OCTOBER 2006
My Cod! Westlife are in my chippy!
THE chips could have been down for staff at a Birmingham chippy - after they
mistook pop super-stars Westlife for a tribute band. The hungry heart-throb boy
band, who have sold millions of records worldwide, were partly disguised when
the popped into George & Helen's, in Harborne this week. Staff vaguely
recognised them and asked if they were a Westlife tribute band. But the pop
superstars laughed it off and insisted they were the real thing.
They called into the chippy after leaving an interview at a Birmingham radio
station. Owner Kostas Georgiou was behind the counter when the pop idols came
in. He said: "When I first looked up I just saw these huge guys coming in. Their
faces were covered and I really thought that I would have to have keep my eye on
them.
"I was hoping they would be relaxed and not cause any trouble, then I noticed
who they were. Nobody recognised them at first but then one of my assistants
cottoned on and asked if they were part of a tribute band. They laughed and just
said: 'No, we ARE Westlife'. They had just come from the BRMB radio station and
said they fancied some fish and chips. Word must have got around the studio
about how good our chips are."
Band members Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan arrived at the chip shop at just after
9pm on Tuesday. Father-of-two Kostas, aged 46, and his sister Penny Georgiou,
aged 42, run the shop for their parents George and Helen. But Penny, who is said
to be a "mad Westlife fan"' was on a day off when her idols came in.
"She is a Westlife fan, but she was not there on the day," Kostas said. "When I
told her they had been in, she was gut sick. She should not have taken the day
off at all."
And George is sure the boys enjoyed their food - three portions of fish and
chips and one portion of roe and chips."They were really down to earth," he said. "And they wouldn't accept freebies
either. I also asked them to serve in the shop but they wouldn't do it!"
The shop, in Court Oak Road, Harborne was opened by George and Helen in 1967.
They retired from running it full-time two years ago. It was recently reviewed
in the Birmingham Mail and given a glowing four stars by the newspaper's 'Cheap
as Chips' expert Graham Young.
source - birmingham mail
posted - 30th Oct
Westlife in Christmas Campaign
Westlife are the stars of a new £25 million Christmas campaign for Woolworths.
The chart-topping Irish boy band will appear in a new TV ad singing White
Christmas. The ad, set in a fantasy Woolies store, will be broadcast from
Wednesday.
Woolworths marketing director Stephen Robertson said: "We love Westlife at
Woolies.
"With 13 number one singles they are one of the biggest bands ever and they
connect very well with our customers. On set they had a lot of fun and were
naturals when it came to acting." The band follows in the footsteps of X Factor
winner Shayne Ward, who was the star of the store's Easter TV campaign.
source - entertainment today
posted - 27th October
Westlife mistaken for gang
Members of Irish boy band WESTLIFE were mistaken for a gang of hoodlums by the
terrified owner of a fish and chip restaurant in Birmingham, England recently.
FLYING WITHOUT WINGS singers NICKY BYRNE and SHANE FILAN had walked into eatery
George And Helen's with a bouncer - and because they wrapped scarves around
their faces to avoid being recognised shop owner KOSTAS GEORGIOU thought the
worst. He says, "They looked really intimidating and we were worried."
source - contactmusic.com
posted - 27th October
Westlife TV and radio promo
In the coming month Westlife will here, there and everywhere
promoting their new single and album releases. The boys will be appearing on
BBC's Duet Impossible popping in for a quick chat with those Loose Women and
performing at this years Children In Need. For full details of the where's and
when's, see below or visit the Dates
section.
October...
Thurs 26th – Duet Impossible, performing 'Pretty Woman', BBC1
November...
Thurs 2nd – Loose Women, ITV1
Mon 6th – Steve Wright, interview, BBC Radio 2, 11.30am
Fri 10th – The Late Late Show, Dublin
Sun 12th – Something For The Weekend, BBC2
Fri 17th – Children In Need, BBC1
Westlife will also be doing a countrywide radio tour which kicks off on Tuesday 24th October. There are oodles of shows lined up, so if you’re in the vicinity, be sure to get yourself down to the stations and lend the lads your support. Mark and Kian will be heading North while Shane and Nicky will front Southern radio campaigns.
TUES 24TH - NORTH - Mark and Kian
8.00am - Interview with breakfast presenter George Bowie, Clyde 1, Glasgow
Between 8 - 9am - Interview with Mike Riddoch from Clyde 2, Glasgow
9.00am - Interview with Daily Record
10.30am - Interview with Mel Walker from West FM, Ayr
11.00am - Interview with Johnny Hero from Downtown Radio, County Down
11.15am - Interview with John O’Neil at BBC Ulster
1.20pm - On the Guy and Debbie show at Real Radio Leeds
1.40pm - Interview with Dougie Jackson from Real Radio Scotland
3.15pm - On Fiona Hardie’s show at Northsound 1, Aberdeen
3.30pm - Interview with Mike Richardson from Tay FM, Dundee
3.45pm - On Paul Brownlee show from Radio Borders
4.00pm - Interview with Mark Martin at Forth 1, Edinburgh
TUES 24TH - WEST - Shane and Nicky
8.00am - Interview with Jase and Mel, at Red Dragon, Cardiff
9.20am - Interview with Ian & Angela at Real Radio, Cardiff
11.00am - Album Show interview with John Peters for UKRD Group, Bristol
11.45am - Interview with Dave Barrett at Radio BBC Bristol
12.30pm - Breakfast interview with Bush & Troy at GWR FM, Bristol
12.45pm - Drivetime interview with Dan Mills at GWR FM, Bristol
1.00pm - ‘My Playlist’ interview with Sally and Kevin on Music Control at GWR
FM, Bristol
1.30pm - Phoner to Hereward FM
4.15pm - Interview with Matt Wilkinson at Heart 100.7, Birmingham
4.40pm - Afternoon show interview with Danny Kelly at BBC WM, Birmingham #
5.30pm - Interview with Russ Morris at BRMB, Birmingham
6.15pm - TV interview with Steve Clamp and Sameena Alikahm at ITV Central
WED 25TH - NORTHWEST - Mark and Kian
8.00am - Interview with breakfast presenter Darren Procter from Century FM
105.4, Manchester
8.20am - Interview with Scott and Lisa from Century FM North East
9.15am - On ‘Top 10 favourite songs’ with Jamie Wood for The Hits syndicated
show
9.30am - Interview with Dave Ditchfield at Key 103, Manchester
9.50am - Interview with Nicksy for the Late Night Talk Show at Key 103,
Manchester
10.00am - Interview with breakfast presenter Simon Logan at Radio Aire, Leeds
10.15am - Interview with Alex Darby for The Hits syndicated show at Key 103,
Manchester
11.45pm - Interview with breakfast presenter Tony Horne at Metro FM, Newcastle
12.05pm - Interview with Simon Ross at Radio City, Liverpool
2.30pm - Interview with b/fast show presenter Andy Goulding at Signal 1,
Stoke-on-Trent
3.00pm - Interview with b/fast show presenter Jacqui Blay at Pulse FM, West
Yorkshire
3.15pm - Interview with b/fast show presenter John Marshall at Lincs FM,
Lincolnshire
3.30pm - Interview with presenter Graham Mack at TFM, Teeside
3.45pm - Interview at The Wolf, Wolverhampton
WED 25TH - SOUTHEAST - Shane and Nicky
8.00am - Breakfast interview with Steve Power at Wave 105, Hampshire
9.10am - Interview with Julian Clegg at BBC Solent, Southampton
10.40am - Interview with Danny and Nicky at Southern FM
11am - Interview with Steve Sullivan from Invicta
11.15am - Phoner to Hereward FM (TBC)
2.30pm - Interview with Lucio at Capital for HIT40UK, London
3.45pm - Interview with Naomi Wheddon at IRN.
5.00pm - Interview with Michael Lander from Entertainment News, London
source - westlife.com
posted - 23th Oct
Westlife back boyband
Westlife have tipped boyband Upper Street to succeed as their make-or-break
single hits the shops. Upper Street have been formed on MTV's reality TV show,
Totally Boyband, and consist of various members of old pop groups. The band
features Danny Wood of New Kids On The Block, Bradley McIntosh of S Club 7, Dane
Bowers from Another Level and Jimmy Constable of 911 and they released their
debut single 'The One' on Monday. Critics have dismissed the group as a bad
idea, but the boys have been backed by the members of Westlife - one of the
biggest selling boybands of all time.
Nicky Byrne told MTV: "It's brilliant that you have all these bands coming back.
If I'd been out of the business for 10 years I'd really miss it and I'd be dying
to get back into it." Mark Feehily added: "We know Bradley and Dane - they're
really great guys." Kian Egan said: "I'm really happy for Bradley. Ever since S
Club ended he's been really keen to keep the music going. Out of everyone in his
old band he was the one who seemed to really want it."
source - MTV news
posted 23rd October
Westlife back growing calls for city arena
THEY can claim to be the biggest arena tour act, having performed to more than
two million fans. And today Westlife backed the Yorkshire Evening Post
campaign to build an entertainment complex in Leeds. The band, who have sold 35
million albums, will be heading out on the road for their seventh arena tour
next year- but the city is not on the show schedule. The Love Tour 2007
includes stop-offs in Manchester, Birmingham and the Hallam FM Arena in
Sheffield next spring.
Westlife's Shane Filan said: "Leeds is a great city especially for shopping. I
have stayed at Oulton Hall before with Gillian (his wife) and we have been out
in the city.
"The only thing it's missing is an arena. We would definitely want to play there
without a doubt. We could do a few shows in Leeds and a few shows in Sheffield.
The big question I suppose is the type of venue. It needs to be big enough and
built well. I'm sure it would prove a big draw and make Leeds a lot more
attractive to artists."
Our Leeds Needs An Arena campaign has taken a step forward with news that
a draft report on the project has been presented to Leeds City Council. But more
information on key issues, including possible sites and funding is needed before
further progress can be made.
A final version of the report, produced by London based PMP, is expected to
answer those queries and be back with the council for consideration by
mid-November. It will then go before the council's executive board by
mid-December. Other famous names to back the Leeds Needs An Arena campaign
include Brighouse rockers Embrace and Guiseley based jazz sensation Peter Grant.
source - Yorkshire evening post
posted - 18th October
Second London And Newcastle Dates
Tickets are on sale now at
www.livenation.co.uk for two new dates
on Westlife’s 2007 tour: Wembley Arena on 1st April and Newcastle Arena on 4th
April.
source - westlife.com
posted - 13th Oct
New Website
To coincide with Westlife's upcoming new album, we'll be bringing you a brand new official website. And what's more, we want you to tell us what you'd like to see on it! Put your thinking caps on and email your suggestions to westlifewebsite@sonybmg.com - then keep an eye on westlife.com over the next few weeks...
source - westlife.com
posted - 13th Oct
Westlife's New Releases
Westlife will be releasing a brand new single and album next month. The Love
Album, out on 13th November, is a collection of eleven of the most classic and
memorable love songs of all time, chosen by the band themselves. Long-term
collaborator Steve Mack produced the album, which was recorded in London, Dublin
and Sweden during breaks on this year’s Face To Face tour and, amongst its many
highlights, features a duet with Delta Goodrem on ‘All Out Of Love’.
The first single to be taken from The Love Album is ‘The Rose’, originally a
huge hit for Bette Midler in 1980. It’s set for release on 6th November. The
tracklisting for The Love Album is as follows:
1. The Rose
2. Total Eclipse Of The Heart
3. All Out Of Love
4. Light Up My Life
5. Easy
6. You Are So Beautiful (To Me)
7. Have You Ever Been In Love
8. Love Can Build A Bridge
9. The Dance
10. All Or Nothing
11. You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling
source - westlife.com
posted - 10th Oct
New TV Dates
Westlife will be appearing all over your screens over the next few weeks as they’ve lined up a number of TV appearances.Here's what to look out for - we’ll have more coming soon… The band will also be recording a performance and chat on the Sharon Osbourne show on Tuesday 17th October – transmission date to follow.
Saturday 7th October – Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1 (performance)
Tuesday 10th October – GMTV, ITV1 (performance and interview)
Tuesday 10th October – Strictly Come Dancing spin-off, BBC2 (performance and
chat)
source - westlife.com
posted - 5th Oct
New Birmingham Date
A second Birmingham date has been added to Westlife’s 2007 tour. The band will play at the NEC on 24th March and tickets are available to buy now by clicking here. For a full rundown of where Westlife will be playing, head over to the Dates section on www.westlife.com
source - westlife.com
posted - 4th Oct
More Tour Dates Added
Four new dates have been added to Westlife’s 2007 tour. Tickets for all shows are available now from www.livenation.co.uk
14th March – Sheffield Hallam FM Arena
20th March – Cardiff International Arena
7th April – Glasgow SECC
11th April – Aberdeen Exhibition & Conference Centre
source - westlife.com
posted - 4th Oct
New Brighton Date
A second Brighton date has been added to Westlife's 2007 tour. Tickets for
Thursday 29th March are on sale now -
click here
to buy.
source - westlife.com
posted - 4th Oct
The Love Tour 2007
Today, Westlife announce details for The Love Tour 2007. They'll be playing 11
UK arena shows, performing tracks from their forthcoming studio album The Love
Album, due for release this November, as well as all the hits and favourites
from over the years.To access the exclusive pre-sale, visit www.livenation.co.uk/westlife,
where you'll find ticketing details for every show.
Here's the full rundown of dates:
12th March Nottingham Arena
13th March Sheffield Hallam Arena
16th March Manchester MEN Arena
19th March Cardiff CIA
23rd March Birmingham NEC
25th March Bournemouth BIC
28th March Brighton Centre
31st March Wembley Arena
3rd April Newcastle Metro Arena
6th April Glasgow SECC
10th April Aberdeen AECC
source - westlife.com
posted - 1st Oct
Irish Tour Dates
Westlife have added two Irish dates to The Love Tour 2007. On 19th and 20th
April next year, they will perform at Dublin's Point Theatre.Tickets go on sale
on Friday 6th October from 9am from the following ticket outlets:
In person: from 99 Ticketmaster outlets nationwide
24hr hotlines: (ROI) 0818 719 300 (NI) 0870 243 4455
Online: www.ticketmaster.ie
source - westlife.com
posted - 1st Oct