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3rd May 2004 [Article from 24th April]

source: icnewcastle.co.uk

Westlife Wow Newcastle

Irish boyband Westlife returned to a packed Newcastle Arena last night for the first time since the departure of Brian McFadden.

It was the first night of three sell out gigs and by Sunday more than 30,000 fans will have seen the boys in action.

Met with screams and cheers, Shane, Mark, Kian and Nicky arrived on stage wearing 1940s style suits and launched into a Michael Jackson-influenced dance routine for Turnaround before continuing with a rendition of My Girl.

What Makes A Man followed before they introduced themselves to the mixed crowd who were delighted to welcome the band.

The excellent World Of Our Own was next, but there was a lull during the boring Flying Without Wings.

After a short blast of Swear It Again and a bit of chat, Uptown Girl got everyone singing. The usually perfect Shane didn't appear to be on top form during this song, but the audience didn't seem to mind.

The series of cover versions continued including Help by The Beatles, I'll Be There For You by The Rembrandts, and fun renditions of Wake Me Up Before You Go Go by Wham! and That's The Way (I Like It) by KC And The Sunshine Band.

When the boys sang Tonight, it was the first time Bryan and his gravelly vocals were sorely missed.

Some older material wouldn't have gone amiss, and apart from the sparky Kian, the boys appeared to be almost programmed and often didn't even smile. If only they would do something wild for once, even if it's only wearing clothes which don't match

With an encore of Hey Whatever, My Love, sung to a lucky Gateshead woman, and Mandy, Westlife promised to return.

source: Unknow

Westlife @ Manchester Evening News Arena

SAD to say, but there is something unmistakably Basil Fawlty about Westlife's current Turnaround tour. Not that the cheeky Irish chappies bear even the slightest resemblance to the hapless hotelier.

 No, the similarity extends to one Fawlty Towers moment only. However, where Basil insisted on not mentioning the war, for Westlife there was a rather different taboo - Bryan McFadden.

True, he may have been part of their close-knit fraternity for years, smiling sweetly for the cameras and belting out those saccharine-sweet hits.

But, as the first member of the boy band to jump ship in order to spend more time with his Queen of the Jungle wife, Kerry, it seems Bryan's name is now strictly off limits.

Instead, the rest of the band - Kian, Shane, Mark and Nicky - used their sell-out gig at the M.E.N. Arena to assure us that they are quite happy as a foursome, thank you very much.

Just don't mention Bryan. Or splitting up. It's just not! going to happen. They're unbreakable, they say. But, while the lads seemed to put a great deal of effort into proving they could cut it as a quartet, including a tribute to the original Fab Four with a cover of The Beatles' classic Help!, there was just something not quite right.

Of course, they did their best, treating the audience to a selection of their greatest hits, with some fancy footwork and fireworks along the way. And the fans, around 16,000 of them, in fact, did seem to love every minute of it.

But something was definitely missing. Perhaps it was Bryan's famously cheeky antics that gave the whole group that twinkly-eyed charm.

Now that he's not there, proceedings certainly seem a lot more serious. And you know what happened to the Spice Girls when they went down that path. Not to mention Take That.

Looks like the writing is on the wall.

26th April 2004 [Article from 16th April]

source: Daily Record

Westlife Promise Best Gig Ever

Westlife's Nicky Byrne has promised fans will see them at their best ever when they hit Glasgow's SECC tonight despite Bryan McFadden's recent departure.

The Irish superstars who are performing a week long stint at the arena believe their current show will be a five star affair, even though they have been trimmed down to a four piece since Bryan's decision to quit.

And Nicky says Westlife will carry on performing for as long as fans want them to.

'You've got to move on and, as much as we wish Bryan had stayed, the shows are going brilliant.

'The songs are sounding great, but it is difficult. We've dished out Bryan's vocals and we're confident everything will sound just as good.

'If the fans decide the records aren't good enough in the next year or so, then Westlife probably will fade.

'But if they like the music we will hang around for a long time because we are over a crossroads and can reach out to an older audience.

'We feel like a different band, of course. We have definitely lost a part of Westlife, but we will work even harder now to make sure the shows are special.'

Nicky admitted all the remaining members of Westlife himself, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan have considered 'throwing in the towel'.

He added: 'Over the years, we've all managed to weather the thoughts of leaving.

'But Bryan does have two young children and wants to spend more time with his wife and two kids.

'He'd been away for six years so you have to respect any man who wants to spend more time with his family.

'It never crossed my mind to throw in the towel when Bryan quit and the four of us who were left all agreed we wanted to carry on.

'It's not a farewell tour. I can put my hand on my heart and say that.

'It's business as usual and the fans should know that. We are a four piece as of now.

'There's always been battles with Westlife whether a chart battle or defending accusations of splitting up. Things happen everyday in Westlife. We have a mountain to climb, but we're halfway up it now.

'For example, it's total nonsense that there was a bust up and that Bryan has a drink problem.'

Nicky says he is so sure of Westlife's future, he has put off plans of his own to start a family with wife Georgina.

He said: 'The wives, children and girlfriends, along with the fans, are the people who matter to us.

'Those are the people we have a relationship with.

'Georgina and I sat down and talked about what our plans were regarding kids and whatever.

'I would rather the band was over before we had kids or, at least, we were less busy.

'Over the years, Westlife have been successful and we are enjoying it, so there is plenty of time for kids.'

31st March 2004

source: The Sun (UK)

Bryan is Dead & Gone

WESTLIFE have officially killed off former band member BRYAN McFADDEN by declaring: “As far as we’re concerned, he’s dead and gone.”

Singer NICKY BYRNE admitted he and the rest of the band were devastated by Bryan’s shock departure and have turned their backs on him to succeed as a foursome.

In an exclusive, emotional interview in Belfast — after the group’s opening gig of their world tour without Bryan — a furious Nicky told me: “When he first told us, it was like a knife through the heart and I’ll never be able to explain that feeling.

“I spent so much time trying to talk him round you wouldn’t believe — but there was no way any of us could change his mind."

Nicky said he and the others — SHANE FILAN, MARK FEEHILY and KIAN EGAN — made a deliberate effort not to mention Bryan during the concert.

He said: “If we keep mentioning him on stage it will only make our fans think we aren’t moving on and that’s what we have to do.

“As far as Westlife are concerned, Bryan’s dead and gone.

"Personally we all still speak to him — I was texting him this morning. But he has made his decision and it’s a fresh start for us as a foursome.

"We’ve all been like brothers for the past five years and not having him around now is different — but there is no point dwelling on it.”

The show at the Odyssey Arena was a typical Westlife affair with costume changes, cover songs and fireworks.

But there was no sign on stage that the band missed Bryan and the fans didn’t seem to be in mourning either. They loved it.

The boys did mention the split during their gig, but only to thank their record label bosses, manager LOUIS WALSH and their families for their support. Bryan’s name was never uttered.

Nicky, who admits he’s found it hardest to cope since Bryan left earlier this month, also claimed it was the “kick in the a**e” the band needed to keep them at the top of the charts.

He added: “I wouldn’t say we were getting complacent, but we did need to raise our game.

“BLUE arrived on the scene and, although they haven’t come close to competing with us, they did make us realise we will have competition.”

30th March 2004

source: The Sun (UK)

Caught Live: Westlife

WESTLIFE last night did their first live gig without BRYAN McFADDEN.
The quartet went down a storm in an emotionally-charged show at Belfast Oddysey Arena – and their charismatic ex-singing partner never even got a mention.

The nearest they came was when the band appealed to the 8,000 crowd: “We need your support more than ever.”

The boys, KIAN EGAN, SHANE FILAN, MARK FEEHILY and NICKY BYRNE, appeared dressed in mobster-style white suits.

Kian said: “Thank you very much for coming on such an important night for us. We could not have picked a better place to start our world tour.”

But any disappointment disappeared as the lads belted out 20 songs, including the hits World Of Our Own, Flying Without Wings and Mandy.

Bryan had called the band to wish them well and to say he would be seeing them at the venue on Friday.

Judging by the reception his former bandmates received, he might regret his decision to quit.