NEWS & UPDATES ~ APRIL 2006

Kian & Jodi Got Engaged? - 30 April 2006

Nothing is official but fans who were at the Westlife concert in Birmingham yesterday said that Kian thanked his future parents in law and when his mum appeared on stage with a birthday cake for him he got really emotional and was saying how much he loves Jodi. Many people say they are engaged. Nothing is confirmed so we’ll just have to wait for something official. If it’s true I’m so happy for the two of them and wish them all the best in their relationship!

Villy

New Fanpictures - 30 April 2006

Thanx Aimmie & Emmiz for letting me use your Kian, Mark, Nicky, Kevin pictures from Manchester! J

Kian:

Mark:

Nicky:

Kevin:

Credit/Source: Aimmie / Emmiz

Part Of Louis Walsh’s Interview In Evening Herald - 30 April 2006

© Thanx to Jenny for typing it up

Louis Walsh on him going in America…

We needed to discuss new songs for the next Westlife album, a plan for breaking Shayne Ward outside of England and the upcoming celeb X Factor show.

I’ve brought over some songs for Simon from several Irish songwriters, including ones by Brendan Graham and Jimmy McCarthy.

We’ll b picking songs for the next Westlife album, which will be their eighth. It’s hard to believe...

Credit/Source: Jenny / Evening Herald

Plenty Of Life Still Out West - 30 April 2006

Westlife, the quiet superstars of the mainstream UK pop music scene, return to Birmingham this weekend as part of a nationwide tour to showcase their latest album.

Shane, Kian, Nicky and Mark have dominated the pop scene for seven years and new album Face To Face features all the hallmarks of that reign, a collection of classic songs and future standards.

It is Westlife's first collection of new songs since Turnaround topped the charts in 2003, and fans will find the Irish chart-toppers doing what they do best.

Shane, aged 26, said: "I think this album shows that Westlife are back in a big way. It's got the best material we've ever released."

Bandmate Nicky, 27, added: "At the time Turnaround seemed like one of our best albums - but this one feels even better."

The seventh album features a familiar blend of big ballads and mid-tempo tunes, balanced by the occasional up-tempo song.

Theirs is a straightforward formula that has been winning hearts and ears since the dawn of popular music, from the doo-wop days of The Platters, through the timeless harmonies of the Drifters and The Coasters, to the slick modern sounds of Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC, Take That and Boyzone.

Following a four-month holiday - the longest break of their career - the boys have returned to action sounding stronger than ever.

Nicky, who spent much of his summer getting in shape in the gym, said: "I think the break did us good.

"We still look at ourselves as the luckiest group in the world, but when you do something so long and so frequently, you're bound to need time to recharge your batteries."

The group has never sounded in better voice and rarely has there been a better choice of material on which to show it.

Shane, who recently became a father for the first time, said: "We know we have to raise the bar each time we make an album and be bigger and better."

Westlife have sold six multi-platinum albums in the UK alone and 34 million albums worldwide.

The boys have racked up a collection of Brit Awards, an MTV Award and achieved 12 UK Number 1's.

They recorded the new album in Ireland, Sweden and London last summer and will perform tracks from it at Birmingham NEC Arena tomorrow and Sunday.

Nicky said he and the boys were looking forward to being back in the recording studio and on the road.

"We had nearly four months off and it felt like three years.

"The break made us realise how much we wanted to start work again. At the end of it I couldn't wait to get back into the studio."

Credit/Source: www.expressandstar.com

New Review - 29 April 2006

Go to the Tours Page and then News/Reviews to read a new review from Sheffield’s concerts.

Villy

Happy 26^th Birthday To Kian!! - 29 April 2006

Yaa, it’s Kian’s 26^th birthday today!! I’d like you wish him Happy Birthdayyy!! I hope he will have a great one and he will enjoy it with people he loves! J

Villy

My Life In Music - 29 April 2006

Friday 5th May on VH1 at 13:30

Get into a stars head and see what they hear...

Music is an international language and no matter what you do in life, you just can’t get away from it. From politicians to sporting heroes, from pop stars to the glitterati, we all listen to music.

My Life In Music speaks to stars from all walks of life about what they were listening to when they were growing up, to what they are listening to now. Who do our sporting heroes listen to when they’re getting psyched up for a game? Which CDs are currently in their cars, are they influenced by their famous friend’s tastes or do they influence them.

We want to know what our guests were listening to as kids through to what song they played first at their wedding, even through to what song would they have playing at their funeral. All of our stars explain what a particular song means to them at a particular moment in time and why.

Look out for the likes of Jodie Kidd, Jeremy Edwards, Anthony Costa, Lee Ryan, Craig David, Fran Cosgrove, Katie Melua, Ed Byrne, Darren Gough, Simon Webbe, Mark Freehily, Debra Stephenson, Hilary Duff, Richard Curtis and Jenny Frost.

Join us as we get inside their heads and experience a taste of their journey through life and the music that has helped get them there.

My Life In Music is on it’s way to VH1 shortly, so make sure you keep an eye on our schedules for it’s distinguished arrival.

Credit/Source: www.mtv.co.uk

Kerry’s New Mark And Kevin Pictures In Nottingham - 28 April 2006

Thanx once again Kerry hun J

Kerry & Mark:

Mark & Kevin:

Credit/Source: Kerry

Danger Obsessed Fans Ahead - 28 April 2006

© Thanx Anglea for typing it all up and scaning the pic J

WESTLIFE WARN TAKE THAT PALS: THEY'RE OUT THERE

ONE of the stars of the world's most successful boyband, Westlife, had a warning for obsessed fans last night: Get a life.

This week the Scottish Sun revealed the die-hard Take That fans who are addicted to following the reborn band.

But as Scotland braced itself for Take That mania this weekend, Westlife's Kian Egan had a gentle warning for his OWN fans.

He said: "I'm not too keen on the ones who have got so fanatical they live their lives for Westlife. that's quite dangerous for them.

"They should come and see the concert once or twice if they are big fans and spend their money on other things - go and have a little holiday or go to a nightclub and pull a bloke.

"I could pick out 20 or 30 faces in the first four rows of any Westlife concert that have been to every one of our gigs.

"I know their names. I chat to a lot of them.

Struggle

"We appreciate their support but they shouldn't spend their money on coming to see us all the time.

"They are not 16 or 17 years of age, they are mid-twenties and early thirties. You hope they'll grow out of it."

Unlike most men, Kian, 25, has no hesitation in admitting he is a huge Take That fan - and has bought tickets to see them in London next month.

He said: "Me and the other Westlife boys will be there. We are all fans."

While Take That’'s tour dates sold out instantly, Kian does not think the band should reform for good.

He said: "They might struggle if they record an album or go on another tour - that would be the telling part."

For the first time Kian has told how the group survived bandmate Mark Feehily's shock decision to reveal he is gay. Mark came out last August and it was seen as a huge gamble for the band.

But it paid off and Kian says the change in Mark, 25, is astonishing.

His confession has only made him MORE popular with female fans.

He said: "Mark is a much happier person - whether he's on stage or at home. In a way it's no different than it was last year for Mark because he's got a really big following and the girls that loved him still love him."

Weslife have gone from strength to strength since Brian McFadden quit two years ago.

Last October they scored their biggest hit with You Raise Me Up, which sold more copies than the last Band Aid single in its first week.

It was their 13th no1 and made them the most successful chart act in the UK since The Beatles.

Idols

Their latest album Face To Face, which topped the charts here in November, has also made No1 in Australia - making them a household name in most countries in the world.

All the boys are settled in relationships - so obsessed fans don't have much hope of getting lucky with their idols.

Shane Filan is married to long-term sweetheart Gillian Walsh, while Mark is fully committed to boyfriend Kevin McDaid.

And Nicky Byrne married Irish PM Bertie Ahern's daughter Georgina in 2003. Kian plans to tie the knot at the end of the year with pretty fiancée, former Hollyoaks actress Jodi Albert, 22.

Their relationship has had its ups and downs and the pair even split for a few months - then realised they were unhappy being apart. And Kian says they have found the perfect balance now between work and being together.

He said: "We try to make time to see each other even when I'm on tour and she's working.

"We make sure we don't go too long without seeing each other. We seem to have a good grasp on things and have it pretty sown up."

And Kian admitted he misses his former bandmate Brian. But he said: "He is in America writing songs for a new album and he seems very happy. And in life that's all that's important."

Westlife's Scottish dates are almost sold out, but there's a few seats left. they play Glasgow's SECC on May 5, 6 and & and Aberdeen's AECC on May 9 and 10.

Credit/Source: Angela / The Scottish Sun

Georgina In VIP Magazine - 28 April 2006

© Thanx Michelle for scanning the pictures J

With Nicky

Credit/Source: Michelle / VIP Magazine

Westlife Set Arena High - 27 April 2006

Adam Moss



WESTLIFE have racked up another amazing career record - as the most popular act in the glittering history of the M.E.N. Arena.

The group's two sell-out performances over the weekend took sales for their shows at the Manchester venue past the 250,000 mark - the first act to do so since the Arena opened in 1996.

Before going on stage on Saturday night, Shane, Nicky, Mark and Kian were presented with specially commissioned `Platinum Tickets' to mark the achievement.

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Arena general manager John Knight said: "It is remarkable to think that approximately one in every 20 tickets sold at the arena over the past five years has been for Westlife.

"The boys seemed genuinely pleased by this milestone, and asked if Take That would beat it after their concerts here next month.

"I assured them that their record of 22 shows and over 250,000 ticket sales was safe for some time yet."

Shane told the 14,000 fans about the honour. He said: "We love coming to Manchester and tonight has been a special night because we have been given an award.

Possible

"I would like to thank all of you for making it possible."

The Irish boyband's record will be made all the sweeter by the fact that they pipped their former manager - Ronan Keating, who performed 14 times at the Arena with Boyzone and fives times as a solo artist - playing to 242,000 fans.

It was Ronan who gave Westlife their first big break of course - the band supported Boyzone at one of their MEN Arena dates and, in those days, went by the name `Westside'.

Take That are likely to claim third spot in the M.E.N. Arena popularity stakes. They have already recorded 143,000 sales and stand to add another 90,000 with their six sell-out shows later this month.

Credit/Source: www.manchesteronline.co.uk

Westlife Are Record Breakers At Nottingham Arenam - 27 April 2006

Not content with just making records – Westlife are now breaking them at Nottingham Arena.

Nicky, Kian, Shane and Mark have appeared at our venue more times than any other artist.

The Irish lads have already taken to our stage eight times since February 2001 and their two dates here on April 24th and 25th take that number into double figures – reaching the number ten milestone.

Westlife will be wowing audiences again with their passionate vocals and memorable lyrics next month. They’ll be performing songs from their latest number one album ‘Face to Face’ and of course their greatest hits.

They really are one of the most successful boy bands around. They’ve notched up 14 number ones and performed to over four million fans making them the biggest selling arena tour act ever.

Filan Gets Prop Life - 26 April 2006

Byline: By NICOLA TALLANT

TWO homes belonging to Westlife's Shane Filan are to get a makeover on RTE's Showhouse, it was revealed yesterday.

The singer's properties in Dromahair, Co Leitrim, will be redesigned by Ann Tuohy and Lee O'Neill.

Shane, 26, and his brother Finbarr formed Shafin Developments Limited in 2004 and built 100 houses in the village last year.

The star set up the business so he has an alternative to the music industry when he calls it a day with Westlife.

Shane is currently living in his own dream home at Carraroe, Co Sligo, with wife Gillian and their nine-month-old daughter Nicole.

Showhouse will be screened on Thursday May 4 on RTE1.

Credit/Source: The Irish Mirror

New Mark And Nicky Fanpictures - 26 April 2006

Thanx Lorenzo for letting me use your pictures of the lads in Manchester J

Credit/Source: Lorenzo

Living The Highlife - 26 April 2006

A Westlife gig at the Metro Radio Arena seems to have an annual event. Sam Wonfor talks to Kian Egan about the band’s enduring appeal.

When Boyzone, the quintessential Irish pop quintet parted in 2000, you would have been forgiven for dismissing Westlife – basically Boyzone mark II – as nothing more than an inoffensive stopgap.

Here we have another young, chirpy Irish fivesome, sharing the same management as Boyzone, who had suddenly arrived to mop up the tears (and, presumably, the cash) of the heartbroken teenage fans… but surely it would never last?

Fast forward to 2006 and it’s a case of Boyzone who?

With a record braking 13 chart-topping singles and seven albums which have followed in suit, it’s safe to say that Westlife rose from the ashes of Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Mickey Graham, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch – and promptly (and metaphorically, it should be pointed out) waddled all over them.

Eight years since they became an ensemble, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne are still going strong – Flying Without Wings if you will – despite the departure of fifth wheel, Bryan McFadden, who left to go solo in 2004.

Since their debut single (and first number one) Swear It Again in 1999 and their last chart-topper You Raise Me Up at the back end of last year, the boys have amassed two Brit Awards and four Record Of The Year accolades for Flying Without Wings, My Love, Mandy and You Raise Me Up.

That’s saying nothing of the multi-platinum album sales – five original albums, one greatest hits and a Rat Pack-style tribute, they’ve all enjoyed all over the world.

So just what is it about the four lads from the Emerald Isle?

The driving force behind their longevity, according to 25-year-old band member, Kian, is a common genuine affection for their work.

I think a huge part of it is the fact that we still love what we do which gives us all such enthusiasm for the next album, the next tour, the next challenge,” he says.

We, as a band, know what we do best and we stick to it. And we have always had such an amazing fanbase which is so important.”

And it seems there is no better way to get up close and personal with their fans than by getting out on the road – a regular pastime which Kian says still provides as many butterflies as ever.

“Absolutely”, he affirms, “Getting out on the road is what we love to do. It’s really important for us to give the fans a good show. The tour is going very well so far and we have had great feedback, so we are all really pleased.”

It seems the trappings of growing up have not had an adverse affect on the band’s touring schedule.

All four remaining members of the band have successfully managed to juggle their careers and private lives.

Nicky married childhood sweetheart (and daughter of the Irish prime Minister) Georgina Ahern in 2003, Shane married Kian’s cousin, Gillian Walsh, the same year and became a dad to Nicole in 2005, Kian himself has a long-term other half – Hollyoaks actress and ex-girl band member, Jodi Albert and last summer Mark publicly came out of the closet and announced his relationship with Kevin McDaid of former boyband V.- who indecently is from north Tyneside.

However, despite their relationships, the boys aren’t looking to move on from Westlife anytime soon.

“We will be doing this for as long as the fans demand it of us,” promises keen surfer, Kian.

“We are very lucky to be doing something that we love and we’d be crazy to give that up anytime soon. We’re focusing on the tour at the moment but will be back with new music very soon – watch this space.” he adds.

So for now, all there is left to do is look forward to Westlife’s double date at Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena – typically a top notch and thoroughly polished show.

“Newcastle always has a really good crowd,” says Kian. “We always get a great crowd reaction so we make sure that we come there on every tour.”

Look out for the 2007 dates soon.

Credit/Source: Journal Culture Magazine

The Write Stuff - 26 April 2006

Now that we're handwriting-analysis experts after our fine work with the Sugababes, we're turning our attention to the penmanship of Westlife. Allow us to be frank as we delve in with more amazing (aka totally made up) personality decoding...

Under the magnifying glass this week: WESTLIFE (click on the banners to see the writing)

The first thing we noticed about Shane's handwriting was...well, that there wasn't an awful lot of it. This could be 'cos he's wise to our game and didn't want to give us much to work with. It could also be that he fears our mighty powers of insight? Or it could just be that Kian had just farted and Shane didn't want to hang about. Who can tell...

Shane's actual writing slopes to the right, which is the most common slant for handwriting to take. As a general rule, it means he was in a hurry when he wrote it, and perhaps feeling a bit impatient. Probably anxious to get back to his multi-millionaire lifestyle and stop answering random questionnaires. The left-hand margin of his writing is very wide, which suggests that he's proud and keeps other people at arm's length. However, it's highly likely he was like this even before he met Diana Ross...

Shane makes his capital letters tall, which means he sees himself as towering over other people. Interesting, since according to our records, he's actually the shortest member of the group. He also leaves big gaps between the words, suggesting that he thinks what he's got to say is very important. And...well, given the amount of records they've sold, it would seem that a lot of people agree with him there.

Ah, this is more like it! Mark clearly has nothing to hide from the all-seeing Pops eye, because he wrote LOADS. Mark's writing slopes to the left, but don't judge him! It just means he's emotionally reserved. He needs to be true to himself at all times, and doesn't take kindly to being pushed into things. God knows what they did to get him to agree to that swing album. Ick!

Mark applies a lot of pressure to his handwriting, which signals commitment and a desire to see a project through to completion. It's good that somebody feels that way, mentioning no names MR BRYAN MCFADDEN. The upper zone of Mark's writing is clear and defined, which means that he's an imaginative person. So we should probably assume that he's not the one who chooses which songs they cover (or who writes the lyrics!).

Ah, space. It's the final frontier, y'know. Mark likes a lot of space - he leaves clear spaces between his lines and between the individual words, which means that he prefers not to be crowded. Right, so THAT'S why each Westlifer has his own special comfy stool...

Interestingly, Nicky's the first popstar we've seen so far who writes in a more-or-less straight line, which makes him the kind of chap who sets himself specific goals and heads unyieldingly towards them. He was also the first of our survey group to write entirely in capitals - although he wrote bigger capitals at the start of his sentences, natch. This suggests he wants to be heard clearly and fears being misunderstood. Well, either that or he's worried that everybody's too busy wondering what Shane's got to say that's so important.

Nicky makes a lot of tall strokes in the upper zone of his writing, which suggests ambition. Maybe he has it in him to break a few more records in his career (the Guinness book kind, silly, not the vinyl kind, and certainly not the Westlife variety)? Either that or he's planning on global domination after he's finished with Westlife. Judging by the right-sloping scrawl, he's certainly not going to hang around on his way there. Gulp!

Nicky's letters are also slightly unfinished - like an unravelled ball of wool - which means that he's mentally alert, but hard to pin down and slightly impatient. It also implies that he's got a logical mind, good at piecing information together and making sense of it. You can't be too careful when you're in Westlife.

Kian joins Mark on the quiet side of the band: even his tall letters (like h and d) are drawn quite small, suggesting that he doesn't have any ideas above his station - he's quite happy with his lot in life. You know, the stinking rich pop star with beautiful girlfriend lot. He does have one thing in common with Shane though; You could drive a Westlife tourbus between his words. This means either supreme confidence or blind terror, more or less. We reckon Kian is a thoughtful chap, and those gaps represent the pauses he'd leave between the words when talking. So, don't get talking to him at parties!

Kian's lower parts are quite conflicted (his writing, pervs); Some have vertical "tails", which suggest impatience, while others curl into large loops with heavy pressure on the pen, suggesting ambition and a desire to make money. What, still? Well, that'd explain the new five album deal, we suppose.

His arched letters tend to sag downwards (known as a "garland") which means that he likes to be helpful and involved. One final interesting point: Kian's right-hand margins are very wide indeed, which indicates a fear of the unknown. So don't go counting on that solo career just yet, eh?

OVERALL REPORT
Not bad - but a more mixed up bunch of fellas you couldn't possible hope to meet. But give them a break, they are in Westlife after all.

Credit/Source: www.bbc.co.uk/totp

Win Westlife And Simply Red Tickets - 26 April 2006

Summer Nights concerts at Harewood House

CHART toppers Westlife and Simply Red will entertain fans with outdoor Summer Nights concerts at Harewood House, near Leeds. And we have 10 tickets to give away to EACH must see event. Westlife, with hits including Flying Without Wings, Uptown Girl, Queen Of My Heart and World Of Our Own, play there on Saturday, July 1, at 8pm.

Enter the competition here

Credit/Source: www.sheffieldtoday.net

New Affiliate - 26 April 2006

Visit Col’s site Secret Luvin J

Villy

Inka’s Meeting Pictures - 25 April 2006

Thank you Inka for letting me use your meeting pictures in Nottingham J

Credit/Source: Inka

New Pictures From Fans - 24 April 2006

Thanx so much Aine and Kerry for letting me use your meeting pictures from Belfast / Dublin / Manchester J

Aine’s Kian ( and doggy Prince), Jodi, Mark & Kevin, Nicky (and his brother Adam), Shane, Georgina Pictures from Belfast:

Kerry’s Mark and Kevin Pictures from Dublin and Manchester:

Credit/Source: Aine / Kerry

X Factor Celebs To Get £25K - 24 April 2006

STARS who appear on Celebrity X Factor will be paid £25,000 - with an extra £5,000 for every night they survive.

The singing celebs could pocket more than £75,000 if they go the distance on the ITV1 show, which kicks off next month.

Judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne will each be paid a one-off fee of £200,000.

A TV insider revealed: "There's a very attractive incentive to do well.

"It's not a bad pay cheque for just a few days work - and for those who want to launch a pop career, it's the perfect platform."

Hollyoaks star Jodi Albert has already signed up while diet guru Gillian McKeith and Jade Goody are also tipped to appear.

The series will go head to head with Channel 4's Big Brother in the ratings.

Credit/Source: www.mirror.co.uk

New Affiliate - 24 April 2006

I added a new affiliate Shane Filan.NL

Thanx to Carla

Villy

Blessed Life - 23 April 2006

© Typed and Scanned by Angela

Two of the scans are Tour Spoilers so I added a “Paper Scans” section on the Tours Page . Go there to see them J

DESPITE PASSING THEIR 'SELL BY DATE' IRELAND'S FAB FOUR ARE HOTTER THAN EVER

THE 'Boyband' label doesn't seem to fit Westlife these days.

The teenyboppers are all grown up. They are opinionated. Two are married. Shane is a dad.

Add to that 34 million album sales, six multi-platinum albums, 13 number ones and a stack of awards, and it's hard to believe it's just seven years since they were the fresh-faced new boyband on the block.

Even their mentor Louis Walsh only gives boy bands a five year life-span.

But somehow Westlife continue to rewrite the rules. Every other boyband that went before them, from Five to NSYNC, Boyzone to Take That, danced one too many a step past their peak once members hit the 24-year mark.

There's no denying that this is 1 of the most successful bands ever, despite critics putting every year down as their last.

The death knell was sounded again when the famous five became the fab four with the departure of Brian McFadden. But after yet another sell-out run at the Point, the Westlife bandwagon shown no signs of running out of steam.

So what is it that has seen them continue to dominate the charts? Is it the safe choice of music, the boys themselves or the magical Midas touch of Louis Walsh?

It's half six, three hours before stage time o the final night of their latest sellout run in Dublin's Point. Outside, minders mingle with hundreds of teenage girls, dressed to kill and hoping for a glimpse of their heroes.

Ever the professionals, Westlife have already been inside the venue for hours. Nicky bounds into the green room. The life and soul of the band, he is the giddy one out of the bunch. At 27 he acts more like 17.

So what's the secret to all that success?

"No one can make you sing what you don't want to sing. Yeah, we stick to songs that have done well, we are not ashamed to say it, but you make it your own and we sing it the way we want to sing it," he says.

"We don't have 100 per cent control in the band because we don't write the material, but we have 95 per cent control of things. The touring is what we get more involved in - the clothes and what goes on on-stage.

Fun Guy

"We tried writing songs over the years, I think when Mark has more time he will have bands come and record his music. Unfortunately though, we are not John Lennon," he laughs. "If we were, we would be ten times richer than we are, which is a shame, but we are not ashamed to say it."

Nicky is a fun guy who shines with modesty. Hard to believe for someone on Ireland's most famous boyband, not to mention being also married to the Taoiseach's daughter.

"Because you are in a boyband, and because we are in a pop band as such, people have preconceptions of what you are like. We are just normal lads, normal 26 and 27-year old lads," he says.

"Georgina was born into the public eye, and then she married me, but she keeps out of it. She is not in the public eye the way she sees it, and she lives her life the way she lives it, out of the public eye."

Nicky also puts the continued success of Westlife down to lack of bitching and backstabbing in the camp.

"We are great friends and we have a laugh on the road - and we are honest with each other," he explains.

"In the pop industry there's a lot of back stabbing, and a lot of slyness that goes on. Once that doesn't exist between the four of us, then we can go on, and we will continue to last.

"I think U2 are the heroes of that, they are who we look up to. There are no secrets with them, there is no one getting secret deals in the background, which can happen - look at Take That and Blue.

"We always said from day one that if there's solo deals just say it out, don't keep it quiet. We have nothing to hide."

Speaking of solo deals, was it a shock when Brian McFadden chose to ruthlessly pursue his own career shortly after quitting the band?

"Three weeks before the opening show he came and said 'I don't want to do this anymore'," says Nicky, recalling the bombshell that dropped as they prepared for their last world tour.

"We tried to talk him out of it for three or four days but, to be honest, we couldn't waste any more time on it. We said 'if you want to go, go now, we don't want to make this a 'Brian McFadden Farewell Tour'. Not only that, but we could have fallen out with him on tour.

Solo career

"At the time when he left he said he wanted to spend time with his family, and then for a solo career to come so soon afterwards it shocked us, of course it did, but we never fell out with him over it.

"When all the press started writing then about his personal life I said 'Brian, just go away, bury your head in the sand'. And when all the magazines were printing 'The Real Story', I advised him to let the press die down. I did feel really sorry for him - he is a good kid, and very talented."

I'm eager to see Kian and Mark when they appear in the green room. I want to offer my congratulations as both have recently been engaged, according to reports.

Mark (25) is the quietest Westlifer and is much taller than I imagined - a little like a gentle giant. But the rumours that he is to marry his boyfriend are false he assures me.

"There is no truth in that whatsoever, I am still just having fun," he confides. "It has been such a happy year for us, probably the best yet."

Kian (25) is in the green room with his new Maltese puppy when I meet him. The dog, it seems, is man's best friend while he's on tour.

"I haven't seen my girlfriend [Jodi Albert of Hollyoaks fame] in two weeks," he sighs "Sometimes we see each other every day for three weeks, it is hard but we are with each other now for three years so we are well used to it."

So surely he is engaged?

"Despite what you read, no, I am not engaged, not yet, apart from whatever everyone reads in the papers," he reveals. "I don't think we have much intensions of being engaged for another few years, we are both so busy. I think we would prefer to wait and relax till the time is right to enjoy being married."

Listening to the boys talk about the last 12 months, you feel their seventh year has been their best yet.

Shane proudly tells me: "It's been a great year for us, we have stepped up our show - it's more energetic and a bit raunchier! It's a great show to watch and Louis thinks it's the best so far - and he would point out the worst.

"The album 'Face to Face' is the biggest ever and 'You Raise Me Up' is our biggest single ever worldwide.

"At the time we were very nervous when Brian left - we knew we had four months touring ahead of us. But the rest of us wanted to continue on. We worked on 'The Rat Pack' album and this album that was so successful. Luckily, we had a good year.

"But every year there is always that question, 'what if'?'. What if the album does bad? Thank God that hasn't happened. We are enjoying it more than we ever did. We have our partners, our houses, and we are more relaxed in our life.

"My baby Nicole gives me another thing to live for, another thing to be happy for and be proud of. We want to be here in five years time. We have broken the rules every year - people kept saying that this would be our last year every year and here we still are, we keep breaking the rules."

Maybe it's down to their loyal fanbase, some of who get a little too fanatical, according to Shane.

Mad things

"Fans send us mad things at signings. Mark got a turnip once in a box with a ribbon tied round it. What was that about?" he laughs.

"Nicky got weighing scales - he isn’t fat whatsoever! We get mad stuff. We got used tampons once at a signing in Argentina."

Westlife are also blessed with the support of the dynamic duo of the pop world, Louis Walsh and Simon Cowell.

"Simon isn't scary at all, but he is a shrewd businessman," says Shane. "He plays a good role on American Idol and we knew him before he was portrayed as this scary person. It's good to have people like him around, you need that. You need to have honest people as opposed to 'yes' people around.

Walsh and Cowell also carved out Westlife's latest record deal, said to be worth 5 million Euro to each of them.

Credit/Source: Angela / Sunday World

Are You A Westlife Superfan? - 22 April 2006

That's why you're here, right? Well, if you think you've got what it takes to cut it on TV and appear with Westlife themselves, we want to hear from you!!

We're working with a TV production company to look for a Westlife superfan to do all the above. To take part in this cool competition, simply email us at the link below and tell us why you reckon you're the boys' biggest fan in the world. But you've got to be quick - you've only got until 11.30pm on Sunday night (23rd April) and please only enter if are able to get to Birmingham on the 29th April.

Please put 'I love Westlife because...” in the subject field and the reason why you're such a massive fan in the email and send off your entry to musicinfo@sonybmg.com. Good luck y'hear!

Credit/Source: www.westlife.com

Showbiz Rich List - 22 April 2006

EXCLUSIVE We reveal the REAL big entertainment earners

By Cameron Robertson

Rock/pop Bands Annual income from records, tours etc

Coldplay £37m

U2 £35m

The Rolling Stones £28m

Queen £18m

Pink Floyd £15m

Oasis £9m

Depeche Mode £7m

Jamiroquai £4.5m

Westlife £4m

Bee Gees £2.5m

Credit/Source: www.mirror.co.uk

Westlife Star’s Company In €52,000 Loss - 22 April 2006

By Ian Guider

A PROPERTY development company owned by Westlife singer Shane Filan showed a loss of just over €52,000 last year.

But accounts for Shafin Developments Limited, which was set up by Shane and his older brother Finbarr a couple of years ago, show the company has assets of nearly than €4 million.

The company was incorporated in 2004 by Shane and his brother and the board also includes the singer’s wife Gillian and another director, Geraldine Gilroy.

According to the accounts, which cover the year to end June 2005, the company had stocks of €5.7 million and creditors of €1.76m.

However, since the year end, Shafin Developments has completed 100 houses in the village of Dromahair in Co Leitrim, which should push up the value of the company’s assets to around €15m.

Shafin also has total bank borrowings of €4.1m, which is secured against the company’s land at Dromahair, personal guarantees from Shane and charges over life assurance.

A note to the accounts also said that Shane loaned the company €1.48m during the year.

The 26-year-old Sligo-born singer is estimated to have earned close to €10m as part of Westlife.

The band have released seven albums with sales of more than 34 million worldwide.

Credit/Source: www.irishexaminer.com

Westlifer rubbishes gay wedding claims - 20 April 2006

WESTLIFE'S Mark Feehily has rubbished claims he intends to follow Elton John's footsteps and marry his gay partner.

The soft-spoken boyband singer staunchly denied rumours that he will enter into a civil partnership, or otherwise tie the knot, with his lover Kevin McDaid in the near future as Sir Elton did recently with his gay lover David Furnish.

The flamboyant pair married at a lavish reception in December when civil partnerships between gay couples became officially sanctioned in the UK.

The 25-year-old multimillionaire singer first met his boyfriend, formerly of boyband V, after the Cheerios Childline concert in Dublin last year and they have since become engaged. But Mark is adamant that wedding bells won't be ringing in the near future.

"There are no wedding plans. There was never any wedding plans, it was totally picked out of the sky," he told the Irish Independent yesterday.

"I might go to Canada for a holiday, who knows, but not to get married," he said referring to the recent legalisation of gay marriage in Canada.

"I may get married one day, but there is no notion or plans now," he added.

He made the comments after appearing with fellow band mates Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne on the pitch at Croke Park yesterday.

The band joined fellow crooner, former Boyzone and 'Coronation Street' star Keith Duffy and members of the St Andrews GAA Club in Co Carlow, as they kicked around a football and mounted racing cycles to launch a ground-breaking event for Keith's charity Irish Autism Action. Ten volunteer football players from the GAA club will spend 11 days cycling 1,000 miles through all 32 counties in June as part of the round-Ireland Autism Life Cycle. They will stop at each county's GAA pitch to score a goal and point before moving onto the next county and intend to cycle 100 miles a day. Keith, whose six-year-old daughter Mia suffers from autism, said he would also join the team as they cycle through Dublin on June 10. However, despite his prowess as a marathon runner, Keith said he won't be joining them on the tour. But he had nothing but praise for the volunteers to help raise vital funds for the facility. "They're fantastic to do it for us," he said. Faced with a two-year waiting list, there is a backlog of about 1,500 autistic children in Ireland who desperately need the services now. "I'm one of the fortunate ones who has a placement for my daughter," he said.

Funds raised in each community will be earmarked for local children with the disorder. The event kicks off in Drogheda, Co Louth on June 1 and winds up at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow on June 11. Details are available at the IAA National office at 044 31609 or at www.autismireland.ie .

Credit/Source: Irish Independent

Scan From Today’s Irish Mirror - 20 April 2006

Thanx so much Ali for letting me use this J

Credit/Source: Ali for Scanning / Irish Mirror

Interview From German Magazine - 20 April 2006

© Translated by Cat

Interview: Nicole Ochsenbein

With seven number ones under their belt they're in the Guinnes Book of Records. Their albums have sold about 34 million copies. SIE+ER met Shane, Mark and Kian in Zurich.

SIE+ER: Where your fourth member, Nicky??
Shane: Oh, Nicky isn’t feeling too well today. He puked out his lunch and apologises for not being here. Food poisoning....

SIE+ER: What did you do last night?
Shane: Oh yea, we were at this club with a huge balcony. What was it called again?
Kian:I don’t know – Kaufleuten? Looked a bit like a pluche theatre. Anyway we had a great time.

SIE+ER: You were ambushed by a whole army of female groupies outside. Shane, now you are married and a new dad, have you become a good boy when it comes to the ladies?
Shane: (Laughs) Heeey, I was always a Good Boy!

SIE+ER: And what’s with you Kian? You’re in serious relationship now too.
Kian: No problem, we’re always dealing with the groupies really well. No, really, we can all make the difference between groupies and the real life. The yelling girls don’t love you for who you are but just for what you do.

SIE+ER: That sounds sensible, almost boring. There were wilder times right
Shane: Yea, for some of us for sure...
Kian: Yea, it’s ok, I admit it. But even I have become a bit more mature.

SIE+ER: Mark, you recently outed yourself as gay in an interview, you must have broken a lot of girls hearts...
Shane: (laughs) Yea, and made loadsa guys happy!

SIE+ER: Didn’t you get loads of letters from female fans, threatening to kill themselves?
Mark: No. Of course things have changed over the last 10 years. Nowadays hardly anyone cares if someone comes out as gay. We don’t define ourselves by our sex-image, but by our songs.

SIE+ER: And how did your parents respond??
Mark: All people that matter to me, were really positive about it.

SIE+ER: Nowadays same-sex couples are aloud to get married in the UK. Can you imagine getting married one day yourself?
Mark: If there is any theme in my life, then it’s why not.
Shane: Finally one of them is also thinking about getting married! (He is the only one in the band that is married, editorial note yea right, I hate it when they don’t get their facts right!)

SIE+ER: Shane, do you sing Westllife songs to your daughter Nicole to make her sleep?
Shane: No, to be honest she prefers Robbie Williams.

SIE+ER: How do you like your new father role?
Shane: Nicole is the best thing that happened to me. She made my life even more exciting. It’s crazy, today I am more motivated to be even more successful, to work even harder. Sometimes I imagine her one day, wearing a Westlife t-shirt and coming to on of our concert to scream “Hey that’s my dad!” Man, I would be so proud!.

SIE+ER: There’s so many boybands, and you’re not the youngest ones any more. How is it that you still have success?
Shane: I believe it’s because we continuously made good albums. We make strong pop songs, that’s the recipe.

SIE+ER: What do you wanna achieve now? Two dressing rooms per person, as you said in an interview once?
Kian: Hey, we only said that for fun! Nonetheless, it’s not an easy question. We dreamt about getting were we are now. It will be hard to continue to have the success we had over the last few years.

SIE+ER: On your new album «Face to Face» you sing a duet with Soul-Diva Diana Ross. How was it to work with her?
Mark: Fantastic. She Wunderbar. She wasn’t crazy at all, like people say about her.
Shane: Everyone warned us beforehand, saying she is a diva, not to say a «Bitch». But she wasn’t like that at all, just very respectful and friendly.

SIE+ER: Honestly, does your tearjerker tour ever get on your nerves? Did you ever think of being wild and bad?
Kian: No, this is what we do, what we can and what we love, popsongs filled with emotion.
Shane: Imagine, Eminem singing love ballads...

Credit/Source: Cat / Sonntagsblick

Face To Face Tour 2006 Merchandise Added - 20 April 2006

You can find this years merchandise for the tour on the Tours Page

Villy

Ring causes stir at Westlife Point concert - 20 April 2006

Sligo's Colm Casserly will never forget the look on his girlfriend's face when he proposed, and neither will the thousands of spectators who witnessed the event. Last Friday in The Point, Dublin, 8,000 Westlife fans roared with approval as the Ballygawley man asked girlfriend Carol Mulhern to marry him live on stage during the concert.

Colm had initially intended to pop the question while in the crowd but old school-friend and band member Shane Filan suggested he do one better and propose to her on stage. Speaking to Sligo Weekender a relieved Colm said: "We've been together for a long time and this was the only piece of the jigsaw that was missing.

"Right up until the exact moment I kept thinking she'll have to say yes but I was still shaking when Shane handed me the microphone. Shane, Gillian and the Westlife lads were fantastic for helping me organise it all."

The couple's six-year-old daughter, Katie, looked on as Colm got down on one knee to ask Carol to be his wife. An unsuspecting Carol had been led to believe that Westlife-fan Katie was on stage to meet the band.

The Donegal native was both shocked and delighted when Colm produced the diamond ring.
After the show the pair celebrated with family and friends in the capital.

Credit/Source: www.sligoweekender.ie

Westlife Strapped For Cash... - 19 April 2006

EXCLUSIVE WITH PHOTOS

What an Easter weekend it was for Dublin's top nightclub Lillies Bordello with Hollywood Stars, Irish VIP's and the Westlife boys all enjoying the VIP venue over the holiday period...

SHANE FILAN @ LILLIES BORDELLO

Since changing ownership recently many thought that Lillies Bordello nightclub would quickly loose it's celebrity luster to competing VIP venues but in fact it's lure to stars has gone from strength-to-strength!

SHANE FILAN @ LILLIES BORDELLO

On Easter Sunday night the Westlife lads Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan celebrated their 7 nights sold out in The Point Theatre with a party at the club.

KIAN EGAN @ LILLIES BORDELLO

ShowBiz Ireland caught up with the handsome foursome as they strolled down Grafton Street towards the club in top spirits as they looked forward to their day-off on Monday...

MARK FEEHILY @ LILLIES BORDELLO

Poor Shane Filan must have been strapped-for-cash to get in his round as he nipped over to the nearby Bank Machine to withdraw money before entering the club.

NICKY & GEORGINA BYRNE @ LILLIES BORDELLO

Cheeky Nicky Byrne joked with our photographer as he snapped Shane at the Banklink shouting: "Make sure you get his PIN number!"

NICKY BYRNE WITH GERMAN FANS @ LILLIES BORDELLO

The boys also posed with some very dedicated German fans Susanne Jahnke, Adrianna Nolpert, Christine Lewerent and Marina Johschies who bought tickets to attend ALL 7 nights in Dublin and will also head-on to see further Westlife shows in Manchester this week!

LOUIS WALSH & SISTERS @ LILLIES BORDELLO

Westlife's manager and music mogul Louis Walsh turned up at Lillies on Saturday night. The X Factor judge had his two sisters with him after treating them to a night on-the-town...

Hollywood star Stephen Dorff, who is filming "13" at Ardmore Studios, also turned up at the club on Saturday night with a few stunning ladies in his company including English actress Jaime Murray who just happens to be the daughter of Billy Murray (Johnny Allen from Eastenders)...

Fair City's George McMahon, AKA Mondo, also treated his pretty girlfriend Linzi Cowap and some friends to a night at Lillies - the occasion was Linzi's 21st Birthday and the blonde babe was weighed down with bags of presents as he entered the club...

Credit/Source: www.showbizireland.com

Older Pix From South Africa - 19 April 2006

Thanx to Pia J

Credit/Source: www.images24.co.za

Westlife Boys Want 5million Each For New Deal - 18 April 2006

Against all odds westlife are being lined up for another 5 albums.

Crooners Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan are close to signing a contract worth 5million each with Sony BMG.

Manager Louis Walsh is brokering the deal, which will see them churning out middle-of-the road ballads for the forseeable future.

The irish lads are also set to recieve an advance of £1 million per member for each album.

An insider said "Westlife's current record deal with BMG is about to expire. Sony and BMG have merged since their last talks so bosses flew to Belfast last week to talk money with the boys"

"Louis wants £5million for each of the lads and himself just to re-sign the band to SonyBMG"

"He also wanted a 60/40 profit split between themselves and the record company- with the boys getting a higher cut"

As negotiations are in their early stages nothing has been signed yet.

The boys are not my favourite but there is not denying they have the power to sell records.

So SonyBMG will be reluctant to sever their unbreakable bond..

Credit/Source: www.thesun.co.uk

My meeting Story With Mark And Kevin And Pix - 17 April 2006

Here is my story and pix of the best week in my life J My tour pictures will be added in the next days…

I went at their hotel early in the morning! I was the first fan to go there so I passed the gates and asked the doorman if I could sit outside the entrance to wait for the lads. I told him I was coming from Greece and that I've never met them and love them so much so he told me there was no problem and I sat there waiting all day not hoping too much I'd meet anyone of them to be honest...

Then I started having a chat with the two doormen and everyone there got to know me and my Westlife madness lol so while I was waiting........... I see Mark and Kevin coming out, chatting to eachother... It was when I started trembling and not knowing what to do... I was afraid to go and talk to them because I didn't want to interrupt them lol... So I looked at the doorman like "Oh my God!! It's Theeeeeeeeeeeeem!!!!!" And he was like "Come on!! Run!!!!" sooo that was it! I took my feet and started running and when I was behind them I said "Mark, Kevin!" they didn't hear me so I said it a bit louder and they both turned their heads looking at me and I was shaking... I was afraid they'd leave so I started talking quickly like a machine "Hi! I'm a huuuuge Westlife fan from Greece and I came to see Westlife..." Mark interrupts me and moving his hand to shake my hand saying "Oh! Alright, hello, how are you? Nice to meet you" ... I was... ready to collapse and then I said "I'm fine and turned to Kev and asked him how he was and he winked and said he was good and thanked me... Then Marky asked me when I came to Ireland and which Westlife concerts I'd see... and I replied trying to find the words as I was soooo shocked lol... Then he told me they had to go somewhere and they'd be back so we said bye and they left! When I turned my back I was straight in tears and was trembling so the doormen hugged me and were like "Oh my God she's crying" and they brought me water and I sat on a sofa waiting for them to come back as Marky told me...

After some hour the doormen came to me and were like "Get up! They're coming back!!" So I went to the door and Mark was talking to the one doorman asking him something and then he and Kevin were waiting, Kev smiled at me and then he was talking to Mark and was making some dance moves to him lol... I was like… awwwwwwwwwwww... (inside of me) Then Kev went in and I had my Face to Face CD cover and a marker ready so that Mark would sign it and before I ask him he came and asked me "Do you want me to sign it?" awwwwwwwwwwwww and I was like "Yeees please if you can!!" So he asked me what's my name and I spelt it to him and then I asked him "Can we take a picture too?" And he said "Yeeees sure, come here" and smiled and I got the camera out but I was trembling (again…) loool and Mark saw it and was ready to take it (so that he would take the pic I guess) and the doorman said he would take the picture so Marky was like "Oh ok, good!" and while taking the pic I was whispering "omg omg" lol and then........ the sweety is unbelievable... he asked me if I liked the picture or I wanted us to take another one and I was like... “Nooooo, it’s lovely, thank you!” And he asked the doorman if the pic was ok as there was no flash. How cute was heeeeeeeeee!!!!!! And then he asked me again which shows I would see and I told him and then I said "Can I have a hug please?" and he was like "Awww a hug... sure you can..." and gave me the cutest smile and hugged me… Heaven… Then I thanked him and he told me see you at the shows... and he went in where Kev was waiting for him and a few minutes after his brother Barry went with them too... and of course....... I was crying and trembling again lol.......

The next day I saw Kian and his doggy Prince in the car while Dave was driving and Kian waved at us... He was soooooo cute and Prince was lovely too!! Bless Kian keeping Prince like a baby... So lovely!

Then the same day Mark and Kev went out with the car and Mark beeped the corn and waved at us.

And finally on Friday when Mark and Kev came out Mark beeped the corn to us again lol and he opened the car window so all the fans went there and got pix of him. I went to take a pic of Kev too but Mark asked not to so I continued taking pix of Marky…

I know I wrote too much lol but how could I not to when my biggest dream comes true… J

Here are the pictures:

Me and Marky

Mark’s Signature inside my Face To Face CD

The Friday pictures. You can see a bit of Kevin too on some of them

Villy

New Pictures - 17 April 2006

Thanx so much to Nicole and Siffy for letting me use their lovely pix J :

Nicole’s Pictures:

Siffy’s picture with Mark ( you can see Kevin at the back too):

VIP Ireland Pictures:

Westlife members Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily celebrated Easter Sunday in the middle of their 7 sold out shows in The Point Theatre with a party in Lillies Bordello. Shane Filan must have been caught short when it came to his round at the bar as he had to nip out to a nearby bank machine for cash. The Westlife boys also posed with 4 die-hard German fans who flew over to attend their 7 shows in Dublin, the girls will also attend the Westlife concerts in Manchester later this week!

More Georgina Pictures

Credit/Source: Nicole / Siffy / www.wenn.com / www.vipireland.com

New Affiliate - 17 April 2006

I added a new affiliate The Latin Westlife Fans J

Note And Pictures Update - 16 April 2006

Hello everyone! J

I’m back from Dublin and all I can say is that I had the BEST WEEK of my life! The Westlife concerts were absolutely fantastic and I was sooooo lucky to meet Mark and Kevin twice! The first one it was just me and them so I had time to chat with Mark for a while! I’m so happy! Mark is the sweetest person I’ve ever met. I will go in details and pictures later or tomorrow!

Some new pictures now…

Official Pictures From The First Dublin Concert. Go to the Tours Page and then Official Pictures!

Mark and Kevin leaving Lillie’s nightclub in Dublin:

Georgina and her mum at the VIP Style Awards 2006:

Credit/Source: www.vipireland.com / www.showbizireland.com / www.wenn.com / www.filmmagic.com / Yaara

Nicky Is In A World Of His Own With Movie Deal - 16 April 2006

Westlife’s Nicky Byrne is to make his debut on the silver screen this summer, after signing up to make his first movie, the Evening Herald can reveal. The Taoiseach’s son – in – law will doubtlessly be taking some acting tips from Kian’s girlfriend Jodi Albert when it comes to impressing movie bosses with his latest project in the summer.

The pop heartthrob broke the news to the Evening Herald backstage at the Point where the boys were kicking off seven, sell-out concerts as part of their Face To Face tour.

Although it’s still in the early stages, Nicky says the script just appealed to him instantly when he was approached by an Irish director to take on the role.

“Obviously Westlife will always be my number one priority but I discussed doing a movie with Louis and the lads and they all said I should go for it”, said Nicky, whose wife Georgina is developing a career as a personal trainer at the Jury’s Inn Hotel at Croke park.

“I did an acting course in New York last summer which I really enjoyed so making a movie will be a new experience for me”.

Last night the chart toppers told us of their attempts to make pop history by becoming the first Irish act to crack China.

For the first time ever the famous foursome will be the subject of a “warts and all” documentary being made for ITV1.

They may be familiar faces of these Isles bits they are virtual unknowns on the other side of the world. So now the four lads have agreed to let a camera crew follow them around China filming a fly-on-the-wall program as they try to make it in the world’s most populated country.

“In around three months, once the tour is over, they are going to fly over there and have a film crew follow them around the whole time and document their journey”, revealed Lois Walsh, their manager. “No one from Ireland or UK has ever really cracked China, apart from Wham, and Westlife are determined to make an impact. This is going to be the real deal”.

Not that the Irish public are showing any signs of fatigue with the pint sized popstarts, giving the rapturous applause they received last night. And as Kian Egan revealed just before they went on stage, “It really is a case of four is better than five when it comes to staying ahead of the pop posse” he went on to say Brian McFadden’s decision to quit was the right move for everyone – giving the lads are currently enjoying some of their best album sales ever!

“It’s lucky that he did leave the band when he did because it seems to be right for everyone” he said.

“He seems to have taken the right path for him and Westlife have taken the right path for us. It all happened for a good reason, not just for him, but also for us.”

Credit/Source: Evening Herald

Jodi’s No Westwife - 16 April 2006

Irish hunk’s celeb lover reveals her U.S. dream. “I adore Kian but I’m not ready yet for wife life”

By Fiona Wynne

Westlife hunk Kian Egan is moving to America to help girlfriend Jodi Albert pursue her dream of Hollywood stardom.

Gorgeous Jodi is thrilled her Irish boyfriend is going with her – but she was quick to dismiss talk of marriage.

She revealed: “I am definitely going to America later this year to give acting a big go. Kian said he would love to come with me and that would be amazing. He would come back for shows and stuff like that, but once this tour is finished the lads will have a while off.”

The stunning Londoner – who shot to fame as Debbie Dean in hit soap Hollyoaks – reckons Los Angeles is the place to be to make it big in acting. But the 22-year-old said it wouldn’t be the end of the world if the Stateside move didn’t work out.

She explained: “If it all goes belly up I can still have a career to fall back on, so as far as I’m concerned I’ve nothing to loose. But I’m very realistic. I don’t think I will just land in LA and become the next big thing. It takes hard work and a lot of determination.”

Brunette Jodi said going to America would be a “fantastic adventure” for her and Kian, 25. The pair have been an item for three years – but they were just 15 and 17 when they first met.

“Then we met again years later and we were both in bands but we were just friends at that stage.”

Eventually they started going out and the couple now live together in London, staying when they can at their house in Sligo. They even have a puppy, Prince, and Jodi said: “We get on really brilliantly and I’m completely mad about Kian.”

She admitted: “We have our quarrels like everyone else. If he leaves stuff on the floor I go mad, but I am really enjoying it so far.”

Westlife are in the middle of a European tour which hits Dublin tomorrow night. With their hectic schedules Jodi and Kian could be apart for weeks on end – so to make sure she sees her man Jodi goes to every Westlife gig she can.

She said: “I never get sick of seeing Kian performing.” While rumours are rife that Sligo-born Kian is ready to pop the question, Jodi cautioned: “Everyone has been so keen to marry us off, but we are not ready for that yet.”

Perfect

“I’m only 22 and Kian is only a couple years older so we are far from that point yet. When we do decide to get married we want it to be perfect, so there’s no point rushing into things.”

Jodi insists she doesn’t want children “for at least ten years”. She said: “My sister has to kids, they are five and six and they are so funny and I love them to bits, but I don’t know how mums do it. I’m way too selfish to have kids yet. There are too many things I want to do.”

For now Jodi is just happy to concentrate on her career. She has just filmed her first movie, Brit comedy flick Popcorn, and returns to the small screen later this year in Channel 5 drama Respectable – set in a Brothel.

Jodi plays Hayley, a suburban hooker who is less than clued up, and it proved a tough role.

She said: “Respectable is set in a brothel but it’s not seedy, it’s more a tongue-in-cheek comedy. It wasn’t easy to play someone so scatty and naïve, but I really loved it. I would love to do more films of course, but I also love sitcoms and dramas. I wouldn’t rule out anything at this stage.”

Credit/Source: The Irish Sun

Sarah Meets Westlife Idols - 16 April 2006

DREAMS do come true. Sarah Kitson is living proof of that. The 14-year-old Sacred Heart student met pop superstars Westlife at their gig in the Odyssey Arena last Tuesday.

And it was Sarah's bravery that made the whole experience possible.

Sarah was born with a congenital abnormality of the hip which affects her mobility.

"Her condition is so rare there isn't even a name for it," said her father Aidan.

Her doctor at Musgrave Children's Hospital, Kate Russo, was so touched by Sarah's bravery that, last August, she wrote to Aiken Promotions asking them if there was any chance they could arrange for Sarah to meet her idols.

And last week her efforts paid off when Sarah received a phone call from Aiken's asking Sarah if she and her family would like to be their guests for Tuesday night's concert.

Needless to say, Sarah didn't think twice about her reply.

"This is my lifetime's ambition come true," said Sarah. "I have been trying for the past eight years to meet Westlife."

The dream finally became a reality just before the band took to the stage on Tuesday night.

"They were so nice and really friendly," she said. "It was absolutely brilliant to meet them and it really made my night."

While Sarah is obviously an avid fan of the entire band, one of the members has a special place in her heart.

"Meeting Mark was amazing and he was so friendly and signed everything for me," she said. "It was an amazing concert and definitely one of the best I have been to."

Westlife certainly pulled out all the stops.

"They paid for the box and all of our refreshments," said Mr Kitson.

"Sarah has been through such a lot. But she has dealt with it so bravely and positively. That's what motivated the doctor to write to Aiken Promotions."

Sarah's bravery is all the more astounding when you consider the fact that she is the youngest person ever to undergo an operation for this condition in the UK.

"I just want to thank Aiken Promotions and Dr Russo for making this possible," said her mother Elsie.

Credit/Source: www.newrydemocrat.com

Aisling, The Fairest Rose In All Belfast - 16 April 2006

By Debra Douglas

The stunning law student crowned this year's Belfast Rose has celebrated her victory in style at a champagne reception with Westlife.

Aisling McDowell, from Colin Glen, joined the boys for a party at Precious Nightclub in the Odyssey Arena after wowing the judges on Wednesday night.

She will now represent Belfast at the 48th International Rose of Tralee Festival in August.

Aisling, who beat off competition from 24 other local beauties, was representing the Irish culture centre Culturlann and said she won the title for her father who died last year.

"I remember watching the Rose of Tralee with my dad when I was younger," she said.

"He embraced everything that was Irish so what better way to make him proud than to win this competition."

Aisling walked away with prizes worth thousands of pounds including one year's free hairdressing at competition sponsors Toni and Guy and a holiday in Bulgaria.

Credit/Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Shane Flies Without Wings After ‘Copter Fire - 16 April 2006

By Siobhán Breatnach

A helicopter belonging to Westlife's Shane Filan was destroyed in a fire at the weekend. The pop star splashed out on the flying machine two years ago.

The Sligo star was rumoured to have spent hundreds of thousands of Euros on the helicopter.
The fire destroyed three helicopters and damaged one other in Galway. The helicopter was being stored in a hanger on the premises of Executive Helicopters in Oranmore.

It had been flown there for annual maintenance on Thursday. The alarm was raised at 6.45am on Saturday morning.
Fire brigade units from Tuam, Athenry, Loughrea and Galway City fought to bring the blaze under control. The flames were eventually put out in just over an hour.

Galway fire-fighter Noel McGuire said: "Three of the helicopters were totally written-off and the forth was badly scorched." It is estimated that the damage may run into millions of euro.

The cause of the blaze is still unknown. The scene is being preserved for Garda forensic examinations. The Robinson-44 helicopter was on the ground for annual maintenance work. The flying machine seats four people: a pilot, front passenger and two back passengers. It can travel at a speed of up to 209 kilometres per hour.

A Robinson-44 would normally sell for around €250,000, with costs of up to €21,000 per year for maintenance and insurance. Meanwhile Shane and the Westlife boys are this week playing sold-out concerts to crowds in Dublin's Point Depot.

With his helicopter now out of action Shane will face a much longer commute home to Sligo to his wife Gillian and baby daughter Nicole.

Cretit/Source: www.sligoweekender.ie

Former Hollyoaks Actress Jodi Albert Is To Star In The New Celebrity X Factor - 16 April 2006

By Fiona Cummins

The 22-year-old TV beauty, is likely to be coached by Irish judge Louis Walsh - manager of her husband-to-be Kian Egan's band Westlife.

An insider revealed: "Jodi is raring to go. Kian's usually the one who gets to show off his singing but now it's Jodi."

Other stars tipped for the May 29 ITV show are Big Brother's Jade Goody, 24, and diet guru Gillian McKeith, 43.

Credit/Source: www.mirror.co.uk

Westlife To Spend 3 Weeks In China - 16 April 2006

Irish Mirror by Paul Martin..

Westlife are to live on a remote mountain in China with monks, the Irish Mirror can reveal.

They will share huts with no running water and spend their days cooking, meditating and learning martial arts.

The band have taken on the extraordinary challenge for a TV documentary.

Singer Shane Filan said: “Were going to be leaving Ireland and completely changing our lives for three weeks. It’s as far from the showbiz lifestyle as you can get. It's the most challenging thing we have ever done and I'm sure there will be a lot of trials and tribulations out there.

”We're going to be suffering and everyone will see it. The monks will be teaching us everything.”

Each morning the stars will wake before dawn to be instructed in the traditions of the Far East. They will become experts at acupuncture and cooking but will also have to hike for miles each day to get food and water.

They will also be back packing to the Great Wall of China for a segment of the documentary.

Luxuries like daily showers, fresh water and three course meals will become a distant memory for them. We'll be pushing them to the limit to see how much they can handle.

The stars will jet off to China at the end of May and the documentary will be screened in November.

Shane added: “This is going to show us a new light to the fans. It wont be pretty at times but it will be real.”

Credit/Source: showbiz@irishmirror.ie

Note & Small Update - 7 April 2006

Hiya everyone!

I’m leaving for Dublin tomorrow morning to see the Westlife lads on tour and I soooo can’t wait!! I will be away for a week… This means there will not be updates for the next week. I wish I could update the site from Dublin lol but I can’t. I’ll be back updating everyday though by the next Saturday! I hope you will all have a lovely week and I will see many of you in Dublin!

Thanx Jo once again for some lovely tour pictures! You can find them on the Tours Page and then click on Fan Pictures J

Villy

Credit/Source: Jo for the tour pictures

One Affiliate Added - 7 April 2006

I have my first affiliate! Ya! Josie’s forum westlifefanaticvip J

Tour Pictures And Downloads - 6 April 2006

Head over to the Tours Page to see more downloads from Belfast and some new great fan pictures that Jo allowed me to use! Thank you very much Jo J

Credit/Source: Jo for the pictures

Westlife: The Movie - 6 April 2006

Westlife: THE MOVIE & Ricky Gervais to play Louis Walsh.. MO!

EXCLUSIVE X FACTOR'S SIMON HOPES BOYBAND TALE IS SMASH HIT.

Byline: By PAUL MARTIN

MUSIC supremo Simon Cowell is splashing out a fortune to make a movie based on Irish boyband Westlife.

And comedy king Ricky Gervais has been lined up to play their manager Louis Walsh in the multi-million euro project.

The movie will also reflect Boyzone's rise to fame in the 90s.

X Factor judge Simon, 45, has handed a cheque to You're A Star judge Brendan O'Connor to write a script.

Brendan said: "It's true that Simon has hired me to write a script - it's a really exciting idea.

"I'm working on a few ideas and putting the whole thing together. I'll come up with a few ideas then meet Simon again and get the ball rolling.

"It's based on Westlife and all about a boyband and their adventures. But I can't say too much at this stage or I'll give the surprises away."

Insiders said 44-year-old Gervais, who played boss David Brent in The

Office, is desperate to appear in the film.

One movie insider added: "He has been talking to Simon Cowell about the idea and says he'll definitely do it. He loves pop music and is the perfect man for the part of Louis Walsh.

"Simon has promised him the role when the movie is made and he's thrilled.

"Brendan is writing a lot of the script around a character based on Louis and that's where Ricky comes in."

Louis Walsh said: "There are plans for a movie and Simon is going to be in charge of the whole thing. I know Brendan has been in talks with Simon and is working on the idea with him.

"It's a great idea and it will reflect the adventures of a band based on Westlife."

Westlife are one of the most successful boybands ever with 34million album sales. The group's latest album, Face, is their seventh.

Cowell is believed to be spending up to e10million on making the movie and has lined up a string of other big-name stars to make cameo appearances.

A source close to the multi-millionaire music tycoon said: "Movies are the only thing that Simon has never ventured into so far.

"He wants to make this idea a big success and believes Brendan can deliver a great script that will make it a huge hit."

Credit/Source: showbiz@irishmirror.ie

New Mark Interview From Australian Gay Magazine - 6 April 2006

© Typed By Rhiannon J

WHEN YOU CAME OUT LAST AUGUST IT DID NOT SEEM SUCH A BIG DEAL?
(MARK)
To be honest that was the perfect way for it to go it is no big deal.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO COME OUT?
(MARK)
I had been in a relationship for six or seven months at the time and we went to USA on holidays it was amazing. Westlife are not known in USA so we were able to walk around and not give a toss about anyone seeing or annoying us. I was thinking to myself why the hell don’t I do this back home as well, obviously it was a bit different back home, it was not like I did not want anyone to know it was just if I walk down the middle of the street in London hand in hand with a guy people were going to go 'Oh that’s the guy from Westlife and he is holding hands with a guy'. I just felt like I was ready to do it. I finally got to the place where I was ready to stand up once and for all say it and then sit back down again. I did not want to make a big deal about it. In one way I was lucky that I was in the public eye, it was in the papers so everyone knew straight away. Someone who is not in the public eye would have to go tell everyone they met.

WHEN YOU DO INTERVIEWS NOW IS YOUR SEXUALITY STILL A MAJOR TOPIC?
(MARK)
It has gotten to the stage where we are on out third single from our album in the UK, when the first single came out everyone was asking about it, with the second single it was less, and now with the third people don’t ask me anymore.

DID YOU RUN YOUR DECISION BY YOUR FELLOW WESTLIFE MEMBERS FIRST?
(MARK)
No, I said what I was doing, purely because they are my band mates and friends as well. I told my family I was going to do it by I did not feel I had to run it by anybody.

WHAT ABOUT MANAGEMENT?
(MARK)
That just would not be me. I did not see this as something that is important to my professional life, it does not seem to have affected my career one bit.

DID YOU ALWAYS KNOW YOU WERE GAY?
(MARK)
I don’t think I have always said it to myself, but of course I have always had the feelings. Everyone goes through there own little journeys before they get to the point when they say 'Ok I am gay'. When you are an adolescent you think it might be a phase you are going through, I was 21 when I realised it was not going to go away and I was just having to face it.

YOUR PARTNER KEVIN IS ALSO A MEMBER OF BOYBAND V?
(MARK)
Yes, though his band have now gone there separate ways. He’s busy with modelling at the moment.

DOES THAT MEAN YOU MAKE BEAUTIFUL MUSIC TOGETHER?
(MARK)
Oh, we do that as well. It is good that he understands what it is like to live by a boyband schedule. He was in a band that was signed and promoted for three years, I don’t have to explain anything to him, he knows what it is like, he travels with me, and is with me in Australia. I don’t like calling him my boyfriend or partner though.

WHAT ABOUT HUSBAND?
(MARK)
Yeah that is easier.

DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A ROLE MODEL?
(MARK)
If I had the choice I think I would say no, but back in my home town in Ireland it is quite rural and religious there was a guy that came up to me and said that my story helped him come out to his parents. That is beautiful to hear, because I know it can be such a tough thing. I don’t like to think about it to much, but it is a nice feeling to think something you have done for yourself has a positive affect on other people.

DO YOU EVER GET SICK OF TALKING ABOUT BEING GAY?
(MARK)
Not really, it is much better then what is your favourite colour, by a mile.

SO WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOUR?
(MARK)
Green and black. It is weird how you just start getting pelted with all these questions like what do you think about gay marriage. In Ireland we are in the papers all the time. Like last month at a charity event someone asked me if I thought the civil union thing should come to Ireland all I said was 'Of course I do', it was front page the next day 'gay rights activist Mark Feehily wants civil union because he is planning to marry his partner', I just hope I don’t say the wrong thing in public because you might say something in a passing comment and all of sudden its a big deal.

WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN TEN YEARS?
(MARK)
My life now is about travelling, I am never anywhere for more than five days, in ten years I would like to be a bit more stable.

SO NO PLANS FOR A SOLO ALBUM OF MADONNA COVERS YET?
(MARK)
Oh Jesus I don’t know about that, I could not even tell you where I will be in one year, I just hope I am still working.

THOUGHTS OF HAVING KIDS?
(MARK)
Definitely one day, I have not really looked into it, but seeing the Westlife lads with their kids is really amazing, I am not ready for it now but I would never rule it out. I think I would be a good dad one day.

ANY MESSAGE FOR THE READERS OF DNA?
(MARK)
To anyone who that is not out, it is not as bigger deal as you think. It is the biggest thing in the world for you but it is the smallest to everyone else. People deserve to be happy and it’s not worth being unhappy over something like this. Apart from that but our new album and we will be in Australia soon.

Credit/Source: DNA Magazine

Updates On The Tours Page - 5 April 2006

Yaa! We finally have some lovely pictures from the opening night of the Face To Face tour! Thanx so much Clare and Rachel for letting me use your Tour Pictures! J

Also, I added some videos of the tour that Laura and Susie uploaded!

Finally, I added a review of the tour from the Daily Mirror!

You can find all the above on the Tours Page by clicking on Tour News / Reviews, Fan Pictures & Downloads. Enjoy J

Credit/Source: Clare / Rachel for the tour pictures, Laura / Susie for the tour videos

Villy

I'm Kian On Xmas Wedding - 4 April 2006

EXCLUSIVE WESTLIFE SINGER READY TO SETTLE DOWN WITH JODI HE PLANS EUR1M STAR STUDDED BASH

Byline: By LINDA DUFF

WESTLIFE'S Kian Egan has set a date to marry gorgeous girlfriend Jodi Albert - and it should cap the perfect Christmas for the couple.

Kian, 25, announced his marriage plans on the eve of the group's sell-out tour.

The pop hunk admitted he is to wed next Christmas after finally proposing to Jodi. Kian said: "Me and my girlfriend Jodi Albert are going to be married this December."

And it set to be a star-studded wedding.

Kian is secretly planning a EUR1MILLION A-list bash after going down on one knee to propose to Jodi, who played Debbie Dean in Hollyoaks.

Party-lover Kian had wild flings with pop babe Jessica Forsman and a long relationship with his childhood sweetheart Sonia. But now he insists he is sick of the showbiz lifestyle and just wants to settle down and raise a family with Jodi.

Last December Kian admitted that the pair, currently living together in London's glamorous Chelsea, would wed "one day", but now they have finally set a date.

Manager Louis Walsh, who gave the loved-up couple his blessing, said: ''They are madly in love, they go everywhere together.

They had split up before but now they realise this is the real thing. ''The wedding will be a star-studded affair and you may expect an A-list of celebrities, from pop and TV stars to all kinds of sports and other showbiz names.''

Wife-to-be Jodi regularly appears in polls of the top 10 sexiest women.

The couple met eight years ago when they were just teenagers. Kian had just begun his career with Westlife while 16-year-old Jodi was trying to make it with her own band, Girl Thing.

They split up in the past, but Kian insists this time is for keeps. He said: "I lost her before and I am not letting her go ever again. I love her and want to have a family with her. This is so special."

And it could even be a DOUBLE wedding. Westlife insiders believe Mark Feehily could be also set to wed boyfriend Kevin McDaid.

Sources claim the openly gay Westlife heartthrob will marry his pin-up boyfriend in London next year. The besotted couple have been pictured kissing and holding hands.

Mark said: "I love him and I'm proud of who I am and my sexuality."

Louis, 53, added fuel to the fire when he admitted Kevin will be accompanying Mark on ALL dates on the upcoming tour.

He said: "I can confirm that Mark's boyfriend Kevin will be with him on almost all dates on this tour because they can't stand to be apart."

Each member of Westlife stands to make a cool EUR3MILLION from the tour, which kicks off tomorrow in Belfast.

Their homecoming tour will also cover Ireland and the UK with nights in Cork plus an incredible seven nights in Dublin's famous Point Theatre.

The Westlife four-piece - Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily - start the GB leg of their tour in Glasgow on May 7, then travel to Aberdeen, Brighton, Cardiff, Manchester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Birmingham and Newcastle before hitting London's Wembley Arena on May 18 and 19.

And the boys have something special up their sleeves. Louis Walsh revealed Westlife's secret plan to tempt RTE star Gay Byrne out of retirement and back on our screens.

He said: "They're on a mission to persuade TV legend Gay 'Gaybo' Byrne back full-time on the box with a Christmas special titled 'An Audience with Gay Byrne and Westlife'.''

The boys also hope to enlist special guest singers in an attempt to take the Westlife phenomenon worldwide. Incredibly they hope to sign up pop superstar Michael Jackson, right, as a temporary fifth member - filling the shoes of ex-Westlife-er Brian McFadden.

Insiders claim with Jacko on board for a single and video, Westlife would be able to dominate the global market.

And they already have plans for next year's Christmas No1. Westlife plan to release a special track with pop legend Lionel Ritchie - famous for such as Hello and Three Times a Lady.

Credit/Source: Sunday Mirror

If it’s true… I’m soooooo happy for both couples!!! J

Westlife Banner Competition - 4 April 2006

A huge congratulations to Sharon Wilkinson, who’s the lucky winner of our banner competition. Her slogan was: ‘Shake your hips for all the young chicks, wiggle your asses for us older lasses!’ She’ll be meeting the boys before their gig in Manchester on 22nd April.

Thanks for all your brilliant entries – we had hundreds, and picking a winner was a tough decision. Here is just a small selection of our favourites…

Ireland to win the World Cup!
Who needs Redbull when I’m Flying Without Wings!
Irish boys do it best!
How am I supposed to leave when you’re looking like that?
Westlife you’re Amazing in more ways than one, so Hit Me With Your Real Things for a little bit of fun!
I would go overseas from Coast To Coast to find Westlife, the boys I love the most (well, that’s if my mum would let me)
God made Coke, God made Pepsi, God made Nicky so goddamn sexy
A wink, a look, a wave, a smile, makes all that ticket stress seem worthwhile!
Hey Nicky you’re so fine
I luv ur style, I luv ur class, but best of all I luv your ass!
Laura here, too young for beer, but a Coke with Shane will do me dear!
You get me in an Irish stew!
Let’s get touchy Feehily!
Get me a medic, I’ve been badly Byrned!
For sale: 2 children, complete with house. Will trade for Westlife
Mark I’ve forgotten my phone number – can I have yours?
You have joy, you have fun, you have 14 number ones, now you’re 5 down to 4 and we love you even more
Boys your flies are open

Credit/Source: www.westlife.com

Tour Set List Up Now - 3 April 2006

Westlife’s opening night of the Face To Face Tour at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast finished and I have to say I am soooo excited to see them!! If you want to see the setlist of this year’s songs on the tour head over to the Tours Page J You will see the setlist there!

Villy

Don't Write Us Off Yet Says Westlife's Shane - 3 April 2006

By Maureen Coleman

Westlife's Shane Filan sent out a message for the band's critics today: "Don't write us off just yet".

The Sligo singer said the chart-topping Irish act had no intention of calling it a day, and said he hoped the group would be around for at least another five years.

Shane was speaking ahead of tonight's concert at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

Westlife will kick off their UK and Ireland tour in Belfast, playing three dates in the city before moving on to Cork and then Dublin.

He said: "We've always said that we would only quit when our fans stopped buying our albums and didn't want us around anymore.

"But our last album Face To Face was the most successful of the last five years and was in the top five best-selling albums of last year.

"We know people are waiting for the bubble to burst but the way we see it is that this is a long-term career for us.

"We all love being in Westlife, we enjoy recording, we enjoy touring. It's our lives.

"We never had any plans to retire when we hit 25. We intend to keep going. Our tour sold out, our albums and singles are doing well, so we have no reason to stop."

For the last three tours, Westlife have opted to start the ball rolling at the Odyssey Arena.

Shane said: "We love Belfast, firstly because the Odyssey is one of the best venues in Europe and secondly, because the fans there are absolutely mental and always give us a great reception."

Westlife themselves will be back in the studio in the summer to record another album. Shane said: "We've already got four or five songs written for it and it's looking good."

Credit/Source: www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

The Day Is Here! - 3 April 2006

The Face To Face Tour 2006 kicks off tonight in Belfast! The best luck to Westlife and everyone who is going have a great time and make sure you will rock the Odyssey Arena with your screams for Westlife!

Villy

Vote For Nicky! - 3 April 2006

Voting for Most Attractive Man Of The Month Started!! Vote for Nicky here

You can vote every 15 minutes!

Credit/Source: www.hellomagazine.com

You Raise Me Up Moves Up To No.4 In Australia - 3 April 2006

You Raise Me Up is No.4 this week in the Official Australian Singles Chart after 17 weeks in the chart and Face To Face holds on at No.2! Congratulations Westlife! J

Australian Aria singles chart
Top 10 singles
1 (2) Forever Young - Youth Group
2 (1) Flaunt It - TV Rock
3 (-) Beep - The Pussycat Dolls Feat. Will.I.Am
4 (5) You Raise Me Up - Westlife
5 (3) Love Generation - Bob Sinclar

Australian Aria albums chart
Top 10 albums
1 (1) Both Sides of the Gun Ben Harper
2( 2) Face To Face - Westlife
3 (5) Back To Bedlam - James Blunt
4 (3) Here Come The Drums - Rogue Traders
5( 4) Little Cloud - The Whitlams

One Day Left! - 2 April 2006

I can’t believe only one day left for the tour to kick off in Belfast!! The lads are already in Belfast! Some fans saw Mark, Kevin, Kian and Jodi there!

Everyone who is going to see them have a great time and take many pictures of course! If you want to share them with us when you are back, email me at westlife.gr@hotmail.com

xxx

Villy

Music Life: Boys To Men - 2 April 2006

By John McGurk

AGAINST all odds, there's amazing life left in the commercial fortunes of veteran boyband, Westlife!

For the bar stool balladeers are still racking up chart-topping albums and singles and packing out arena venues - long after most commentators predicted their demise.

Westlife, who return to Northern Ireland this week, have virtually sold out their trio of shows at their favourite venue, Belfast's Odyssey Arena.

That's no mean feat for the quartet of manufactured music men, who have now enjoyed a magnificent seven years of multi-million selling success.

Back in 1999, the then fivesome - Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Bryan McFadden, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan - were launched by pop svengali, Louis Walsh as the natural heirs apparent to Boyzone.

Chart-topping success was virtually instant with the impressive Boyz II Men-flavoured soul pop of Swear It Again in May 1999.

And the Sligo/Dublin act repeated that trick a record breaking six times - with a flurry of anthemic ballads such as If I Let You Go, Flying Without Wings, Against All Odds and Fool Again.

It was all terribly formulaic, anodyne stuff. But to their millions of female fans, it was boyband blessed manna from heaven!

And, while the shelf life of most boybands is never more than four years, the Westlife 'boys' have bucked that trend.

It hasn't all been plain sailing for them though. Bryan McFadden left in March 2004 and Walsh's attempt to broaden their audience appeal, with an album of swing standards was a deserved disaster.

On top of that flop, came soulful-voiced Westlife member, Mark Feehily's announcement that he is gay last August.

In bygone days, that revelation would have been enough to kill a music act stone dead. But not Westlife, who have come back stronger than ever.

Last November, the group ditched the Sinatra-style songs - to score their first UK single chart-topper in two years, with another anthemic ballad, You Raise Me Up.

And the accompanying Face To Face set helped them to secure their first simultaneous UK album and single Number One.

Westlife are no longer boys - with all them over 25, married or in long-term relationships. But that fact hasn't damaged their success in the notoriously fickle 'here today, gone tomorrow' world of teen chart pop acts.

These boys are the last men standing in the decimated boyband market place. A 28-date UK arena tour, which starts in Belfast tomorrow night is virtually sold out.

Egan said recently that they plan to be around long enough to score 20 UK Number Ones. With their remarkable staying power, it would be foolhardy to dismiss that ambitious aim out of hand.

• Westlife are the Odyssey Arena, Belfast tomorrow night, Tuesday and Wednesday night. Only single seats (£31.50) remain for each show, available from the venue box office, on 028 9073 9074 and Ticketmaster outlets.

Credit/Source: www.sundaylife.co.uk

Girls Snub A Westlife Gig - 2 April 2006

© Typed By Nicky Lover

Westlife have ditched plans for a collaboration with Girls Aloud after the pop princesses accused them of being boring. Shane Filan told my mole "we've experienced many attacks in the past but not from a group that's actually from the same stable as us. I mean what a kick in the teeth"

Louis Walsh manager of both bands told my spy "the idea was they would do a festive album together. However the girls are planning a new musical direction. I have spoken to the girls about all this and they have kissed and made up with the boys".

Really? I hear that Shane is still fuming and thinks "the girls should remember where they got their break."

Credit/Source: New! Magazine

Sympatico Members! For Canadian Fans - 2 April 2006

Enter here to get the chance to win one of four trips for 2 to see live performances of these fabulous artists: Céline Dion in Las Vegas on May 28, Westlife in London on May 19, Il Divo in Paris on May 21, or Chris Brown in Miami on May 6. Approximate total value of $12,000.

• The contest closes April 20th, 2006 at 11:59 p.m. (EST).
• Maximum of one (1) entry per person for one (1) valid e-mail address.
• The Contest is open to all Ontario and Quιbec residents who have reached
  the age of majority in their province of residence at the date of entering the
  Contest, who possess valid travel documentation, who are eligible to travel
  in and between the United States, United Kingdom, France and Canada at
  the time of travel, who are Sympatico Internet service subscribers with an
  account in good standing or have subscribed to a Sympatico Internet service
  during the Contest Period or have complied with the no purchase necessary
  method of entry detailed in the rules.
• The winners will be contacted by e-mail and must reply within 2 business
  days immediately following the sent date.
• Draw will be held on May 1st, 2006 at 10:30 a.m.
• Chances of winning depend on the number of entries received.

Enter the competition here

Credit/Source: www.destinationmusic.sympatico.ca

Note About Tour Spoilers – 1 April 2006

Well, only two days left for the Westlife Face To Face Tour 2006 to kick off in Belfast!! Bring it on! J This means there will be new pictures, the setlist and news on the tour by Monday.

I know that many people don’t want to know anything about the tour before they see it themselves so all the pictures, news and anything else about the tour will be on the Tours Page…

Of course I’ll be mentioning the updates on the Tour here, on the main page, so that everyone who wants can go to the Tour page and see them. I will just not be posting them on the main page because there are fans who want to keep the whole concert as a surprise.

Villy

Westlife Got CD:UK’s All Time No.1 – 1 April 2006

CD:UK had its last program today as it’s closing… They showed the Top all time CD:UK appearances and at the No.1 was Westlife’s performance of Flying Without Wings!! J Also, Westlife had the most appearances on CD:UK – 40 – and the most CD:UK number ones – 13 – . Westlife beat U2, Robbie Williams, Coldplay and loads more to the best ever performance on CD:UK.

Congratulations Westlife!! And we’ll miss CD:UK… It was a great program.

Credit/Source: CD:UK

Mark, Kevin, Kian and Jodi VIDEO! 2006 Mardi Gras Parade – 31 March 2006

Hello everyone! Sorry for not updating yesterday… I had troubles with my PC…

You can download a video of Mark, Kevin, Kian and Jodi from when they were in Madri Gras in Australia! It’s funny as they are all a bit too drunk…

Go here to download it! It’s the first video on that page. You rightclick on the image and save target as. The Westlife part starts on the 6^th minute of the video where Kian talks and then it shows all of them and finally a chat with Mark and Kevin.

Exclusive from the Bobby Goldsmith Glamstand
Rob brings you the highlights of the 2006 Mardi Gras parade from the Boby Goldsmith Foundation's Glamstands. With special EXCLUSIVE guests Westlife plus a tonne of other superstars.

Credit/Source: www.guidetogay.com