29th July 2004

source: Mirror

Brian McFadden: Bryan's West Strife

SINGER Bryan McFadden is to launch his solo career with an attack on life with his old band.

We can reveal that, like Robbie Williams's first solo effort after Take That, the ex-Westlife singer's debut will tell how much he hated being in the Irish group.

Real To Me is scheduled for release on September 6... and it has been penned by Robbie's ex-songwriter, Guy Chambers.

And in a further bid to dump his boy-band persona, he's changing his name from Bryan to, er, Brian - which is how it was originally spelt.

We're told he only started spelling it with a "y" because it was easier when signing autographs. That old classic.

Since quitting the band, he hasn't had a bad word to say about "best pals" Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne but for the first time, he reveals how desperate he was to get out.

In the song, which was aired on London's Capital Radio earlier this week, he sings: "Bull**it dinners and the free champagne/ men in suits who think they know it all/No one knows me but they know my name/None of it's real to me. Hotel lobby to the airplane/another country but they all look the same..."

Explaining the track to us yesterday, Bry - sorry, Bri - said: "It's everything I hated about being in Westlife, from the hectic schedule, showbiz parties and non-stop travelling all over the place, and boring record company meetings.

"It's about feeling trapped everywhere I went, from the cars to the hotel rooms.

"It's only now I have kids that I realise what the important things in life are."

Capital DJ and Pop Idol judge Neil Fox is a fan of the single.

"It's a great song with great vocals," he told us. "It has the Guy Chambers hallmark sound, which worked for Robbie.

"If there is one negative, it's the bitterness of the lyrics, slagging off the men in suits and how hard if was being in a boy-band."

Dad-of-two Bryan, doh Brian, walked out of the band in March, saying he wanted to spend more time with the kids and wife Kerry.

He landed a multi-million pound record deal with music veteran Richard Griffiths, while the marketing and distribution will be carried out by music giants Sony.

Pop icon Robbie - now the biggest chart star in the country - signed a £1million deal with EMI records after leaving Take That and his first single was a cover of George Michael's Freedom.

He even altered the lyrics, leaving fans in no doubt about his animosity towards his former band.

And if Briiiiiiiian keeps taking leaves out of Robbie's book, the only way it up.

source: Westlife.com

Album News!

For the first time in Westlife's history their latest UK album release is not scheduled for November(!). Instead, the new album is set to be available in stores at the end of October. Included on the new album will be a duet with Donna Summer entitled 'No More Tears', originally a number 1 hit for Donna Summer and Barbra Streisand way back in 1979. Westlife have also covered an old song by 10cc, 'I'm Not In Love', wich will be included on the new album.

  Fans will be able to purchase the track 'No More Tears' featuring Westlife and Donna Summer as it is released in the UK on the 21st June as part of the CD "Discomania". Westlife have already appeared on the "Discomania" TV show in the UK, performing the song with Donna. The track will also be included on Donna's latest album, out in the US in October. It is also quite possible that the song will be a b-side of Westlife's next single.

source: Daily Post

Westlife @ Summer Pops, Liverpool, 28th July 2004

FROM boys to men: six years, 12 number ones and 80 million records after their inception as a boy band, the fully matured Westlife remain the most successful male vocal group ever.

  They have outlived institution-alised pop icons The Osmonds, Take That, NSYNC, Boyzone and even The Jacksons. It's a well known fact that boy bands are a pop species with a limited shelf life, yet Westlife continue to captivate the adoration of a notoriously fickle audience.

  Even after the departure Bryan McFadden in March, Westlife have adapted and evolved into the four-piece which brought fans to Liverpool last night in their droves.

  From the opening of first song Turnaround, the screaming reverberated around the walls of the marquee like a vocal Mexican wave, and did not stop as the lads went on to perform titles spanning their four studio albums.

  The crowd went wild as West-life wended their way through the wistful acoustic balladry of Flying Without Wings, 70s favourite Mandy, and a crotch-thrusting rendition of Wham's Jitterbug.

  Any slightly more infirm members of the audience lost their senses completely, and as emotions ran high there were the trademark tears and hysterical euphoria expected from avid boy band fanatics.

  The pervading mood was that of rapturous appreciation, and just from watching the stage it was obvious why - here was a group of dedicated talented performers working hard to justify their fans' support.

  The simple reason Westlife have been more tenacious than any other boy band is simply because they produce great music, and give it their all.

  And if the reaction of the crowd to the last act of this year's Pops - they play again tonight - is anything to go by,, the parting words of a band member will ring true: Westlife are unbreakable.
 

source: Daily Record

Westlife Trapped!

Westlife were trapped in a Portakabin for four hours before their Edinburgh Castle gig on Saturday night.

  The band, just back from a four-week holiday, arrived before 4pm and had to stay in their dressing room to avoid being mobbed by fans. Nicky, Shane, Kian and Mark also got a taste of traditional Scottish music when soldiers from the Castle's barracks played their bagpipes during the band's rehearsals.

  Mark said: 'This is the first time we've played Edinburgh but it's definite we'll be back after this.' And in an interview with Forth One's Grant Stott, the boys revealed there were advantages to being a four-piece band.
 

26th July 2004

source: The Sun

This is Your Westlife

WESTLIFE are holding their own version of telly’s Pop Idol to find an unknown to appear on their next album.

How desperate is that? The foursome are looking for a girl singer to record a track in a scheme cooked up by their old boss and the TV show’s judge, SIMON COWELL.

The competition winner will also get to perform the song live on a Westlife TV special.

The competition is undoubtedly a great chance for someone to get their big break. But I can’t help feeling it is a sign that Westlife are faltering.

In their five-year career the band have released five multi-platinum albums, selling more than 32million records. They have never needed help getting to No1 in the past. Now it seems they are having to resort to publicity stunts to keep their dream alive.

It has certainly been a tough year for the band. Their most charismatic member, BRYAN McFADDEN, quit and a planned album of duets was scrapped — presumably because not enough big stars would collaborate with them.

Which brings us to the open auditions idea. KIAN EGAN, NICKY BYRNE, SHANE FILAN and MARK FEEHILY, are launching a hotline number — 0905 998 8888 — for wannabes today. Anyone can call to leave their details and sing a favourite song, at a cost of 50p a minute.

Westlife will listen to the entries and choose a shortlist of candidates before auditions in London and Manchester on August 24 and 25.

The winner will be announced on the TV special, called You’re The One, later this year.

The CD, out at Christmas, will feature covers of songs by Hollywood’s famed “Rat Pack” of Fifties crooners FRANK SINATRA, DEAN MARTIN and SAMMY DAVIES JR.

Simon Cowell, who will release it on his S Records label, said: “This is the ultimate search for a star. The winner gets to sing with Westlife on national television. It may be the launchpad for a successful career.”

Nicky added: “It’s a great opportunity to bond with our fans and to give someone the amazing opportunity that we were given.”

My only question is who will benefit more — the winner or Westlife?

23rd July 2004

source: The Sun

Bryan's New Single

BRACE yourself ROBBIE WILLIAMS – there’s a new contender spoiling for a race to the top of the charts.

Former WESTLIFE warbler BRYAN McFADDEN has put his boy band days behind him and is about to burst back on to the pop scene solo.

Or, judging by my pics, he looks like he could be wheezing back.

My snapper spotted Bryan in London’s Primrose Hill yesterday doing a lot of running around on the video shoot for debut single Real To Me.

The now slimline singer was looking dashing in a black suit.

But he still needs to get fit. The girls chasing Bryan left him gasping for breath. It’s a far cry from the gentle strolling with emotion he helped make famous in every Westlife video.

And the good news is Bryan’s music will be completely different to his old band’s, too.

A pal of Bryan’s told me: “The new material is a lot more like OASIS than what he was used to with Westlife.

“He’s going all out to be the biggest male solo artist in the UK – Robbie had better be on his toes.”

I’m glad Bryan’s kissed goodbye to the soppy ballad strategy. But I’m worried the video will look like a BENNY HILL sketch.

The single is due out in the autumn.

12th July 2004

source: Ananova

Kerry Knew Nothing of Bryan Leaving

Kerry McFadden says she had no idea that husband Brian wanted to leave Westlife, until five days before he quit.

The singer left thousands of Westlife fans devastated when he sensationally quit one of the world's most successful boy-bands in March this year,

"I swear I didn't know he was leaving until five days before it was announced," says Kerry. "When he told me I thought, 'Oh my God, what on earth are you doing?' but Bryan is one of these people who, once he's made up his mind up - that's it.

"He'd mentioned it six months before but I never really thought anything of it. When he told me for real I was heartbroken - it has been our whole life. I reckon I was more upset than Bryan was!"

The straight-talking 23-year-old admits that although Bryan's shock departure from Westlife bought back painful memories of the day she left Atomic Kitten for good, she's ecstatic that he'll have more time for his young family

"Now he can make his own decisions about having time off which he couldn't do before - funnily enough at the minute he's really busy with writing his solo album but it'll all calm down again soon," she smiles.

"I wouldn't rule out us working together again, but it's nice that I have my job and he has his job. We can both come home at night and tell each other what we've been up to - it keeps things more interesting," she adds.

And as the nation's favourite jungle celebrity, it's not just 23-year-old Bryan who has faced a life-changing career move of late. In August, Kerry will get her first taste of acting when she starts work on an Irish film called Showbands.

"Acting's my ideal job. I'm really excited about Showbands - as well as being a bit nervous.

"But they wouldn't ask me be in the film if I couldn't do it I'm sure," she says confidently.

7th July 2004

source: Showbiz Ireland

Bryan & Kerry - Party Kings of Miss Ireland

The Miss Ireland ceremony has been turned into the party event of the year and one not to be missed - this year Bryan and Kerry McFadden joined other VIPs who just love to go crazy at the City West Hotel annual beauty pageant...

If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a ticket to the Miss Ireland finals in City West Hotel over the weekend you may have noticed that the celebrity partying got more attention than the actual ceremony itself!

With a big ShowBiz turnout, plush surroundings, lots of beautiful people, free booze, live music, and the McFaddens in attendance Miss Ireland 2004 was always going to be a crazy night.

Miss Donegal Natasha Nigairbheith beat favourites Roz Lipsett and Robbie Keane's girlfriend Claudine Palmer to get the coveted Newbridge Silverware Crown, which was last worn by the current Miss World Rosanna Davison, to become Miss Ireland 2004.

The stunning 21 year old Gweedore native was chosen by celeb judges Samantha Mumba and Yvonne Keating to represent Ireland in the Miss World finals next year.

But after the winner was picked the real partying began with Bryan and Kerry McFadden at the fore grabbing their fellow VIP guests Ronan Keating and Samantha Mumba up onto the stage to dance.

At one stage Kerry even joined the live band The Divas with slightly drunken renditions of I Will Survive and It's Raining Men to the delight of the crowd.

After a very late and enjoyable night at the City West Hotel we're sure everyone to who attended had a sore head - not least when they looked at the photos in the Sunday papers!

Well, here's looking ahead to next year's Party ;-)

30th June 2004

source: the Sun

Vest Life

IT’S amazing how a simple vest can cover up the dreaded belly bulge – as WESTLIFE’s SHANE FILAN and NICKY BYRNE amply demonstrate on holiday in the States.

Over the years the boy band have made heaps of dough – and most of it seems to have ended up around the lads’ tums.

But you’d hardly know by looking at my picture of Nicky and Shane as they enjoy a stroll along Miami’s South Beach with wives Georgina and Gillian.

Unfortunately the boys then spoil the effect by whipping off their vests, releasing more solo material than perhaps they intended.

But then Nicky spotted my snapper – and sucked in his belly for all he was worth.

You don’t fool us, boys. Whether or not Westlife’s career has gone pear- shaped, your bods certainly have.