Latest Westlife News

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Westlife in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Westlife in Mexico!

4/29/02

Kian's girlfriend spotted

According to the Sun, Kian was with his girlfriend Jessica Forsman. The couple met more than a year ago when Jessica, 26, was a dancer with the Irish lads on their Coast To Coast UK tour. Rumors have been floating for a while that Kian was with Jessica, but these pics certainly show it clearly.

The pics were taken at a Newcastle United soccer (football) game. Kian was at the game with Shane (and Gillian), Nicky (and Georgina), and Bryan (and a friend). One Magpies fan said: “He kept giving her a big smacker. He was doing more dribbling than the players on the pitch.”

Yesterday Kian was keen to keep the girl’s name a secret, despite necking her in front of 52,000 people, saying: “It’s not serious.”

Westlife in Dublin/Concert in Killarney

Westlife were in Dublin last week on a break from their current tour. Both Bryan and Nicky joined the Bertie Ahern during the week to promote the June Killarny festival in which Westlife will perform along with the Irish Popstars SIX and Tom Jones. The event will take place on June 28 at Fitzgerald Stadium at 7:15pm. Tickets go on sale on May 11.

Kian's slack wire

More on Kian's dangling experience during the first show in Belfast. While fans screamed in horror, Kian was left dangling 50 feet in the air. Kian discovered that his wire was slack, meaning that - had he moved an inch - he could fallen to his doom. He told the Sun, "It was the most terrifying ordeal of my life, I thought I was going to die. After the show, the stage crew told me that it could have snapped at any moment. The longer I was up there, the more chance there was of my falling to my death."

He remained in the air until roadies pulled the wire taut and carefully winched him down to the stage. Despite his stunt scare, and a collection of painful bruises, Kian has vowed to continue the tour. There are no plans to shelve the high wire stunt.

The passport office

Westlife tour calamities continue with the news that Bryan recently had to spend a whole day queuing at the passport office alongside wife Kerry. The couple had forgotten Molly would need her own passport to fly out to see the band in South Africa.

4/24/02

Kian has his bad day

On Friday, Kian's prized Porsche was hit outside the Odyssey Arena, while the boys were busy attending to a photo shoot for a pop magazine. No one was in the Porsche at the time. Hours later, a technical problem left Kian suspended mid-air during an opening number in the group's 1st Belfast concert. Kian dangled 50 feet above the 9500 fans after his elevation cord jammed. The other members were able to continue the show and Kian sang along from way up high. According to a source who was with Kian at the time, Kian was annoyed at first, but then laughed it off.

"I think someone from his crew hit the car. He did seem a bit annoyed but then said, 'ah well, I'll just buy another one'. I don't think it was a great day for Kian at all."

Highlights from Westlife's first concert in Belfast
(review from the Belfast Telegraph)

It may not have been the grand entrance they were hoping for, but as entrances go, it was pretty spectacular.

Westlife's Kian Egan was in a "world of his own" last night after a technical hitch left him suspended in the air above the heads of the 9,500 strong crowd which packed into the Odyssey Arena for the band's opening concert. As fireworks exploded, glitter rained down and the theme tune from Shaft thundered around the Arena, the other four members appeared from huge globes which rose up from the stage.

While they treated the audience to a performance of their most recent number one hit, World Of Our Own, Kian proved that the show must go on, belting the song out from his vantage point above the stage.

The hiccup sorted out, Kian was given a deafening reception by the fans as he joined Mark, Shane, Nicky and Bryan on stage for the next number, the new single Bop Bop Baby. And when the band asked if there were any "Bad Girls" in the house, a staggering majority of the fans would quite happily have said yes to any one of the five boys.

The ballads associated with Westlife weren't as evident on this tour, with the whole mood a lot funkier and more uptempo than before. However, they did show just how talented they are with a stirring acapella version of Flying without Wings and Angel, accompanied by Kian on the piano.

A medley of tunes had the fans - young and old - on their feet. Thousands of voices joined in as the band performed tracks by Queen, Michael Jackon and Elvis. The show ended quite literally on a high as the boys were once again whisked up into the air. But this time Kian's feet remained firmly on the ground.

Westlife's first of 12 dates at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast was a show-stopping success and was given the thumbs up by everyone. Ten-year-old Cherry McDonald from Banbridge said it was "absolutely brilliant." "I love all their songs, but Flying Without Wings was my favourite," she said.

Gemma Murray, 16, from Ballynahinch, had never seen the band play live before, but said she would definitely see them again. "It was just amazing, a really exciting show," she said. "I can't pick out one particular thing, but I loved all the rock bits and the medley. It was just fantastic."

Kian thrilled at his return to Odyssey

Westlife's Kian Egan was delighted to be back in Belfast's Odyssey Arena last night for the opening date of the band's World Of Our Own tour. And judging by the deafening reception the band was given, the 9,500 fans who packed into the Arena were as thrilled to have them back.

The Irish chart-toppers put on a dazzling show of fast tunes, high-energy dance moves and slick costume changes. The ballads were still there, but the mood was faster and funkier than before. Fans of all ages leapt to their feet and danced and sang their way through each performance.

As well as their own hits, Westlife also performed a medley of tracks including Bohemian Rhapsody, Build Me Up A Buttercup and Michael Jackson's Startin' Something. Thanking the fans for their loyal support, Nicky Byrne told the crowded Arena: "It's great to be back home."

Westlife's opening night is hottest ticket in Ulster

Westlife mania hit Northern Ireland today as the chart-topping boy band prepared to take the Odyssey Arena by storm in the first of Ulster's biggest ever series of concerts - watched by a total of 114,000 people. Up to 9,500 screaming fans will pack into the Arena tonight for the opening concert of the band's World Of Our Own tour.

Westlife will stay at a five-star hotel in the province until Wednesday morning, when they head off to Newcastle-Upon-Tyne to continue their tour. During their five days in Belfast, Nicky, Shane, Mark, Bryan and Kian will play six dates - including one matinee - performing in front of more than 50,000 people.

The band will return to the Odyssey Arena in June, when they will play a further six dates, rounding off their tour in the city. Last-minute preparations were under way at the arena to ensure tonight's gig passes off without a hitch.

At the Odyssey Pavilion, staff at the Hard Rock Cafe and Soda Joe's were bracing themselves for a hectic weekend. Security has been stepped up at the Odyssey and extra staff have been drafted in to work over the next five days.

Westlife's Nicky Byrne said the band was delighted to be back in Belfast. "We always love coming to Belfast. We get such a great welcome," he said. "It's like a homecoming for us. We see Belfast like another home."

Westlife confirmed at Live and Loud pop festival

Around 30,000 people are expected to attend the event at Glasgow's Bellahouston Park, on Sunday, June 16. The other newly-announced acts include the Sugababes, newcomers 3SL and H & Claire - formerly of Steps - who join Blue, a1, Samantha Mumba, Liberty X and Aurora.

Westlife are planning to fly to Glasgow on June 16, perform at Live and Loud and then head straight back to Dublin to play a scheduled tour gig that night. Tickets are on sale now, priced £18, subject to booking fee thru Ticketmaster.

4/12/02

Bop Bop Baby on The Box (UK)

As most of you know by now, the new video is available on Smash Hits and The Box. You can request Bop Bop Baby on The Box using selection #200. During their Westlife week over Easter, the following were the most requested videos (in order).

1. Flying Without Wings
2. A World Of Our Own
3. If I Let You Go
4. Uptown Girl
5. My Love
6. Queen Of My Heart
7. Fool Again
8. Against All Odds
9. Swear It Again
10. I Have A Dream

Westlife nominated at Hot Press Irish Music Awards

The awards, Ireland's biggest music awards, are being held in Belfast on April 25, and will be presented by comedian Patrick Kielty. Among those nominated for awards include Westlife, U2, Samantha Mumba, The Corrs and Ash. The awards began in 1981 and there are 14 awards being awarded this year.

The winners are decided by a panel that includes leading critics and broadcasters from national newspapers, television and radio stations throughout Ireland.

Bryan pens a Bellefire tune

Speaking to OK! magazine, member Kelly Killfeather said, "He's [Bryan] written a gorgeous song for us, but we didn't get time to record it for this album. We were hoping the song would get recorded by Christmas and then see how it sounded on the album, but we never had the time. We'll probably hold it to the next album."

Kelly also said there may be a chance that the girls could hook-up with Bryan or the rest of Westlife to bash out out a tune. "It would be great to co-write with them as well, and Bryan's expressed an interest in that."

Bop Bop Baby - the remix

Westlife have given the go ahead t. have a remix of Bop Bop Baby done by the Almighty production team. A HiNRG remix of the single will be out next month. Almighty had been commissioned to remix last year's Uptown Girl. However, that remix has yet to be released. It is unknown if the Bop Bop Baby remix will appear on any commercial release, or whether it will be given to a few club DJs.

Bryan on Leah Wood [Bop Bop Baby video]

Bryan said, "Naomi was expected to do it but let us down right at the last minute. Someone on the set knew Leah Wood and gave her a call and she came right down to the set. She was brilliant and we can't thank her enough, she saved the video which we think is our best one yet. The song is called Bop Bop Baby and was written by Shane and myself. Vinnie Jones also stars in the video as the evil baddie who is trying to marry Leah and we are dressed as five musketeers who fly in to save her."

Westlife to perform an extra concert in Manchester (UK)

The new date at the Manchester Evening News Arena will be on May 18. The boys are already playing at the MEN Arena from Tuesday the 14th to Friday the 17th. Tickets went on sale on April 5 at a cost of £22.50

Westlife caught in their underwear

Some mischievious fan set off the fire alarm at Westlife's hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. The boys were asleep when their tour manager woke them and told them thy had to get out of their rooms. The manager woke them and told them they had to get out of their rooms. Firefighters were called but the incident turned out to be a false alarm.

A pal said, "The lads had a laugh about it because they came close to running out into the street in their underwear."

Also, during their stay in the Netherlands, Bryan missed a bus to Rotterdam after a 12 hour drinking spree and touring Amsterdam's red light district with a friend.

Dublin group to provide Ireland's World Cup song

The official World Cup anthem for the Republic Of Ireland football team will be provided by Dublin group A House. Their song Here Come The Good Times originally appeared on the band's 1995 album Wide Eyed And Ignorant. Irish radio listeners are today helping A House frontman Dave Course re-write the lyrics with a footballing theme.

A new version of the song will be recorded this weekend with the Irish team, manager Mick McCarthy, Aslan's Christy Dignam, Westlife's Nicky Byrne and Dusty the Turkey plus some surprise guests. The single will be released on May 10 with proceeds going to Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children. Warner Music have already pledged 30,000 Euros (£18,340) to the hospital,

Kerry talks about their life

Kerry revealed to Showbiz Ireland how they have suffered the heartache of having to compromise their relationship for fame.

"There's so much of the time that Bryan and I have to spend apart and that's the hardest thing. He will be away working with Westlife and I'll be in London doing my TV work and it becomes heartbreaking. I take Molly everywhere with me because I want to be there for every second of her growing up. But the time it really hits home is when you're sitting on your own in the evening and the baby is sleeping. That's when I miss Bryan most. I love him as much as the day we got married and it's hard for both of us."

The millionaire couple, both 21, married in January, just four months after their daughter Molly was born. But after the Slane Castle celebrations, Kerry had no intentions of sitting back and enjoying the fruits of their pop success. She signed a deal to present Channel 5 show Exclusive and has now announced plans to host a dating show on ITV1. Her frantic schedule, along with Bryan's commitments to the band, means they can never be guaranteed time to spend together.

She said: "It's tough for Bryan too because he has to go all over the world with Westlife and misses some of the little things with Molly. He'll be on the phone to us for hours when he is away just talking about things. Some times we go for weeks spending every minute together but with my TV work it's become more difficult to coordinate our schedules. But the bottom line for both Bryan and me is that we put our family first. He is a family man and that comes before everything. Whenever we get to even spend an hour together, one of us will jump on the plane and make that journey. We don't want to be one of these couples that makes a bit of money then just sits doing nothing for the rest of our lives. We are prepared to work."

Kerry has been bombarded with offers to sing again since she quit Atomic Kitten after becoming pregnant. But she is terrified of performing as a solo artist and said she would never return to the music business.

She added: "I just can't handle having to go out on that stage all on my own. It was different when I was in Atomic Kitten and the other girls were with me. Plenty of people have offered to give me a record deal and invited me to perform at concerts but I really don't think I could do it." Since giving birth, Kerry has been trying to balance her career aspirations with the responsibilities of parenthood. She also worked hard to get back into shape but admitted it wasn't easy, adding:

"There are times when I thought I'd never get back to the way I was. I think everyone who has a baby worries about their weight after it's all over because there is a fear that you'll never be your old self again. But I'm happy with the way I look and so is Bryan which is the most important thing. He always tells me that he prefers me the way I am now and also that he likes a bit of meat on a girl. I think people can get too hung up on weight and in ShowBiz there's always focus on how people look and that can be hard."

The couple live in a penthouse apartment near Dublin city centre but spend much of their time in hotels. Kerry said: "We like to be near the city where everything is happening. We tried living out in a big house in the countryside but it wasn't for us. In the end, we wanted to get back to what we knew and we bought a nice place in the city. We are a really normal family and just do normal things when we are all at home. We spend most of our time playing with Molly and going out on family trips. I didn't have an easy childhood but I knew the value of love and how important that is. That's the most important thing to me - giving love to Molly and it doesn't matter how much money you have - love is what really counts. I don't know what I want her to be when she grows up but I would be happy for her no matter what path she chooses as long as she is happy."

Westlife's cash load

As reported earlier, Westlife will earn £2 million each from their latest tour. The boys are being paid £14,000 for every one of their 68 World Of Our Own concerts. In addition, they are getting £800,000 from merchandising and £300,000 from their lucrative deal with Adidas.

Kian said, "It's great being in this position but it could all end tomorrow so we've invested a lot of our money. Obviously we've bought cars and clothes but the majority is stashed away."

Shane has invested a lump sum to build a huge country estate for his parents. He said, "Investing in property is one of the best ways of earning you more money. There's no point just squandering money because it doesn't last forever." Shane will earn even more if he takes up offers from Armani and Gucci to be the face of new campaigns worth an estimated £1million each.

During the concert in Oslo, Norway, Westlife made their entrance from a huge flying globe and launched into a blistering set. It included a medley that contained the Bohemian Rhapsody. After their Oslo concert, Westlife partied at a nightclub into the early morning hours. By 2am, Bryan was ordering his 11th beer.

He said, "I've always loved a drink and have spent quite a bit on nights out, but hey, you work hard and you play hard. I've also bought three houses in the last year but sold one of them recently. Obviously my daughter Molly is taken care of for the future, but I still like to spend money on things for my wife, Kerry, my parents and my friends. It's nice to do things like that once in a while."

In addition, Nicky commented, "I definitely want to get married one day and settle down and have children but Westlife comes first at the moment." Nicky has bought a house with his girlfriend, Irish Prime Minister's daughter Georgina Ahern.

Will Young set his sights after Westlife

Seeing that Westlife will be releasing Bop Bop Baby on May 20, Will Young (the Pop Idol winner) has decided to release his next single, Light My Fire, the week after Bop Bop Baby on May 27...sound familiar. Of course it does. Will released "Evergreen" the week after Westlife released " World of Our Own"...and knocked Westlife off its #1 perch in the process.

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