Latest Westlife News

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5/31/02

Editorial - When will Westlife finally make it to the US?

I listened to the radio for the first time in a week, and the song that was on 98.5 FM in SE Pennsylvania nearly shocked me. It took me 5 seconds of "I know this sounds awfully awfully familiar" before I realized that it was a1's "Caught in the Middle", the cd of which I've been listening to the last 2 days - and it is definitely a much more mature album. It begs the question that if a1 is getting airplay for the first time ever in the US, where's Westlife?

Westlife - Just Say No (to drugs)!

In a taped message to 25,000 primary sevens across Scotland, Westlife told the youngsters to say no to drugs. The event was held at the SECC in Glasgow and included a day of entertainment and education, all with an anti-drug theme.

5/30/02

Kian: Mark's hookup was invented

Kian has come out and said that Mark's supposed romance with Bellefire singer Cathy Newell was invented by none other than their manager (Louis Walsh) for media attention.

Kian said, "Mark's not in a relationship either. The thing with Cathy was just a press thing - that's just Louis Walsh. I didn't get linked with Bellefire because I told Louis not to do it! Mark and I go out quite a lot now. When the other boys are out with their girls we go out and have a laugh. We're quite good mates at the moment - we've got no problem just going to the bar for a drink, just the two of us. Its cool."

Kian also said, "I kind of notice Mark getting a bit lonely once in a while, but I think he's coping well. He's very close to his mum, and he's the kind of person who'd ring her up and say, 'I'm f***ing pissed off!'"

Kian on Shane and Gillian

In another story, Kian revealed that he tried to stop Shane from dating his cousin Gillian at first. During an interview with Sneak magazine, Kian admitted, "At first I had some reservations. I used to stop Shane from seeing Gillian because she was my cousin and I was really close to her. When we were 16 and we were performing in the musical Grease together, they nearly started going out. But I'd say things like, 'Aah, Gillian, you don't wanna go there, you won't get on,' and 'Oh, Shane, she's a real... whatever!'"

But he is now happy that the two of them are together, saying "It's so cool that two of my best friends are going out together, and it's good 'cos he knows if he ever does anything wrong he'd never get away with it."

Kian and young fans

Today must be the media's field day with Kian, cause here's yet another story featuring Kian. Kian says that young fans can be a problem because they are so attractive. And why is that a problem? Because these young fans tend to dress up to look older than they really are!

He says, "What's starting to worry me is we're going to clubs that are for over-21s or even over 23s, and there are 16-year-old girls in there. And they don't look 16. They're all dolled up to the nines and they'll tell you they're 19, or even 22. You either believe them or you don't, but it's hard to tell and it's really worrying that you don't know how old these girls are now."

Bryan unhappy with chart flop

There's no doubt that Bryan has got to be unhappy with the #5 debut of Bop Bop Baby, a song he wrote for Kerry. Kerry said, "It's very difficult for him. They've had so many number one hits but the competition this week was really tough. He's especially upset as he wrote the song for me."

Westlife unhappy with Bryan's behavior?

[smells like a tabloid/read with an open mind] According to Britain's Daily Sport newspaper, Westlife are being ripped apart from the inside - because of Bryan's "infantile actions". The other guys want to maintain the band's clean-living kid-friendly image [which we all already know isn't so], but Bryan - marketed as the "family man" of the group - wants to let down his hair with Kerry.

According to the newspaper, things came to a head when Shane accused Bryan of being "unprofessional" after he tried to drop his trousers during a gig in Belfast, saying, "Bryan's playing up may be funny to the audience, but it's very f***ing annoying."

Bryan responded, "I get bored easily and I just want some fun."

A band source reveals, "Things have been very strained with Bryan since he kicked off with (British garage collective) So Solid Crew at the Brit Awards. Westlife are predominantly a teen band and we don't want their fans to see them drinking and fighting. We have let a lot of things pass with Bryan, like his wild nights with Kerry and their trips to lap-dancing clubs, because that's their private life. But when he starts acting up on stage that is something else. Their image is their future and if they start losing fans because of Bryan then they put that at risk."

Tour review - London, UK

Before the show, the S Club Juniors (who were in attendance) had to leave the audience because they were mobbed by girls their own age.

"Westlife are veterans of the scene, having been successful for a whopping three years, and a show full of fireworks and aerial stunts showed they have some money to spend. This is a mammoth tour, their five nights in London just a blip compared to 11 in Belfast and 12 in Dublin.

For anyone curious as to who exactly sends almost every Westlife single to Number One, I can confirm it is entirely teenage girls and their mothers. Tumbleweed tumbled through the gents toilets all night.

The teenage boys were presumably at rowdy metal concerts, engaging in similar levels of screaming and flailing.

The five lads emerged from within their own personal globes at the beginning and floated down on wires into an appropriate World of Our Own. Performing in the round, in the centre of the arena, they each serenaded the baying crowd from a metal structure like the bow of James Cameron's Titanic.

Songs such as Queen of My Heart and My Love have the same hearty chorus and hefty key change at the end, an obvious move which sends the teenies into raptures every time. Bop Bop Baby strays from the formula by being slightly faster, and charted this week at five, a shocking statistic which led some to sound the death knell for the group. If this is the end, no one told the ecstatic crowd, who looked very far from moving on to the next crush."

5/29/02

Westlife down right dirty

Hygeine is apparently not Westlife's forte, after reports from housecleaning staff at hotels. During their recent stay in Sheffield in the north of England, one cleaner was met with a particularly gruesome sight. A source says, "One of the cleaners at the hotel was almost gagging at what she found in their rooms. There were cigarette butts in tea cups, dirty plasters in the bed sheets and a rank stench lingering in their suites. She was also shocked to find a huge collection of specialist magazines in one of the boys' rooms. It wasn't exactly the Beano comic, put it like that."

What would you name your child?

One Westlife fan (Carol Archer, 36, of Lakenheath, Suffolk) has named her new baby son in tribute to all five boy band members - Kian Bryan Nicky Shane Mark Archer. True fan? yes. Would I want to be the child? no. that's a really long name to write down.

Westlife deny Vinnie Jones duet

Don't believe everything in the tabloids (esp. The Sun, which is why every article from The Sun states it). Westlife have denied they intend to duet with ex-footballer Vinnie Jones for a Christmas single. Tabloid rumours (i.e. The Sun) started after ex-Wimbledon footballer turned Hollywood actor Jones appeared in a cameo role in "Bop Bop Baby".

Nicky denied these rumors at the Soccer Six tournament. He said: 'As far as I know there's no duet planned. That's not to say it isn't a question. It'd be a good crack if we did it and maybe sometime down the line, who knows?'

Nicky was unable to play in the tournament. He said, "'I tore a hamstring last week so I'm devastated that I couldn't play.The boys did well though."

5/27/02

Westlife makes a #5 debut with Bop Bop Baby

Either the other 4 groups/singers did very well, or Westlife's sales were bad. However, in the end, it is Westlife's lowest debut, although at a still respectable #5. The UK Radio 1 charts are below:

1. Eminem - Without Me
2. Liberty X - Just a Little
3. Atomic Kitten - It's OK
4. Ronan Keating - If Tomorrow Never Comes
5. Westlife - Bop Bop Baby
6. Enrique Iglesias - Escape

(U.S.) "American Idol"

Thanks to Terri who told me about Fox's "American Idol" promo clip. I saw the promo clip on tape last night and there is indeed a guy who attempts to sing Westlife's "Angels Wing" [thanks to Brian for the correction], only to be rejected as a terrible singer. According to one of the judges, he took the rejection pretty well. American Idol is the US version of the UK's "Pop Idol". It debuts in on June 11.

Kerry and Bryan thinking of having another baby

Said Kerry to the Sun, "We're great together and we're even talking about having another baby. Bryan is my best friend and we tell each other everything. We do everything together."

Guess they patched things over during the last month.

Westlife kick soccer rivals into touch

In yesterday's Soccer Six charity event, Westlife were the stars as they beat Ant and Dec in the finals a celebrity six-a-side soccer tournament. The guys, who had former England footballer Bryan Robson in their team, scored the winning goal in the last minute of the game. Ant and Dec's team lost the nail-biting match 3-2. Jo Brand, spokeswoman for the organizers, said: "The day went fantastically. We've had torrential rain storms all day which didn't help but everybody loved it. The men's final was really exciting, Westlife won with virtually the last kick of the game and the rain didn't put the girls off. And we had around 12,000 spectators who braved the weather cheering everybody on." This event was telecast live on the internet.

Westlife Booed

Westlife were booed by some ungrateful workers at a Vodaphone staff party at a racecourse in Newbury, England...apparently because they were expecting Kylie Minogue to appear. More than 10,000 employees were at this event.

Vodaphone currently sponsors Kylie on her current tour, and press reports had suggested she would appear. A guest said, "I think a lot of people had set their heart on Kylie performing for us because there had been a lot of rumours. She seemed the obvious person, especially as Vodaphone are sponsoring the current tour."

Tim Wheeler versus Louis Walsh - Round X

I've lost track as to how long this has been going on. Last year, Tim told Radio 1 that he'd shoot Westlife's manager, if it meant that the quintet would never have a another hit. In addition, you'll remember that Tim also burned 1000 Westlife cds as a stunt.

In this most recent incident, Ash frontman Tim Wheeler decided to take another push at Westlife as he accepted a gong during the Ivor Novello Awards ceremony held in London on May 24th.

While accepting the Best Contemporary Song prize for his tune Shining Light, he suggested that he'd, "stick it up Louie Walsh's [Westlife's manager] arse."

Well, the next day, Louis hit back at the comments. He commented, "I live in Ireland. I've got the biggest bands in Ireland. Ash live in Ireland, nobody knows who the f**k they are. They couldn't sell a toilet in Dublin. Westlife filled The Point for two weeks. I know they're frustrated. [Tim's] a dreadful f*****g singer. He can't sing live. I said to him on the way out, I'll be here next year, you won't..."

What did Tim have to say the next day? He admits that Westlife aren't really the problem...just Louis. He said, "I don't mind Westlife, actually. It's just him [Walsh], 'cos of the dissing he gave us last year. He said we couldn't even sell 500 records. But this award is a vindication. This means more to me than anything than other award. And besides, what is he doing at a songwriting awards anyway, that's what I want to know?"

5/24/02

Westlife has plans for America

Still nothing but go for the US according to Westlife (and the Sun). While in the US, Westlife will film a new video for re-release of World of Our Own. Kian said, "We owe it to ourselves to have one more go. Last time we went it was horrible but now we have been booked on shows like David Letterman and Jay Leno." Sounds like a plan to me...but...

for those who don't know, Letterman and Leno have very popular late night talk/comedy shows that air at 11:30pm. Unfortunately, the performances don't actually start until like 12:25am. So, unless they're changing their target audience, I still think a stint on MTV would do wonders =)

Nicky on the charts

Review of Birmingham NEC concert
Teen favourites prove West is best

Westlife clearly mean to give their West Midlands fans a show to remember if last night's explosive opening at the NEC was any indication. Shane, Kian, Mark, Bryan and Nicky burst from globes above the heads of the predominantly female crowd as fireworks and glitter showered down.

With six costume changes and a host of energetic - if ordinary - dance routines, the boys played to an ecstatic full house, kicking off with World of Our Own followed by their latest single Bob Bop Baby. They then delighted fans with a rendition of favourites like Queen of My Heart and Uptown Girl as well as album tracks and a collection of cover tracks including Jailhouse Rock, Build Me Up Buttercup and Bohemian Rhapsody.

The fans showed their appreciation by throwing underwear and cuddly toys and holding up signs for their favourite band member. Refreshingly the band don't appear to take themselves seriously. Shane and Kian were particularly good at interacting with the audience and Bryan, the joker in the pack, fooled around all night, even pulling a crew members on stage.

The piece de resistance was the encore when they performed When You're Looking Like That as they "flew" suspended just inches above the fans. Pete Waterman's 13-year-old protege Lauren Waterworth provided the support along with the Irish Popstars band Six. The Irish lads' five-night sell-out run at the NEC ends on Saturday.

Less drinking for Westlife

After going on daily drinking binges on their tour last year, Westlife have decided to cut back on their drinking this time around...especially to avoid those quite unpleasant hangovers. Kian said, "We've cut down on the booze since the last tour. Before that, we were coming off-stage and just drinking until the next show."

Bryan added, "Yeah, days merged into days." Shane said, "Nowadays I don't go out after the gigs. I might go out once a week. Or else I get a terrible hangover!"

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