Latest Westlife News

note: thanks to the following websites for providing some of the news items found on this site - Worldpop | MTVasia | dotMusic | The Sun | BBC | WENN | Agnes =)

If you want to share your positive concert experiences, feel free to send it to us at westlife@previewstock.com and we will post it on this site and share it with other Westlife fans. Please include the date/concert venue that you attended. Also send any Westlife news we might have missed to that address above!

The Westlife news archives can be found at the bottom of the page

Westlife in Sao Paulo, Brazil
Westlife in Mexico!

12/18/01

It's a busy week with the last exam of the year on Friday...so here's a partial bit of unedited Westlife news. The other partial bit will probably come some time around the weekend. But, should there be some BIG Westlife news, you can count on an immediate posting on this site. Also, check out our forum. I made two posts which I will turn into a site feature in the next week. The first is: Tell us what your top 5 Westlife news/headlines/stories of 2001 are. The second is: What do you think will be a Westlife headline in 2002. Make your own up and see if it comes true sometime next year!

Westlife star Bryan McFadden says that the current success of his band is down to girlfriend Kerry Katona. In an interview with a UK tabloid, McFadden explains that without the former Atomic Kitten, he would be on drugs. "Without her coming into my life, Westlife wouldn't be here as it is today," he explained. He said of the band's gruelling schedule: "It was changing me. We had been travelling so much and doing endless promotion and all the spirit in me was being sucked out. I wasn't happy anymore." "If Kerry hadn't come into my life I would have been on drugs by now. I was so unhappy that I would probably have needed something like that." Bryan says the couple, who are due to marry next month, are planning to have a second child sometime next year. He added: "Kerry put my feet back on the ground and brought back all the happiness. I'm high on life again because she is there with me."

Irish stars WESTLIFE have CRANBERRIES star DOLORES O'RIORDAN to thank for the successful performance in front of THE POPE. The fivesome met Pope JOHN PAUL II on Saturday (15DEC01) and were due to sing WORLD OF OUR OWN and LITTLE DRUMMER BOY at the Vatican, Rome, for him. But at rehearsals they found Little Drummer Boy was in a key they could not sing and it was too late to alter the orchestral arrangement. So Dolores, who was performing two solo numbers, stepped in to take up vocal duties on the verses, while the boys - SHANE FILAN, MARK FEEHILY, NICKY BYRNE, BRYAN McFADDEN and KIAN EGAN - sang the chorus. Feehily says, "Dolores came to our rescue and we'll be forever grateful."

LAST week's Smash Hits Poll Winners Party was a FIX, I can exclusively reveal. Westlife pin-up Shane Filan was due to win the Most Fanciable Male award. But, just 24 hours before the big bash, organisers rang his record company to say they were taking it back! They told RCA bosses they were withdrawing the gong and giving it to A1's Ben Adams—because the band hadn't won anything. Furious The awards were meant to be voted for by the magazine's readers, who could either fill in a form and post it to the publication or vote on the mag's website. But Westlife's furious manager Louis Walsh assured me: "It's a complete fix." He said: "One minute we're told that Shane had won the award, the next they change their minds. "It's outrageous. The awards have played an important part in the pop industry for years. "I've had a very good relationship with the magazine's editors in the past who helped launch my bands, Boyzone and, of course, Westlife. "The current editor of the magazine rang me two weeks ago to tell me what the boys had won. She even rang RCA's general manager just days before the show to repeat the awards that Westlife had won. "They were supposed to get four gongs—Best Album, Best Male Haircut, Best Band and Most Fanciable Male. "The producer of the awards even showed the band a clipboard on Saturday, during rehearsals, which had Shane as the winner of Most Fanciable Male. "Then, a few hours later, I was told they'd given it to Ben from A1 instead. I rang the editor — who refused to change it back. "What kind of awards are they? I thought the magazine's readers were supposed to vote for the winners." The ceremony — which was televised live from Wembley Arena in London on Channel 4 last Sunday afternoon — saw fans jerring when it was announced Ben had won. Tough Louis added: "It was so obvious to the fans that Shane was the outright winner. "I feel extremely sorry for A1 because they didn't win any awards. But this is a tough business. "It just goes to show you that Westlife are a far more popular band. "After all they've had nine No1 singles and two No1 albums."

12/11/01

Mark wants an award for his hair =)

It's easy to imagine how Mark would feel after Nicky won the award for best haircut at the Smash Hits awards...which was essentially a shaved look. Mark just can't help feeling a bit left out, because no one said a word when he had exactly the same hairstyle last year. In fact all I remember hearing was how no one liked it. Mark complained, "He only shaved his hair off and won the prize. I did the same thing last year and I didn't get awarded anything."

After the Smash Hits awards...

After Smash Hits awards, S Club 7, Westlife, a1, Kerry Katona and Blue were all together at a plush London nighterie for a bit of celebration. They all let their hairdown to a soundtrack of R&B and rap.

Westlife is in the money

Wealth could come in handy right about now. Westlife certainly are rolling around in it...and it will be very well deserved I might add. Each member of the group stands to make $52,000 (£40,000) each from every concert on their UK/Ireland tour next year (and there are 50 tour dates). In case you don't know, concerts are where singers make their big money...not the sales of CDs.

A close friend of the group said, "By the end of the tour they will have added $2.8 million (£2 million) to their bank accounts. They will be on an exhausting schedule, but the rewards are massive." Westlife have already begun rehearsals for the record-breaking tour. Kian said, "We don't make money from singles. It mainly comes from album sales and tour dates. They're what really count in terms of income for us. We don't discuss how much we've made so far, but we're well off for our age." You can be sure about that...I can just count the massive debt I'm accumulating every second by being in school at this moment in time. Maybe they could donate a few bucks to pay for my tuition :p

12/10/01

Westlife win Best Album at Smash Hits Awards

Westlife continue doing what they do best - singing and collecting awards =) Last night, the boys won the award for Best Album (World of Our Own) at the 2001 Smash Hits Poll Winners Awards. Over 11,000 screaming fans packed into the London Arena for the event and the evening was ended by Westlife, who sang their number one hit Queen Of My Heart. The group also won Best Band and Nicky won for best male haircut.

Best Single - Atomic Kitten (Whole Again)
Best Album - Westlife (World Of Our Own)
Best Newcomer - Blue
Most Fanciable Male - N from A1
Most Fanciable Female - Rachel from S Club 7
Best Music Video - Gorillaz (Clint Eastwood)
Best Live Act - Steps
Best Male Haircut - Nicky from Westlife
Best Female Haircut - Faye from Steps
Best RnB Act - Destiny's Child
Best Radio DJ - Sara Cox
Best Male Solo Artist - Shaggy
Best Female Solo Artist - Britney Spears
Smash Hits Hall of Fame - Steps
Best Band - Westlife
Best TV Programme - EastEnders
Best TV Actor - Jack Ryder

12/07/01

A big thanks to Agnes who continues to send me info on Westlife =) Also, another update may be up tonight. Depends on how much time I have. I got lots of interviews to post, courtesy of Agnes.

New Westlife game for 2002

PC and Sony Playstation owners can be the first to own "Westlife Fan-O-Mania", a game that will test fan knowledge of Westlife trivia. It will also have exclusive video footage of the band. The game is hosted by an animated character named Tara. The exclusive footage will only be unlocked when fans score full marks in a round. Heiko tom Felde of game manufacturer TDK Mediactive said, "This latest title on PC and PS1 will make Westlife the only band to have a number one single and interactive game in the charts."

Westlife on BBC

This will help clarify all the confusion in the forum about when Westlife will be on BBC...and what channel as well. The documentary on BBC, which will show among other things - the band fighting and swearing during a promotional tour. Shane told The Sun, "Everyone is worried it will be sending out the wrong message. But we wanted to show our fans we are just five normal guys."

Watch it on BBC Choice on Sunday 12/09 at 11pm. It will be shown on BBC2 at a later date (TBA).

12/04/01

9 year old records with Westlife

Declan Galbraith, from Rochester in Kent, England, has recorded a track with Westlife. He received the $650,000 record deal after being discovered at a local talent contest in his home town singing child star Aled Jones' "Walking in the Air". His bosses at the record label Telstar are hoping he can emulate Aled's success. Declan appears on a Christmas compilation with Westlife. He can't believes saying, "It's like a dream."

Faithful fans

Although the money maybe a bit misspent, Westlife definitely have 3 very loyal (and faithful) fans. You see, these 3 fans each placed bets of £50 ($70) that Westlife will have the Christmas #1 single. This is despite the fact that Westlife are not releasing a Christmas single. And the odds that Westlife will have the Christmas #1 are 50:1. The bets were placed with bookmakers William Hill in London's Soho area this week. The current favorites for the Christmas #1 are Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman with their duet, "Somethin' Stupid" while The Tweenies are second favourites at 5/2 with the "Hermes House Band" and their cover of Olivia Newton John's "Country Roads" at 6/1.

12/02/01

Watch Westlife at TOTP [thanks to BBC]

Westlife and Mariah - "Never Too Far"

Westlife wins best pop act

Vote for Westlife

You can vote for the best international pop act to be awarded at the 2002 MTV Asia Music Awards. Westlife are up against BSB, M2M, N Sync and Destiny's Child. BSB are currently beating Westlife at 47.4% vs 44.9%. Help Westlife catch up by voting here!

Win a Westlife platinum signed CD

BBC is offering you a chance to win a signed, personalised Westlife Platinum Disc! The quiz is open to UK residents only. Overseas players are not eligible. If you are under the age of 16, you must obtain permission from your parent/guardian before entering. Deadline for receiving entries is 7.30pm on Tuesday 18th December 2001. Results will be announced on 20th December 2001. click here to enter

12/01/01

Westlife win best pop act at 1st ever TOTP Award

Congrats to Westlife as they chalk up another award - the highest award offered at TOTP. Samantha Mumba presented the "Top Pop award" to Westlife. She commented, "They're brilliant. I hadn't seen them for ages. Samantha and Westlife are both managed by Louis Walsh. Westlife arrived at the ceremony in dark suits and shirts.

Nicky, Kian, Mark, Shane and Bryan were buzzing with excitement when they came backstage to show off their gongs - which looked like Jim'll Fix It badges. Kian said, "We are very, very happy. We were up against some high class competition and we're very pleased to have won." Nicky was delighted to have beaten Britney, Kylie to the honor. He said, "We've been overlooked recently." He also said, We're only been together for three years. The Backstreet Boys have been together for nine and 'N Sync for seven - we're not going anywhere yet." Bryan added, "It is fantastic to win a Top of The Pops award and this being the first ever makes it even more special."

Westlife tape tribute to Ant and Dec

Ant and Dec, the live hosts of CD:UK and SMTV, said their goodbyes as they hosted their last ever CD:UK. They have held their jobs for the past 3 1/2 years. They looked especially stunned when recorded tributes were played from Westlife , David Beckham, Sir Paul McCartney, Kylie Minogue, and U2. Asked by Frank Skinner what was so great about SMTV and CD:UK, Dec said: "It's three hours of live TV really just messing about, great bands in the studio having a lot of fun. It's been like that for three and a half years." Westlife certainly made numerous appearances on both shows.

Westlife to vote on an U.S. attempt

[note: I would read all stories about Westlife and the U.S. with a grain of salt. Needless to say, I think they should make another attempt!!! Don't leave us hanging here.] Westlife are set to make a major decision on whether they will once again try and conquer the U.S. The group cannot agree on whether they should spend 6 months of next year in this country...so they plan on putting it to a vote. Bryan and Shane feel that it's a waste of time trying to crack the market, but Nicky things they should give it another shot. Whatever happens, the band don't intend to fall out over the decision they make. Bryan said, "Personally, I don't ever want to see America again. The last time we were over there it took up so much time, and we didn't get anywhere. We do brilliantly around Europe and I think we should concentrate on that."

Westlife to play at The Vatican

Westlife will be playing for the Pope on December 15. Shane was quoted as saying, "My parents are very happy.”

A prepaid westlife.com option

The pre-paid card is set to go on sale next week (Dec 3) at Virgin Megastore next week for for £14.99 and gives fans a year's access to the site. A personal identification number (PIN) on the back of the card is used as a password to access the site. BMG recently formed the Electronic Transaction Corporation (ETC) to help support the net-based commerce system (and to support the pre-paid cards).

Westlife in Germany

Kirsten reports that Westlife is performing at The Dome in Kiel (Germany) on December 1. Mariah Carey, Enrique Iglesias, S Club7 and many more

Westlife makes record breaking performance in Dublin

[from mcd.ie] Westlife have added 2 more concert dates to their run of performances to Dublin (June 17 and 18, 2002). That brings their # of concerts to a record breaking 13. The first 11 concerts are already sold out. With 13 concerts, Westlife will be performing to over 80,000 fans. Tickets are priced £27.50 (including booking fee). Previous record holders were Garth Brooks with 8 concerts, Boyzone at 9 and Westlife with 11 last year. Bryan said, "There is nothing to beat the feeling you get when you're up on stage every night in front of a great crowd. It really is a brilliant buzz."

Cliff "attacks" Steps and Westlife

It seems like it's the time of year for artists to attack fellow artists. Cliff Richard is the latest in the line as he has launched an attack on Westlife and the Steps. He thinks they will never achieve longevity because they can't write their own songs [need I point out that Celine Dion doesn't write her own songs]. Cliff also says that today's true pop fans should buy his music, rather than albums by the young pretenders [ah yes, sad attempts at self-promotion]. Cliff said, "Steps, Westlife and all these other bands never do any originals as far as I can see. All they do is covers. At least I have had a whole career of performing original material and will have more original songs in the future. If people like good pop and rock music they should be buying my music." Cliff, at age 61, is second only to Elvis Presley and The Beatles in having the most number of British number one hit singles. I'm sure Westlife are gunning for his position.

Westlife are gay friendly

Kian insists that Westlife are gay friendly and welcome their legion of homosexual fans. Kian said, "It really doesn't make a difference. Fans are fans and people are people. I've met some gay guys who I wouldn't want to hang around with and I've met loads who are sound." Nicky said, "I think gay guys get off on the fun of it and that's how they get into it. We've done Gay at the Astoria in London and it's great to see a crowd of blokes getting into it because obviously for us it's usually young girls. To be honest, if the audience is loving what you do, that's the best bit."

Westlife monthly news archives

December 2001 (1)
November 2001 (2)
November 2001 (1)
October 2001 (2)
October 2001 (1)
September 2001 (2)
September 2001 (1)
August 2001
July 2001
June 2001
May 2001
April 2001
March 2001
February 2001
January 2001
August 2000