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10.30.05

Westlife back in the limelight

You would really have to call Westlife a vocal group these days. After seven years at the top of the pop roster, surely the term “boyband” doesn’t stick anymore, what with an average age of 26 years and at least two of them either married or already a father.

Shane, Mark, Nicky and Kian are still very much among the quieter superstars in the British and Irish pop fold. However, their accolades, chart wise, not to mention commercial success, is to be envied. With 34 million album sales and millions of singles, the 12 British No.1 singles they have charted put them fourth in the rankings of chart toppers, behind Cliff Richard (13), The Beatles (17) and Elvis Presley (21).

But even for the supposedly quiet quartet, fame does come with some hazards or rumour and gossip. They were a quintet until Bryan McFadden left nearly two years ago to try out for a solo career and also most recently Feehily has declared he is gay.

Now, doesn’t this sound almost exactly like an earlier, almost as equally successful Irish vocal group (remember Boyzone), with which they once shared the same manager – Louis Walsh? So, the question “can it get more exciting” then for the remaining members seems kind of moot.

But apparently, they certainly are excited, especially with the release of their seventh album Face to Face from Nov 7. The guys are back from a four-month holiday, and this recent phone interview from London with Egan has him in an upbeat mood.

“Four months is a long holiday for us, and it was just a complete holiday,” he said.

“It was a time to go home, be with our friends, walk our dogs,” he said with a laugh. Typical quiet superstar life, don’t you think?”

But after the break, it’s now time to head back into the limelight proper. Face to Face features all the hallmarks of the international success that Westlife has garnered – a collection of classic songs and future standards (read: original work sprinkled with a few cover versions).

After a brief interlude with its “rat pack” album (Allow Us to be Frank) of classic songs sung in the style of such luminaries as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr, Face to Face is Westlife’s first collection of new songs since the album Turnaround topped the charts in 2003.

It’s a familiar blend of lavish ballads and mid-tempo tunes, balanced by the occasional up-tempo song; the seeds for this studio album were sown even before Allow Us to be Frank.

“We started looking for songs two years ago, before the “rat pack” album, but we found the songs were not good enough,” Egan explained.

In the end, it was back to the tried-and-tested when it came to deciding, with long-time collaborator Steve Mac providing many a tune for the album.

“Mac always writes a good pop song and now we have the production team, The Location, from Sweden, back as well,” Egan said. The Location had worked on their first two albums, Westlife and Coast to Coast.

Of course, as you will find in all previous Westlife albums, a cover version or four isn’t exactly out of order. One of the most prominent is You Raise Me Up, the first single from the album. It was a major hit in the United States for Josh Groban.

“It has been covered by different artistes, but to the Westlife audience it may not be as familiar,” Egan said about the choice of release. As for the other cover versions, Egan continued: “We had nine great original songs but that wasn’t enough. The covers sounded fantastic (to us).”

They include The Eagles’s haunting classic Desperado, and a version of country and western heartthrob Collin Raye’s In This Life. Another notable re-make is a duet with the legendary Diana Ross on When You Tell Me that You Love Me – a makeover of a tune first sung solo by Ross, and later as a duet by Dolly Parton and Julio Iglesias.

Working with Ross proved something special for Westlife although they recorded their parts separately. “We did appear together for promotional appearances, and we worked on the video together,” Egan said. “We met her earlier during the summer and had a good laugh. She was in the middle of recording her new album.”

The guys are now preparing to go back on the road. “After Christmas we’ll get ready for a world tour from March onwards, that’s our plan,” said Eagan. “If the album is not successful, we go back to the drawing board to search for some more good new songs.”

Nevertheless, Egan is optimistic about Face to Face. “We do hope it is successful as we feel it’s our best (yet),” claimed Egan. “We’re more excited than we have been in a long time.

“Even with Turnaround we felt it wasn’t as good as it could be. Face to Face is our first album of original material without Bryan. This is like going back to the excitement of our first and second album. We will let our fans decide if it’s good or not.”

The press conference with WESTLIFE

In boy band law, it is written that after three years at the top of the charts all members will kindly leave the building. Please fold up the bar stools, loosen the pouts and cover up the glistening six packs that will have sadly spread into bloated party kegs.

One will go into rehab, another will attempt an excruciating solo career and the remainder will creep back to their housing estates. Finally they will re-emerge years later with armfuls of writs for their former manager who had secretly hoovered all the royalties up his nose. Somewhere along the way, Westlife mislaid the script, but they didn't lose the plot. Seven years in, they are still crooning away in black and white slow-mo on MTV and swooning to screaming hordes on sell-out arena tours.

The stats so far are 12 number-one singles and six hit albums with sales of 34m. They have showrooms of cars, several homes each and multiple bank accounts heaving with cash. But it hasn't been unsmudged lipgloss all the way. Last year the gobby one, Bryan McFadden, reckoned he could do it on his own. He was last seen singing to some kangaroos in Australia. Then two months ago, Mark Feehily announced he is gay. Two of the others, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne, are happily married (Nicky to Irish PM Bertie Ahern's daughter, Georgina) and Kian Egan, is in a relationship with a former Hollyoaks actress. For those of you who don't have posters of the boys on the wall, is all that clear?

Westlife are all Irish and 25, although Nicky laments with all the seriousness of a man past his youth that he is 27. Now they are back with a new single and album. The broadsheet music critics have given up kicking them and the tabloids have despaired of digging up some dirt. Are Westlife the Teflon boys of pop?

Lads, the script says you should be on your way by now. What's going on?

K: People thought we would be long gone by now, but as long as fans still want us around, we will be here.

S: At the beginning, we thought we would have an amazing few years and then it would all be over, but it's kept going.

N: There has never been a set plan, except to keep making records and keep going as long as they are selling. And they are, so we are still here.

M: We always read in the papers that we make bubblegum pop and that it is rubbish, but we don't make music for the media, we make it for the fans and they like it a lot, and that's all that matters to us.

When is the big split likely to happen?

N: We have read the headline "Westlife To Split Up"

so many times now that we just laugh when we see it.

If it happens, then we will be straight out with it, so no journalist need bother writing that story for a while. Seriously, we'll just tell everyone and do some amazing farewell concert and be gone.

S: Bono told us that if you have two really bad albums that do not sell, then that's the time to go.

One is OK, you can get away with that, but if you have two, then you have to admit it's over.

M: We have not had a disastrous one yet and we will keep going until there are two duds. Then we will have to say, "Thank you very much, goodbye."

When Bryan left, just about everyone thought that was the end. Surely you guys did as well?

N: To be honest, we really had our concerns about how it would work out as a four piece, but we kept it all inside and did not let the public know. It was hard to read all the stuff that said Shane and Mark would go solo, Kian was going into management and that I was going to be a politician.

S: Bryan going was a shock even though we knew he had not been happy for a while. None of us knew his marriage was on the rocks. As soon as he was gone, we had to pull together as a team and get down to work. When we did our first show as a four piece, it was fantastic. We really nailed it and the fans loved it. It was only then that we knew for sure that it was going to be OK.

M: Some of the papers basically said it was all over, but if anything we are a better band as a four piece.

We are closer and there are no secrets, like if someone is wanting to leave or to go solo.

K: As far as the media were concerned, Westlife was finished after the last album, but we think this new album is the best we have done.

And what news of Bryan?

M: We are still really good friends with him and were speaking to him the other day. He has had a really tough time and has been totally hammered by the press.

The best thing for him to do is to go away for a long time and let everything calm down. Maybe then he can still do something good with his career. We honestly wish him all the best.

Most cynics — and there are some among journalists — expect that Westlife will end in litigation with your managers having ripped you off.

S: There's no way that is going to happen with us and that's no bullshit. We have done unbelievably well and are secure financially. We're not stupid and have been careful with our money.

K: We got good advice and our own lawyers at the very beginning, so everyone knew who was getting what.

N: I can't see us falling out now. We are like brothers and have been through so much together that we are not going to mess it all up. We have got to be four of the luckiest guys in the world and we know that and have a healthy respect for everything that has happened to us. We have always kept our feet on the ground and much of the credit for that goes to our families and friends. They have all been rock solid for us.

Most of you have been in steady relationships throughout the entire time of Westlife. When you look at all the girls going nuts for you, I can't help thinking that it's been a bit of a waste.

N: We are not rock 'n' roll, we don't put anything up our nose and we don't sleep around. I have never had any interest in that side of things. I have been in love with Georgina since the day I saw her when I was a teenager. She's now my wife and none of this success would have meant half as much without her.

S: The same goes for me with Gillian. She has helped me keep it together and kept me going when things have got tough.

M: I've never wanted to be a tart and have lots of one-night stands.

K: Well, I've had a good time!

How do you explain the continued success?

K: We stick to what we do best — good, solid pop songs with great vocals — and don't try and be something we're not. No matter what you say, we have done some great songs. But I don't think Westlife has ever been a totally typical all-dancing boy band, with bare torsos and stuff. And we're not the type of band that has stories in the tabloids every day, so maybe that keeps it a bit fresh.

M: Even after all this time, nobody really knows us as individuals and I think that has actually helped. Very few people know our first names, let alone our second names. They sort of know our faces and that we are from Westlife. It helps people from getting bored.

S: It's pretty good because when I ring up and order flowers for my wife and I give them the credit card details, they haven't got a clue who Shane Filan is, so I know they're not going to keep my number! The paparazzi don't bother us either, so we can live normally and get the best of both worlds.

N: When we started, we did not want one person to be seen as the front man, like Ronan Keating in Boyzone. With them, it was always Ronan and the band and that caused a few problems. With Westlife, it is all of us and it keeps it equal and happy.

You have played the normal game and kept girls secret. Has your press always been controlled?

S: I kept Gillian secret in the early days for her sake because it was very important she had a normal life.

She was at college for four years without anyone knowing she was going out with me. I picked her up the day she finished her exams and that was the first anyone knew of it.

K: The fans don't want to see you with your girlfriend all the time, so it is only fair to keep them in the background. We have moved on from all that and it's not a problem. The fans are cool about it.

N: I have always been upfront about Georgina. Our press is controlled to a degree, but we are always upfront and there's no dirt anyway.

M: Well, I've just come out in The Sun and you can't be any more honest than that!

I presume that was just a publicity stunt to get you on the front page and you will deny it all once the album has sold out? I am joking.

M: I have dealt with it in my own way for years, like anyone in the same situation, and it just seemed the right time to talk about it. I was fine about people knowing. I am in a happy relationship and if me talking about it helps someone else who is dealing with their sexuality, then I am happy about that, too. I have had some very supportive letters from fans since the story, so it was the right thing to do.Was there any pressure on you to do the story, like another paper threatening to write it without your approval?

M: No, it was my decision. I have not been aware of anyone trying to do the story over the years. I don't think people knew, but if they had thought about it, they would probably have guessed. It has been a bit awkward in interviews in the past when they have been asking about girls, but I always tried not to lie.

I felt uncomfortable because I had all that stuff going on in my head, so it is better that the truth is out there.

N: A while back, the papers might have been on a mission to out someone, but things are different these days. If someone is gay, it's like, so what. We have known about Mark for two years and we were cool about him doing the story. As a band, we have never played on the fact that we appeal to young girls. Our music is made to appeal to everybody, young and old, girls and guys.

A fair few showbiz stories are total flyers to keep some hype going. Can you think of an example involving yourselves.

N: Our manager Louis Walsh has been pretty bad at making stuff up in the past, especially when we needed press in the beginning. He looked after Boyzone before us and they had all kinds of things happen to them that weren't true. I am not sure if this was down to Louis or not, but there was a story in one of the Irish tabloids that we had gone on safari and got out of the jeep for a better look.

At that point some of us were attacked by lions, but Kian came to the rescue and got us back into the jeep. There was a mock up picture in the paper of this big lion and its claws all over us. It was "Westlife defy death" or something. The truth is that we were in Africa and we were due to go on safari, but we got so drunk in the bar the night before that we didn't make it. When you hear what could have happened, it's probably just as well!

Rob.McGibbon@virgin.net

WESTLIFE'S NEWS SCHEDULE

Newspapers

The Sun and the Mirror always seem to be in the cars when we are travelling around, so we dip into those mainly. Back in Ireland, it is always the Evening Herald and you can sometimes get that from the big newsagents in London.

Columnists

We take a look at Bizarre and the 3am girls and see what parties we have been missing and who is getting up to what. But we are pretty good at spotting what may not be true now because we have been on the inside for a while. Years ago we believed everything about celebrities, but not these days.

Magazines

S: I love cars and always buy Classic Car magazine.

K: I'm into Men's Health and fitness magazines.

N: I like football magazines.

M: I am having a house built at the moment, so I am into the interior design magazines.

Radio

The World Service and Radio 4 for news and Radio 3 for classical music… Of course we bloody don't! When we are in London it's either Heart or Magic.

Westlife's FANTASY FLYERS

What would be the Fantasy Headline of the story you would most like to read?

It would have to be "Cure Found For Cancer".

What would be the Fantasy Headline involving yourselves?

"Westlife Announce Amazing New Record Deal" — that would be the front page of The Sun in 2035. Or "Westlife Win Loads of Grammys"

What would be the headline you all most dread?

"Westlife Split Up". That would be terrible — but then again it won't be so bad because we've read it so many times!

Who would you most like to interview and what question would you ask that they had to answer truthfully?

Bono. We should probably ask him why he has always been so supportive of us. He is such a cool guy and he's pretty busy, so it's always been amazing to have his support.

What would you like the headline to be on your obituary?

Fuck off, Rob, we're too young to think about dying!

Westlife to appear at Dublin store

Westlife would like to join forces with Michael Jackson.

Speaking as guests on last night's TRL, the gigantic pop quartet – hey what the heck, let's still call them a boyband – confirmed tabloid rumours that they'd like to duet with Jacko. "We would absaloutely love to do a duet with Michael Jackson," said Kian – looking resplendent in green army jacket and rustic brown boots.

"He's a legend in our eyes no matter what anybody else says about him. People says he's fallen but he's an absaloute legend in our eyes. For us, we'd love to (work with him) but it's a typical Louis Walsh scenario, you know. He goes in there and chats about everybody, so it probably won't happen realistically. But you know, we never thought we'd get Diana Ross and we've got her on our new album, so you never know. Fingers crossed, we absolutely love him."

Meanwhile, Westlife look set to claim their 13th number one in the UK singles chart this Sunday with 'You Raise Me Up'.

10/24/05

Another Xmas chart topper?

It's Westlife vs. the Choirboys for the Christmas battle...and it's been 6 years since Westlife won the top spot (yeah, I know, that seems like an eternity ago). Bookmakers William Hill and Paddy Power make Westlife and Diana Ross favorites to top the chart with their duet, "When You Tell Me That You Love Me".

However, HMV, the UK music retailer thinks that the Choirboys will make it to #1 with their remake of Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. The Choirboys (ages 11-12) were discovered in their school choirs following a nationwide search across 50 UK cathedrals and churches. Described as a junior version of the Three Tenors, they landed a £500,000 deal with music giant Universal Classics. They are co-managed by former choirboy Aled Jones, who had a top five success in 1985 with Walking in the Air from The Snowman.

Westlife have not had a Christmas number one since I Have A Dream in 1999. But William Hill and Paddy Power still make them 9/4 favourites to score their 15th number one single. Virgin Megastores also make them favourites, though a spokesman said Westlife might be pipped to the post by Crazy Frog's version of Jingle Bells (not the Crazy Frogs again...sigh).

Other contenders this year include last year's X Factor runners-up G4, who have recorded a version of Johnny Mathis' When a Child is Born. Tony Christie may also be in the running with his cover of Slade's Merry Xmas Everyone.

This year's Christmas chart will be announced on 25 December for the first time in more than a decade. Band Aid 20 topped the rundown last year with the third version of charity single Do They Know It's Christmas.

Westlife to South Africa

Westlife, will be performing as special guests of Diana Ross at her exclusive live concert at the Bellville Velodrome on November 11.

The concert is one of many events happening in South Africa during the Altech South Africa Grand Prix Week, taking place in aid of some of the country's worthiest charities, including the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Unite Against Hunger and Rotary International.

Westlife will be performing songs from their new album, Face to Face, which will be released in South Africa on November 1. It is Ross's second visit to South Africa. She is the most prolific American female singer in British chart history, having sung lead vocals on at least one hit for 33 consecutive years. She has had more albums on the British chart X including 17 that reached the Top 10 X than any other American female artist.

Tickets for the concert cost from R150 and are available from Computicket.

Westlife will also be performing with Christina Aguilera, Diana Ross and violinist Lucia Micarelli at the Coca-Cola Dome, Northgate, on November 4. The Unite of the Stars gala banquet will be in support of four charities: the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Unite against Hunger, St Mary's hospital and the Topsy Foundation.

The concert, described by the presenters -- 94.7 Highveld Stereo and M-Net -- as the Rolls Royce of corporate functions, will see artists such as Danny K, Debra Cox, Nianell, Heinz Winckler and the Soweto Gospel Choir joining Westlife, Aguilera, Ross and Micarelli on stage.

The charity concert is one of many events taking place in South Africa during the Altech South Africa Grand Prix week.

Yet another Mark and Shane and Westlife story.

Westlife star Mark Feehily kept his sexuality a secret from his bandmates for five years because he feared a backlash from fans. As thousands of fans pledged their love for Mark and the group notched up 12 No.1s, the other members of the best-selling Irish boy band were finally told two years ago that he was gay.

When the 25-year-old singer finally plucked up the courage to share his secret in 2003, he warned them it could ruin Westlife if it ever became public. But when Mark finally decided to speak out about his love for partner Kevin McDaid just six weeks ago, the band told him they would support him all the way.

Shane revealed: "Mark is in a relationship and is happy in his life. "We've only known for a couple of years but the decision to go public was all his. It's his personal life so it was all down to him. But it's great that he has come out. In the last couple of months, he has been the happiest I've seen him and he's told me he's so happy. It's great he can live a normal life like every normal human being. It's a huge relief for him not to have to keep his sexuality secret any more. Speaking out is something that he has thought about for a while and he is so relieved that it's over. In some ways,he feels it was an anti-climax because people didn't really care that he was gay."

Kian added: "The most important thing for us was to make sure that Mark was happy and to make sure that everything that happened was in his best interests. We didn't care if it harmed the band because it is too important to us that Mark is happy and able to sort out his personal life. He rolled with the punches on it. There was a rumour that he was getting married, which was absolutely stupid and nasty. He told us what was going to happen when it hit the papers but it wasn't a big thing to us. He brushed that off and he is very happy now and that's what's important. The response from the fans has been absolutely amazing. They have been so supportive."

After seven years together, Westlife will return with a new album, Face To Face, on October 31, a week after the release of new single You Raise Me Up. The lads also plan to team up with Diana Ross on When You Tell Me That You Love Me as their Christmas single, but admit she didn't even join them in the studio.

Shane said: "It's a great song for our Christmas single. It's an amazing achievement to sing with someone of her stature. We recorded the song separately because she was in Los Angeles and isn't coming over until later this month."

Kian added: "That's the way any recording is done these days. Even Westlife have never been in the studio together.You're only in the studio as individuals. Things are so advanced with computers these days that Diana's recording was brought over on a hard drive.We added our vocals later."

Another absentee for the album sessions was Shane, who recorded his vocals for the album in advance of the other band members to allow him paternity leave. He and wife Gillian had a baby girl, Nicole, two months ago.

"Because my wife was having a baby, I recorded the album earlier in the year in Sweden and London," said Shane.

"Then the boys went in recording while I was at home changing nappies. It was different but the only way to do it because I needed to be at home with the baby. "It enabled me to get the recording out of the way and being a dad is just great.The birth was fantastic but Gillian had to have a C-section because there were a few complications. She was three weeks early. I went through all the emotions as I wondered what was going to happen. "I was like an eight-year-old child with no sweets because I was roaring and crying and I couldn't help myself "It was an amazing experience and I want to experience it a few more times. "Gillian and I are getting on really well and the baby Nicole is a lovely little thing. "It is all flying by really quickly but the last twomonths have been fantastic.

"She is sleeping through the night which is fantastic and she is a really good baby. She hardly ever cries, except when she is having a bath or if I'm changing her nappy. I domy share, but if I amup early in the morning Gillian takes that on board, which is great. But when I have a day off, it's my duty and I'll beup during the night doing the feeds. I sing the baby to sleep or put on some music for her. I'll sing whatever is on the radio at the time. One night she cried for half and hour so I put on some music and sang to her. She fell asleep onmy shoulder. It's an amazing feeling. Every dad will know it, but it's all new for me and I'm just glad she is healthy and happy. The two of them have been home for the last four days and I am finding it quite hard.

"I am missing them badly." Shane believes that the band have learned from Brian McFadden's decision to quit the group last year to spend more time with his family.

Brian, who later split from wife Kerry Katona and is dating Australian singer Delta Goodrem, has had mixed fortunes as a solo artist. Kian said "We spoke to Brian last week. He was in Los Angeles with Delta. We're still very good friends and very close.

"People have been unfair to Brian and that has affected his solo career. His music is very good and his album is quite strong. It's just unfortunate people disliked him and didn't buy his records because of his personal life rather than the music. "That's a really harsh situation to be in. I feel for the guy in that sense. Hopefully he can get his head down, write some great songs and come back and have a successful career."

Shane added: "It'll be harder to be away from Nicole but I can deal with it Brian found it hard, but he just didn't really want to be in Westlife any more or with the four other people as a band. For me, I don't think that'll happen. The boys have been so supportive and when I want to be at home to see her, they adjust. We all want to be happy and we have learned from what Brian did. We're mates and treat each other like family.We respect each other and that keepsthe band together. The success at the end of it is a big bonus"

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