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7/27/03

Next single: Hey Whatever
Scheduled release date 9/15/03
song available on some internet sites. It is a moderate tempo song (i.e. more upbeat than Unbreakable and less upbeat than WYLLT).

Westlife in Sligo

Westlife are not making a profit from their homecoming gig in Sligo. Singer Kian Egan denied claims that the band are set to make huge amounts of money from the concert this Friday. He said: “This is not a profit-making concert. We have not come home to cash in on the people who have been loyal to us all along. This is for our home fans to enjoy.”

Kian explained how it will take up to 70 trucks to bring the show to town and 170 people to set it up. “It’s a three day set-up and a two day take-down. All these people need to be accommodated in the town and looked after. The first two days will be spent laying down the majority of the stage. The final day will see the band’s own stage get set up. It’s like a stage on another stage.”

Trucks began arriving at Markievicz Park last Sunday and preparations for the concert have begun. Kian was speaking from Sheffield last Friday where the band were finishing the British leg of their Unbreakable Greatest Hits tour.
“It is great to be finishing our Greatest Hits tour in Sligo. We couldn’t have expected better. We won’t have a chance to meet and greet fans, there would just be too many.”

The band’s hectic tour continues as they fly to London the following morning to record their new single Hey Whatever. There are talks of filming the video in Cuba.

“We won’t be having an aftershow party in Sligo. We are all doing our own thing. I will be spending time with friends and family afterwards. It would cause mayhem if we went down town for a drink anyway.”

Kian did have this message for the fans: “It’s going to be proud day for us. We want our fans to come and really enjoy themselves. People all over the world have been asking us what Sligo is like. They often said they’d come to Sligo if we played there. The gig is going to be the same as what fans have seen all over the world. We are really looking forward to it.”

Meanwhile, Sligo trio the Conway Sisters were confirmed yesterday as one of the supporting acts for the concert. This is the first outdoor concert for Sinead, Marie and Laura Conway, but it kick-starts a busy summer. After the Westlife concert, the girls will be playing at the Rosses Point Mackerel Festival, as part of the Sligo Rocks Festival and will also be releasing their debut single to radio stations on August 7. The girls have nearly a full album’s worth of material recorded with renowned British producer Simon Hill at his studio in London.

Edinburgh Tattoo features Westlife songs

The tattoo has sold out for the last five years. The Edinburgh Military Tattoo has set yet another record for ticket sales, organisers have announced. The annual event, which runs from 1 to 23 August, sold out in record time.

Last year was the first time that the Tattoo sold out in advance. Chief executive and producer Brigadier Melville Jameson said he was delighted with this year's sales. He said: "All of us here in the Tattoo team are extremely proud of this fantastic achievement, one which marks our fifth successive sell-out season. It is of course the hard work of everyone involved that has brought about this extraordinary accomplishment."

The 217,275 available tickets have been on sale since December last year, although the programme was only announced this week. Music from Westlife and Blade Runner composer Vangelis will be among the pieces performed in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle.

More than 1,000 people will take part in the 54th Tattoo, including performers from South Korea, Oman and Switzerland. The regiments performing include the Royal Scots, the Scots Guards and the Black Watch.

Sir George Mathewson, chairman of sponsors the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, said: "It comes as no surprise that the Tattoo has sold out so quickly this year judging by the quality of acts. It is truly an international event drawing a viewing audience of 100 million worldwide."

Westlife's US contract cancelled?

Reports that Will Young and Gareth Gates have been shunned by the US arm of their record label have been laughed off by a spokesperson for the pair.

According to a story which apparently appeared in a German magazine this week, the Pop Idol stars were refused a record contract in the States because it was thought that their music wouldn't travel across the Atlantic. The report also suggested that Westlife's US contract had been scrapped and that Sarah Whatmore had been given a deal.

Thankfully, a spokesperson for the Pop Idol stars said the reports were a "load of tosh". Gareth releases his brand new single Sunshine in September, while Will is currently working on his eagerly-anticipated second album, which is due in November! Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson, the American Idol winner, releases her debut tune, Miss Independent, at the end of August!

Fallen Idol

(story published 7/21) Lying slumped over the grand piano in the bar of one of Manchester's top hotels in the early hours of the morning was a teenage singer, supposedly the most wholesome star of his generation.

After drinking for a marathon 12 hours, it was little surprise that Gareth Gates should be the worse for wear. But for the onlookers who stumbled across him as they breakfasted in the Lowry Hotel, it was shocking that Gates looked more like a tramp than the golden boy who had charmed a nation.

Throughout the small hours, the singer had been downing bottles of the hotel's most expensive champagne, occasionally breaking off to play the piano and sing with his friend Zoe Birkett and Westlife star Kian Egan.

They were in Manchester to appear on the prestigious Top Of The Pops Awards show. But as Gates sank into drunken oblivion, he seemed unworried that he was due to appear in front of millions on the live programme just hours later.

As a small crowd gathered around him, a panicking aide finally scooped Gates off his seat and packed him off to his room to try quickly to sober up in time for rehearsals.

For those who witnessed the scene, it was shocking proof that the young boy - whose courage in overcoming an appalling stutter had won him a legion of devoted fans on the TV talent contest show Pop Idol - was not quite as they imagined.

7/19/03

Extra tickets for Westlife in Sligo

Westlife are performing in Sligo on July 25, and extra tickets have just been released for next weekend's concert at Markievicz Park have just been released.

Westlife played to over 70,000 fans at their Lansdowne Road Stadium shows on June 27-28. The following day, the band performed to a crowd of 75,000 people at Croke Park for the Closing Ceremony of the Special Olympics World Games 2003.

Tickets are priced €39.50 for standing and €44.50 for seated tickets and are limited to 8 per person. All tickets are available from Ticketmaster outlets in the country.

Earlier last month, Sligo County Council confirmed the gig. Kian stated: "This homecoming concert is set to be the highlight of our career. It really is a dream come true for Westlife and the fact that we're bringing our Greatest Hits Tour home to Sligo is just amazing. On behalf of all the lads, thanks to Sligo County Council, the people of Sligo and everyone involved for making this dream come true - Thank you".

Chairman of Sligo County Council, Councillor Padraig Branley added: "People of Sligo are extremely proud of Westlife and have followed their careers closely over the years. They are fine Ambassadors for Sligo and it will be a very special occasion when they perform in their native city."

Westlilfe hit in Aberdeen, Scotland

[review] Westlife fans were flying without wings last night as their Irish idols' greatest hits tour took to the North-east. Teen heart-throbs Shane, Kian, Bryan, Nicky and Mark made it a night to remember as they wowed their 4,600-strong Scottish support at the first of two shows at Aberdeen Exhibition and Conference Centre.

In a three-hour spectacular, the five lads churned out hits including Queen of My Heart, Uptown Girl, Flying Without Wings, Tonight, and Unbreakable. And the more they sang, the more the fans danced - and screamed. The band started explosively with fireworks and flashing lights.

Nicky told fans: "This is the first time we've been to Aberdeen. We wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the support of each and every one of you." They then kicked off with hit song 'When You're Looking Like That'.

The band thrilled some of their young fans by taking them up on to the stage for a sing-a-long. Alison Cowie, 15, and 16-year-old Tasha Clarke were among those lucky enough to be taken on to sit with the band. Alison said, "I was totally shaking and jumping about everywhere." Tasha added, "It was ace."

It was the band's first visit to the North-east, and supported by Kwest - who most of the fans had probably never heard of until last night - the wait was well worth it, as they lit up the stage in the AECC's Press and Journal Arena.

Aberdeen was not included in Westlife's initial tour, and it was only April when the band, which is preparing for the release of its fifth album in November, announced it was coming to the North-east. Speaking ahead of the show, an AECC spokeswoman, said: "We are delighted Westlife have included us in their tour. They had been playing at a lot of dates in Glasgow as part of their initial tour, but having seen that there was a market for Westlife in the North-east they decided to add Aberdeen. It's brilliant."

The young heart-throbs made their biggest impression when they serenaded their screaming fans with a range of their greatest hits while suspended from a platform which moved over the fans' heads. Shane told the crowd that they would be back in Aberdeen next year which delighted Sara Naeem, 10 and her five-year-old cousin Aneesa Miller. Sara and her cousin travelled up from Glasgow to see the show.

One of the band's more mature fans Pamela Pirie, 36, took her daughter Emma, 13. The Inverurie woman said they were delighted that their Irish idols had come to Aberdeen. Ms Pirie said: "Emma's a fan but her mum is a bigger fan. It was magic."

The Irish idols will hit the stage again tonight, which will mark the end of their tour's Scottish leg.

Dream come true as eight fans go up on stage with Westlife

[Sheffield, UK] The quintet bopped and rocked through songs that have made them Britain's favourite boy band to the delight of thousands of loyal fans at the Hallam FM Arena. With a little choreography, a lot of enthusiasm and completely live vocals the boys proved why they have outlived their rivals' shelf life.

But last night was made truly memorable for eight South Yorkshire fans when they were invited on to stage. Among the lucky few, seated on bean bags by the side of the stars, were 10-year-old Ria Fretwell-Deery, of Bradway, Sheffield, Chloe Timperley, aged 12, of Crookes, Sheffield, and Julie Callender, 39, of Doncaster. Chloe, a pupil at Meadowhead School, said: "It was amazing to be on stage with them. I can't believe what has happened to me!"

7/13/03

Westlife at SECC

Westlife were hitting the high notes last night as their greatest hits tour hit the SECC - but it was what they said rather than what they sang that left fans flying without wings. There had been rumours that this could be the Irish heartthrobs' last tour together, but the group made a point of telling fans thatthey would be back. Shane told the crowd, "There will be a new album out in November and it will be the best one yet. Don't worry, we will be back in Glasgow next year - we promise!"

With worries set aside, the fans, and the boys got dowfans, and the boys got down to work to make it a night to remember. As hits Queen Of My Heart, Unbreakable, Tonight and Uptown Girl played the sell-out audience danced, Mexican waved and screamed the house down. And the boys made sure the mothers and grandmothers in the crowd didn't feel left out. They belted out a medley of classic songs including the Beach Boys hit "I Get Around" and the Dave Clark Five's "Now That I Can Dance"

Suspended from a platform, Shane Kian, Nicky, Mark and Bryan serenaded the crowd from above- and were pelted with Saltires, tricolours, cuddly toys and even underwear for their efforts.

Westlife still on a diet

Westlife were ordered to stay off the Guinness during their stay at a plush Scottish hotel last week. Their manager Louis Walsh put them on a strict fitness regime so they didn't pile on the pounds before a big video shoot. So the lads' hard-partying lifestyle was curbed after booking into Gleddoch House Hotel, Langbank, Renfrewshire.

The group have been playing the hotel's golf course between this week's six sell- out shows at Glasgow's SECC. One source said: "The poor boys seem to be half-starved all the time. The management told them to stay off the booze while they'e here. It's quite strict and they've not touched a single drop all week. In the morning, the fried breakfasts are off the menu altogether and the chefs are under orders to cook healthy food for them. At night, it's mineral water and no peanuts."

Walsh demanded that the boys shape up after late- night boozing sessions were blamed for their ballooning weight. The band picked Gleddoch after golf- mad Bryan demanded each hotel on the 62-date Unbreakable: Greatest Hits tour must have its own course. But while he and his bandmates have been out on the greens, Mark has been behind closed doors. One source said: "He's been moping about in his room all the time and he's not been feeling great. I think they were going to get a doctor for him but I don't think it's too serious. They rest are really under the cosh, watching what they eat and drink."

Dad of the Year Bryan is less likely to stick to his diet while away from home - because of his wife's love of fry-ups. Kerry apparently never worries about her weight and her favorite meal is chips, fried eggs and buttered toast. She also snubs the gym but says it doesn't matter as Bryan loves her the way she is.

A band insider said: "There's some pressure on Bryan. Louis strictly dictates his diet and lifestyle. Yet when he's back at home in Dublin his wife tears up the rulebook." The couple have two daughters - five-month-old Lilly Sue and Molly, aged 21 months.

Bryan said: "I do my share of nappies and it's hard, tiring work. I haven't been getting much sleep but the tour will give me a chance to rest."

The band's sixth performance of the week at Glasgow's SECC is tonight before the tour heads for Sheffield.

Tailor for Nicky

A Reborn luxury tailoring firm wants to entice former staff back to the company at the start of a major recruitment drive. Crewe-based Cheshire Clothing Company is advertising for up to 15 workers to keep up with a steady rise in short orders for elite brands including Burberry, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Ozwald Boateng. The news comes as the company confirmed it is to produce suits for the glitzy wedding of boy band Westlife's Nicky Byrne.

Westlife blacklisted in the US?

Well not exactly blacklisted, but Nicky claims they will never succeed in the US because radio bosses don't like their image. The blond singer says, "We sent over a CD of World of Our Own with no name on it. They didn't know it was Westlife and every single radio station in the States - all came back and said that this is an absolutely huge hit. They said it was great for radio and people are gonna love it, especially as there's just a slight bit of rock guitar to it. But as soon as we revealed it was Westlife, the radio pluggers all went, 'Whoa, not Westlife - it's a boyband. And we cannot break that down, no matter what song we come out with. The problem with America is that it's all radio and you've got to break into radio first. And currently radio doesn't want to play boy bands or pop music. If BONO wrote a song with us tomorrow and it was the biggest hit in the world, if Westlife's name is put to it, it won't be a hit in America because radio will not play us.

And you know what, that's probably, sadly, true, because there are no boybands on the US charts right now except for maybe B2K.

Nicky's kick

Nicky gave a keen fan an unwitting memory of a charity soccer match - broken arm tendons. He took a free kick during the sports event at Upton Park stadium in London that hurtled into the crowd and snapped Serena Williams' arm tendons. The 18-year-old had gone to the match to watch her pop heroes in action, but came home with a more permanent reminder of the days' activities. However, Nicky says, "I do apologise to Serena. I had no idea she was injured."

Nadine

Newly unattached Ulster pop sensation Nadine Coyle has a secret admirer. Kian has revealed he thinks she is 'gorgeous'. Nadine has just split from Derry-born Neil McCafferty, who plays football for Charlton Athletic reserves.

It is reported that she is now consoling herself after the end of her two-year relationship with the young midfielder, with little known boy band singer, David Wilcox of Triple 8.

However, while in Belfast for Westlife's sell-out Odyssey concerts, blond, blue-eyed Kian admitted he was smitten. He told the Belfast Telegraph: "Nadine is gorgeous. I have been out with Girls Aloud loads of times and she is also great fun. Girls Aloud are very good. They have a great opportunity and I think they are going to be around for quite a few years."

While her family were today reluctant to talk about her love life, a friend revealed that Nadine and Neil were finding it more and more difficult to spend time together.

Special Olympics

Bryan is Dad of the Year

Bryan has scooped a coveted prize over the likes of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair and soccer player David Beckham to be Britain's Dad of the Year.

In a search to name the best celebrity Dad in Britain a poll was set up over the past five weeks taking the views of 20,000 people. And with celebrity Dad's such as David Beckham, Jamie Oliver, Tony Blair, and Bob Geldof in the running Bryan McFadden was a surprise outside favourite winner. Bryan has two daughters Molly and Lilly Sue with celebrity wife Kerry Katona McFadden.

The top ten celebrity Dad's are as follows:

Bryan McFadden, Tony Blair, David Beckham, Bob Geldof, Jamie Oliver, Ian Wright, Jono Coleman, Eamonn Holmes, Neil Fox and, Ronan Keating

Bryan McFadden brands some Westlife songs 'rubbish'

Westlife: ‘Miss You Nights was the worst song we ever recorded’
With just over a week to go until Westlife play at Lansdowne Road, Bryan McFadden has admitted that he thinks some of their music is rubbish.

Speaking to the RTE Guide he described some of their songs as “s***e. Well they have been of course,” he says. “Queen Of My Heart was s***e.

“Bop Bop Baby, when we wrote it, was brilliant but because of the politics that are involved with bands like us and record companies we had to get someone else to produce it and they didn’t do what we wanted. Miss You Nights was the worst song we ever recorded. It was a disgrace. None of us actually wanted to do it. The thing about Louis he comes up with these ideas and 99% of the time he hits it on the head. Like Seasons In The Sun, nobody actually liked the song. I don’t mind the song and I don’t mind what we did with it. It was the beginning of our career and we were starting young and it was four weeks at the Christmas number one in the UK so it became one of our career songs. Miss You Nights did not work and that was the first one we got wrong.”

Having turned his hand to songwriting recently, Bryan penned Simon Casey’s song, A Better Plan, for the final of You’re A Star and narrowly missed out on having his track go to Eurovision.

Of the experience he says: “I had a lot of fun doing it and I will write another song next year. You’re A Star was fun and I’m not bothered and neither was Simon really that he didn’t win. Simon ended up being number one for three weeks and started his career away from You’re A Star whereas Mickey Harte is always going to have that tag of the fella that did it that way. I would have hated it if my song had gone to Eurovision and finished 11th.”

He has also penned a track for Louis Walsh’s newest proteges Girls Aloud but admitted that it wasn’t what he expected.

“I wrote and produced a song for them and sent it over to their record company and five minutes later I got a call saying it was going to be a single. I was delighted, but it was reproduced and it wasn’t what I wanted. The song is called Girls Aloud and it’s still on the album but I don’t think it’s strong enough to be a single now.”

Westlife’s manic schedule means that Bryan is often away from home – a fact that is said to annoy his wife Kerry.

Asked about rumours that she has been reduced to tears asking him to spend more time with her and their two children Lilly and Molly, he acknowledges: “That’s something that happens and it’s going to happen until Westlife is over. Westlife isn’t going to last forever. In 10 years’ time we’ll only be in our early 30s and we can retire and sit at home. I know what me and Kerry are like, if I left Westlife tomorrow and came home in two weeks she’d want me to go back to work and I’d want to go back to work.”

7/7/03

Bryan pulled over by cops

Bryan was quizzed by cops after failing to pull over after speeding in his Ferrari. He was driving back to his hotel in Belfast after a gig when he was clocked breaking the limit and running a red light in his bright yellow Ferrari Spider Modena 360.

But despite police chasing him with their blue lights flashing, Bryan — who was at the wheel of his £190,000 motor — failed to stop. He only came to a standstill when he got back to the five-star Culloden Hotel where the band were staying during the Northern Ireland leg of their World Tour.

After going up to his room, Bryan was ordered back down to reception where he received a ticking off from officers. He escaped with an official warning, claiming he had not seen the police trying to pull him over.

A source close to the singer said: “All of the lads like to drive themselves home whenever they can. Bryan was with one of his minders in the Ferrari and decided to see what the car could do. At some point he raced past a police car and through a red light. The cops tried to pull him over but he didn’t see them. He just didn’t know they were trying to pull him over. He got the fright of his life when he was told the police were waiting for him in reception. They gave him a right telling off and he apologised.”

A spokesman for the Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed: “We issued advice and a warning to a motorist at 11pm on Tuesday in Belfast’s Holywood area.”

A Westlife spokesman said: “There are thousands of screaming fans outside every venue they play. In the interests of safety, the lads try to make as quick a getaway as possible. The police understood the situation and let Bryan off with a warning. They told him to drive more carefully in the future. He was very apologetic.”

Bryan isn’t the only member of Westlife with a Ferrari. Nicky owns a red Ferrari 575 while Shane has an identical black model. All are thinking of selling the racers because they seldom get a chance to drive them.

Westlife performed the last of eight gigs at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena last night. The band move on to Dublin later this week before performing in Newcastle, Glasgow and Sheffield next month.

Amanda can't cut it with Kian

Amanda Holden may be a bit of a sort...but I know one Westlife lad who isn't so Kian on the Cutting It star. Amanda, 32, tried to pull millionaire boyband singer KIAN EGAN when she spotted him at London's Rouge.

She asked one of the Westlife minders if Kian would join her table. Always the gentleman, 23-year-old Kian agreed. As soon as he sat down, Amanda started flirting wildly, swishing her blonde hair and fluttering her eyelashes.

One onlooker told me: "It was obvious she fancied him and was trying to pull him, but he didn't fall for it. She was trying to make him laugh and pretending not to know which band he was in. But Kian didn't fancy her at all. She's a bit too old for him to be honest. I mean the age gap between them is nearly ten years. Kian has women falling at his feet all the time who are much younger and fitter. He told the rest of the band she wasn't his type and Amanda tried hitting on him but he didn't want to know."

Two months ago the News of the World revealed that Amanda had an affair with Danish pop singer Thomas Barsoe while she was still married to Les Dennis. Like Thomas, Kian is blonde and about 10 years her junior. Now Amanda's love life is really in the doldrums. Just last week she was gutted to find a mystery man who swept her off her feet at a party in Monaco already had a girlfriend.

Amanda was pictured dirty dancing with property developer Mark Savage. But he said later: "I assure you nothing happened between us." Meanwhile things are looking up for her beleaguered ex Les Dennis, who has announced he is moving to Spain to start a new life with his ‘girlfriend', Leonie Cotgrove, 31.

Kian's most recent conquest was Page 3 babe Jodie Marsh. You'd think a red-blooded boy like that would jump at the chance to get in the saddle with Amanda—but, hey, it's horses for courses. Better luck next time, Amanda.

House worries for Westlife

Bryan and Nicky have had to slash the price tags on their Irish homes in a bid to sell them. Bryan’s new five-bedroom home in County Wicklow has been on the market for almost a year, forcing him to cut the asking price from £1million to £700,000. Nicky has had little interest in his mansion near Dublin and has dropped the price by almost £50,000 to £565,000.

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