POP superstars Westlife have been offered a top pay deal for their
comeback tour early next year.
The band have been lured back on the stage with the promise of a pounds 700,000
pay day for each member. Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily
are set to top the charts with their first pop album in nearly two years.
They will then embark on a 60-date European tour performing at venues including
The Point, Odyssey Arena in Belfast and the new Wembley. A source close to the
band said: "The big money has been offered for the next tour because the record
industry believes Westlife can be bigger than ever.
"They've been away for a while but there's no other pop band around to rival
them. They've been offered big money but promoters will get their money back with
huge ticket sales."
The singers have been locked in the recording studios for the last six months
and have recorded a Christmas duet with Diana Ross which is already favourite
for the festive No1.
They will release Irish song-writer Brendan Graham's US hit You Lift Me Up for
their first single in two years.
The single release next month will be accompanied by a huge publicity blitz
around Ireland and the UK.
They will appear on over 50 TV and radio programmes and perform a number of
special shows in record stores around the country.
Shane Filan said: "Within a few weeks everyone will know that Westlife are back
- big time.
"We have never been so hungry for success. It's like we are starting out from
the beginning all over again. We can't wait to get out there and start performing. It's a very exciting time. We want No1 hits from this album and we've got some
great songs."
Westlife have notched up a string of No1s over the past five years with hits
such as Uptown Girl and Queen of My Heart.
Kian Egan added: "People didn't expect us to still be around by now but we've
got a couple more years in us at least.
As long as we are all getting on then there's no reason we can't keep this
going."
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