daughter Gemma, 20, braved freezing weather to camp outside Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena.
The Washington women heard of the Irish boyband’s split yesterday and that the tour in May would be the group’s last.
Care assistant Vickey, who has been to every tour and met the band, said: “We were keeping warm inside our tent when I saw on Twitter on my phone that they had announced their split.
“We were absolutely devastated. I understand they want to pursue other things, but it feels like the end of an era.”
Although the pals were first in the queue as tickets went on sale yesterday, they were told that the best seats had been reserved for fan club members.
Nicola, a care assistant, said: “It’s absolutely shocking that we haven’t been given the best seats even though we were the first in the queue.
“You would think that the first people would get the best, but we were told that all the front-row centre seats had been reserved for the fan club.
“We’re all part of the official Westlife fan club and we weren’t informed of this.”
Paul Tappenden, marketing director for the Metro Radio Arena, said: “Westlife tickets went on sale on Tuesday 9am to their fan club, and yesterday to previous Westlife bookers.
“The event goes on general sale to the public today, and tickets are sold on a first come basis, and are allocated best seats at the time of booking.
From left, Westlife fans Rachael Cromarty (23), Vickey Lax (31), Michelle Watson (40), Nicola Hall (28).
Published on Friday 21 October 2011 12:14
WESTLIFE fans camped out for three days to get their hands on tickets for their heroes’ last live shows.
Superfans Nicola Hall, 28, her mum Sharon, 53, and friends Vickey Lax, 31, and Wendy Reed, 56, and her daughter Gemma, 20, braved freezing weather to camp outside Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena.
The Washington women heard of the Irish boyband’s split yesterday and that the tour in May would be the group’s last.
Care assistant Vickey, who has been to every tour and met the band, said: “We were keeping warm inside our tent when I saw on Twitter on my phone that they had announced their split.
“We were absolutely devastated. I understand they want to pursue other things, but it feels like the end of an era.”
Although the pals were first in the queue as tickets went on sale yesterday, they were told that the best seats had been reserved for fan club members.
Nicola, a care assistant, said: “It’s absolutely shocking that we haven’t been given the best seats even though we were the first in the queue.
“You would think that the first people would get the best, but we were told that all the front-row centre seats had been reserved for the fan club.
“We’re all part of the official Westlife fan club and we weren’t informed of this.”
Paul Tappenden, marketing director for the Metro Radio Arena, said: “Westlife tickets went on sale on Tuesday 9am to their fan club, and yesterday to previous Westlife bookers.
“The event goes on general sale to the public today, and tickets are sold on a first come basis, and are allocated best seats at the time of booking.
Westlife fan blames marriage break-up on obsession
The mother-of-two said she had spent thousands of pounds following Westlife A Westlife "super fan" has blamed the breakdown of her marriage on her obsession with the Irish boy band.
Jane Fogg said she had spent £30,000 on merchandise and tickets to see the singers perform over the past 10 years.
The 44-year-old pub cleaner from Forest Fields in Nottingham has nine tattoos dedicated to the band, including five portraits.
She said her relationship failed because she loved the band more than anyone, even her husband.
"I just love Westlife too much," she said.
"I love them more than I loved him. It is the biggest thing in my life."
Ms Fogg has five Westlife portraits tattooed on her legs Ms Fogg became a fan shortly after the band formed in 1998.
'Complete nutter'
She has seen Westlife perform live about 60 times and admitted her obsession had spiralled out of control.
"Once I'd been to my first concert I was gripped. The more I had, the more I wanted." she said.
The mother-of-two spent over £1,000 on tattoos on her arms and legs and said her house was like a shrine.
"My son says I'm a complete nutter. My daughter, she likes them as well, but she's not a super-fan like me."
Westlife have announced they are to split after their farewell tour next year.
Ms Fogg said the announcement had left her "truly devastated", but she added: "I have all those memories and no-one can take that away from me."
The mother-of-two said she had spent thousands of pounds following Westlife A Westlife "super fan" has blamed the breakdown of her marriage on her obsession with the Irish boy band.
Jane Fogg said she had spent £30,000 on merchandise and tickets to see the singers perform over the past 10 years.
The 44-year-old pub cleaner from Forest Fields in Nottingham has nine tattoos dedicated to the band, including five portraits.
She said her relationship failed because she loved the band more than anyone, even her husband.
"I just love Westlife too much," she said.
"I love them more than I loved him. It is the biggest thing in my life."
Ms Fogg has five Westlife portraits tattooed on her legs Ms Fogg became a fan shortly after the band formed in 1998.
'Complete nutter'
She has seen Westlife perform live about 60 times and admitted her obsession had spiralled out of control.
"Once I'd been to my first concert I was gripped. The more I had, the more I wanted." she said.
The mother-of-two spent over £1,000 on tattoos on her arms and legs and said her house was like a shrine.
"My son says I'm a complete nutter. My daughter, she likes them as well, but she's not a super-fan like me."
Westlife have announced they are to split after their farewell tour next year.
Ms Fogg said the announcement had left her "truly devastated", but she added: "I have all those memories and no-one can take that away from me."
Fans were in tears when Westlife announced they were splitting, especially Jane Holmes – who knows a thing or two about break-ups.
Obsessed Jane, 44, ditched her second husband when he issued her with an ultimatum: “Choose Westlife or me.”
Jane’s skin has become a shrine to the chart toppers. She has eight tattoos of the group and has screamed her way through 60 of their concerts, spending £30,000 following them around the country.
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The pub cleaner says she warned hubby Norman Holmes, 46, that the Irish lads would always be her biggest passion.
She says: “I think he thought I was joking but he soon realised I wasn’t. I always get stopped in the street and he couldn’t hack the attention I was getting.
“The concerts take up a lot of my time and money. Westlife are a really big part of my life. I’m completely devoted to them and the tattoos are my way of showing my loyalty. I like to think I am their biggest fan.
“It’s my only hobby. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, so Westlife are my only addiction.”
Jane, who split from Norman last November after a year of marriage, has not had a holiday for seven years because her spare cash goes on her love of Westlife.
Obsessed Jane, 44, ditched her second husband when he issued her with an ultimatum: “Choose Westlife or me.”
Jane’s skin has become a shrine to the chart toppers. She has eight tattoos of the group and has screamed her way through 60 of their concerts, spending £30,000 following them around the country.
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The pub cleaner says she warned hubby Norman Holmes, 46, that the Irish lads would always be her biggest passion.
She says: “I think he thought I was joking but he soon realised I wasn’t. I always get stopped in the street and he couldn’t hack the attention I was getting.
“The concerts take up a lot of my time and money. Westlife are a really big part of my life. I’m completely devoted to them and the tattoos are my way of showing my loyalty. I like to think I am their biggest fan.
“It’s my only hobby. I don’t smoke, I don’t drink, so Westlife are my only addiction.”
Jane, who split from Norman last November after a year of marriage, has not had a holiday for seven years because her spare cash goes on her love of Westlife.
Fans camp out for last chance to meet Westlife
By SARAH SWAIN
21 Nov 2011
HUNDREDS of Westlife fans camped out to meet the Irish boyband on a flying visit to Glasgow.
Fans started gathering at 9am on Sunday – almost 24 hours before the band was due to arrive – for their last chance to meet the boys before they break up next year.
First in the queue for the CD signing at HMV on Buchanan Street was mum Sharon Blair, 38, from Motherwell, with daughters Jamie Leigh and Caitlin Armit.
By SARAH SWAIN
21 Nov 2011
HUNDREDS of Westlife fans camped out to meet the Irish boyband on a flying visit to Glasgow.
Fans started gathering at 9am on Sunday – almost 24 hours before the band was due to arrive – for their last chance to meet the boys before they break up next year.
First in the queue for the CD signing at HMV on Buchanan Street was mum Sharon Blair, 38, from Motherwell, with daughters Jamie Leigh and Caitlin Armit.
Heidi’s Filan sad as band she idolises breaks up
Published on Saturday 19 May 2012
HEIDI Michelle Witherington is spending almost £1,000 going to one Westlife concert a week for five weeks.
It is her way of saying goodbye to the boyband that she has loved for the past 14 years.
And the single-mum from Hemel Hempstead is not alone as she will join tens of thousands of fans saying goodbye as Westlife announced their split last year and that this year would be their Farewell Tour.
When Heidi heard the news she bought tickets for the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff for May 10, 18 and June 12 and the O2 Arena in London for May 24 and June 7.
She said: “Everyone was crying at the end of the concert in Cardiff last week. I looked around me and all I could see were tears. I managed to take about 200 photos and some of them are really good and close up because I splashed out on a row two ticket.”
Some people may think queuing for 12 hours or spending a day constantly redialling a ticket hotline number to get a good seat or position close to the stage is too much effort.
And other people may think that by your 30s, getting all teary-eyed over a boyband, waiting in the rain to catch a glimpse of the band members, and screaming their names at concerts is for teenagers. But Heidi, who is 34 years old, doesn’t care what people think.
She is a superfan and dotes on Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian, who make up Westlife, so much so that she was even considering camping in her car overnight outside their luxury hotel in Cardiff because it’s her ultimate dream to meet them.
In her mind the cold and uncomfortable experience would be nothing compared to being face to face with the famous four.
She said: “ One time we waited for an hour in the freezing cold to see them get out of their car before a concert.
“We waved at them and they waved back. I got a bubble of excitement to think that I was going to see them on stage in a few moments.
“My longest wait for Westlife was 11 and a half hours to get into an open air concert in Dorset.
“We arrived at 9.30am to get in the car park queue where there were so many cars the police had to control the chaos.
“At 2pm the gates opened so we could park up, run across a field and queue for another three and a half hours behind the barriers.”
The chase keeps Heidi going and she admits that if she actually got to meet the boyband she wouldn’t know what she would say or do.
Instead she loves them from afar – her collection of Westlife merchandise is worth thousands of pounds – and she talks about them with fans on some of the thousands, if not millions, of social networking pages and blogs dedicated to their every move.
There is nothing that makes Heidi more happy than putting Westlife on the CD player, getting her collection out and singing at the top of her voice while having a good dance around her flat.
She said: “It has only been recently that I have been listening to music other than Westlife.
“If you had asked me what was in the charts last year I wouldn’t have had a clue. The only music I have listened to for years has been Westlife. Some people get sick of it but I love it.
“Westlife has been a passionate 16-year love affair
Published on Saturday 19 May 2012
HEIDI Michelle Witherington is spending almost £1,000 going to one Westlife concert a week for five weeks.
It is her way of saying goodbye to the boyband that she has loved for the past 14 years.
And the single-mum from Hemel Hempstead is not alone as she will join tens of thousands of fans saying goodbye as Westlife announced their split last year and that this year would be their Farewell Tour.
When Heidi heard the news she bought tickets for the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff for May 10, 18 and June 12 and the O2 Arena in London for May 24 and June 7.
She said: “Everyone was crying at the end of the concert in Cardiff last week. I looked around me and all I could see were tears. I managed to take about 200 photos and some of them are really good and close up because I splashed out on a row two ticket.”
Some people may think queuing for 12 hours or spending a day constantly redialling a ticket hotline number to get a good seat or position close to the stage is too much effort.
And other people may think that by your 30s, getting all teary-eyed over a boyband, waiting in the rain to catch a glimpse of the band members, and screaming their names at concerts is for teenagers. But Heidi, who is 34 years old, doesn’t care what people think.
She is a superfan and dotes on Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian, who make up Westlife, so much so that she was even considering camping in her car overnight outside their luxury hotel in Cardiff because it’s her ultimate dream to meet them.
In her mind the cold and uncomfortable experience would be nothing compared to being face to face with the famous four.
She said: “ One time we waited for an hour in the freezing cold to see them get out of their car before a concert.
“We waved at them and they waved back. I got a bubble of excitement to think that I was going to see them on stage in a few moments.
“My longest wait for Westlife was 11 and a half hours to get into an open air concert in Dorset.
“We arrived at 9.30am to get in the car park queue where there were so many cars the police had to control the chaos.
“At 2pm the gates opened so we could park up, run across a field and queue for another three and a half hours behind the barriers.”
The chase keeps Heidi going and she admits that if she actually got to meet the boyband she wouldn’t know what she would say or do.
Instead she loves them from afar – her collection of Westlife merchandise is worth thousands of pounds – and she talks about them with fans on some of the thousands, if not millions, of social networking pages and blogs dedicated to their every move.
There is nothing that makes Heidi more happy than putting Westlife on the CD player, getting her collection out and singing at the top of her voice while having a good dance around her flat.
She said: “It has only been recently that I have been listening to music other than Westlife.
“If you had asked me what was in the charts last year I wouldn’t have had a clue. The only music I have listened to for years has been Westlife. Some people get sick of it but I love it.
“Westlife has been a passionate 16-year love affair
Published on Tuesday 5 June 2012
AFTER more than 14 years of idolising Westlife, one fan finally got to meet her idols.
It was almost the last chance for Heidi Witherington, from Hemel Hempstead, to meet the famous boyband when she went to their concert at The Motorpoint Arena, in Cardiff.
The group is disbanding after 16 years so the 34-year-old mum and her pal booked into St David’s Hotel, where the boyband were staying, and couldn’t believe her luck when she met Westlife’s Nicky Byrne there.
She had her photograph taken with the star and he also signed a teddy bear for her.
She said: “We stood outside the hotel for three hours when he turned up. There were only a few fans there. I was thinking ‘oh my God’ and was shaking when he posed for the picture.”
Before the concert the following day, Heidi met the rest of the band and had her T-shirt and CD signed by Nicky, Kian and Shane.
She said: “A meet and greet costs about £425 but having a bit of patience meant it cost me nothing.”
AFTER more than 14 years of idolising Westlife, one fan finally got to meet her idols.
It was almost the last chance for Heidi Witherington, from Hemel Hempstead, to meet the famous boyband when she went to their concert at The Motorpoint Arena, in Cardiff.
The group is disbanding after 16 years so the 34-year-old mum and her pal booked into St David’s Hotel, where the boyband were staying, and couldn’t believe her luck when she met Westlife’s Nicky Byrne there.
She had her photograph taken with the star and he also signed a teddy bear for her.
She said: “We stood outside the hotel for three hours when he turned up. There were only a few fans there. I was thinking ‘oh my God’ and was shaking when he posed for the picture.”
Before the concert the following day, Heidi met the rest of the band and had her T-shirt and CD signed by Nicky, Kian and Shane.
She said: “A meet and greet costs about £425 but having a bit of patience meant it cost me nothing.”
Dream come true as Coalisland ladies meet Westlife heroes
Colleen Skeffington (right), with her sister Caoimhe and aunt, are pictured with Kian Egan of Westlife at the band's farewell concert at the Odyssey Belfast.
Published on Thursday 7 June 2012
A COALISLAND woman’s dream was made a reality when a chance meeting between her dad and the brother-in-law of Westlife’s Nicky Byrne in a bar, led to her getting up close and personal with the boyband members at their farewell concert on Tuesday night.
Colleen Skeffington, who travelled to the concert at the Odyssey in Belfast with her sister, aunt and fiance, told the Tyrone Times she was “really chuffed” to be given the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet her pop idols.
“Daddy was talking to Nicky’s brother-in-law in a bar as his family is from the same direction as where Daddy lives”, Collen explains.
“Daddy said to him, ‘My girls are going to the concert in the Odyssey and have never missed one, and would there be any chance of arranging a meet and greet with the boys?’
“We rang the man on the day of the concert, Tuesday, and he said he would ring Nicky to see if the band were doing any meet and greets, but he said he didn’t think so. However, Nicky then told him he would arrange for us to get to meet the band, which was absolutely fantastic!”
Colleen and her family were among only approximately 10 people out of a concert audience of some 8,000 who were allowed to pose for photographs with their heroes, and she has kindly allowed the Times to publish the images from her dream night.
“We were really chuffed to be able to meet the boys in person”, Colleen continued, “although we were quite nervous on the day of the concert and on the drive up to Belfast.
“But when it came to actually meeting them, it was just like they were ordinary people. They were all lovely, really nice and friendly.
“My fiance, Matt, was taking photos and I just told him to keep snapping! The concert itself was amazing, the band put on a really good show, it was a big combination of all the years.
“They were on stage for about two hours, which is longer than normal, and at times it was very sad as it was one of their last. My sister, Caoimhe, shed a tear or two, but I managed to hold it together!”
Westlife announced last year that they will go their separate ways, after 14 years together, and will play their last ever concert at Croke Park in Dublin next month.
Their closing gig will be screened at cinemas across the globe in countries including South Africa, Finland and the Netherlands.
///////////
Colleen Skeffington (right), with her sister Caoimhe and aunt, are pictured with Kian Egan of Westlife at the band's farewell concert at the Odyssey Belfast.
Published on Thursday 7 June 2012
A COALISLAND woman’s dream was made a reality when a chance meeting between her dad and the brother-in-law of Westlife’s Nicky Byrne in a bar, led to her getting up close and personal with the boyband members at their farewell concert on Tuesday night.
Colleen Skeffington, who travelled to the concert at the Odyssey in Belfast with her sister, aunt and fiance, told the Tyrone Times she was “really chuffed” to be given the once in a lifetime opportunity to meet her pop idols.
“Daddy was talking to Nicky’s brother-in-law in a bar as his family is from the same direction as where Daddy lives”, Collen explains.
“Daddy said to him, ‘My girls are going to the concert in the Odyssey and have never missed one, and would there be any chance of arranging a meet and greet with the boys?’
“We rang the man on the day of the concert, Tuesday, and he said he would ring Nicky to see if the band were doing any meet and greets, but he said he didn’t think so. However, Nicky then told him he would arrange for us to get to meet the band, which was absolutely fantastic!”
Colleen and her family were among only approximately 10 people out of a concert audience of some 8,000 who were allowed to pose for photographs with their heroes, and she has kindly allowed the Times to publish the images from her dream night.
“We were really chuffed to be able to meet the boys in person”, Colleen continued, “although we were quite nervous on the day of the concert and on the drive up to Belfast.
“But when it came to actually meeting them, it was just like they were ordinary people. They were all lovely, really nice and friendly.
“My fiance, Matt, was taking photos and I just told him to keep snapping! The concert itself was amazing, the band put on a really good show, it was a big combination of all the years.
“They were on stage for about two hours, which is longer than normal, and at times it was very sad as it was one of their last. My sister, Caoimhe, shed a tear or two, but I managed to hold it together!”
Westlife announced last year that they will go their separate ways, after 14 years together, and will play their last ever concert at Croke Park in Dublin next month.
Their closing gig will be screened at cinemas across the globe in countries including South Africa, Finland and the Netherlands.
///////////
Westlife fans miss farewell gig after Dundee cinema showing concert suffers satellite fault
Jun 24 2012 Exclusive by Euan McLelland
Westlife
SCOTS Westlife fans were fuming last night after a cinema ruined their dreams of watching the band’s last ever gig.
Hundreds flocked to Cineworld in Dundee to watch the Irish foursome’s final concert from Dublin’s Croke Park beamed live on the big screen.
But a technical glitch meant that the Dublin band’s devoted Scots fans were denied even a second of live footage.
And heartbroken fans say that when they complained, they were initially told there would be no refund on their £13.50 tickets.
Lindsey Fleming, from Forfar, said: “I paid £40 for three tickets.
“We sat in darkness for an hour before the manager came in and announced they couldn’t get the satellite feed.
“After taking us outside, they then announced that we weren’t getting any of our money back either – because their systems had gone down – and we’d have to come back some other time.
“It was an extremely full house and there were a lot of very angry people. Lots of children were crying.
“I thought it was quite horrible actually. They’ve offered us free tickets for another show of our choice but that’s not any good.
“That was Westlife’s final, final show and we’re never going to see them again. That’s the most upsetting part.
“I’ve loved them all through the 14 years and I am now completely gutted.”
Lindsey said Cineworld eventually did refund the money for her tickets after she queued for 45 minutes alongside other disgruntled Westlife fans.
Shelley-Anne McKenzie, who travelled from Perth for the showing, said last night: “It was an absolute farce.
“I couldn’t get a ticket for Croke Park so this was the best I could have done.
“I’ve travelled to Dublin to see them three times and this was my last ever chance to see them live.
“It was completely ruined.”
But theree were a few lucky stragglers who were waiting for refunds and caught the last four songs of the concert and farewell speeches form the boys when the screen suddnely sparked into life.
One girl said: "We thought we were unlucky because we were at the back of the queue but it turned out we were the lucky ones because we saw the end of the gig."
Jun 24 2012 Exclusive by Euan McLelland
Westlife
SCOTS Westlife fans were fuming last night after a cinema ruined their dreams of watching the band’s last ever gig.
Hundreds flocked to Cineworld in Dundee to watch the Irish foursome’s final concert from Dublin’s Croke Park beamed live on the big screen.
But a technical glitch meant that the Dublin band’s devoted Scots fans were denied even a second of live footage.
And heartbroken fans say that when they complained, they were initially told there would be no refund on their £13.50 tickets.
Lindsey Fleming, from Forfar, said: “I paid £40 for three tickets.
“We sat in darkness for an hour before the manager came in and announced they couldn’t get the satellite feed.
“After taking us outside, they then announced that we weren’t getting any of our money back either – because their systems had gone down – and we’d have to come back some other time.
“It was an extremely full house and there were a lot of very angry people. Lots of children were crying.
“I thought it was quite horrible actually. They’ve offered us free tickets for another show of our choice but that’s not any good.
“That was Westlife’s final, final show and we’re never going to see them again. That’s the most upsetting part.
“I’ve loved them all through the 14 years and I am now completely gutted.”
Lindsey said Cineworld eventually did refund the money for her tickets after she queued for 45 minutes alongside other disgruntled Westlife fans.
Shelley-Anne McKenzie, who travelled from Perth for the showing, said last night: “It was an absolute farce.
“I couldn’t get a ticket for Croke Park so this was the best I could have done.
“I’ve travelled to Dublin to see them three times and this was my last ever chance to see them live.
“It was completely ruined.”
But theree were a few lucky stragglers who were waiting for refunds and caught the last four songs of the concert and farewell speeches form the boys when the screen suddnely sparked into life.
One girl said: "We thought we were unlucky because we were at the back of the queue but it turned out we were the lucky ones because we saw the end of the gig."
Geschreven door westlife om 20:54
Reageer op dit bericht
Vrijdag 22 november 2013
WESTLIFE ... FAN...FANS 1
westlife fan
DE JONGSTE WESTLIFE FAN ??
FANS MEET THEIR HEROES
FAN GOT SHOCK OF HER LIFE
westlife neemt altijd even de tijd voor hun fans.
Monday June 23 2008
Cold, wet and miserable ... but the shows go on for diehard fans
MORE than 100,000 music fans braved horrific weather, including torrential rain, to see their idols live at open-air concerts around the country.
Several young audience members at Westlife's gig in Salthill in Galway on Saturday night were treated for hypothermia as the city witnessed some of the heaviest summer rains seen in years.
However, they did not need to be hospitalised and were treated at the venue.
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WESTLIFE IS VOOR ALLE LEEFTIJDEN
2.20pm exclusive: Westlife's senior moment
Ladies form an orderly queue outside Waterstones 24 hours before boyband arrive in Liverpool
BABS Dyson from Litherland is going to see Westlife tomorrow. She has her flask, some sandwiches, an overnight bag, a book and, er, a chair.
For Babs, 57, it is going to be a wait well worth it. For she is camping out in front of Waterstones, Bold Street, to see her favourite boy band.
"You can't miss the beat, it's their rhythm,she excitedly told Liverpool Confidential.
I'm a bit tired. I was up all last night. I was so excited that I was coming down here and I wanted to be first in the queue.
What is she going to say when you see them? guys, lovely to see you. Whatever comes out, she chipped.
Eve Hill, left, will have one very happy grand-daughter tomorrow if things go to plan.
She is there holding the place as number two in the for the 17-year-old, passionate Westlife fan who has learning difficulties and who has been clutching her own copy of Westlife: Our Story, to her chest, since it was published last week.
Eve said: She has absolutely no idea I am here. She eats and sleeps Westlife. Has pictures of them all over her bedroom and on her mobile phone. I will queue until tomorrow and she can take the place here in the morning. It will be a massive surprise.
The onetime boyband still have a huge girlie following and are popular among gay men, but will doubtless raise a cheeky Irish eyebrow when they see their most dedicated Liverpool followers at 12.30pm on Wednesday at their book signing.
As Babs says: "We'd be crazy not to."
Will somebody take these two game girls a brolly and a beer if need be tonight?
.............
2.20pm exclusive: Westlife's senior moment
Ladies form an orderly queue outside Waterstones 24 hours before boyband arrive in Liverpool
BABS Dyson from Litherland is going to see Westlife tomorrow. She has her flask, some sandwiches, an overnight bag, a book and, er, a chair.
For Babs, 57, it is going to be a wait well worth it. For she is camping out in front of Waterstones, Bold Street, to see her favourite boy band.
"You can't miss the beat, it's their rhythm,she excitedly told Liverpool Confidential.
I'm a bit tired. I was up all last night. I was so excited that I was coming down here and I wanted to be first in the queue.
What is she going to say when you see them? guys, lovely to see you. Whatever comes out, she chipped.
Eve Hill, left, will have one very happy grand-daughter tomorrow if things go to plan.
She is there holding the place as number two in the for the 17-year-old, passionate Westlife fan who has learning difficulties and who has been clutching her own copy of Westlife: Our Story, to her chest, since it was published last week.
Eve said: She has absolutely no idea I am here. She eats and sleeps Westlife. Has pictures of them all over her bedroom and on her mobile phone. I will queue until tomorrow and she can take the place here in the morning. It will be a massive surprise.
The onetime boyband still have a huge girlie following and are popular among gay men, but will doubtless raise a cheeky Irish eyebrow when they see their most dedicated Liverpool followers at 12.30pm on Wednesday at their book signing.
As Babs says: "We'd be crazy not to."
Will somebody take these two game girls a brolly and a beer if need be tonight?
.............
PICTURE GALLERY: Westlife book signing
It was an emotional experience for some after meeting the pop quartet
WESTLIFE fans took to Belfast city centre in their hundreds on Thursday evening as they queued for glimpse of and maybe even a chat with their pop star heroes.
The Irish band arrived in Eason in Donegall Place to sign copies of their new autobiography, and were greeted by scores of adoring fans.
A sight to behold for bemused shoppers, crowds of cheering women and men were queued as far back as McDonalds and beyond, as they waited patiently to get through the doors of the store.
They passed the time by singing the hit songs of their favourite four-piece, and for those who were successful in meeting Shane, Kian, Mark and Nicky, it was well worth the wait.
Tears of joy and delight flowed freely as fans shared a few moments with their idols, and for some it was all too much, as our pictures show.
Deputy store manager Trevor Proctor said last night that lots of fans had been able to meet the band.
But he accepted that judging by the scale of the event, there were many more left disappointed.
The band stayed for an hour signing books and had stipulated that no photos were taken of them with fans, nor that they could write personalised dedications.
Trevor said this was a bid to speed the process up, and "reduce the number of minutes spent at the table".
Westlife Our Story charts the highs and lows of the group's career and a friendship that has seen them endure 10 years.
The book chronicles the band's story from their grassroots to multi-platinum records, celebrity collaborations and chart achievements.
And if this their latest offering receives as much of a welcome as the lads themselves did the day they came to Belfast, they'll definitely be flying without wings.
The full article contains 306 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Westlife's Nicky Byrne gets up close with a lucky fan
June 25 2008
Westlife's Nicky meets best buddy' Caitlin ahead of sellout concert
POPSTAR and heart-throb, Nicky Byrne of Westlife, requested an audience with Carlow's own little star, Caitlin Murphy, before his recent sell-out gig in Croke Park. Bertie Ahern's son-in-law was so taken with seven-year-old Caitlin from Bennekerry when the pair first met two years ago, he just had to catch up with her again.
POPSTAR and heart-throb, Nicky Byrne of Westlife, requested an audience with Carlow's own little star, Caitlin Murphy, before his recent sell-out gig in Croke Park.
Bertie Ahern's son-in-law was so taken with seven-year-old Caitlin from Bennekerry when the pair first met two years ago, he just had to catch up with her again.
His people rang Caitlin's people and so a meeting before the Westlife gig was arranged in the plush Four Season's Hotel.
Caitlin and her mum, Sabrina, met Nicky in a room, booked especially for the occasion by Nicky.
She wasn't at all nervous about meeting him again,' Sheila Murphy, her grandmother told the Carlow People. The pair chatted like they were old friends with Caitlin enquiring after Nicky's twins, Rocco and Jay.'
The Murphys brought tiny little jerseys, with the names of the twins hand-embroidered on them to present them to the popstar.
Nicky, in turn, signed Caitlin's photo album, inscribing the words, best buddies' on one of the photos.
The unlikely friendship came about after Nicky visited her in Temple Street Hospital two years ago when Caitlin was recovering from injuries she sustained in a horrific car crash that happened on Father's Day.
They've met several times since then and have, indeed, become best buddies'.
,,,,,,,,,,
It was an emotional experience for some after meeting the pop quartet
WESTLIFE fans took to Belfast city centre in their hundreds on Thursday evening as they queued for glimpse of and maybe even a chat with their pop star heroes.
The Irish band arrived in Eason in Donegall Place to sign copies of their new autobiography, and were greeted by scores of adoring fans.
A sight to behold for bemused shoppers, crowds of cheering women and men were queued as far back as McDonalds and beyond, as they waited patiently to get through the doors of the store.
They passed the time by singing the hit songs of their favourite four-piece, and for those who were successful in meeting Shane, Kian, Mark and Nicky, it was well worth the wait.
Tears of joy and delight flowed freely as fans shared a few moments with their idols, and for some it was all too much, as our pictures show.
Deputy store manager Trevor Proctor said last night that lots of fans had been able to meet the band.
But he accepted that judging by the scale of the event, there were many more left disappointed.
The band stayed for an hour signing books and had stipulated that no photos were taken of them with fans, nor that they could write personalised dedications.
Trevor said this was a bid to speed the process up, and "reduce the number of minutes spent at the table".
Westlife Our Story charts the highs and lows of the group's career and a friendship that has seen them endure 10 years.
The book chronicles the band's story from their grassroots to multi-platinum records, celebrity collaborations and chart achievements.
And if this their latest offering receives as much of a welcome as the lads themselves did the day they came to Belfast, they'll definitely be flying without wings.
The full article contains 306 words and appears in n/a newspaper.
Westlife's Nicky Byrne gets up close with a lucky fan
June 25 2008
Westlife's Nicky meets best buddy' Caitlin ahead of sellout concert
POPSTAR and heart-throb, Nicky Byrne of Westlife, requested an audience with Carlow's own little star, Caitlin Murphy, before his recent sell-out gig in Croke Park. Bertie Ahern's son-in-law was so taken with seven-year-old Caitlin from Bennekerry when the pair first met two years ago, he just had to catch up with her again.
POPSTAR and heart-throb, Nicky Byrne of Westlife, requested an audience with Carlow's own little star, Caitlin Murphy, before his recent sell-out gig in Croke Park.
Bertie Ahern's son-in-law was so taken with seven-year-old Caitlin from Bennekerry when the pair first met two years ago, he just had to catch up with her again.
His people rang Caitlin's people and so a meeting before the Westlife gig was arranged in the plush Four Season's Hotel.
Caitlin and her mum, Sabrina, met Nicky in a room, booked especially for the occasion by Nicky.
She wasn't at all nervous about meeting him again,' Sheila Murphy, her grandmother told the Carlow People. The pair chatted like they were old friends with Caitlin enquiring after Nicky's twins, Rocco and Jay.'
The Murphys brought tiny little jerseys, with the names of the twins hand-embroidered on them to present them to the popstar.
Nicky, in turn, signed Caitlin's photo album, inscribing the words, best buddies' on one of the photos.
The unlikely friendship came about after Nicky visited her in Temple Street Hospital two years ago when Caitlin was recovering from injuries she sustained in a horrific car crash that happened on Father's Day.
They've met several times since then and have, indeed, become best buddies'.
,,,,,,,,,,
Reportage: Vrouw.nl ontmoet Westlife (2006)
,,,,,,
PICTURES FROM DUBLIN DURING THE FACE TO FACE TOUR (2006)
mark heeft altijd even tijd voor zijn fans
mark heeft altijd even tijd voor zijn fans
Vicky will be right on queue to hear her heroes going live
Oct 9 2008 by Gary Marsh, Cynon Valley Leader
CYNON Valley,s biggest Westlife fan Vicky Jones has pledged to be at the front of the queue when their eagerly-anticipated new album is released next month.
10 Years Of Westlife: Live At Croake Park, hits the shelves on November 24.
I cannot wait it will be so exciting, said Vicky just after she gave herself a special 40th birthday present this year a giant tattoo of the band on her back!
Vicky, of Abercwmboi, spent 16 hours under the needle having the four faces of the band members etched on her body.
Vicky, a mother of four, has seen 300 Westlife concerts and counts herself as their greatest fan.
My children reckon I am crazy but the tattoos are fabulous,she said.
All my money goes on Westlife about £4,000 a year. I must be their biggest fan.
Singers Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan added their autographs recently and Mrs Jones then had them inked over onto her back, underneath their portraits.
Her daughter Stacey, 18, said: am not that keen on Westlife at all mum is too obsessed if you ask me.
Vicky,s husband Colin, 42, is also not a big fan of the band.
He can,t abide Westlife but he doesnt say a lot, said Mrs Jones.
Band members Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily (inset) gallantly autographed the tattoos for a delighted Viki, who was just one of hundreds of fans there to meet the band, as they promoted their new book,
Westlife Nicky is surprise visitor for Toy Show's smiling star
SPEECHLESS: Shauna left stunned when her idol appears
Saturday November 29 2008
SHE'S the girl who is the envy of tens of thousands of Westlife fans after meeting Nicky Byrne on the Late Late Toy Show last night.
Shauna Byrne (10), from Clondalkin, appeared on the show and shyly spoke to host Pat Kenny about how much she loved Westlife.
The young girl, who has cystic fibrosis and has been in and out of hospital all her young life, was left speechless when her idol Nicky walked out, along with his twins Jay and Rocco, to meet brave Shauna.
"She was all excited -- she just couldn't believe it," her proud mum Jackie told the Herald.
"We got the call through the Make A Wish Foundation and it was just brilliant. I am so proud of her and she was just so thrilled.
"She has been in Tallaght Hospital for the last two weeks, but she has cystic fibrosis and has been in and out of hospital all her life," Jackie added.
Shauna was completely in the dark about Nicky's special visit -- the show's producers invited her to come on the show to demonstrate a camcorder to the audience and Shauna chatted confidently to Pat about the toy. Then Pat quizzed her about Westlife and, after much persuasion, Shauna revealed that Nicky was her favourite member of the band.
stunned
Pat then told her that a special guest had come along to meet her and out came Nicky with twins Jay and Rocco.
Shauna was left visibly stunned by his surprise appearance -- but was able to continue chatting as well as playing with the twins.
"After the show, we were able to get some pictures of him. His wife Georgina was there and his mother-in-law Miriam Ahern was there. Shauna was just so happy," said her mum Jackie.
Nicky told viewers he was looking forward to playing Dad this Christmas as Westlife are on a break. But fear not -- the boys will be back next year with a new album.
..............
Oct 9 2008 by Gary Marsh, Cynon Valley Leader
CYNON Valley,s biggest Westlife fan Vicky Jones has pledged to be at the front of the queue when their eagerly-anticipated new album is released next month.
10 Years Of Westlife: Live At Croake Park, hits the shelves on November 24.
I cannot wait it will be so exciting, said Vicky just after she gave herself a special 40th birthday present this year a giant tattoo of the band on her back!
Vicky, of Abercwmboi, spent 16 hours under the needle having the four faces of the band members etched on her body.
Vicky, a mother of four, has seen 300 Westlife concerts and counts herself as their greatest fan.
My children reckon I am crazy but the tattoos are fabulous,she said.
All my money goes on Westlife about £4,000 a year. I must be their biggest fan.
Singers Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan added their autographs recently and Mrs Jones then had them inked over onto her back, underneath their portraits.
Her daughter Stacey, 18, said: am not that keen on Westlife at all mum is too obsessed if you ask me.
Vicky,s husband Colin, 42, is also not a big fan of the band.
He can,t abide Westlife but he doesnt say a lot, said Mrs Jones.
Band members Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily (inset) gallantly autographed the tattoos for a delighted Viki, who was just one of hundreds of fans there to meet the band, as they promoted their new book,
Westlife Nicky is surprise visitor for Toy Show's smiling star
SPEECHLESS: Shauna left stunned when her idol appears
Saturday November 29 2008
SHE'S the girl who is the envy of tens of thousands of Westlife fans after meeting Nicky Byrne on the Late Late Toy Show last night.
Shauna Byrne (10), from Clondalkin, appeared on the show and shyly spoke to host Pat Kenny about how much she loved Westlife.
The young girl, who has cystic fibrosis and has been in and out of hospital all her young life, was left speechless when her idol Nicky walked out, along with his twins Jay and Rocco, to meet brave Shauna.
"She was all excited -- she just couldn't believe it," her proud mum Jackie told the Herald.
"We got the call through the Make A Wish Foundation and it was just brilliant. I am so proud of her and she was just so thrilled.
"She has been in Tallaght Hospital for the last two weeks, but she has cystic fibrosis and has been in and out of hospital all her life," Jackie added.
Shauna was completely in the dark about Nicky's special visit -- the show's producers invited her to come on the show to demonstrate a camcorder to the audience and Shauna chatted confidently to Pat about the toy. Then Pat quizzed her about Westlife and, after much persuasion, Shauna revealed that Nicky was her favourite member of the band.
stunned
Pat then told her that a special guest had come along to meet her and out came Nicky with twins Jay and Rocco.
Shauna was left visibly stunned by his surprise appearance -- but was able to continue chatting as well as playing with the twins.
"After the show, we were able to get some pictures of him. His wife Georgina was there and his mother-in-law Miriam Ahern was there. Shauna was just so happy," said her mum Jackie.
Nicky told viewers he was looking forward to playing Dad this Christmas as Westlife are on a break. But fear not -- the boys will be back next year with a new album.
..............
Geschreven door westlife om 18:26
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Vrijdag 22 november 2013
3 Westlife 2011
Mark Feehily, of Westlife, gave me a bell this week to talk about their decision to call time on the band.
But fear not, Mark is planning some big solo projects.
He told me: I will definitely focus on making music. Singing is my gift and what Im really good at. I want to make records for sure, and I want to direct music videos something Ive always wanted to do, but Ive never had the chance.
"Id also love to write a book and Ive been approached to write a musical its a modern version of Taboo by BOY GEORGE. Its my chance to be creative.
I wish him well.
by Dean Piper, Sunday Mirror
lllllll
Record yourself on PureSolo and win concert tickets to the Westlife farewell tour and a meet and greet with the band! We are really pleased to announce we have partnered with Westlife to offer their fans the chance to record themselves singing over their favourite Westlife songs!
The best entry will receive a meet and greet on their final UK tour, along with concert tickets, and a signed Greatest Hits disc! The four runners up will receive a copy of the brand new album!
Sign up at www.puresolo.com/westlife-competition to claim your free track and we look forward to hearing your entries!
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
The best entry will receive a meet and greet on their final UK tour, along with concert tickets, and a signed Greatest Hits disc! The four runners up will receive a copy of the brand new album!
Sign up at www.puresolo.com/westlife-competition to claim your free track and we look forward to hearing your entries!
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Kian Egan said he wants Westlife fans to remember the good times
IT'S going to be an emotional rollercoaster.
But Westlife's Kian Egan says fans left devastated over their split should try and focus on how amazing their 14-year career has been.
Speaking in our exclusive interview, the heartthrob told us they want fans to walk away from their 2012 tour with "happy memories," and not in floods of tears.
"[We want the tour to give fans] happy memories," he told us.
"If a fan is that devastated that we've broken up, then it means they've been there from the start and it will be as devastating for them as it is for us.
"But don't look back on the last 14 years as if they haven't existed, look back on the last 14 years for how great they've been.
"It's been an amazing time," he said. "[But] not everything lasts forever. Take the positive don't take the negative. That's what we're trying to do."
And it seems he and the rest of the boys - including Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan - are going ALL out to give their fans the best-ever farewell tour imaginable.
"[Fans should] look forward to every hit," Kian told us. "And expect the best show we've ever done.
"You'll see four guys on that stage with so much passion, so much love for what we do and for the fans, who've given us what they've given us. We want to give amazing things."
IT'S going to be an emotional rollercoaster.
But Westlife's Kian Egan says fans left devastated over their split should try and focus on how amazing their 14-year career has been.
Speaking in our exclusive interview, the heartthrob told us they want fans to walk away from their 2012 tour with "happy memories," and not in floods of tears.
"[We want the tour to give fans] happy memories," he told us.
"If a fan is that devastated that we've broken up, then it means they've been there from the start and it will be as devastating for them as it is for us.
"But don't look back on the last 14 years as if they haven't existed, look back on the last 14 years for how great they've been.
"It's been an amazing time," he said. "[But] not everything lasts forever. Take the positive don't take the negative. That's what we're trying to do."
And it seems he and the rest of the boys - including Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan - are going ALL out to give their fans the best-ever farewell tour imaginable.
"[Fans should] look forward to every hit," Kian told us. "And expect the best show we've ever done.
"You'll see four guys on that stage with so much passion, so much love for what we do and for the fans, who've given us what they've given us. We want to give amazing things."
,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Westlife star Mark Feehily to marry Kevin McDaid next year
By Vicky Allison Nov 26, 2011,
Westlife singer Mark Feehily plans to get married next year.
Feehily has been engaged to 27-year-old Kevin McDaid for almost two years after popping the question on their fifth anniversary.
The 31-year-old star told the Irish Daily Mirror: 'We plan to get married as soon as possible but it's about finding a gap to do it. It will definitely be next year. We want to do it as soon as we possibly can, but we want it to be right as well.'
Feehily wants to make sure every part of his big day is perfect, something he didn't have time to plan while he was busy working with the boyband.
He said: 'It's finding the time and doing it right. We've no reason to rush it or say, 'Let's just f***ing pick any church or hotel or venue in the country'.
'You really don't have time to plan. We've pretty much got the time to be getting on with the wedding now.'
,,,,,,,,,,
By Vicky Allison Nov 26, 2011,
Westlife singer Mark Feehily plans to get married next year.
Feehily has been engaged to 27-year-old Kevin McDaid for almost two years after popping the question on their fifth anniversary.
The 31-year-old star told the Irish Daily Mirror: 'We plan to get married as soon as possible but it's about finding a gap to do it. It will definitely be next year. We want to do it as soon as we possibly can, but we want it to be right as well.'
Feehily wants to make sure every part of his big day is perfect, something he didn't have time to plan while he was busy working with the boyband.
He said: 'It's finding the time and doing it right. We've no reason to rush it or say, 'Let's just f***ing pick any church or hotel or venue in the country'.
'You really don't have time to plan. We've pretty much got the time to be getting on with the wedding now.'
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Westlife's Shane Filan: Louis Walsh was behind fake stories about us
Westlife singer Shane Filan, 32, talks to Metro about why the band decided to split, the worst gig they've ever played and why he suspects Louis Walsh was behind some of the group's most ridiculous stories.
Westlife's Shane Filan reveals why the band decided to break up
..Why did you decide to split up?
It?s been 14 years as a band, the Greatest Hits (album) was coming up, we?ve been talking about it for a year and thought it was better to end it on a high. The tour should be massive and it?s better we were honest with the fans now rather than tell them when the tour finishes.
Was it a difficult decision?
Yes, it was a massive thing. We?ve been in the band for half our lives. It?s given us the life we have and meant we can provide for our families. We could keep it going if we wanted to but every year we enjoyed it less and less, the past three years especially.
What bits weren?t you enjoying?
Just keeping it going. Making new albums, trying to get things to a level we wanted to be at. We haven?t had any bad years but we weren?t getting any better or bigger.
What will you miss the most?
The live performances. The adrenaline of performing on stage to a crowd ? there?s nothing like it.
What have been the highlights?
Playing our national stadium, Croke Park, in 2008 and we?ll be doing it again for two nights next year. Our first night there sold out in four minutes.
You?re renowned for sitting on stools singing ballads ? were you a fan of the music you were making?
When we started, we wanted to be like the Backstreet Boys but Simon Cowell was adamant we had to be different and there weren?t any other bands singing ballads. We had seven ballads in a row before we released Uptown Girl. They were going to No.1, so people liked it. Songs such as Flying Without Wings and Swear It Again are hard to come by. We?ve made 12 albums in 14 years and finding those songs every year was getting harder.
Were you frustrated with the material you were given?
Not at the start but towards the middle, we were being given lots of covers. We were striving to get the original songs but they weren?t there like they used to be. Our fans liked us doing covers so there?s no point knocking it.
What?s the worst gig you?ve done?
A gig in Germany around six years ago. It was 5,000 capacity and 500 people turned up. I was like: ?We?re not that big in Germany, are we lads?? We concentrated more on northern Europe and Britain after that. We still sell 100,000 albums there but to be big there you need to sell a million.
What lessons has the music industry taught you?
It?s very cut-throat. You?re only as good as your last album. You need to work hard, keep your head down and don?t lose your focus ? we could have easily lost the plot but we didn?t. If you have the songs, you?ll have a big career. If you don?t, you won?t.
What?s the most ridiculous story your manager, Louis Walsh, placed in the press about you?
Louis will deny to the last he?s had anything to do with any of those stories but I suspect he did. There was one that I?d broken my back and was in a wheelchair ? that was on the front page of one tabloid. The reality was I?d fallen off stage in Asia on to a drum kit. I?d hurt myself but that became exaggerated a bit. There was one that Kian was chased by lion. I think that came from us going on a safari in Africa and a lion came up to the van ? we were covered by a cage ? and growled at us. If a lion had chased Kian it would have eaten him. You just have to laugh at it.
Does Westlife have a typical fan?
The record company did a survey to find out who our demographic is and it turns out most of our fans are aged 44 to 64. We thought it was around the thirties. We were quite surprised but when you go to our shows you see we have older fans, which might be why we?ve been around for so long. They?re not teenagers who?ll grow out of us. It was mothers bringing their kids rather than kids bringing their mothers.
What?s the audience like?
Great ? there?s lots of hen parties, ten women in a row wearing wigs and having fun. Performing is the best part of the job. We walk over on the frames and are ten feet from the fans, and they?re 50 years old, pulling their tops down, screaming like teenagers. Maybe it makes them feel like teeny-boppers again.
What?s been your most extravagant purchase?
A four-seater helicopter. I used it for a year-and-a-half before I had children. I didn?t like taking my daughter in it so I sold it. It was pretty cool to have it for a while. I?ve been through the cars. Me, Nicky and Brian went out and bought Ferraris one day. I bought a black 550 Maranello. We were only 23. It was one of the best days of my life.
What plans have you got for after the band split up?
I?d like to keep singing ? whether that?s small or big. To stop singing for a living would break my heart. I?m not rushing into anything. Hopefully I?ll have something sorted out when the tour finishes.
................
Westlife singer Shane Filan, 32, talks to Metro about why the band decided to split, the worst gig they've ever played and why he suspects Louis Walsh was behind some of the group's most ridiculous stories.
Westlife's Shane Filan reveals why the band decided to break up
..Why did you decide to split up?
It?s been 14 years as a band, the Greatest Hits (album) was coming up, we?ve been talking about it for a year and thought it was better to end it on a high. The tour should be massive and it?s better we were honest with the fans now rather than tell them when the tour finishes.
Was it a difficult decision?
Yes, it was a massive thing. We?ve been in the band for half our lives. It?s given us the life we have and meant we can provide for our families. We could keep it going if we wanted to but every year we enjoyed it less and less, the past three years especially.
What bits weren?t you enjoying?
Just keeping it going. Making new albums, trying to get things to a level we wanted to be at. We haven?t had any bad years but we weren?t getting any better or bigger.
What will you miss the most?
The live performances. The adrenaline of performing on stage to a crowd ? there?s nothing like it.
What have been the highlights?
Playing our national stadium, Croke Park, in 2008 and we?ll be doing it again for two nights next year. Our first night there sold out in four minutes.
You?re renowned for sitting on stools singing ballads ? were you a fan of the music you were making?
When we started, we wanted to be like the Backstreet Boys but Simon Cowell was adamant we had to be different and there weren?t any other bands singing ballads. We had seven ballads in a row before we released Uptown Girl. They were going to No.1, so people liked it. Songs such as Flying Without Wings and Swear It Again are hard to come by. We?ve made 12 albums in 14 years and finding those songs every year was getting harder.
Were you frustrated with the material you were given?
Not at the start but towards the middle, we were being given lots of covers. We were striving to get the original songs but they weren?t there like they used to be. Our fans liked us doing covers so there?s no point knocking it.
What?s the worst gig you?ve done?
A gig in Germany around six years ago. It was 5,000 capacity and 500 people turned up. I was like: ?We?re not that big in Germany, are we lads?? We concentrated more on northern Europe and Britain after that. We still sell 100,000 albums there but to be big there you need to sell a million.
What lessons has the music industry taught you?
It?s very cut-throat. You?re only as good as your last album. You need to work hard, keep your head down and don?t lose your focus ? we could have easily lost the plot but we didn?t. If you have the songs, you?ll have a big career. If you don?t, you won?t.
What?s the most ridiculous story your manager, Louis Walsh, placed in the press about you?
Louis will deny to the last he?s had anything to do with any of those stories but I suspect he did. There was one that I?d broken my back and was in a wheelchair ? that was on the front page of one tabloid. The reality was I?d fallen off stage in Asia on to a drum kit. I?d hurt myself but that became exaggerated a bit. There was one that Kian was chased by lion. I think that came from us going on a safari in Africa and a lion came up to the van ? we were covered by a cage ? and growled at us. If a lion had chased Kian it would have eaten him. You just have to laugh at it.
Does Westlife have a typical fan?
The record company did a survey to find out who our demographic is and it turns out most of our fans are aged 44 to 64. We thought it was around the thirties. We were quite surprised but when you go to our shows you see we have older fans, which might be why we?ve been around for so long. They?re not teenagers who?ll grow out of us. It was mothers bringing their kids rather than kids bringing their mothers.
What?s the audience like?
Great ? there?s lots of hen parties, ten women in a row wearing wigs and having fun. Performing is the best part of the job. We walk over on the frames and are ten feet from the fans, and they?re 50 years old, pulling their tops down, screaming like teenagers. Maybe it makes them feel like teeny-boppers again.
What?s been your most extravagant purchase?
A four-seater helicopter. I used it for a year-and-a-half before I had children. I didn?t like taking my daughter in it so I sold it. It was pretty cool to have it for a while. I?ve been through the cars. Me, Nicky and Brian went out and bought Ferraris one day. I bought a black 550 Maranello. We were only 23. It was one of the best days of my life.
What plans have you got for after the band split up?
I?d like to keep singing ? whether that?s small or big. To stop singing for a living would break my heart. I?m not rushing into anything. Hopefully I?ll have something sorted out when the tour finishes.
................
Westlife Get Nostalgic in 'Beautiful World' Music VideoAdd CommentDecember 16, 2011 07:19:05 GMT
Shane Filan and his bandmates reflect their journey to becoming a worldwide music sensation in this newly-premiered music video.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westlife are looking back at their heyday in a music video for their single "Beautiful World". The cameras follow the boys from Ireland as they travel around the globe to perform for their screaming fans. Compiling footage from the past years throughout their career, it additionally highlights their bromance on and off stage.
The boyband list "Beautiful World" in their latest "Greatest Hits" album. They will follow up the release of the compilation CD by hitting the road for a final tour before going their separate ways. "We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans," so they stated.
To bid goodbye to their loyal fans, the Irish boyband will kick off the tour in Newcastle in May 2012, and will stay on the road at least until summer. "We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too," they gushed. "It has been a dream come true for all of us."
''''''''''''''
Shane Filan and his bandmates reflect their journey to becoming a worldwide music sensation in this newly-premiered music video.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Westlife are looking back at their heyday in a music video for their single "Beautiful World". The cameras follow the boys from Ireland as they travel around the globe to perform for their screaming fans. Compiling footage from the past years throughout their career, it additionally highlights their bromance on and off stage.
The boyband list "Beautiful World" in their latest "Greatest Hits" album. They will follow up the release of the compilation CD by hitting the road for a final tour before going their separate ways. "We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans," so they stated.
To bid goodbye to their loyal fans, the Irish boyband will kick off the tour in Newcastle in May 2012, and will stay on the road at least until summer. "We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too," they gushed. "It has been a dream come true for all of us."
''''''''''''''
Kian Egan Is A Dad
Westlife star Kian Egan received an early Christmas present on Tuesday (20Dec11) - his girlfriend gave birth to their first child.
Egan and his partner Jodi Albert, who performs with girl band Wonderland, are now the proud parents to baby boy Koa.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, the Irish singer writes, "Our Little baby Boy Koa was born today at 6.10pm. Jodi Albert is an amazing woman. Love them both so much. Both doing amazing, so proud."
...........
Westlife star Kian Egan received an early Christmas present on Tuesday (20Dec11) - his girlfriend gave birth to their first child.
Egan and his partner Jodi Albert, who performs with girl band Wonderland, are now the proud parents to baby boy Koa.
In a post on his Twitter.com page, the Irish singer writes, "Our Little baby Boy Koa was born today at 6.10pm. Jodi Albert is an amazing woman. Love them both so much. Both doing amazing, so proud."
...........
Shane Filan will be most successful after Westlife split, predicts Louis Walsh
By Lynne Kelleher, Irish Daily Mirror 19/12/2011
And the X Factor judge said the 32-year-old is the only one of the four who will remain in his stable of acts when they go their separate ways after 14 years together.
He said: "I'm going to manage Shane Filan. He's going for the Michael Buble market. They're all good but I can only manage one. I love Shane's voice. I love Mark's voice too.
"The other boys, Kian and Nicky, are going to do TV and different stuff and radio. They are going out on a high.
"Shane is going to be a big artist. I will only manage someone if I believe in them. If I get someone amazing I will manage them."
By Lynne Kelleher, Irish Daily Mirror 19/12/2011
And the X Factor judge said the 32-year-old is the only one of the four who will remain in his stable of acts when they go their separate ways after 14 years together.
He said: "I'm going to manage Shane Filan. He's going for the Michael Buble market. They're all good but I can only manage one. I love Shane's voice. I love Mark's voice too.
"The other boys, Kian and Nicky, are going to do TV and different stuff and radio. They are going out on a high.
"Shane is going to be a big artist. I will only manage someone if I believe in them. If I get someone amazing I will manage them."
;;;;;;;;;;
Westlife star Mark Feehily looks to solo future as band call it quits
2012 may or may not bring about the end of civilisation, as predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar.
However, its absolutely certain the summer will see the end of an era for one of Irelands most popular musical exports of all time, when Westlife call it a day.
The foursome since Brian McFadden departed find themselves contemplating life outside the band thats taken them around the world for 14 years.
Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne have no idea which of them will go on to be solo superstars, and which if any will fade into obscurity, happily or otherwise.
Mark said: I dont think anybody could have predicted Cheryl Cole would have the most successful solo career out of Girls Aloud.
Its only when we all go off and make music that it will be a bit more apparent who will be successful or not.
Mark is the guy most would put their money on. With one of the strongest voices in the band, striking looks, a likeable nature and having already written some of the material on previous albums, he appears to have a head start.
He admitted hes keen to carve out a name for himself once the band finally stops performing, following a greatest hits tour in the summer.
He said: Ive been creative since I was 13 and recently Ive been applying it a bit more. Ive written thousands of songs but they are hidden away on a hard drive.
In the last few years I opened up a bit more about them and presented a demo to Westlife.
They were immediately recorded and the boys put some tracks on the Where We Are album.
Our last album has four new tracks on it and I have written the last song we will release, Beautiful World.
Mark, 31, is determined to continue with a musical career once he and his bandmates part ways.
He explained: Im a singer and will always want to make music. I didnt want Westlife to end so I could make a solo record, but it is something I will do now.
Ive got a million ideas, a very creative brain. In order to be happy in life Im going to have to create.
Of course, Westlife are not the first boyband to split up, and the road ahead can be tough for members flying solo.
Having witnessed the hardships endured by members of East 17 and 5ive, after failing to relight the fires of success, Mark is determined that he and each of his bandmates are not headed for oblivion.
He asserted: Were all very driven people. If anything, we are more now that we have to push ourselves individually.
Some people run off to the distance and you never see them again.
They have a big stint at the top and then you see some random picture of them with a two-foot beard living in obscurity.
We are more driven than ever. We are all just over the age of 30 now. A lot of people speak to us as though we are already dead but we are just moving on from Westlife.
Each of us, hopefully, will have beautiful, flowery careers ahead.
Most of his bandmates are champing at the bit to try their hand at new adventures but Mark admits Kian may take more time than others to readjust.
He explained: The only person who wants to go off and completely get away and relax is Kian.
Hes already a coach on The Voice in Ireland and he has just had a kid. Part of him wants to completely get away, step away from the business and enjoy his child.
We took a year off three years ago and it was horrible for Kian because he suffered a terrible misfortune during that time.
His dad passed away, which put a dark cloud over the year for him.
He wasnt able to relax and do a bit of soul searching like the rest of us.
I think hell definitely relax and go away for a while, but Kian is also very driven.
Making the final decision to split was not easy for anyone but it came after months of rumours about the band.
Mark is keen to reassure Westlife fans that there was never any animosity among them.
He said: That is something we are stressing a lot.
There was no incident or episode where someone said: Thats it. Im f***ing out of here.
There was no sensational moment. Its something that manifested over years. It was more an idea of calling it a day and moving on to new adventures for all of us.
Everyones mind was eventually on the same page.
Weve had an amazing 14 years but its time for something new. We didnt want it to dwindle away and for the magic to have gone from it.
The tour we are about to do, our farewell tour, is the biggest tour well have ever done in our career.
We are going out on top, not staying around like an unwanted guest at the end of the party.
As Mark insisted that the boys plans to split are not a publicity stunt, quashing hopes that they have secret plans for a big reunion three years down the line, he revealed a new string to his bow.
Though his secret new project is still in its infancy, the excitement in his voice was clear.
He enthused: Ive been asked to write a musical by an amazing person in London.
Its somebody I really admire and its to do something like Boy Georges Taboo musical, which he wrote about 20 years ago. Its an updated newer version and its not completely commercial mainstream a jazz hands musical like Grease but a bit more off the centre with a mixture of indie, pop music and Broadway.
Thats always been something Ive been interested in and Im flattered that Ive been asked to be involved with some people I really admire. But nothing exists yet.
Its all just talk but its very exciting to even be talking about it.
Before anything can be done, however, the boys will lay to rest their collective status, their career together culminating in a farewell tour that will see them play 90 dates in the UK and Ireland.
Marks eyes twinkled, partly in sadness, part in excitement, as he added: Its going to be a sad day, but its also a celebration of 14 years together and 14 years of touring.
Its not all doom and gloom.
We want to have fun and Scotland has an absolutely electric crowd who always scream very well.
2012 may or may not bring about the end of civilisation, as predicted by the ancient Mayan calendar.
However, its absolutely certain the summer will see the end of an era for one of Irelands most popular musical exports of all time, when Westlife call it a day.
The foursome since Brian McFadden departed find themselves contemplating life outside the band thats taken them around the world for 14 years.
Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne have no idea which of them will go on to be solo superstars, and which if any will fade into obscurity, happily or otherwise.
Mark said: I dont think anybody could have predicted Cheryl Cole would have the most successful solo career out of Girls Aloud.
Its only when we all go off and make music that it will be a bit more apparent who will be successful or not.
Mark is the guy most would put their money on. With one of the strongest voices in the band, striking looks, a likeable nature and having already written some of the material on previous albums, he appears to have a head start.
He admitted hes keen to carve out a name for himself once the band finally stops performing, following a greatest hits tour in the summer.
He said: Ive been creative since I was 13 and recently Ive been applying it a bit more. Ive written thousands of songs but they are hidden away on a hard drive.
In the last few years I opened up a bit more about them and presented a demo to Westlife.
They were immediately recorded and the boys put some tracks on the Where We Are album.
Our last album has four new tracks on it and I have written the last song we will release, Beautiful World.
Mark, 31, is determined to continue with a musical career once he and his bandmates part ways.
He explained: Im a singer and will always want to make music. I didnt want Westlife to end so I could make a solo record, but it is something I will do now.
Ive got a million ideas, a very creative brain. In order to be happy in life Im going to have to create.
Of course, Westlife are not the first boyband to split up, and the road ahead can be tough for members flying solo.
Having witnessed the hardships endured by members of East 17 and 5ive, after failing to relight the fires of success, Mark is determined that he and each of his bandmates are not headed for oblivion.
He asserted: Were all very driven people. If anything, we are more now that we have to push ourselves individually.
Some people run off to the distance and you never see them again.
They have a big stint at the top and then you see some random picture of them with a two-foot beard living in obscurity.
We are more driven than ever. We are all just over the age of 30 now. A lot of people speak to us as though we are already dead but we are just moving on from Westlife.
Each of us, hopefully, will have beautiful, flowery careers ahead.
Most of his bandmates are champing at the bit to try their hand at new adventures but Mark admits Kian may take more time than others to readjust.
He explained: The only person who wants to go off and completely get away and relax is Kian.
Hes already a coach on The Voice in Ireland and he has just had a kid. Part of him wants to completely get away, step away from the business and enjoy his child.
We took a year off three years ago and it was horrible for Kian because he suffered a terrible misfortune during that time.
His dad passed away, which put a dark cloud over the year for him.
He wasnt able to relax and do a bit of soul searching like the rest of us.
I think hell definitely relax and go away for a while, but Kian is also very driven.
Making the final decision to split was not easy for anyone but it came after months of rumours about the band.
Mark is keen to reassure Westlife fans that there was never any animosity among them.
He said: That is something we are stressing a lot.
There was no incident or episode where someone said: Thats it. Im f***ing out of here.
There was no sensational moment. Its something that manifested over years. It was more an idea of calling it a day and moving on to new adventures for all of us.
Everyones mind was eventually on the same page.
Weve had an amazing 14 years but its time for something new. We didnt want it to dwindle away and for the magic to have gone from it.
The tour we are about to do, our farewell tour, is the biggest tour well have ever done in our career.
We are going out on top, not staying around like an unwanted guest at the end of the party.
As Mark insisted that the boys plans to split are not a publicity stunt, quashing hopes that they have secret plans for a big reunion three years down the line, he revealed a new string to his bow.
Though his secret new project is still in its infancy, the excitement in his voice was clear.
He enthused: Ive been asked to write a musical by an amazing person in London.
Its somebody I really admire and its to do something like Boy Georges Taboo musical, which he wrote about 20 years ago. Its an updated newer version and its not completely commercial mainstream a jazz hands musical like Grease but a bit more off the centre with a mixture of indie, pop music and Broadway.
Thats always been something Ive been interested in and Im flattered that Ive been asked to be involved with some people I really admire. But nothing exists yet.
Its all just talk but its very exciting to even be talking about it.
Before anything can be done, however, the boys will lay to rest their collective status, their career together culminating in a farewell tour that will see them play 90 dates in the UK and Ireland.
Marks eyes twinkled, partly in sadness, part in excitement, as he added: Its going to be a sad day, but its also a celebration of 14 years together and 14 years of touring.
Its not all doom and gloom.
We want to have fun and Scotland has an absolutely electric crowd who always scream very well.
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Why Kian and Jodi won't show off new baby Koa to fans
Thursday December 22 2011
WESTLIFE'S Kian Egan and wife Jodi Albert have signed a six-figure deal with OK! magazine to feature their new baby.
Jodi gave birth to their first child, Koa, on Tuesday but the lad will have wasted little time before earning a first pay cheque.
The Herald can reveal how the delighted couple have signed a deal for an 'at home' shoot after signing a two-part deal with the UK glossy.
The young tot was born in Sligo General Hospital at 6.10pm on December 20 -- two weeks earlier than planned.
Over the next few days, the couple will take home their precious little bundle as they move into their new house in Sligo. It includes a state-of-the art baby room as they enjoy their first Christmas as parents.
And a source explained how Kian (31) and Jodi (28) have signed a follow-on deal with the publication, understood to be a "six figure sum", and will be keeping the baby under wraps until the interview comes out.
"They'll probably do the pics in January and this is a follow on to the previous spread they did on her pregnancy," she said. "They're just really happy and looking forward to going back to their new home with Koa, just in time for Christmas.
"They are doing brilliantly and Kian's just thrilled to bits. They've received so many nice messages from fans around the world - at one stage Koa was trending on Twitter."
Last September saw the couple, who married in 2009 in the Caribbean, posing for pics and doing an interview with OK! as they revealed their excitement about becoming first time parents. They first found out she was pregnant on April 29, the same day as Kian's birthday and the Royal Wedding.
A proud Kian, a mentor on RTE's The Voice Of Ireland texted the good news to friends and family before announcing the news on Twitter saying: "Our little baby boy Koa was born today at 6.10 pm. Jodi Albert is an amazing woman. Love them both so much. Both doing amazing, so proud."
He then added: "Wow thanks guys. Amazing to see our little boy Koa is trending in the UK! And he's only a few hrs old!!!"
His bandmates Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily were quick to follow suit as they sent their own messages of congratulations, as did wives Gillian Filan and Georgina Byrne.
Egan recently spoke of his excitement about becoming a first time dad. "I honestly can't wait for Jodi to give birth. I want to do everything -- nappies, feeds, whatever Jodi needs."
Kian will now be able to spend lots of time with his son as Westlife are set to disband after a greatest hits album and a farewell tour next spring which will culminate in Croke Park in Dublin on June 23.
The name 'Koa' is a traditional Hawaiian name meaning 'brave' or 'warrior' and could stem from Kian's much-publicised love of surfing.
Kian revealed that the couple had first come across the unusual moniker in a baby-name list and the pair both really liked it.
Thursday December 22 2011
WESTLIFE'S Kian Egan and wife Jodi Albert have signed a six-figure deal with OK! magazine to feature their new baby.
Jodi gave birth to their first child, Koa, on Tuesday but the lad will have wasted little time before earning a first pay cheque.
The Herald can reveal how the delighted couple have signed a deal for an 'at home' shoot after signing a two-part deal with the UK glossy.
The young tot was born in Sligo General Hospital at 6.10pm on December 20 -- two weeks earlier than planned.
Over the next few days, the couple will take home their precious little bundle as they move into their new house in Sligo. It includes a state-of-the art baby room as they enjoy their first Christmas as parents.
And a source explained how Kian (31) and Jodi (28) have signed a follow-on deal with the publication, understood to be a "six figure sum", and will be keeping the baby under wraps until the interview comes out.
"They'll probably do the pics in January and this is a follow on to the previous spread they did on her pregnancy," she said. "They're just really happy and looking forward to going back to their new home with Koa, just in time for Christmas.
"They are doing brilliantly and Kian's just thrilled to bits. They've received so many nice messages from fans around the world - at one stage Koa was trending on Twitter."
Last September saw the couple, who married in 2009 in the Caribbean, posing for pics and doing an interview with OK! as they revealed their excitement about becoming first time parents. They first found out she was pregnant on April 29, the same day as Kian's birthday and the Royal Wedding.
A proud Kian, a mentor on RTE's The Voice Of Ireland texted the good news to friends and family before announcing the news on Twitter saying: "Our little baby boy Koa was born today at 6.10 pm. Jodi Albert is an amazing woman. Love them both so much. Both doing amazing, so proud."
He then added: "Wow thanks guys. Amazing to see our little boy Koa is trending in the UK! And he's only a few hrs old!!!"
His bandmates Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily were quick to follow suit as they sent their own messages of congratulations, as did wives Gillian Filan and Georgina Byrne.
Egan recently spoke of his excitement about becoming a first time dad. "I honestly can't wait for Jodi to give birth. I want to do everything -- nappies, feeds, whatever Jodi needs."
Kian will now be able to spend lots of time with his son as Westlife are set to disband after a greatest hits album and a farewell tour next spring which will culminate in Croke Park in Dublin on June 23.
The name 'Koa' is a traditional Hawaiian name meaning 'brave' or 'warrior' and could stem from Kian's much-publicised love of surfing.
Kian revealed that the couple had first come across the unusual moniker in a baby-name list and the pair both really liked it.
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The boys from Westlife, Nicky, Kian, Mark and Shane, performed one of their last ever international dates before going their separate ways.
"The car needs a re-spray," said lead singer Shane Filan, his age the only thing allowing the cheesy metaphor to fly. "We're the same body but with a clean new look. I think that's what people want to see. They wanna see a clean new thing," he added with a cheeky Irish chuckle.
"The car needs a re-spray," said lead singer Shane Filan, his age the only thing allowing the cheesy metaphor to fly. "We're the same body but with a clean new look. I think that's what people want to see. They wanna see a clean new thing," he added with a cheeky Irish chuckle.
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Westlife: "Greatest Hits"
Dear Westlife fans, be strong, because this is it. Greatest Hits is the final release of the Irish boy band that first crooned its way into young girls hearts in 1998. The band announced it would split after its farewell tour in 2012. As part of that farewell, the band performed in Jakarta in October. While for some this may feel like the end of an era, others are probably just shrugging their shoulders.
This album is the bands second compilation of greatest hits, following the 2002 release of Unbreakable. As a parting gift, Westlife provides four new songs on this last album: Lighthouse, Beautiful World, Wide Open and Last Mile of the Way.
Right off the bat, however, the order of the songs is a mistake, because we have to go through all the old stuff (Swear It Again, My Love ) before we finally get to listen to the new material. This is a shame because the new songs, which start at track 15, are quite charming, especially Lighthouse and Beautiful World, when listened to individually. But in the context of the album as a whole, they simply disappear.
Still, Greatest Hits is an appropriate goodbye. It couldnt have been an easy decision to call it quits after more than a decade together, but as the band sings in the last track of the album, appropriately Last Mile of the Way: Its time to move on now so dont be afraid/ We should remember the roles that we played/ Whether the future has dark or bright days/ I will still love you to the last mile of the way.
'lllllllllll
Dear Westlife fans, be strong, because this is it. Greatest Hits is the final release of the Irish boy band that first crooned its way into young girls hearts in 1998. The band announced it would split after its farewell tour in 2012. As part of that farewell, the band performed in Jakarta in October. While for some this may feel like the end of an era, others are probably just shrugging their shoulders.
This album is the bands second compilation of greatest hits, following the 2002 release of Unbreakable. As a parting gift, Westlife provides four new songs on this last album: Lighthouse, Beautiful World, Wide Open and Last Mile of the Way.
Right off the bat, however, the order of the songs is a mistake, because we have to go through all the old stuff (Swear It Again, My Love ) before we finally get to listen to the new material. This is a shame because the new songs, which start at track 15, are quite charming, especially Lighthouse and Beautiful World, when listened to individually. But in the context of the album as a whole, they simply disappear.
Still, Greatest Hits is an appropriate goodbye. It couldnt have been an easy decision to call it quits after more than a decade together, but as the band sings in the last track of the album, appropriately Last Mile of the Way: Its time to move on now so dont be afraid/ We should remember the roles that we played/ Whether the future has dark or bright days/ I will still love you to the last mile of the way.
'lllllllllll
Westlife concerned over split
Tuesday 27 December 2011
Westlife star Mark Feehily has admitted the quartet worried that no one would care that they were going their separate ways in 2012.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Star, Feehily said: "We were worried about saying we were splitting up.
"But we've just found out that our tour is going to be the biggest tour we've ever done... So thankfully people - well, our fans - care."
However, he said the members of the group are worried about the future.
"It is bittersweet because the reaction has been fantastic but we still have to face the unknown which is scary. We're walking into the dark - we've got no idea what's facing us," he said.
The 31-year-old said he wants to stay in the music business, but fears he'll never be a solo success.
"Ultimately people are going to look at whatever we do as either complete flops or successes," he said.
"You just have to be positive with yourself and try to do something good."
Tuesday 27 December 2011
Westlife star Mark Feehily has admitted the quartet worried that no one would care that they were going their separate ways in 2012.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Star, Feehily said: "We were worried about saying we were splitting up.
"But we've just found out that our tour is going to be the biggest tour we've ever done... So thankfully people - well, our fans - care."
However, he said the members of the group are worried about the future.
"It is bittersweet because the reaction has been fantastic but we still have to face the unknown which is scary. We're walking into the dark - we've got no idea what's facing us," he said.
The 31-year-old said he wants to stay in the music business, but fears he'll never be a solo success.
"Ultimately people are going to look at whatever we do as either complete flops or successes," he said.
"You just have to be positive with yourself and try to do something good."
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Kian and Jodi join celebrity baby boom with son Koa
Wednesday December 21 2011
THE celebrity baby boom has hit a new high with Westlife's Kian Egan welcoming a pre-Christmas bundle of joy.
The Herald can reveal how the chart-topping singer and wife Jodi Albert (28) are "over the moon" after she gave birth to a baby boy in Sligo General Hospital.
The 8lbs 2oz tot's arrival was an early Christmas present for the thrilled couple, given that the baby wasn't due until New Year's Day.
And in keeping with celebrity tradition, they have opted for an unusual name for their first child -- Koa .
Proud dad Kian said in a text message how "both mum and baby are doing great. We are so happy".
Jodi now joins a string of well-known personalities who have become mums lately, including former No Frontiers presenter Jenny Buckley and TV3 anchors Aisling O'Loughlin, Anna Daly and Andrea Hayes.
And the surge in births will continue into the New Year with socialite Virginia Macari and actress Rachel Kavanagh set to welcome their additions in the coming weeks. Former Xpose presenter Sybil Mulcahy is due to give birth in March and singer Andrea Corr is expecting in April.
The Herald Diary also reveals today how TV3 news anchor Colette Fitzpatrick is three months pregnant with her second child.
Shortly after the arrival of his first child, Kian (31) posted a message on Twitter stating: "Our little baby boy Koa was born today at 6.10pm. Jodi is an amazing woman. Love them both so much. Both doing amazing, so proud."
Bandmate Shane Filan was quick to offer his congratulations, saying it was "fantastic news".
As revealed in this newspaper, Kian was so anxious to be with his heavily-pregnant wife that he jetted straight back after his band's performance at the X Factor last weekend.
The couple are expected to be inundated with offers from UK magazines clamouring to get the first 'at home' shots with the young family.
Speaking recently about the prospect of becoming a dad, Kian said he couldn't wait for the new chapter in his life.
The past few months have certainly been eventful for the couple, given that Jodi's band Wonderland were unexpectedly dropped by their record company Mercury last September.
The following month Kian and bandmates Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan drop the bombshell that Westlife were splitting after 14 years together. Kian recently signed up as one of the four mentors on new RTE talent show The Voice.
Wednesday December 21 2011
THE celebrity baby boom has hit a new high with Westlife's Kian Egan welcoming a pre-Christmas bundle of joy.
The Herald can reveal how the chart-topping singer and wife Jodi Albert (28) are "over the moon" after she gave birth to a baby boy in Sligo General Hospital.
The 8lbs 2oz tot's arrival was an early Christmas present for the thrilled couple, given that the baby wasn't due until New Year's Day.
And in keeping with celebrity tradition, they have opted for an unusual name for their first child -- Koa .
Proud dad Kian said in a text message how "both mum and baby are doing great. We are so happy".
Jodi now joins a string of well-known personalities who have become mums lately, including former No Frontiers presenter Jenny Buckley and TV3 anchors Aisling O'Loughlin, Anna Daly and Andrea Hayes.
And the surge in births will continue into the New Year with socialite Virginia Macari and actress Rachel Kavanagh set to welcome their additions in the coming weeks. Former Xpose presenter Sybil Mulcahy is due to give birth in March and singer Andrea Corr is expecting in April.
The Herald Diary also reveals today how TV3 news anchor Colette Fitzpatrick is three months pregnant with her second child.
Shortly after the arrival of his first child, Kian (31) posted a message on Twitter stating: "Our little baby boy Koa was born today at 6.10pm. Jodi is an amazing woman. Love them both so much. Both doing amazing, so proud."
Bandmate Shane Filan was quick to offer his congratulations, saying it was "fantastic news".
As revealed in this newspaper, Kian was so anxious to be with his heavily-pregnant wife that he jetted straight back after his band's performance at the X Factor last weekend.
The couple are expected to be inundated with offers from UK magazines clamouring to get the first 'at home' shots with the young family.
Speaking recently about the prospect of becoming a dad, Kian said he couldn't wait for the new chapter in his life.
The past few months have certainly been eventful for the couple, given that Jodi's band Wonderland were unexpectedly dropped by their record company Mercury last September.
The following month Kian and bandmates Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan drop the bombshell that Westlife were splitting after 14 years together. Kian recently signed up as one of the four mentors on new RTE talent show The Voice.
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Westlife singer Mark Feehily splits from boyfriend Kevin McDaid after seven years
Westlife star Mark Feehily announced today that he and partner Kevin McDaid have split after seven years together.
The singer, 31, took to Twitter today to reveal the news to fans, calling their time together 'amazing.'
He wrote: 'Sadly, Kevin & I are no longer together. We've had an amazin 7 yrs & are both so thankful for the love & support u have shown us from the start.
Split: Westlife star Mark Feehily and his boyfriend Kevin McDaid have announced that they have broken up
'We won't be answering any questions about this as its a very private matter. Thanks in advance for understanding that. Lots of love, Mx.'
Westlife star Mark Feehily announced today that he and partner Kevin McDaid have split after seven years together.
The singer, 31, took to Twitter today to reveal the news to fans, calling their time together 'amazing.'
He wrote: 'Sadly, Kevin & I are no longer together. We've had an amazin 7 yrs & are both so thankful for the love & support u have shown us from the start.
Split: Westlife star Mark Feehily and his boyfriend Kevin McDaid have announced that they have broken up
'We won't be answering any questions about this as its a very private matter. Thanks in advance for understanding that. Lots of love, Mx.'
Westlife's Feehily and partner split
The family of Westlife's Mark Feehily were said yesterday to be devastated by the split between the singer and his fiance, Kevin McDaid.
"It's all off and it's such a pity because Mark's family really liked Kevin," a family friend in Sligo told the Sunday Independent yesterday. "They thought he was a nice chap who was very good for Mark."
Another source said the family were "deeply disappointed" as they were "incredibly fond" of Kevin.
It was to have been the showbusiness wedding of 2012, but instead, the couple went their separate ways over the Christmas holidays after seven years together. And yesterday there were unconfirmed reports that Mark has met someone new since the break-up -- an Englishman who was described as "very nice, very mannerly and of independent means".
But a spokesperson for Mark Feehily denied that the singer was involved with anyone new or that anyone else had been involved in the break-up.
The 31-year-old pop star had been engaged to Mr McDaid, 27, for nearly two years after popping the question on their fifth anniversary as a couple. But this weekend, friends close to Westlife comfirmed: "It's all off".
Although an official spokesperson denied that Mark was seeing someone new, a source has said the singer is now being linked to "a very well-to-do guy" living in the UK.
After Mr Feehily discovered that this newspaper was to run the story, he released an official statement on Twitter yesterday evening, telling fans: "Sadly, Kevin and I are no longer together. We've had an amazing seven years and are both so thankful for the love and support you have shown us from the start."
The sensational news will shock Westlife fans, who were looking forward to the lavish showbiz wedding of 2012.
The split is a major shock for close friends of the handsome singer, who recently spoke about how he planned to get married to his long-term love "as soon as possible".
As recently as November, the loved-up singer had said: "It will definitely be next year. We want to do it as soon as we possibly can."
But this weekend a source confirmed the split while another friend close to Mark's family explained that the news was well known locally, saying: "People know back in his home town of Sligo.."
A source close to the singer explained: "Nobody likes going through something like this in the public eye. They are trying to keep it quiet and deal with it in their own way but it's all off. It's heartbreaking, it's upsetting, but that's the way these things go sometimes, unfortunately."
In recent days, Kevin deleted his Twitter account and has been keeping a low profile to deal with the heartbreak.
Speaking in recent weeks, Mark had explained why the pair had yet to pick a date for their big day.
"We've been so committed to Westlife that while we've had big gaps when we're not working, you have to plan so far in advance for a wedding."
Last year, the singer also revealed how he wanted to become a father some day by adopting a child with his partner. Speaking to reporters at the time, the Sligo-born singer said: "I'd like to think I'd be a good dad. It's the dream for me that surpasses everything else, to nurture and to bring up a kid and try and teach them all the right things."
The couple first laid eyes on each other backstage at the Cheerios Childline Concert in 2005 when Westlife and V, which Kevin used to be a member of, both performed at the event. Mark had been dating Kevin ever since he announced in 2005 that he was gay. At the time, he said: "I'm gay and I'm very proud of who I am. I'm not asking for sympathy, or to be a role model to anyone else."
Speaking at the time about the happiness he had found with Kevin, he said: "I've found someone who is a real companion. It does get lonely being on the road with the band sometimes and I'm very happy now. I'm in a relationship with someone who makes me laugh."
The family of Westlife's Mark Feehily were said yesterday to be devastated by the split between the singer and his fiance, Kevin McDaid.
"It's all off and it's such a pity because Mark's family really liked Kevin," a family friend in Sligo told the Sunday Independent yesterday. "They thought he was a nice chap who was very good for Mark."
Another source said the family were "deeply disappointed" as they were "incredibly fond" of Kevin.
It was to have been the showbusiness wedding of 2012, but instead, the couple went their separate ways over the Christmas holidays after seven years together. And yesterday there were unconfirmed reports that Mark has met someone new since the break-up -- an Englishman who was described as "very nice, very mannerly and of independent means".
But a spokesperson for Mark Feehily denied that the singer was involved with anyone new or that anyone else had been involved in the break-up.
The 31-year-old pop star had been engaged to Mr McDaid, 27, for nearly two years after popping the question on their fifth anniversary as a couple. But this weekend, friends close to Westlife comfirmed: "It's all off".
Although an official spokesperson denied that Mark was seeing someone new, a source has said the singer is now being linked to "a very well-to-do guy" living in the UK.
After Mr Feehily discovered that this newspaper was to run the story, he released an official statement on Twitter yesterday evening, telling fans: "Sadly, Kevin and I are no longer together. We've had an amazing seven years and are both so thankful for the love and support you have shown us from the start."
The sensational news will shock Westlife fans, who were looking forward to the lavish showbiz wedding of 2012.
The split is a major shock for close friends of the handsome singer, who recently spoke about how he planned to get married to his long-term love "as soon as possible".
As recently as November, the loved-up singer had said: "It will definitely be next year. We want to do it as soon as we possibly can."
But this weekend a source confirmed the split while another friend close to Mark's family explained that the news was well known locally, saying: "People know back in his home town of Sligo.."
A source close to the singer explained: "Nobody likes going through something like this in the public eye. They are trying to keep it quiet and deal with it in their own way but it's all off. It's heartbreaking, it's upsetting, but that's the way these things go sometimes, unfortunately."
In recent days, Kevin deleted his Twitter account and has been keeping a low profile to deal with the heartbreak.
Speaking in recent weeks, Mark had explained why the pair had yet to pick a date for their big day.
"We've been so committed to Westlife that while we've had big gaps when we're not working, you have to plan so far in advance for a wedding."
Last year, the singer also revealed how he wanted to become a father some day by adopting a child with his partner. Speaking to reporters at the time, the Sligo-born singer said: "I'd like to think I'd be a good dad. It's the dream for me that surpasses everything else, to nurture and to bring up a kid and try and teach them all the right things."
The couple first laid eyes on each other backstage at the Cheerios Childline Concert in 2005 when Westlife and V, which Kevin used to be a member of, both performed at the event. Mark had been dating Kevin ever since he announced in 2005 that he was gay. At the time, he said: "I'm gay and I'm very proud of who I am. I'm not asking for sympathy, or to be a role model to anyone else."
Speaking at the time about the happiness he had found with Kevin, he said: "I've found someone who is a real companion. It does get lonely being on the road with the band sometimes and I'm very happy now. I'm in a relationship with someone who makes me laugh."
THEIR decision to rule out a comeback has left fans devastated.
But Westlife's Kian Egan said the reason they're so adamant about never getting back together, is to prove to fans it's no gimmick - they're ready to get on with their lives.
Speaking exclusively to OK.co.uk after Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Kian shocked the world of pop by announcing their split, Kian told us that following the Farewell 2012 tour - Westlife will be over for good.
"The reason why [the split sounded] so strong was because we didn't want people to think this was a break-up gimmick," he explained.
"That's why we're saying this is it, this is the final thing. Next year's tour really is it. We're not all of a sudden going to do a reunion in two or three years time.
"We want to go away and get on with our lives."
And while their decision has left their fans reeling, Kian said it "felt good" to finally break the news.
But Westlife's Kian Egan said the reason they're so adamant about never getting back together, is to prove to fans it's no gimmick - they're ready to get on with their lives.
Speaking exclusively to OK.co.uk after Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Kian shocked the world of pop by announcing their split, Kian told us that following the Farewell 2012 tour - Westlife will be over for good.
"The reason why [the split sounded] so strong was because we didn't want people to think this was a break-up gimmick," he explained.
"That's why we're saying this is it, this is the final thing. Next year's tour really is it. We're not all of a sudden going to do a reunion in two or three years time.
"We want to go away and get on with our lives."
And while their decision has left their fans reeling, Kian said it "felt good" to finally break the news.
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Westlife, . Irish Deaf Society opens 'Signs of Life' Photography Exhibition at Film Base, Temple Bar.. Dublin, Ireland - 13.10.11.
Westlife plan farewell tour to thank broken-hearted fans
But after 14 years, 14 number-one singles and 44 million album sales, the chart-topping act announced last night they were to split after a final farewell gig in Dublin next year.
"We lived the dream so we're not hanging our heads," member Kian Egan told the Irish Independent last night.
"We're celebrating what we came from and what we achieved. Meeting the Pope, Barack Obama, singing for the queen. We grew up in this wonderful, magical adventure which surpassed our wildest expectations but now the time has come to stop."
In a statement, the group said the decision had been "entirely amicable" and the four members would go their separate ways after the release of a greatest hits collection next month and a farewell tour next summer.
But Egan revealed Westlife's final goodbye was likely to be a stadium show in Dublin next summer.
"Doing Croke Park or Lansdowne would be perfect because we want to go out on a high.
"We wanted to finish it like this, and not be in a situation where we just dwindled away over the years, playing to smaller and smaller crowds," he added.
Although news of the split came around 6pm yesterday, the Sligo man said the parting had been an "ongoing discussion" among Westlife for the past few months.
It is now ticket sales rather than record sales by which the success of a music act is measured, so there was little concern when, last March, Westlife parted from record company Syco, run by Simon Cowell and with whom they had their biggest hits.
Picked up by label RCA, they have continued to be a popular live draw around the world, recently returning from an extensive tour of Asia.
But Egan revealed that each member was now keen to "do his own thing". Shane Filan (32) is working on a solo album, Mark Feehily (31) is penning songs for other pop acts and Dubliner Nicky Byrne (33) is looking at a career in the media.
Expecting his first child with wife Jodi Albert in January, Egan (31) is to be a coach/mentor in new RTE talent series 'The Voice Of Ireland'.
"We all have stuff we want to do and the time has come to do it. We're all looking forward to doing our own thing.
"We all feel very positive and we just want to thank our fans for the support they've given us over the years," added Egan.
Manager Louis Walsh was among those who paid tribute last night, calling Westlife "four of the best ambassadors Ireland has ever had".
"Westlife were always the best four people I have ever worked with. I had a brilliant time working with them," he said.
"And it just goes to show how far you can get in this business with the right attitude.
"I know the fans are going to be upset but they shouldn't be. The end doesn't really mean the end, look at what happened with the Stone Roses this week," Walsh told the Irish Independent.
Westlife's 'Greatest Hits' is to be released in Ireland on November 18, with a new single, 'Lighthouse', issued a week earlier on November 11.
Dates for a final Irish tour including a monster farewell in Dublin are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
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Westlife are to split
Boyband to break up after 14 years together
Splitting up ... Westlife
IN a statement announcing the split tonight Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane said: "After 14 years, 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums, seven of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44million copies around the world, ten sell out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish, we today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year.
"The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures.
"We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans. We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.
"Over the years Westlife has become so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family. We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too.
"We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording, touring and having hits together. It has been a dream come true for all of us."
Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane
They will say farewell to fans on the already-announced Greatest Hits Tour, which kicks off in May next year.
The news will bring an end to a record-breaking career, which has seen the group ? Nicky Byrne, 33, Kian Egan, 31, Mark Feehily, 31, and Shane Filan, 32 - sell more than 44million records.
Tonight the band thanked their fans and said their brilliant career had been "a dream come true for all of us".
In an official statement, the band said: "We today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year.
"The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures."
A source close to the band said: "This is it ? the greatest hits album and the tour are their way of giving thanks to their loyal fanbase and saying cheerio.
"There's no bad blood in the band, they're still great pals. But all good things come to an end and they are all keen to do their own thing.
"It's not something they have done lightly as they are still at the top of their game.
"They could carry on making albums into their old age the way their career has gone, but none of them want to do that.
"They're all loaded and don't need the money. It's quality time they're after and focus to do their own things."
End of the road ... Westlife announce they are breaking up
The final tour will showcase the 14 number one hits, such as Flying Without Wings they have clocked up since they launched as a five-piece in 1998.
After that the four, who are estimated to be worth £10million each, will go their separate ways and have all planned new ventures to keep them busy.
Shane is planning to embark on a solo career and is already understood to have written some songs.
Mark is also planning to stay in the music business and wants to write songs.
Nicky has his heart set on being a radio DJ and Kian is planning to take on more TV opportunities.
He is already lined up as a judge for the Irish version of new singing talent show The Voice
Chart-toppers ... Westlife had 14 number one hits
The source added: "There is a huge amount of love for the Westlife boys ? especially in their homeland of Ireland ? so they won't be short of offers."
Signs that the end of the band were coming appeared in March when they split with label boss Simon Cowell after 13 years and signed a one year deal with RCA Records for their Greatest Hits album.
At the time, Nicky blamed Simon's obsession with the X Factor for their decision to leave his BMG label.
He said of the split: "We signed to Simon back in 1998 and he was brilliant, but then came the development of X Factor and American Idol.
"Simon became famous himself and his interests went that way rather than on Westlife.
"We almost felt a little bit unloved with Simon Cowell, if I was to be honest."
And only last week Nicky became misty-eyed when talking about the band's longevity, saying: "It's hard to imagine that we have been together for this long really.
"Having a Greatest Hits on the shelves is a proud moment for us and those songs bring back such great memories."
Rumours abounded recently that former original member Brian Mcfadden was plotting a return to his old band for a TV special this Christmas, which will see them sing songs from their back catalogue.
But Kian denied this, saying: "All the rumours about Brian rejoining Westlife are untrue. We have been a four piece for too long now. We love Brian but it's not going to be. That includes any TV performances."
.............
Westlife have reassured fans that their announcement to split after 14 years was a "united decision".
The Irish group will go their separate ways following the release of their Greatest Hits album next month and their farewell tour in 2012.
Since they revealed plans to disband Westlife, the four-piece have been surrounded by speculation that they split over a difference in opinion over where to take their sound.
However, Westlife have now denied the rumours through their official Facebook page.
"We wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone for their kind words and support since making our announcement," they said.
"Our fans continue to be the best support system we could ever hope for and we thank each and every one of you."
They continued: "The support we have felt over the last couple of days gives us all strength as we look forward to our new individual paths in life and we all feel excited about the next chapters that we are embarking on.
"We know it doesn't make for a good story but regardless of what you might read in the papers this was wholeheartedly a united decision.
"Obviously there is already a huge amount of speculation as to what exactly is next for us all, but until you hear it from us it remains just that; speculation."
The boyband concluded the message by revealing plans to do fan Q&A sessions next month, where they will explain their plans further.
Westlife will release their new single 'Lighthouse' on November 13, while their Greatest Hits collection will follow on November 21.
The Irish group will go their separate ways following the release of their Greatest Hits album next month and their farewell tour in 2012.
Since they revealed plans to disband Westlife, the four-piece have been surrounded by speculation that they split over a difference in opinion over where to take their sound.
However, Westlife have now denied the rumours through their official Facebook page.
"We wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone for their kind words and support since making our announcement," they said.
"Our fans continue to be the best support system we could ever hope for and we thank each and every one of you."
They continued: "The support we have felt over the last couple of days gives us all strength as we look forward to our new individual paths in life and we all feel excited about the next chapters that we are embarking on.
"We know it doesn't make for a good story but regardless of what you might read in the papers this was wholeheartedly a united decision.
"Obviously there is already a huge amount of speculation as to what exactly is next for us all, but until you hear it from us it remains just that; speculation."
The boyband concluded the message by revealing plans to do fan Q&A sessions next month, where they will explain their plans further.
Westlife will release their new single 'Lighthouse' on November 13, while their Greatest Hits collection will follow on November 21.
..........
Alan Carr got drunk while filming Chatty Man with Westlife!
Comedian Alan Carr apparently got so drunk during recent filming for his hit chat show, Chatty Man, that filming had to be suspended.
The Daily Star reports that while Alan was interviewing the band members of Westlife – who have of course recently announced that they’re splitting – he and the band members downed shots of Aftershock one after the other.
The shots – which are 40% proof – caused Alan to begin slurring his words, and he told the audience, “This has gone to sh**.”
However, the studio audience “egged him on” to down more, and he needed little persuasion, eventually declaring that he felt sick after spilling the drink down his jacket…
Things began to go the way of the pear when member Mark Feehily said to Alan, “Can we get straight to the bit where you give us the drink?”
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WESTLIFE yesterday spoke for the first time about their decision to split after 14 years in pop.
The lads ? Mark Feehily, 31, Shane Filan, 32, Nicky Byrne, 33, and Kian Egan, 31 ? helped me mop up my tears as they vowed: ?A reunion is not going to happen.?
Nicky confirmed: ?It?s not a publicity stunt.
?There was more money on the table from Sony Records as part of a re-negotiation but it feels right to see what else is out there.?
It?s clear from spending time with the guys there?s no secret agenda, they simply feel they?ve done all they can as a group.
Managed by X Factor judge Louis Walsh, 59, Westlife?s achievements are immense, including 14 No 1 hits, seven No 1 albums and 10 sell-out tours.
Mark revealed: ?Louis said to us: ?Whatever is wrong we?ll fix it,? but there?s nothing to fix. It?s a natural thing to happen. We couldn?t go on releasing albums until we died.?
KIM SHEDS A TEAR WITH THE BOYS
Westlife?s final single Lighthouse drops on November 13 and is followed by their Greatest Hits a week later.
They tour the UK and Ireland for the last time next May.
Shane explained: ?The tour will be the end of Westlife. We?re hoping to do one last extravagant show and it?s going to be horrendous when we come off stage, the worst day.?
Nicky agreed: ?Other bands who have breaks know they might come back. We?re saying we?re not.?
Kian is the only member of the group with confirmed plans, as a judge on Ireland?s The Voice.
Shane mused: ?I?d like to keep singing but we have no record deals.?
With The Wanted, JLS and One Direction flying the boyband flag, who do Westlife think can succeed them?
Kian said: ?I don?t see any of them lasting as long as we have.?
Mark agreed: ?Four or five years max for a boyband is normal.
?We lasted as we all get along. We?re quite freakish like that.?
like that.”
Freaks, nah, fantastic, yes.
[[[[[[[[[[[[
07/11/2011
Westlife's Nicky Byrne will host and narrate 'The Snowman Movie' this Christmas.
The show attracts audiences of all ages and will open at The University Concert Hall in Limerick, before traveling to Grand Canal Theatre in Dublin for a number of performances.
Byrne has said he is "very excited" to be part of the line-up, and will tell the story of James and the flying snowman as audiences watch the film on a big screen.
''''''''''''''''
If you wanna know how many Westlife fans are letting go the answer is very few as they sold out Croke Park this morning in minutes.
''''''''''''
ITV1 will be welcoming, Westlife: For The Last Time, in a farewell special featuring one of the biggest-selling boy bands in music over the last decade.
This unique one-off music spectacular will mark Westlife’s final TV appearance as the pop giants take to the stage to sing some of their greatest hits.
Over the past 14 years Westlife have had a staggering 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles and 11 top five albums. They have had countless awards and sold over 44 million records worldwide.
Westlife: For The Last Time will feature exclusive interviews with key figures in their story as well as archive footage which will provide a unique insight into the life of this world renowned band.
Guaranteed to be the hottest ticket in town, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Westlife for the final time, as the global superstars perform their biggest hits live in front of a studio audience.
This unique one-off music spectacular will mark Westlife’s final TV appearance as the pop giants take to the stage to sing some of their greatest hits.
Over the past 14 years Westlife have had a staggering 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles and 11 top five albums. They have had countless awards and sold over 44 million records worldwide.
Westlife: For The Last Time will feature exclusive interviews with key figures in their story as well as archive footage which will provide a unique insight into the life of this world renowned band.
Guaranteed to be the hottest ticket in town, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Westlife for the final time, as the global superstars perform their biggest hits live in front of a studio audience.
''''''''''''''
London, Nov 6 (ANI): Disbanded boyband Westlife have not heard a word from their former boss Simon Cowell after the group decided to go separate ways.
The TV magnate does not seem bothered that the Irish boys have hung their boots despite increasing his bulging bank balance by millions over the past 14 years.
“No, we’ve not heard anything from Simon at all, the Daily Star quoted one of the group’s singers Kian Egan as saying.
“We aren’t on his label anymore and I’m sure he’s really busy in America, so I’m just guessing he hasn’t had a chance,” he added. (ANI)
The TV magnate does not seem bothered that the Irish boys have hung their boots despite increasing his bulging bank balance by millions over the past 14 years.
“No, we’ve not heard anything from Simon at all, the Daily Star quoted one of the group’s singers Kian Egan as saying.
“We aren’t on his label anymore and I’m sure he’s really busy in America, so I’m just guessing he hasn’t had a chance,” he added. (ANI)
''''''''''''
Band member Nicky Byrne has revealed that the Mayo man is "devastated" by their plans to break up next year.
Byrne said: "We're worried we'll have to set up a helpline for Louis because he wasn't happy about it all."
He added: "He is devastated - genuinely. We met with him a few different times and he said 'You're your own guys but I don't think you should break up but it's not my decision.'"
Nicky further explained that Louis is still refusing to accept that the band will go their separate ways in 2012 after 14 years together.
Speaking to The Irish Daily Star newspaper he said: "We did a show the other night, a show to be aired at Christmas, billed as our last TV show and I said to Louis, 'So how are you feeling?' he said 'I don't want to talk about it'."
The Flying Without Wings singer added: "So he's not there yet, but he understands."
Byrne said: "We're worried we'll have to set up a helpline for Louis because he wasn't happy about it all."
He added: "He is devastated - genuinely. We met with him a few different times and he said 'You're your own guys but I don't think you should break up but it's not my decision.'"
Nicky further explained that Louis is still refusing to accept that the band will go their separate ways in 2012 after 14 years together.
Speaking to The Irish Daily Star newspaper he said: "We did a show the other night, a show to be aired at Christmas, billed as our last TV show and I said to Louis, 'So how are you feeling?' he said 'I don't want to talk about it'."
The Flying Without Wings singer added: "So he's not there yet, but he understands."
...
WEVE GOT OUR BEST LIFE BACK
Lizzie Catt with the Westlife boys
Wednesday November 16,2011
By Daily Express Reporter
AS WESTLIFE release their greatest hits album ahead of their last tour, the band have told Day & Night they feel a weight has been lifted now theyre calling time after 14 years
They appeared on shopping channel QVC to promote the album and told Day & Nights Lizzie (pictured right with the band) theyre enjoying life in the group again now their 2012 split has been announced.
And Nicky Byrne, 33, Kian Egan, 31, Mark Feehily, 31, and Shane Filan, 32, said theyre looking forward to showing the world theres more to them than bar stools and ballads.
Mark said: We were all so worried and passionate about making the right choices it created a big ball of stress and thats gone now. Were back to enjoying life in Westlife instead of having this big cloud of pressure over us.
Nicky added: I dont think well deal with the enormity of what weve done until it actually happens. Were loving riding the wave at the moment but its because its the end and we know that.
Shane said the split had been on the cards for some time: We tried changing labels in April from Syco to RCA when the cracks were showing to see if that would change anything. Nothing against RCA but the writing was on the wall even then. The Greatest Hits was happening this year anyway and it was getting harder to run the shop properly so we thought, lets man up and knock it on the head.
Were back to enjoying life in Westlife instead of having this big cloud of pressure over us
Mark Feehily
But Mark insisted the boys will be back, albeit on their own: Westlifes public perception has been quite one dimensional. I think we could surprise people. We all have different loves and other abilities and hopefully theyll come to the surface when were by ourselves.
''''''''''
Brian McFadden Not Making Appearance On Westlife Tour
Irish boyband Westlife have settled the score on the Brian McFadden reunion speculation saying that theres no chance fans will be seeing him back with the group on their farewell tour.
The band parted ways with their fifth member in 2004, and continued to tour and write material without him. Now theyve secured their most lucrative tour deal so far, which theyve planned to make their farewell tour, some fans were speculating (and hoping) that McFadden could make a comeback and return from his solo career to sing with his old makes once again until Kian Egan told the Daily Mirror that it wouldnt be happening.
Some people do look at it like that, Egan explained, but the four of us have spent the past eight years working our asses off to keep it together. And he hasnt. He went on to say that if the five of them were to ever singer together again, it would be at an intimate gig or during a drinking session. Maybe a random gig. Or we could just get drunk together.
Westlife embark on their final ever tour together next year in May. If youre a fan, you simply cannot miss your chance to see the band before they call time on their illustrious, 14-year career. So make sure you check the dates and details below and grab yourself a ticket.
Westlife UK & Ireland Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon May 14th 2012 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tue May 15th 2012 - Echo Arena Liverpool, Liverpool
Thu May 17th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Fri May 18th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Sat May 19th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Sun May 20th 2012 - NEC - LG Arena, Birmingham
Tue May 22nd 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Wed May 23rd 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Thu May 24th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Sat May 26th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Sun May 27th 2012 - Glasgow SECC, Glasgow
Tue June 5th 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Thu June 7th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Fri June 8th 2012 - NEC - LG Arena, Birmingham
Sat June 9th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Mon June 11th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Tue June 12th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Wed June 13th 2012 - Echo Arena Liverpool, Liverpool
Fri June 15th 2012 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sat June 16th 2012 - Glasgow SECC, Glasgow
Sun June 17th 2012 - Glasgow SECC, Glasgow
Fri June 22nd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
Sat June 23rd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
Irish boyband Westlife have settled the score on the Brian McFadden reunion speculation saying that theres no chance fans will be seeing him back with the group on their farewell tour.
The band parted ways with their fifth member in 2004, and continued to tour and write material without him. Now theyve secured their most lucrative tour deal so far, which theyve planned to make their farewell tour, some fans were speculating (and hoping) that McFadden could make a comeback and return from his solo career to sing with his old makes once again until Kian Egan told the Daily Mirror that it wouldnt be happening.
Some people do look at it like that, Egan explained, but the four of us have spent the past eight years working our asses off to keep it together. And he hasnt. He went on to say that if the five of them were to ever singer together again, it would be at an intimate gig or during a drinking session. Maybe a random gig. Or we could just get drunk together.
Westlife embark on their final ever tour together next year in May. If youre a fan, you simply cannot miss your chance to see the band before they call time on their illustrious, 14-year career. So make sure you check the dates and details below and grab yourself a ticket.
Westlife UK & Ireland Tour Dates are as follows:
Mon May 14th 2012 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Tue May 15th 2012 - Echo Arena Liverpool, Liverpool
Thu May 17th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Fri May 18th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Sat May 19th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Sun May 20th 2012 - NEC - LG Arena, Birmingham
Tue May 22nd 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Wed May 23rd 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Thu May 24th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Sat May 26th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Sun May 27th 2012 - Glasgow SECC, Glasgow
Tue June 5th 2012 - Nottingham Arena, Nottingham
Thu June 7th 2012 - The O2 Arena, London
Fri June 8th 2012 - NEC - LG Arena, Birmingham
Sat June 9th 2012 - Manchester Evening News Arena, Manchester
Mon June 11th 2012 - Cardiff Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
Tue June 12th 2012 - Sheffield Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield
Wed June 13th 2012 - Echo Arena Liverpool, Liverpool
Fri June 15th 2012 - Newcastle Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Sat June 16th 2012 - Glasgow SECC, Glasgow
Sun June 17th 2012 - Glasgow SECC, Glasgow
Fri June 22nd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
Sat June 23rd 2012 - Croke Park Stadium, Dublin
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
Westlife: No reunion with Brian
Westlife have ruled out a return for ex-member Brian McFadden as they gear up for next year's farewell tour.
The Irish boy band announced their split earlier this year and since then speculation has mounted that Brian, who left in 2004 will be making an appearance.
Westlife, who are quitting after 14 years have made it clear though, there will be no Robbie Williams-style reunion.
Kian Egan told the Daily Mirror: "Some people do look at it like that, but the four of us have spent the past eight years working our a***s off to keep it together. And he hasn't."
Kian, who announced he was expecting his first baby with wife Jodi Albert in July, admits there is a chance the five-piece could get back together but it in a more relaxed setting, he said: "Maybe a random gig. Or we could just get drunk together."
The boy band first hit the charts in 1998 and went on to sell 45 million records and have 14 number one singles. Cracks started to show for the band when they left Simon Cowell's label SyCo earlier this year after feeling "neglected" by their former mentor.
Nicky Byrne said they "felt unloved" but admitted without Simon they would never have experienced such success.
The band are now looking forward to their farewell tour and moving on with the rest of their lives. Mark Feehily said: "We're gonna have this huge tour to celebrate the last 14 years. We're looking back at something amazing."
/////////////
On Saturday the Cheerios Childline Concert took place in Dublin and several acts including Westlife, JLS, The Wanted, Cher Lloyd and Jedward all took to the stage.
''''''''
Nicky Byrne has revealed to 98FM that he would love a career in television when Westlife split next Summer after their two Farewell concerts at Croke Park. He particularly likes the buzz of live TV. He also told there are other elements of the entertainment business he wants to look into.
He has recently taken up an opportunity to narrate The Snowman at the Grand Canal Theatre. on December 11th. They approached him to do it long before Westlife announced their split and Nicky felt it would be a great opportunity to take up so he cant wait.
''''''''''''''
Westlife sign in for special Glasgow date
IRISH group Westlife will spark a rush by fans when they make a special visit to a Glasgow store next week.
The group, who have announced they will split next year, will be at HMV, Buchanan Street, on Monday morning.
Thousands of fans are expected to turn up in the hope of seeing Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, who will be signing copies of their Greatest Hits CD from 9am.
IRISH group Westlife will spark a rush by fans when they make a special visit to a Glasgow store next week.
The group, who have announced they will split next year, will be at HMV, Buchanan Street, on Monday morning.
Thousands of fans are expected to turn up in the hope of seeing Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan, who will be signing copies of their Greatest Hits CD from 9am.
By Melanie Finn
'\\\\\\\\\\\\
Saturday November 12 2011
TOP boyband The Wanted have revealed their delight at supporting Westlife at their final gig in Croke Park next year.
And they said they're hoping to steal some of the chart-topping boybands' fans when they finally step down after 14 years.
"It's awesome that we're supporting them," said Irish star Siva Kaneswaran.
"As soon as we got into Dublin, we were told that Westlife had sold out Croke Park so that's great news for the support act.
"When we got confirmed as the support for their final gig, we went 'Yes' because all their fans are going to be like, 'Oh no, what am I doing to do now without Westlife?' and then we'll walk on stage. We've solved the problem for them."
Made up of Dubliner Siva, Nathan Sykes, Tom Parker, Max George and Jay McGuinness, they have made a big splash internationally supporting stars like Britney Spears and Justin Bieber.
And the Glad You Came stars said they will always look up to fellow boyband Westlife for how to do things right.
"I think anyone would love to replicate their success," said Nathan Sykes. "They're really humble and down-to-earth."
- Melanie Finn
'\\\\\\\\\\\\
Saturday November 12 2011
TOP boyband The Wanted have revealed their delight at supporting Westlife at their final gig in Croke Park next year.
And they said they're hoping to steal some of the chart-topping boybands' fans when they finally step down after 14 years.
"It's awesome that we're supporting them," said Irish star Siva Kaneswaran.
"As soon as we got into Dublin, we were told that Westlife had sold out Croke Park so that's great news for the support act.
"When we got confirmed as the support for their final gig, we went 'Yes' because all their fans are going to be like, 'Oh no, what am I doing to do now without Westlife?' and then we'll walk on stage. We've solved the problem for them."
Made up of Dubliner Siva, Nathan Sykes, Tom Parker, Max George and Jay McGuinness, they have made a big splash internationally supporting stars like Britney Spears and Justin Bieber.
And the Glad You Came stars said they will always look up to fellow boyband Westlife for how to do things right.
"I think anyone would love to replicate their success," said Nathan Sykes. "They're really humble and down-to-earth."
- Melanie Finn
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Geschreven door westlife om 01:54
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Vrijdag 22 november 2013
1 Westlife 2011
THE next 12 months are going to be very interesting and exciting in the Westlife camp.
Not only do we have lots of songs we feel are strong enough to be singles off our latest album Gravity, there’s our arena tour in March, plus we are nearly out of our recording contract with Simon Cowell’s Syco label.
Are we gonna stay for a million pound contract? That’s the million dollar question. We’ll have to see as it’s all about doing what’s right.
Musically, we feel stronger than ever but it’s all about how it’s marketed.
We know we’re releasing Beautiful Tonight next but we want to emulate someone like Pink and release four or five tracks from this album.
The Reason should be one as we want to show people the variety on the album.
Over the last few years there’s just been one single based around Christmas and that’s a Syco thing to be honest.
The Westlife formula has to change and we want to do things differently because we love this album.
We don’t wanna release one song and then be like “see you later”.
Internationally, the ballads haven’t been working for us, so with the new single we’re hoping to get back in there.
But we don’t think you’ll see us at the festivals, unless it’s Kian in a corner drunk.
We’re not sure whether festival audiences are Westlife audiences but the pop tent at the Isle Of Wight festival would be good.
If our schedule allows, we’re up for it – bring it on.
Not only do we have lots of songs we feel are strong enough to be singles off our latest album Gravity, there’s our arena tour in March, plus we are nearly out of our recording contract with Simon Cowell’s Syco label.
Are we gonna stay for a million pound contract? That’s the million dollar question. We’ll have to see as it’s all about doing what’s right.
Musically, we feel stronger than ever but it’s all about how it’s marketed.
We know we’re releasing Beautiful Tonight next but we want to emulate someone like Pink and release four or five tracks from this album.
The Reason should be one as we want to show people the variety on the album.
Over the last few years there’s just been one single based around Christmas and that’s a Syco thing to be honest.
The Westlife formula has to change and we want to do things differently because we love this album.
We don’t wanna release one song and then be like “see you later”.
Internationally, the ballads haven’t been working for us, so with the new single we’re hoping to get back in there.
But we don’t think you’ll see us at the festivals, unless it’s Kian in a corner drunk.
We’re not sure whether festival audiences are Westlife audiences but the pop tent at the Isle Of Wight festival would be good.
If our schedule allows, we’re up for it – bring it on.
Pictures: Mark, Nicky & Shane leaving London hotel
Westlife part ways with Simon Cowell
Date: 14 March 2011
Westlife
Westlife have parted ways with Simon Cowell after working with him for 13 years.
Westlife have left Simon Cowell's record label Syco.
The Irish boyband parted company with the music mogul - who they have worked with for over 13 years - and signed a new deal with rival record label Sony RCA amid rumours they were unhappy with how their latest album 'Gravity' was marketed.
Singer Nicky Byrne confirmed the split in a tweet reading: "Truth is, yes, we have moved on from Syco records after a fantastic 13 years. But it is time for a change and it's very exciting."
His bandmate, Mark Feehily, added: "'Gravity' is the last album for us to make with Simon Cowell and his label. We love and respect him and thank him for his part in Westlife."
Although it has been reported the band - which also includes Shane Filan and Kian Egan - were upset when Simon refused to release a track they favoured from 'Gravity' as a single, Westlife manager Louis Walsh denied the band were unhappy with Simon's direction.
He said: "The move is a natural progression. There is no bad feeling."
Simon originally signed the band to Sony BMG in 1998 and they moved with him to his own label Syco label - also part of the Sony group - in 2002.
Date: 14 March 2011
Westlife
Westlife have parted ways with Simon Cowell after working with him for 13 years.
Westlife have left Simon Cowell's record label Syco.
The Irish boyband parted company with the music mogul - who they have worked with for over 13 years - and signed a new deal with rival record label Sony RCA amid rumours they were unhappy with how their latest album 'Gravity' was marketed.
Singer Nicky Byrne confirmed the split in a tweet reading: "Truth is, yes, we have moved on from Syco records after a fantastic 13 years. But it is time for a change and it's very exciting."
His bandmate, Mark Feehily, added: "'Gravity' is the last album for us to make with Simon Cowell and his label. We love and respect him and thank him for his part in Westlife."
Although it has been reported the band - which also includes Shane Filan and Kian Egan - were upset when Simon refused to release a track they favoured from 'Gravity' as a single, Westlife manager Louis Walsh denied the band were unhappy with Simon's direction.
He said: "The move is a natural progression. There is no bad feeling."
Simon originally signed the band to Sony BMG in 1998 and they moved with him to his own label Syco label - also part of the Sony group - in 2002.
Westlife boys are up for the craic on the three-day Liverpool party
THOSE boys of
Westlife sure do love the craic ...
so much so they extended their stay in Liverpool to turn their St Patrick's Day celebration into a major hoolie.
They arrived two days ahead of their ECHO arena show so they could celebrate Ireland's patron saint's day in style.
according to Insider's Guinness-loving spy,
They arrived two days ahead of their ECHO arena show so they could celebrate Ireland's patron saint's day in style.
according to Insider's Guinness-loving spy,
it seems they did just that after going on a marathon bar and club trail.
They warmed up with a shopping spree at Liverpool One and The Metquarter,
They warmed up with a shopping spree at Liverpool One and The Metquarter,
where Kian treated his wife,
ex-Hollyoaks actress now a singer with tour support girlband Wonderland Jodi Albert.
Having worked up an appetite,
Having worked up an appetite,
the lads and girls headed for a meal at San Carlo before going back to the Hope Street hotel where they got ready to hit the town.
The only missing person was Westlife's Mark Feehily
The only missing person was Westlife's Mark Feehily
who was staying at the Malmaison hotel instead,
along with his partner and his two pet dogs,
as pooches aren't allowed at the Hope Street venue.
They all met up for a quick pint at the Philharmonic pub before moving on to a string of bars including Walkabout on Concert Square,
They all met up for a quick pint at the Philharmonic pub before moving on to a string of bars including Walkabout on Concert Square,
where they joined in the fun at the St Patrick's Day party.
Westlife's
Westlife's
Kian Egan and Mark Feehily at Alma de CubaClearly in the Irish spirit, it was then on to Mood Bar, O'Neills and Pogue Mahone's.
A fellow drinker tells Insider:
A fellow drinker tells Insider:
We were surprised when we were told Westlife were in drinking, we don't usually have celebs in here,
but they were really enjoying themselves.
After a late night it was no wonder the band didn't emerge from their hotel rooms until 5pm the next day and spent it relaxing in the hotel's restaurant with coffees.
After a late night it was no wonder the band didn't emerge from their hotel rooms until 5pm the next day and spent it relaxing in the hotel's restaurant with coffees.
Restored, the boys and a few of the Wonderland girls all headed off for a meal at Alma De Cuba, where they happily posed for pictures.
The gang didn't leave until around 3am, although our source did spot Shane Phelan causing quite a stir in Passion and G-Bar later.
They were still up bright and early to sound check for their show the next day, even squeezing in a post-show party in the hotel bar along with a few friends and family members.
Despite having a show the next day in Glasgow the boys clearly didn't want to leave Liverpool they persuaded their management to let them stay in the city until around 2pm before catching a flight to Scotland.
The gang didn't leave until around 3am, although our source did spot Shane Phelan causing quite a stir in Passion and G-Bar later.
They were still up bright and early to sound check for their show the next day, even squeezing in a post-show party in the hotel bar along with a few friends and family members.
Despite having a show the next day in Glasgow the boys clearly didn't want to leave Liverpool they persuaded their management to let them stay in the city until around 2pm before catching a flight to Scotland.
Concert review: Westlife at Birmingham LG Arena
Saturday 26th March 2011, 11:29AM GMT.
Westlife at LG Arena, Birmingham
Westlife
LG Arena, Birmingham
Concert review by Helen Cartwright
Fans went wild for Westlife as the Irish popstars made a triumphant return in front of a devoted crowd.
Their followers may be a little older these days but they have lost none of their passion and turned up decked out with banners, decorated T-shirts, Irish flags, glow sticks and even the odd tiara and cowboy hat.
Both young and old arrived at Birmingham's LG Arena last night to dance the night away for the show stopping spectacular.
The band had promised they would be performing some of their songs from when they were young whippersnappers first starting out and their set list certainly did not disappoint their faithful crowd.
It is an impressive set of statistics 12 years, 11 albums and 44 million sales. But Westlife are showing no signs of flagging.
From the moment the band were lowered onto the stage in chairs suspended from the roof of the LG Arena for the opening number No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight it was clear the band have lost none of their passion to perform over the years.
With 14 number ones under their belt it is fair to say the Irish quartet had a decent back catalogue to pick from but this wasn't a show that went through the motions.
The stools they were so partial to sitting down on in their early years have given way to bright lights and a crazy stage featuring giant inflatable apples.
No money was spared when it came to the set, which boasted flames, ticker tape and even a moving bench which lifted the band over the middle of the audience.
Westlife pulled out some of their biggest hits including Uptown Girl and of course Flying Without Wings. The likes of JLS can only hope to be filling out stadiums like the LG Arena 10 years into their career.
They also performed their first singel
their upcoming tune Starlight and an impressive acoustic version of Adele's Rolling in the Deep.
Tesco worker Jodie Berrow, aged 22, from Davis Avenue, in Tipton said the show was one of the best she has seen and added: I love everything about them, they are really good brilliant entertainers.
She went along with aunt Samantha Berrow 39, from Hales Road in Wednesbury, her 15-year-old daughter Steph Berrow and friend Louise Mitchell, also 15.
Samantha said Flying Without Wings and What Makes A Man were her favourite songs and added: I have been a fan for a long time they have got the whole package.
The show was somewhat of a family affair with the mother, sister and wife of Shane singing along in the audience while the wife of Kian Egan, former Hollyoaks star Jodi Albert, was part of support act Wonderland, a girl band managed by Kian and The X Factor judge Louis Walsh.
Saturday 26th March 2011, 11:29AM GMT.
Westlife at LG Arena, Birmingham
Westlife
LG Arena, Birmingham
Concert review by Helen Cartwright
Fans went wild for Westlife as the Irish popstars made a triumphant return in front of a devoted crowd.
Their followers may be a little older these days but they have lost none of their passion and turned up decked out with banners, decorated T-shirts, Irish flags, glow sticks and even the odd tiara and cowboy hat.
Both young and old arrived at Birmingham's LG Arena last night to dance the night away for the show stopping spectacular.
The band had promised they would be performing some of their songs from when they were young whippersnappers first starting out and their set list certainly did not disappoint their faithful crowd.
It is an impressive set of statistics 12 years, 11 albums and 44 million sales. But Westlife are showing no signs of flagging.
From the moment the band were lowered onto the stage in chairs suspended from the roof of the LG Arena for the opening number No One's Gonna Sleep Tonight it was clear the band have lost none of their passion to perform over the years.
With 14 number ones under their belt it is fair to say the Irish quartet had a decent back catalogue to pick from but this wasn't a show that went through the motions.
The stools they were so partial to sitting down on in their early years have given way to bright lights and a crazy stage featuring giant inflatable apples.
No money was spared when it came to the set, which boasted flames, ticker tape and even a moving bench which lifted the band over the middle of the audience.
Westlife pulled out some of their biggest hits including Uptown Girl and of course Flying Without Wings. The likes of JLS can only hope to be filling out stadiums like the LG Arena 10 years into their career.
They also performed their first singel
their upcoming tune Starlight and an impressive acoustic version of Adele's Rolling in the Deep.
Tesco worker Jodie Berrow, aged 22, from Davis Avenue, in Tipton said the show was one of the best she has seen and added: I love everything about them, they are really good brilliant entertainers.
She went along with aunt Samantha Berrow 39, from Hales Road in Wednesbury, her 15-year-old daughter Steph Berrow and friend Louise Mitchell, also 15.
Samantha said Flying Without Wings and What Makes A Man were her favourite songs and added: I have been a fan for a long time they have got the whole package.
The show was somewhat of a family affair with the mother, sister and wife of Shane singing along in the audience while the wife of Kian Egan, former Hollyoaks star Jodi Albert, was part of support act Wonderland, a girl band managed by Kian and The X Factor judge Louis Walsh.
Ahlan! Exclusive: Westlife Interview Nicky Byrne on Westlife's new direction and being abandoned by Simon Cowell
Westlife have been topping the charts for over a decade and with nearly 50 million albums sold, one of the World's most successful boybands shows no sign of giving up. After walking out on Simon Cowell's label Syco records last month, the band are already working on new material with record giants RCA to rival the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Katy Perry.
When Ahlan! Editor Nathan Kay caught up with band patriarch Nicky Byrne this week, he admitted, Pop music is moving on and when you look at someone like Lady Gaga she is the new Madonna. You've got to try and cling onto that as much as you can. Hopefully the new producers we are working with this year can come up with something a little bit of a step up from what we did last year. Not necessarily up tempo but great songs.
We have been tarnished with a very ballad brush but I'm not the boring guy who likes dressing in a suit and sitting on a stool so I'm not sure why we developed into that. It's not always about recording a ballad and only a ballad. If we are going to keep up with the big pop stars then we have to think outside of the box and that's what we're doing now with our new team.
After 13 years under the supervision of music maestro Simon Cowell, one would have thought that with his vast knowledge of the industry he would be able to guide the boys in the right direction but not according to Nicky: We signed to Simon back in 1998 and he was brilliant but then came the development of X Factor and American Idol. Simon became famous himself and his interests went that way rather than on Westlife. We almost felt a little bit unloved with Simon Cowell, if I was to be honest.
We need someone in A&R telling you that's going to be a hit or not. We had it with Simon but he got so busy and would do it at the very last minute and we needed someone who was on it all the time. We have that now as we've just moved across from Syco records to RCA so it's a different team. It's their job to put us in with the right producers and co-writers so if it goes wrong then there's someone to blame but if it goes right then happy days. We're in that position now where we have someone working on it full time.
Two years ago, the band reached a point where they had to take a break and re-evaluate their focus and direction. It's now an ideal time for the boys to get their teeth stuck into their careers and give it their best shot with RCA. Nicky admits, The break was well needed but it was only a year so it wasn't like when Boyzone or Take That had a break and then got back together. Nobody did any work and we just thought lets not have an album out this year and it worked well. Taking a year out set us up so that we can make a good go of it for two or three years then maybe take a break. We had What About Now which was a really big hit for us everywhere and we're on tour right now which sees us go all around the world and then across to Dubai.
Ahlan! magazine is a huge Westlife fan so we are as delighted as you guys that the band will be heading over to Dubai on Thursday April 14 as part of their Gravity tour. Luckily, Nicky is a fan of the UAE and can't wait to head out. It feels good to be back, it's been too long. It's an amazing part of the World and we can't wait. I remember last time we were there we did the concert in an open air park and it was pretty spectacular so coming back to the Middle East is very special. Nicky says.
So, with all of this new found vigour and excitement back in their careers are the band going to take advantage of recent media reports that former band member Brian McFadden will be rejoining the group?
Well, I always say never say never but some of the boys may have a different attitude on that. We certainly have no plans to do that and the reason why I say never say never is because I'm older now and things come and go and I would have no problems with hooking up with him again, at the right time and for the right reason, for a song, a tour, an album but that's yet to be discussed.
We're still friends but friends to the level of where we talk to each other on Twitter and have each others numbers. It's like having an old school friend but then again we all shared something that nobody else can understand. Therefore, doing something with Brian, I think, would be fun. I don't want to get to the stage when this is long gone and I think back and say why didn't we do anything with Brian. I know Brian is quite sentimental and I have spoken to him about things. He will text one of us or when we're chatting and say you got to go on Youtube and check out X, Y or Z and you see it and remember those times. At this point, Nicky's twin sons Rocco and Jay, with former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's daughter Georgina, left, can be heard scrapping in the background and as he steps in to break up the fight, he admits, It's great being a dad. It's stressful as they get older, but it's great. They love coming to the shows and trying the songs and the moves.
As a dad I would love them to play football as that's what I did when I was growing up. Whatever they want to do, as long as they are strong, happy and healthy and we have a strong family unit then I'm happy with that.
Westlife have been topping the charts for over a decade and with nearly 50 million albums sold, one of the World's most successful boybands shows no sign of giving up. After walking out on Simon Cowell's label Syco records last month, the band are already working on new material with record giants RCA to rival the likes of Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Britney Spears and Katy Perry.
When Ahlan! Editor Nathan Kay caught up with band patriarch Nicky Byrne this week, he admitted, Pop music is moving on and when you look at someone like Lady Gaga she is the new Madonna. You've got to try and cling onto that as much as you can. Hopefully the new producers we are working with this year can come up with something a little bit of a step up from what we did last year. Not necessarily up tempo but great songs.
We have been tarnished with a very ballad brush but I'm not the boring guy who likes dressing in a suit and sitting on a stool so I'm not sure why we developed into that. It's not always about recording a ballad and only a ballad. If we are going to keep up with the big pop stars then we have to think outside of the box and that's what we're doing now with our new team.
After 13 years under the supervision of music maestro Simon Cowell, one would have thought that with his vast knowledge of the industry he would be able to guide the boys in the right direction but not according to Nicky: We signed to Simon back in 1998 and he was brilliant but then came the development of X Factor and American Idol. Simon became famous himself and his interests went that way rather than on Westlife. We almost felt a little bit unloved with Simon Cowell, if I was to be honest.
We need someone in A&R telling you that's going to be a hit or not. We had it with Simon but he got so busy and would do it at the very last minute and we needed someone who was on it all the time. We have that now as we've just moved across from Syco records to RCA so it's a different team. It's their job to put us in with the right producers and co-writers so if it goes wrong then there's someone to blame but if it goes right then happy days. We're in that position now where we have someone working on it full time.
Two years ago, the band reached a point where they had to take a break and re-evaluate their focus and direction. It's now an ideal time for the boys to get their teeth stuck into their careers and give it their best shot with RCA. Nicky admits, The break was well needed but it was only a year so it wasn't like when Boyzone or Take That had a break and then got back together. Nobody did any work and we just thought lets not have an album out this year and it worked well. Taking a year out set us up so that we can make a good go of it for two or three years then maybe take a break. We had What About Now which was a really big hit for us everywhere and we're on tour right now which sees us go all around the world and then across to Dubai.
Ahlan! magazine is a huge Westlife fan so we are as delighted as you guys that the band will be heading over to Dubai on Thursday April 14 as part of their Gravity tour. Luckily, Nicky is a fan of the UAE and can't wait to head out. It feels good to be back, it's been too long. It's an amazing part of the World and we can't wait. I remember last time we were there we did the concert in an open air park and it was pretty spectacular so coming back to the Middle East is very special. Nicky says.
So, with all of this new found vigour and excitement back in their careers are the band going to take advantage of recent media reports that former band member Brian McFadden will be rejoining the group?
Well, I always say never say never but some of the boys may have a different attitude on that. We certainly have no plans to do that and the reason why I say never say never is because I'm older now and things come and go and I would have no problems with hooking up with him again, at the right time and for the right reason, for a song, a tour, an album but that's yet to be discussed.
We're still friends but friends to the level of where we talk to each other on Twitter and have each others numbers. It's like having an old school friend but then again we all shared something that nobody else can understand. Therefore, doing something with Brian, I think, would be fun. I don't want to get to the stage when this is long gone and I think back and say why didn't we do anything with Brian. I know Brian is quite sentimental and I have spoken to him about things. He will text one of us or when we're chatting and say you got to go on Youtube and check out X, Y or Z and you see it and remember those times. At this point, Nicky's twin sons Rocco and Jay, with former Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's daughter Georgina, left, can be heard scrapping in the background and as he steps in to break up the fight, he admits, It's great being a dad. It's stressful as they get older, but it's great. They love coming to the shows and trying the songs and the moves.
As a dad I would love them to play football as that's what I did when I was growing up. Whatever they want to do, as long as they are strong, happy and healthy and we have a strong family unit then I'm happy with that.
Monday April 11 2011
WESTLIFE have ruled out any Take That-style reunion with 'prodigal son' Brian McFadden.
There's no immediate plans to welcome the former member back for a one-off performance, with the lads themselves admitting it's "unlikely" to happen.
While talking to the audience during one recent gig, their jokes about how they might bring out McFadden were met with a chorus of boos.
Nicky Byrne (31) has revealed how he "feels sorry" for Brian after his split from fiancee Delta Goodrem. None of the band members has heard from the Artane native after he confirmed his seven-year relationship was over.
Speaking for the first time about Brian's newly single status, Nicky said his sympathies would lie with him.
"I haven't actually heard from Brian at all. I like him and I genuinely feel sorry for him. I would never wish any badness on him. He's a nice guy, deep down," he said.
McFadden quit the band in 2004 to go solo, but failed to achieve the same success.
As Westlife finished a string of five sell-out dates in the O2 last night, Kian Egan also said they hadn't heard anything from Brian. "Not a word, not a text, not a tweet, nothing," he said. Asked if there was a possibility of working with Brian again, now his relationship with the Aussie crooner had run its course, he said it was unlikely.
"We really don't see it. Given that we're doing a Greatest Hits tour, there's obviously a little whisper of should we do something with Brian or not?" he explained.
"And who's to say we won't? I don't necessarily see it happening, it would have to be something really special and something small, not this big thing."
The co-manager of Wonderland also said how his heart went out to the former couple in the wake of their split.
"Of course, Delta and Brian are both lovely people and it's always sad to hear when a couple break down," he continued.
"Jodi [Albert] is a very good friend of Delta's and every time when we were around together, the four of us would go out and do something together. It is sad, I just hope they're both okay."
He went on to say how everything had been going "absolutely superb" for the boyband and the move to the new label had given them a huge boost.
"The O2 is a very special venue for us and we feel it's probably one of the best venues we've ever played. It's just the intimacy of it and the way it's laid out. It's just been amazing playing to the home crowds again," he continued.
"This year we have a platform that comes right out over the audience.
"We haven't done that since we were in the real boybandy phase of our career when we were jumping around in the white suits.
"You see older women going absolutely nuts, you can make a lot of eye contact with the audience and it's great to have that."
WESTLIFE have ruled out any Take That-style reunion with 'prodigal son' Brian McFadden.
There's no immediate plans to welcome the former member back for a one-off performance, with the lads themselves admitting it's "unlikely" to happen.
While talking to the audience during one recent gig, their jokes about how they might bring out McFadden were met with a chorus of boos.
Nicky Byrne (31) has revealed how he "feels sorry" for Brian after his split from fiancee Delta Goodrem. None of the band members has heard from the Artane native after he confirmed his seven-year relationship was over.
Speaking for the first time about Brian's newly single status, Nicky said his sympathies would lie with him.
"I haven't actually heard from Brian at all. I like him and I genuinely feel sorry for him. I would never wish any badness on him. He's a nice guy, deep down," he said.
McFadden quit the band in 2004 to go solo, but failed to achieve the same success.
As Westlife finished a string of five sell-out dates in the O2 last night, Kian Egan also said they hadn't heard anything from Brian. "Not a word, not a text, not a tweet, nothing," he said. Asked if there was a possibility of working with Brian again, now his relationship with the Aussie crooner had run its course, he said it was unlikely.
"We really don't see it. Given that we're doing a Greatest Hits tour, there's obviously a little whisper of should we do something with Brian or not?" he explained.
"And who's to say we won't? I don't necessarily see it happening, it would have to be something really special and something small, not this big thing."
The co-manager of Wonderland also said how his heart went out to the former couple in the wake of their split.
"Of course, Delta and Brian are both lovely people and it's always sad to hear when a couple break down," he continued.
"Jodi [Albert] is a very good friend of Delta's and every time when we were around together, the four of us would go out and do something together. It is sad, I just hope they're both okay."
He went on to say how everything had been going "absolutely superb" for the boyband and the move to the new label had given them a huge boost.
"The O2 is a very special venue for us and we feel it's probably one of the best venues we've ever played. It's just the intimacy of it and the way it's laid out. It's just been amazing playing to the home crowds again," he continued.
"This year we have a platform that comes right out over the audience.
"We haven't done that since we were in the real boybandy phase of our career when we were jumping around in the white suits.
"You see older women going absolutely nuts, you can make a lot of eye contact with the audience and it's great to have that."
Irish pop superstars Westlife
will be among the lineup to perform for Queen Elizabeth in an evening celebrating Irish fashion, music and theatre during her state visit to Dublin next month
will be among the lineup to perform for Queen Elizabeth in an evening celebrating Irish fashion, music and theatre during her state visit to Dublin next month
Last night a concert for the Queen Elizabeth took place at Dublin's Convention Centre and Westlife performed
You Raise Me
You Raise Me
Fashion Kicks 2011 that includes Nicky, Georgina, Shane and Gillian on YouTube. It shows them arriving and you can also see Nicky and Shane talking to the camera
A number of Irish artists including Jedward and Westlife played to an estimated 60,000 people at College Green in Dublin this evening.
The musicians entertained athe crowd ahead of a speech by US president Barack Obama.
Rounding off the afternoon were Westlife. Kian Egan told the crowd "it was a very big honour to be singing for the president. The other day we sang for the queen and here we are again today. What an amazing week it has been for Ireland, and we're very proud to be Irish."
The musicians entertained athe crowd ahead of a speech by US president Barack Obama.
Rounding off the afternoon were Westlife. Kian Egan told the crowd "it was a very big honour to be singing for the president. The other day we sang for the queen and here we are again today. What an amazing week it has been for Ireland, and we're very proud to be Irish."
WESTLIFE are thrilled with their new RCA record deal after arguing with Simon Cowell’s label Syco.
Bosses refused to let Westlife release more than one single from an album.
So after 12 years, the manband have moved on to pastures new and will release a greatest hits album containing five new tracks later this year. The first single drops on August 14.
Kian Egan, 31, told me: “The new single is up-tempo and very different for Westlife. Mark Feehily co-wrote it with John Shanks.
“Simon’s company has become more about TV as the music industry is shrinking.
“We’d have arguments about wanting to release more than one single with Syco, and Simon wouldn’t even be involved. Leaving was the best decision for us.”
Bosses refused to let Westlife release more than one single from an album.
So after 12 years, the manband have moved on to pastures new and will release a greatest hits album containing five new tracks later this year. The first single drops on August 14.
Kian Egan, 31, told me: “The new single is up-tempo and very different for Westlife. Mark Feehily co-wrote it with John Shanks.
“Simon’s company has become more about TV as the music industry is shrinking.
“We’d have arguments about wanting to release more than one single with Syco, and Simon wouldn’t even be involved. Leaving was the best decision for us.”
May 09,2011 Westlife seen leaving a business meeting in Central London, UK
Irish super-group Westlife are to release their Greatest Hits album on November 21st, it has been announced.
The band comment: “It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”
The band comment: “It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”
Wednesday, 14 September 2011 Written by Jon Stickler
Irish boy band Westlife are set to announce a new UK tour for May 2012!
After a hugely successful UK tour earlier this year, kings of the charts Westlife are understood to be hitting the road once again in May 2012 to wow audiences up and down the country.
Westlife are among the world's most prolific touring acts, with ten sell out tours already under their belts, including playing to a sell out crowd at the legendary Croke Park in Dublin. They have sold more tickets at London's Wembley Arena than any other act and have played a record number of dates there.
Westlife, who will release their 'Westlife: The Greatest Hits' album on November 21st, will be visiting some of the biggest venues in the country playing out their biggest hits including tracks form their recent albums 'Where We Are' and 'Gravity'. More tour dates are expected to be confirmed during the lead-up to the tour.
'Westlife: The Greatest Hits' will feature hits from the band's entire career so far and is released in the UK on November 21st 2011. Westlife have sold an astonishing 44 million albums since they formed in 1998.
The Westlife boys said: “It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”
There are two versions of the album available including a standard CD featuring the Greatest Hits plus brand new tracks as well as a 2CD/DVD deluxe version including the Greatest Hits, brand new tracks and video footage.
Westlife's 2012 UK tour dates will be announced at Stereoboard.com in the coming weeks!
Westlife Tickets are set to go onsale in October.
Irish boy band Westlife are set to announce a new UK tour for May 2012!
After a hugely successful UK tour earlier this year, kings of the charts Westlife are understood to be hitting the road once again in May 2012 to wow audiences up and down the country.
Westlife are among the world's most prolific touring acts, with ten sell out tours already under their belts, including playing to a sell out crowd at the legendary Croke Park in Dublin. They have sold more tickets at London's Wembley Arena than any other act and have played a record number of dates there.
Westlife, who will release their 'Westlife: The Greatest Hits' album on November 21st, will be visiting some of the biggest venues in the country playing out their biggest hits including tracks form their recent albums 'Where We Are' and 'Gravity'. More tour dates are expected to be confirmed during the lead-up to the tour.
'Westlife: The Greatest Hits' will feature hits from the band's entire career so far and is released in the UK on November 21st 2011. Westlife have sold an astonishing 44 million albums since they formed in 1998.
The Westlife boys said: “It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”
There are two versions of the album available including a standard CD featuring the Greatest Hits plus brand new tracks as well as a 2CD/DVD deluxe version including the Greatest Hits, brand new tracks and video footage.
Westlife's 2012 UK tour dates will be announced at Stereoboard.com in the coming weeks!
Westlife Tickets are set to go onsale in October.
Westlife are releasing a single written by Gary Barlow as they preferred it to one of their own tracks.
Westlife releasing Gary Barlow track
Westlife
The group's Mark Feehily had penned a song called 'Beautiful World', which was due to be the lead single from their forthcoming 'Greatest Hits' compilation but at the last minute they ditched the song in favour of one given to them by the Take That star and his 'Patience' co-writer John Shanks.
Mark said: "It was literally up until a day ago that we were deciding between 'Lighthouse' and 'Beautiful World' for the first single but they went with 'Lighthouse' in the end.
"I wasn't too gutted though. Once I write the song I've written it. You can't get too attached and just have to hand it over and forget the fact that you've written it."
The group insist there is no rivalry between themselves and Take That and they think it is "cool" to have Gary write songs for them.
Mark told the Daily Star newspaper: "I love the idea of Gary writing for us and throwing all the rules out the window."
Nicky Byrne added: "Some people might think Gary would be seen as the competition but we don't at all. It's kind of cool he's written for us."
Westlife releasing Gary Barlow track
Westlife
The group's Mark Feehily had penned a song called 'Beautiful World', which was due to be the lead single from their forthcoming 'Greatest Hits' compilation but at the last minute they ditched the song in favour of one given to them by the Take That star and his 'Patience' co-writer John Shanks.
Mark said: "It was literally up until a day ago that we were deciding between 'Lighthouse' and 'Beautiful World' for the first single but they went with 'Lighthouse' in the end.
"I wasn't too gutted though. Once I write the song I've written it. You can't get too attached and just have to hand it over and forget the fact that you've written it."
The group insist there is no rivalry between themselves and Take That and they think it is "cool" to have Gary write songs for them.
Mark told the Daily Star newspaper: "I love the idea of Gary writing for us and throwing all the rules out the window."
Nicky Byrne added: "Some people might think Gary would be seen as the competition but we don't at all. It's kind of cool he's written for us."
They love us, we love them back: Westlife performs before their Filipino fans in their fourth Manila concert
Coliseum.
The “Gravity Tour 2011” is surely one for the books, particularly to those who, as the Irish lads said, “got through grade school” listening to their hits that never goes old… even if the guys that recorded them did. Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne may be in their 30s now yet their connection to the Filipino audience remains as strong as when they started out in the late '90s, and even if it’s already their fourth concert here.
The jam-packed venue was filled with squeals, cheers, and colorful lights—even before the white curtain on the stage fell and revealed the group and even after they’ve left the platform—from the fans who sang their lungs out to their all-time favorite Westlife songs, as well as tracks from the group’s 11th studio album, “Gravity.”
Apparently, the feeling is mutual. The members of the million-record-selling boy band incessantly said their thanks yous to their beloved Filipino audience. Shane and Kian both declared that it was one of, if not, the best crowd they’ve had. And to cement that momentous event, Nicky and Kian took out their camera phones and captured videos of the crowd. It turned out, as the latter revealed, that they’re making a “video diary” for their family in Ireland.
In spite of the large venue,
Coliseum.
The “Gravity Tour 2011” is surely one for the books, particularly to those who, as the Irish lads said, “got through grade school” listening to their hits that never goes old… even if the guys that recorded them did. Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne may be in their 30s now yet their connection to the Filipino audience remains as strong as when they started out in the late '90s, and even if it’s already their fourth concert here.
The jam-packed venue was filled with squeals, cheers, and colorful lights—even before the white curtain on the stage fell and revealed the group and even after they’ve left the platform—from the fans who sang their lungs out to their all-time favorite Westlife songs, as well as tracks from the group’s 11th studio album, “Gravity.”
Apparently, the feeling is mutual. The members of the million-record-selling boy band incessantly said their thanks yous to their beloved Filipino audience. Shane and Kian both declared that it was one of, if not, the best crowd they’ve had. And to cement that momentous event, Nicky and Kian took out their camera phones and captured videos of the crowd. It turned out, as the latter revealed, that they’re making a “video diary” for their family in Ireland.
In spite of the large venue,
the concert felt intimate and personal. Westlife members know how to make their fans feel special. At one point during their spiels, the four chose four fans who had what they deem as the best banners,
invited them onstage and dedicated their song “Beautiful Tonight” to them. Nicky also got the Filipino fans doing their own brand of a giant wave and at another point, singing “My Love” in a capella, which Nicky both filmed through his phone.
The four also made simple, personal gestures at their fans from time to time, such as waving and smiling at them. We caught Mark pick a rolled letter which a fan in the front area of the stage probably tossed to them. After quietly signaling each other, Mark discreetly tucked the letter in his pants’ pocket. Sweet.
It was apparently a nostalgic night for the fans,
The four also made simple, personal gestures at their fans from time to time, such as waving and smiling at them. We caught Mark pick a rolled letter which a fan in the front area of the stage probably tossed to them. After quietly signaling each other, Mark discreetly tucked the letter in his pants’ pocket. Sweet.
It was apparently a nostalgic night for the fans,
hearing the energetic three-song opener “When You’re Looking Like That,” “World Of Our Own,” a
nd “What Makes A Man,” as well as the Westlife hits
“Flying Without Wings,” “Seasons In The Sun,” and “My Love.”
Their 15-song set also included their versions of “Home,” “You Raise Me Up,” and an amusing and surprising medley of pop tunes, consisting of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)”—
Their 15-song set also included their versions of “Home,” “You Raise Me Up,” and an amusing and surprising medley of pop tunes, consisting of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)”—
the chorus of which Mark tweaked into “I’m gonna make you feel, like you’re the only girl in the world…”—The Black Eyed Peas’ “Time Of My Life (Dirty Bit),” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” (done with some Gaga-esque choreography).
Apart from singing clearly—and may we make special mention of Mark’s flair for improvisation which added a different spice to the songs—
Apart from singing clearly—and may we make special mention of Mark’s flair for improvisation which added a different spice to the songs—
the boys also unleashed the signature dance moves characteristic among boy bands. That’s something we don’t see often nowadays, and probably that’s why the show became all the more enjoyable.
Westlife heeded the fans’ loud screams for an encore and performed “What About Now” and “Uptown Girl” before taking their final bow in what surely the fans hope not to be their last Manila show. Two hours watching a Westlife concert was indeed time well spent.
Westlife heeded the fans’ loud screams for an encore and performed “What About Now” and “Uptown Girl” before taking their final bow in what surely the fans hope not to be their last Manila show. Two hours watching a Westlife concert was indeed time well spent.
KUALA LUMPUR, 28 September (Bernama) -- Irish super-group Westlife will be releasing their brand new single 'Lighthouse' on Nov 14, to be followed by with the release of their 'Greatest Hits' on November 21.
The single, which is co-written by Gary Barlow and John Shanks, is one of four new tracks featured in the album.
The single, which is co-written by Gary Barlow and John Shanks, is one of four new tracks featured in the album.
MANILA, Philippines - Did Westlife forget about American Time and keep Filipino Time?
You see, the group’s welcome presscon was scheduled at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon at a function room of EDSA Shangri-La where the four guys were billeted but they showed up at way past 3:30 p.m. Some of the media had left but some stayed to hear the guys apologize for the miscommunication between them and the organizers/ producers of the concert staged last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We didn’t know that there would be a press conference,” admitted Nicky Byrne who, at 33, is the oldest among the members.
Westlife used to have five members but one of them, Bryan McFadden, has gone solo. The three other remaining members are Shane Filan, 32; Kian Egan, 31; and Mark Feehily, 31.
The boys arrived before midnight Wednesday from Hong Kong where they had a show. From Manila, they will go to Hanoi today for another concert which is part of the promo for their album Gravity (released locally by Sony Music).
In an exclusive interview with The STAR two weeks ago, Nicky Byrne publicly invited Manny Pacquiao to watch their concert, saying, “I do hope that we could do a song with him, preferably ‘You Raise Me Up.’ During the day, I would love to do a bit of boxing training with him and at night, we could do more singing. You see, I’ve been boxing as part of my workout, part of my conditioning.”
But due to his tight schedule training in Baguio for his return bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao begged off from watching the concert.
“He would have loved to but he was really pressed for time,” somebody close to Pacquiao told The STAR.
Other boy bands have split up and new ones have cropped up, but Westlife has managed to stay on top these past 14 years. Asked how they do it, Nicky said, “Honestly, I don’t know. You know, maybe we know what buttons to push and what pushes each other’s buttons. There’s really no magic formula. If there was, we would have put it in a bottle and sold it.”
It’s not the quartet’s first time to visit the Philippines. They first came here in 1999.
“We love coming back to the Philippines,” said Nicky. “I think we’ve been here five times for promo visits and for concerts. We always look forward to coming back because the Philippines has always been very welcoming to Westlife.”
You see, the group’s welcome presscon was scheduled at 1 o’clock yesterday afternoon at a function room of EDSA Shangri-La where the four guys were billeted but they showed up at way past 3:30 p.m. Some of the media had left but some stayed to hear the guys apologize for the miscommunication between them and the organizers/ producers of the concert staged last night at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
“We didn’t know that there would be a press conference,” admitted Nicky Byrne who, at 33, is the oldest among the members.
Westlife used to have five members but one of them, Bryan McFadden, has gone solo. The three other remaining members are Shane Filan, 32; Kian Egan, 31; and Mark Feehily, 31.
The boys arrived before midnight Wednesday from Hong Kong where they had a show. From Manila, they will go to Hanoi today for another concert which is part of the promo for their album Gravity (released locally by Sony Music).
In an exclusive interview with The STAR two weeks ago, Nicky Byrne publicly invited Manny Pacquiao to watch their concert, saying, “I do hope that we could do a song with him, preferably ‘You Raise Me Up.’ During the day, I would love to do a bit of boxing training with him and at night, we could do more singing. You see, I’ve been boxing as part of my workout, part of my conditioning.”
But due to his tight schedule training in Baguio for his return bout with Juan Manuel Marquez, Pacquiao begged off from watching the concert.
“He would have loved to but he was really pressed for time,” somebody close to Pacquiao told The STAR.
Other boy bands have split up and new ones have cropped up, but Westlife has managed to stay on top these past 14 years. Asked how they do it, Nicky said, “Honestly, I don’t know. You know, maybe we know what buttons to push and what pushes each other’s buttons. There’s really no magic formula. If there was, we would have put it in a bottle and sold it.”
It’s not the quartet’s first time to visit the Philippines. They first came here in 1999.
“We love coming back to the Philippines,” said Nicky. “I think we’ve been here five times for promo visits and for concerts. We always look forward to coming back because the Philippines has always been very welcoming to Westlife.”
WORLD EXCUSIVE: BEHIND THE SCENES OF WESTLIFE'S NEW VIDEO LIGHTHOUSE
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/214264/Westlife-We-track-down-manband-s-new-video-shoot-in-Afri
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/posts/view/214264/Westlife-We-track-down-manband-s-new-video-shoot-in-Afri
Westlife concert interupted by health and safety fears
By Anthony Lund on 06/10/2011 : Westlife Fans were in danger of being crushed at the concert in Jakarta.
Related
Westlife concert interupted by health and safety fears
Westlife
Irish boyband Westlife were forced to interrupt their concert in Indonesia last night (05.10.11) when they had fears for the safety of the crowd.
The group took to the stage as part of their Far East tour, and were performing in Jakarta but had to leave the stage for half an hour while security fears were being addressed.
The issues started when hysterical fans began to surge forward, alerting security that there were people about to be crushed to death if something was not done.
Posting on his Twitter account, band member Kian said, “We had to stop our show in Indonesia for 30 minutes for the safety of our fans. We feared someone would die. Thankfully no one did.”
By Anthony Lund on 06/10/2011 : Westlife Fans were in danger of being crushed at the concert in Jakarta.
Related
Westlife concert interupted by health and safety fears
Westlife
Irish boyband Westlife were forced to interrupt their concert in Indonesia last night (05.10.11) when they had fears for the safety of the crowd.
The group took to the stage as part of their Far East tour, and were performing in Jakarta but had to leave the stage for half an hour while security fears were being addressed.
The issues started when hysterical fans began to surge forward, alerting security that there were people about to be crushed to death if something was not done.
Posting on his Twitter account, band member Kian said, “We had to stop our show in Indonesia for 30 minutes for the safety of our fans. We feared someone would die. Thankfully no one did.”
Westlife celebrate success with hits album
Friday 7 October 2011
Friday 7 October 2011
To mark fourteen years of success in the music industry,
Westlife are releasing their Greatest Hits on November 21.
Westlife's Greatest Hits album is out in November Having sold over 44 million records worldwide,
Westlife's Greatest Hits album is out in November Having sold over 44 million records worldwide,
had 14 number one singles and 7 number one albums, Westlife are treating their fans to a special compilation of their hit records.
Speaking about the upcoming album the band said: "We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved."
Westlife are celebrating fourteen years in the music industry with a Greatest Hits album.
They added: "We are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career."
The specific tracklisting will be released at a later date, but fans can preorder the album from Monday from Amazon and HMV.
Versions will include a standard CD featuring the Greatest Hits plus brand new tracks and there'll also be a 2CD/DVD deluxe version including the Greatest Hits, brand new tracks and video footage.
Speaking about the upcoming album the band said: "We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved."
Westlife are celebrating fourteen years in the music industry with a Greatest Hits album.
They added: "We are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career."
The specific tracklisting will be released at a later date, but fans can preorder the album from Monday from Amazon and HMV.
Versions will include a standard CD featuring the Greatest Hits plus brand new tracks and there'll also be a 2CD/DVD deluxe version including the Greatest Hits, brand new tracks and video footage.
Westlife Reveal Greatest Hits Artwork & Tracklisting
Brian McFadden features heavily
Westlife have revealed the cover art and tracklisting for their forthcoming Greatest Hits package.
The standard edition features 18 tracks, including 14 of their biggest singles and four new recordings.
Ten of the 14 pre-existing hits on the set feature former member Brian McFadden, such as 'My Love', 'Uptown Girl' and 'Mandy'. Recent singles 'What About Now' and 'Safe' have also made the cut, as have all of their first four number one hits 'Swear It Again', 'If I Let You Go', 'Flying Without Wings' and 'I Have A Dream'.
The deluxe version comes packaged with a bonus disc, featuring 12 more of their singles (eight with Brian), including 'Seasons In The Sun', 'What Makes A Man' and 'The Rose', plus six live recordings.There's also a DVD featuring all 35 of their music videos to date.
The band said: "It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”
The album, out November 21, is preceded by the new single 'Lighthouse', written by Gary Barlow. It will face tough chart competition from One Direction and Rihanna, who also bring out their new discs on the same day.
Brian McFadden features heavily
Westlife have revealed the cover art and tracklisting for their forthcoming Greatest Hits package.
The standard edition features 18 tracks, including 14 of their biggest singles and four new recordings.
Ten of the 14 pre-existing hits on the set feature former member Brian McFadden, such as 'My Love', 'Uptown Girl' and 'Mandy'. Recent singles 'What About Now' and 'Safe' have also made the cut, as have all of their first four number one hits 'Swear It Again', 'If I Let You Go', 'Flying Without Wings' and 'I Have A Dream'.
The deluxe version comes packaged with a bonus disc, featuring 12 more of their singles (eight with Brian), including 'Seasons In The Sun', 'What Makes A Man' and 'The Rose', plus six live recordings.There's also a DVD featuring all 35 of their music videos to date.
The band said: "It’s almost hard to believe that we’ve been doing this for as long as we have. We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved and are looking forward to releasing our Greatest Hits as a special thank you to our fans who have supported us throughout our career.”
The album, out November 21, is preceded by the new single 'Lighthouse', written by Gary Barlow. It will face tough chart competition from One Direction and Rihanna, who also bring out their new discs on the same day.
Westlife touch down at Heathrow Airport…
On Tuesday afternoon we caught up with Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan arriving in the UK.
Well, you’ll have to take our word for it that Kian was there as he asked our photographers not take his picture. Apparently he wasn’t looking his best after a 15-hour flight. Fair enough.
Although Kian should probably get used to some extra attention as it’s just been confirmed that
the Westlife singer will be a judge and mentor on ‘The Voice of Ireland.’
The rest of the line-up with includes Bressie, Sharon Corr and Brian Kennedy.
Posted: 12/10/2011
The rest of the line-up with includes Bressie, Sharon Corr and Brian Kennedy.
Posted: 12/10/2011
.......
The Westlife Greatest Hits cover is a classic
The Irish boyband (that's Nicky, Kian, Mark and Shane) master the art of the staring-into-the-distance-longingly shot in the cover shot for their Greatest Hits.
And we know we've probably drunk too many cups of tea slash been staring at a computer screen for too long but we've convinced ourselves they're staring at us.
We reviewed the lads' brand new single Lighthouse and it made us feel all autumnal.
And this shot is having the same affect - with the fresh blue sky, orange hues in the trees and the biker boots/cardis.
The band have also enticed us with a tracklisting for the album (out November 21st).
1. Swear It Again
2. If I Let You Go
3. Flying Without Wings
4. I Have A Dream
5. Against All Odds
6. My Love
7. Uptown Girl
8. Queen Of My Heart
9. World Of Our Own
10. Mandy
11. You Raise Me Up
12. Home
13. What About Now
14. Safe
15. Lighthouse
16. Beautiful World
17. Wide Open
18. Last Mile Of The Way
The Irish boyband (that's Nicky, Kian, Mark and Shane) master the art of the staring-into-the-distance-longingly shot in the cover shot for their Greatest Hits.
And we know we've probably drunk too many cups of tea slash been staring at a computer screen for too long but we've convinced ourselves they're staring at us.
We reviewed the lads' brand new single Lighthouse and it made us feel all autumnal.
And this shot is having the same affect - with the fresh blue sky, orange hues in the trees and the biker boots/cardis.
The band have also enticed us with a tracklisting for the album (out November 21st).
1. Swear It Again
2. If I Let You Go
3. Flying Without Wings
4. I Have A Dream
5. Against All Odds
6. My Love
7. Uptown Girl
8. Queen Of My Heart
9. World Of Our Own
10. Mandy
11. You Raise Me Up
12. Home
13. What About Now
14. Safe
15. Lighthouse
16. Beautiful World
17. Wide Open
18. Last Mile Of The Way
WESTLIFE’s
dream of sharing the stage and singing together
with Manny Pacquaio during their Gravity Tour 2011 concert held at the Araneta Coliseum on Sept.
29 never came true.
Not that the boxing champ snubbed the Irish boy band because of the “informal invitation.” Pacquaio is set to fight against Juan Manuel Marquez come Nov. 12 and so his coach, Freddie Roach, did not allow him to get out of the training camp in Baguio.
Aside from the Westlife lads, who else needs the presence of our “Pambansang Kamao” in that concert anyway? Minus Manny, the Irish pop sensation composed of Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily could still whip the crowd into frenzy, effortlessly!
And that’s what exactly happened last Thursday night: Westlife showed A1, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys, Blue, F4 and all other foreign boy bands that stepped into the Philippine soil in previous years just how it’s done—and what has brought them such longevity o n the global music scene.
Second-rate opening
Since ABS-CBN was
Not that the boxing champ snubbed the Irish boy band because of the “informal invitation.” Pacquaio is set to fight against Juan Manuel Marquez come Nov. 12 and so his coach, Freddie Roach, did not allow him to get out of the training camp in Baguio.
Aside from the Westlife lads, who else needs the presence of our “Pambansang Kamao” in that concert anyway? Minus Manny, the Irish pop sensation composed of Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily could still whip the crowd into frenzy, effortlessly!
And that’s what exactly happened last Thursday night: Westlife showed A1, Boyzone, Backstreet Boys, Blue, F4 and all other foreign boy bands that stepped into the Philippine soil in previous years just how it’s done—and what has brought them such longevity o n the global music scene.
Second-rate opening
Since ABS-CBN was
the official TV network partner of the Irish quartet’s Philippine tour, it tapped budding Star Magic talents as front acts: Young JV, Van Roxas and Piero Vergara. But whoever thought of assigning these still-nameless performers as “appetizers” for the show should be reprimanded because they did not start the “meal” off on a delicious note, with their so-so RnB, pop and rap acts that irritated majority of the audience at the Big Dome.
It would have been better if the Kapamilya station just utilized one artist who could guarantee better routines like Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto or Marie Dibgy. In short,
It would have been better if the Kapamilya station just utilized one artist who could guarantee better routines like Yeng Constantino, Angeline Quinto or Marie Dibgy. In short,
the front acts’ segment was “very Asap Rocks” (read: boring).
Deafening applause and screams from adoring fans broke loose shortly after the white curtain dropped and Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark appeared on stage then belted out “When You’re Looking Like That,”
Deafening applause and screams from adoring fans broke loose shortly after the white curtain dropped and Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark appeared on stage then belted out “When You’re Looking Like That,”
“World of Our Own” and “What Makes a Man.” All of them are in their ‘30s now, but they hardly looked any older.
The opening number was too reminiscent of their past concerts archived on DVDs—
the lads were clad in black trench coats as usual—
but it was clear they haven’t lost their passion to
perform for more than 13 years now.
The Irish group’s second set, which included “Safe,” “Home”—a Michael Buble original—“Beautiful Tonight”—which sounds like Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are”—was the least-liked segment among the elder devotees as some of them had lost track of Westlife’s most recent albums by now. But this was the part where they extended their huge thank yous to everyone in attendance at the Big Dome. “You are the most enthusiastic crowd I’ve ever seen,” Filan revealed, while Egan said, “Sorry, we left you for so long. Let us bring some old songs back… Are you familiar with the song “My Love?” The fans were made to sing a few lines in a capella, to which Egan and Byrne recorded through their camera phones.
In the absence of Pacquiao, the boy band chose four fans that carried attention-grabbing banners—“Nicky, I want twins, can I have your genes?,” “Kian, is it hot in here, or is it just you?” and “Christine Loves Shane”—and were asked to go up on stage to sing “Beautiful Tonight” with them. And the greatest upset among the female fans that night? Oh well, the openly-gay Feehily picked another gay man with “Mark, Kiss Me, It’s My Birthday!” banner to join him on stage!
Bora as backdrop
For their third set, Westlife ditched their usual suits for colorful jackets, Mickey Mouse shirts and jeans, then rocked out with the crowd with their versions of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Black Eyed Peas “Time of My Life (Dirty Bit)” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” This type of medley has become a popular staple of the four piece’s most recent shows, and their Manila concert was no exception.
But who would forget Feehily’s powerful rendition of Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)?” Not only did it showcase his full vocal range and great potential as a solo artist—it left everyone with their mouths wide open after his astounding performance!
From the more current sounds, the group then swapped to their usual slow songs on their fourth set with “Already There” and “I Will Reach You.” The fans were transported back to the beginning of Westlife’s career via “Seasons in the Sun”—where the alluring and pristine beauty of Boracay island was featured on the wide screen that served as their backdrop—and “Flying Without Wings.”
“You Raise Me Up,” a song which has been covered more than 125 times, brought the curtain down that evening along with ear-splitting applause. Surprisingly, the Irish boy band did not include in their set list some significant songs that propelled them to stardom: “Swear It Again,” their first-ever UK no. 1 single, and “Fool Again,” their fifth consecutive UK chart-topper.
Superb show?
Fans were moved when Westlife returned for their encore—they donned stylish black suits this time—and sang “What About Now.” Instead of belting out another ballad that would leave spectators at the Big Dome teary-eyed or crying during their closing moment, the quartet smartly opted for a happy, upbeat piece, “Uptown Girl.”
Gravity Tour 2011 marked Westlife’s fourth visit to Manila, the previous ones were back in 2000, 2001 and 2006. But with an estimated number of 11,000 people who trooped the Araneta Coliseum to see them face to face, it appeared like it was only their first time to come here!
The Gravity Tour 2011 concert was magnificent as it showed how much Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily evolved from being a stereotype boy band to a live-performance act.
The Irish quartet has gone so far to become a mature vocal group packed with tightly-knit harmonies and easy grace on stage. With a couple of new arrangements for some of their previous hits, they were able to make attendees at the Big Dome feel that they were hearing several songs for the first time. That’s quite an achievement in itself. Westlife’s Manila tour was indeed worth the long wait.
The Irish group’s second set, which included “Safe,” “Home”—a Michael Buble original—“Beautiful Tonight”—which sounds like Bruno Mars’ “Just The Way You Are”—was the least-liked segment among the elder devotees as some of them had lost track of Westlife’s most recent albums by now. But this was the part where they extended their huge thank yous to everyone in attendance at the Big Dome. “You are the most enthusiastic crowd I’ve ever seen,” Filan revealed, while Egan said, “Sorry, we left you for so long. Let us bring some old songs back… Are you familiar with the song “My Love?” The fans were made to sing a few lines in a capella, to which Egan and Byrne recorded through their camera phones.
In the absence of Pacquiao, the boy band chose four fans that carried attention-grabbing banners—“Nicky, I want twins, can I have your genes?,” “Kian, is it hot in here, or is it just you?” and “Christine Loves Shane”—and were asked to go up on stage to sing “Beautiful Tonight” with them. And the greatest upset among the female fans that night? Oh well, the openly-gay Feehily picked another gay man with “Mark, Kiss Me, It’s My Birthday!” banner to join him on stage!
Bora as backdrop
For their third set, Westlife ditched their usual suits for colorful jackets, Mickey Mouse shirts and jeans, then rocked out with the crowd with their versions of Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” Black Eyed Peas “Time of My Life (Dirty Bit)” and Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance.” This type of medley has become a popular staple of the four piece’s most recent shows, and their Manila concert was no exception.
But who would forget Feehily’s powerful rendition of Rihanna’s “Only Girl (In The World)?” Not only did it showcase his full vocal range and great potential as a solo artist—it left everyone with their mouths wide open after his astounding performance!
From the more current sounds, the group then swapped to their usual slow songs on their fourth set with “Already There” and “I Will Reach You.” The fans were transported back to the beginning of Westlife’s career via “Seasons in the Sun”—where the alluring and pristine beauty of Boracay island was featured on the wide screen that served as their backdrop—and “Flying Without Wings.”
“You Raise Me Up,” a song which has been covered more than 125 times, brought the curtain down that evening along with ear-splitting applause. Surprisingly, the Irish boy band did not include in their set list some significant songs that propelled them to stardom: “Swear It Again,” their first-ever UK no. 1 single, and “Fool Again,” their fifth consecutive UK chart-topper.
Superb show?
Fans were moved when Westlife returned for their encore—they donned stylish black suits this time—and sang “What About Now.” Instead of belting out another ballad that would leave spectators at the Big Dome teary-eyed or crying during their closing moment, the quartet smartly opted for a happy, upbeat piece, “Uptown Girl.”
Gravity Tour 2011 marked Westlife’s fourth visit to Manila, the previous ones were back in 2000, 2001 and 2006. But with an estimated number of 11,000 people who trooped the Araneta Coliseum to see them face to face, it appeared like it was only their first time to come here!
The Gravity Tour 2011 concert was magnificent as it showed how much Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily evolved from being a stereotype boy band to a live-performance act.
The Irish quartet has gone so far to become a mature vocal group packed with tightly-knit harmonies and easy grace on stage. With a couple of new arrangements for some of their previous hits, they were able to make attendees at the Big Dome feel that they were hearing several songs for the first time. That’s quite an achievement in itself. Westlife’s Manila tour was indeed worth the long wait.
Westlife, . Irish Deaf Society opens 'Signs of Life' Photography Exhibition at Film Base, Temple Bar.. Dublin, Ireland - 13.10.11.
Westlife Tour Dates in FULL:
May 2012
Monday 14 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Tuesday 15 Liverpool Echo Arena
Thursday 17 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Saturday 19 Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Sunday 20 Birmingham LG Arena
Tuesday 22 Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Wednesday 23 London O2 Arena
Saturday 26 Manchester Evening News Arena
Sunday 27 Glasgow SECC
May 2012
Monday 14 Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Tuesday 15 Liverpool Echo Arena
Thursday 17 Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Saturday 19 Sheffield Motorpoint Arena
Sunday 20 Birmingham LG Arena
Tuesday 22 Nottingham Capital FM Arena
Wednesday 23 London O2 Arena
Saturday 26 Manchester Evening News Arena
Sunday 27 Glasgow SECC
Westlife plan farewell tour to thank broken-hearted fans
But after 14 years, 14 number-one singles and 44 million album sales, the chart-topping act announced last night they were to split after a final farewell gig in Dublin next year.
"We lived the dream so we're not hanging our heads," member Kian Egan told the Irish Independent last night.
"We're celebrating what we came from and what we achieved. Meeting the Pope, Barack Obama, singing for the queen. We grew up in this wonderful, magical adventure which surpassed our wildest expectations but now the time has come to stop."
In a statement, the group said the decision had been "entirely amicable" and the four members would go their separate ways after the release of a greatest hits collection next month and a farewell tour next summer.
But Egan revealed Westlife's final goodbye was likely to be a stadium show in Dublin next summer.
"Doing Croke Park or Lansdowne would be perfect because we want to go out on a high.
"We wanted to finish it like this, and not be in a situation where we just dwindled away over the years, playing to smaller and smaller crowds," he added.
Although news of the split came around 6pm yesterday, the Sligo man said the parting had been an "ongoing discussion" among Westlife for the past few months.
It is now ticket sales rather than record sales by which the success of a music act is measured, so there was little concern when, last March, Westlife parted from record company Syco, run by Simon Cowell and with whom they had their biggest hits.
Picked up by label RCA, they have continued to be a popular live draw around the world, recently returning from an extensive tour of Asia.
But Egan revealed that each member was now keen to "do his own thing". Shane Filan (32) is working on a solo album, Mark Feehily (31) is penning songs for other pop acts and Dubliner Nicky Byrne (33) is looking at a career in the media.
Expecting his first child with wife Jodi Albert in January, Egan (31) is to be a coach/mentor in new RTE talent series 'The Voice Of Ireland'.
"We all have stuff we want to do and the time has come to do it. We're all looking forward to doing our own thing.
"We all feel very positive and we just want to thank our fans for the support they've given us over the years," added Egan.
Manager Louis Walsh was among those who paid tribute last night, calling Westlife "four of the best ambassadors Ireland has ever had".
"Westlife were always the best four people I have ever worked with. I had a brilliant time working with them," he said.
"And it just goes to show how far you can get in this business with the right attitude.
"I know the fans are going to be upset but they shouldn't be. The end doesn't really mean the end, look at what happened with the Stone Roses this week," Walsh told the Irish Independent.
Westlife's 'Greatest Hits' is to be released in Ireland on November 18, with a new single, 'Lighthouse', issued a week earlier on November 11.
Dates for a final Irish tour including a monster farewell in Dublin are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
But after 14 years, 14 number-one singles and 44 million album sales, the chart-topping act announced last night they were to split after a final farewell gig in Dublin next year.
"We lived the dream so we're not hanging our heads," member Kian Egan told the Irish Independent last night.
"We're celebrating what we came from and what we achieved. Meeting the Pope, Barack Obama, singing for the queen. We grew up in this wonderful, magical adventure which surpassed our wildest expectations but now the time has come to stop."
In a statement, the group said the decision had been "entirely amicable" and the four members would go their separate ways after the release of a greatest hits collection next month and a farewell tour next summer.
But Egan revealed Westlife's final goodbye was likely to be a stadium show in Dublin next summer.
"Doing Croke Park or Lansdowne would be perfect because we want to go out on a high.
"We wanted to finish it like this, and not be in a situation where we just dwindled away over the years, playing to smaller and smaller crowds," he added.
Although news of the split came around 6pm yesterday, the Sligo man said the parting had been an "ongoing discussion" among Westlife for the past few months.
It is now ticket sales rather than record sales by which the success of a music act is measured, so there was little concern when, last March, Westlife parted from record company Syco, run by Simon Cowell and with whom they had their biggest hits.
Picked up by label RCA, they have continued to be a popular live draw around the world, recently returning from an extensive tour of Asia.
But Egan revealed that each member was now keen to "do his own thing". Shane Filan (32) is working on a solo album, Mark Feehily (31) is penning songs for other pop acts and Dubliner Nicky Byrne (33) is looking at a career in the media.
Expecting his first child with wife Jodi Albert in January, Egan (31) is to be a coach/mentor in new RTE talent series 'The Voice Of Ireland'.
"We all have stuff we want to do and the time has come to do it. We're all looking forward to doing our own thing.
"We all feel very positive and we just want to thank our fans for the support they've given us over the years," added Egan.
Manager Louis Walsh was among those who paid tribute last night, calling Westlife "four of the best ambassadors Ireland has ever had".
"Westlife were always the best four people I have ever worked with. I had a brilliant time working with them," he said.
"And it just goes to show how far you can get in this business with the right attitude.
"I know the fans are going to be upset but they shouldn't be. The end doesn't really mean the end, look at what happened with the Stone Roses this week," Walsh told the Irish Independent.
Westlife's 'Greatest Hits' is to be released in Ireland on November 18, with a new single, 'Lighthouse', issued a week earlier on November 11.
Dates for a final Irish tour including a monster farewell in Dublin are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Geschreven door westlife om 01:14
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Vrijdag 22 november 2013
HOT.HOT. WESTLIFE
Geschreven door westlife om 00:00
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Vrijdag 22 november 2013
westlife sport 1
Shane playing football in Sligo
Westlife love their footy and play whenever they can
Westlife singer Nicky Byrne was always destined for stardom - but not necessarily as a pop star.
Before joining the band, Nicky spent two years at Leeds United and dreamed of making it as a top-flight 'keeper.
His talent was never in doubt, but Leeds thought he was too short to make the grade and released him from his contract.
But Nicky still loves the game and plays whenever he can
Winning Bryan from Westlife tackles Will Mellor
brain mcfadden
Nicky in Soccer Aid
Soccer Aid is one of the most exciting charity events of the year, and Nicky is thrilled to be taking part in the 2008 match.
Soccer Aid is held in aid of UNICEF and its partners, and was originated by Robbie Williams. The match takes place on 7th September,
Nicky's Rest Of The World team put up an admirable fight in last night's Soccer Aid match, but they were narrowly beaten 4-3 in the final minutes by England.
The singer and other celebrities including Bryan McFadden and Jamie Theakston played football against World Cup legends such as Jamie Redknapp and Alan Shearer to raise money for UNICEF.
Battle of the pecs: Soccer hunks tackle celebrities on and off the pitch ahead of charity match
Westlife's Shane Filan playing golf at the K-Club
Kildare, Ireland - 25.05.07
nicky 2009
Shane Filan is set to realise a childhood dream by leading his own soccer team against home town club Sligo Rovers.
The Westlife singer, a Rovers fan all his life, is stepping up several divisions for the game next month.
Shane is striker for his father-in-law's work team from the Sligo Plumbing and Heating company.
He has been playing on the astroturf in Division Two of his local Nightowls League.
The 30-year-old plans to recruit one or two surprise guests for the game at Sligo Showgrounds against League of Ireland Premier Division side Rovers on Ausgust 5.
He set up the event for pals Lesley Ann Culkin, 26, and 27-year-old Hilary Jones who are climbing Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, to raise funds for the Irish Red Cross. HR consultant Lesley Ann, whose boyfriend Michael Walsh is Shane's brother-in-law, said they were discussing a football match as a likely fundraiser when the singer volunteered.
She said: "He has so many other things to do that we are absolutely thrilled. I know it will be a great night at the Showgrounds."
Shane has been banging home winners during the past 10 months for his team in the amateur astro-turf league at a sports complex in Sligo. He said: "We've won a good few games. It's good craic. I started off on the left-wing, but I wasn't great there.
"Then I moved up front and I started scoring goals. I'm getting there slowly but surely."
Westlife's link to soccer goes back 12 years to their first TV appearance when they performed at half-time during a Sligo Rovers home match and it was shown on RTE's Nationwide. Shane said: "It was a 30-second clip. We were delighted at the time. It was great exposure and we felt very excited when we saw ourselves.
"We were on telly and we thought we were very famous. We were 17 or 18 years of age at the time with dreams of becoming Backstreet Boys or Take That.
"Little did we know that a year later it would all kick off for us and it's been mental ever since."
WHEN Westlife
stars Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan visited Lennoxtown this week, they got a look at the new Celtic Nike home kit.
And the boys,
who are both massive Celtic fans,
were impressed by the new Hoops shirt, which was officially unveiled on Wednesday.
Westlife were in Glasgow for three sell-out shows at the SECC, but Nicky and Shane jumped at the chance to visit Lennoxtown as they prepared for the UNICEF Soccer Aid match on June 6, which they are taking part in.
And the two Bhoys spoke of their pride in Celtic's Irish connection.
Growing up in Ireland, you go to school and you're just a Celtic supporter, said Shane. I think it's very patriotic thing. Your dad follows them, and your son follows them, and it's passed on through the generations.
And Nicky added:
The Irish connection goes back as long as Celtic have been in existence,
and it's something we're very proud of.
Westlife's
Shane Filan playing with Sligo Plumbing and Heating in the SRFC Astro League, at the Showgrounds in Sligo.
SCOTLAND CUP FINAL IN GLASGOW 2011
Westlife star nicky byrne takes time out from his busy schedule to train with celtic football club at lennoxtown – where: east dunbartonshire, scotland.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYMgvjh-Eao
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhk3RAInBso
Geschreven door westlife om 00:00
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Donderdag 21 november 2013
Westlife are back with a brand new single so get ready to sway, and wave those lighters in the air.
Westlife are back with a brand new single
so get ready to sway,
and wave those
lighters in the air.
Westlife are back with
a brand new single!
Yahoo! omg!
Yahoo! omg!
were lucky enough to have a top
secret FIRST listen to their new track
'Lighthouse' in full yesterday.
The CD was literally carried to our office,
The CD was literally carried to our office,
played to us and then smuggled back
in a secure operation which made
us feel a bit
like we were in a Bond film.
And we can indeed confirm that
And we can indeed confirm that
it's the Irish boys back at their best.
Think Elton John, pianos and romance
Think Elton John, pianos and romance
as the song opens gently.
But before long it gives way to a rich,
But before long it gives way to a rich,
uplifting chorus like some of
Westlife's best ballads -
but with a touch of
Take That in there too (Gary Barlow
wrote it so it's hardly surprising).
With lyrics like
With lyrics like
"For a man who rarely cried/I get all choked up inside"
we can see ourselves kicking
autumnal leaves as this blares out of our ipods.
Rather like the video,
Rather like the video,
by the looks of these brand new
behind-the-scenes shots of their video shoot!
We had a first listen -
We had a first listen -
and these are brand new
shots from their video!
Westlife fans,
Westlife fans,
we challenge you not to like it.
Lighthouse' out on Nov 13th.
Lighthouse' out on Nov 13th.
Lead single from
their Greatest Hits album, out Nov 21.
Geschreven door westlife om 23:52
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Donderdag 21 november 2013
presscon September 2011 beijing
Geschreven door westlife om 16:41
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Donderdag 21 november 2013
div afbeeldingen westlife 6
Geschreven door westlife om 14:26
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Woensdag 20 november 2013
div afbeeldingen westlife 5
Geschreven door westlife om 23:34
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