OCTOBER 2007
Westlife In The Press
There are three great Westlife features to look out for in this weekend’s papers.First up, get yourself a copy of the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine on Saturday where you’ll find an interview and photo shoot. Then on Sunday there are two great features to collect – a chat with Nicky in the Sunday Express’s S magazine and an interview in the News Of The World’s Sunday magazine with the whole band.
source - westlife.com
posted - 29th October
Harrods Signing Event
If you can make it to London on 5th November then you’re in for a real treat:
Westlife will be signing copies of Back Home at Harrods! The boys will
arrive at the ultra-swanky London department store on Brompton Road, SW1, by
horse-drawn carriage at 9.30am. They’ll then move to the HMV area to begin the
signing, which will be taking place from 10am – 11am on a first come, first
served basis. Those who turn up will be handed a special Harrods black
envelope containing a Westlife card. Check very carefully inside, because if
yours also has a golden ticket, you’ve won a place at an exclusive performance
afterwards! Those lucky winners will then attend the special private gig,
starting at 11am and finishing at 11.45am, after which they’ll receive a
fantastic goody bag. It promises to be a really incredible day – we look
forward to seeing you there! And as of Monday there'll be snippets of the album
up on .com with videos of the lads discussing each song
source - westlife.com
posted - 26th October
Third Belfast Date Coming Soon
Westlife have added a third date at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena.
Tickets for Wednesday 27th February will go on sale at 9am on Saturday 27th
October from www.ticketmaster.ie, or
call the venue on (028) 9073 9074 For a full rundown of their 2008 shows head to
the Dates area.
source - westlife.com
posted - 25th October
Westlife Update
After a hectic few days on their regional radio tour, the
boys took a few well-earned days off and spent the weekend relaxing.Yesterday
they appeared on the Paul O’Grady Show, which they really enjoyed, and would
like to send a big thanks to everyone who turned up to show their support. That
evening they presented two awards at the Wellchild Awards, a charity supported
by Prince Harry that provides care and assistance to sick children and their
families. Today, the guys are busy with international promotion and press
interviews, with tomorrow dedicated to regional ISDN and online interviews, plus
a chat with Heart FM (to be broadcast at a later date). The boys will then have
a few days to themselves, before performing at the Emap Radio gig in Aberdeen (a
special event for prize winners) on Sunday 28th October – the day before ‘Home’
is released! To pre-order your copy,
click here.
source - westlife.com
posted - 25th October
Win Tour Tickets & A Signed Disc!
How do you fancy getting your hands on a signed Westlife
platinum disc plus a pair of tickets to their upcoming UK tour? Head over
here to watch a short message from the boys and find out how to be in with a
chance of winning this top prize. And while you’re there, don’t forget to
pre-order your copy of the new album!
source - westlife.com
posted - 25th October
Westlife In Royal Mail Ad
The Westlife males have teamed up with the Royal Mail! Kian,
Nicky, Mark and Shane are the faces of a brand new TV ad, which you can check
out by clicking
here.
source - westlife.com
posted - 25th October
Westlife plan to 'crack' America
They have had hits in most countries across the world - clocking up a staggering 38 million album sales - but the one place Westlife haven't completely cracked is the US market. However, the boys still have that goal on their radar.
"We have nobody over there pushing for us but we also
didn't have the songs recently," Nicky confessed. "If there's ever an advantage
of getting old in Westlife, it's the America market. For us to go any earlier we
are really just a typical boy band to them. They don't know the history. If we went
on Oprah Winfrey or Jay Leno with a cracking song that market can easily open
up."
Shane revealed that they are thinking that the time will be right when they
create their next album in two years' time.
"I think we would but not at the moment," he added. "Probably in a couple of
years when we've got a good enough album to it because of our plans for next
year to have a year off. After that year off we plan to come back and make the
best album we have ever made. Basically try and take on everyone."
source - this is Scotland
posted - 21st October
Westlife split claims are absolute rubbish
In an exclusive interview with The Sligo Champion, Westlife star, Shane Filan
has dismissed as ‘absolute rubbish’ reports that the band is splitting up and
has said he sees no reason why they will not still be recording and performing
together in ten years time. While confirming that the band is taking a
lengthy rest at the end of a gruelling world tour next July, Mr. Filan stressed
that this did not signal the beginning of the end but rather a fresh impetus for
a group that has already set staggering records of achievement over the past
nine years.
He said that the break, which would be for no more than six or eight months,
would allow band members time to ‘chill out’ with their families.
“I wouldn’t even call it a break; it’s a rest, a holiday, which we all need
after nine years non-stop work”, he said. “Both professionally and
personally, the rest will be good for us. It gives us more time to prepare for
albums and to get better songs, but also it gives each of us a chance to chill
out with our families. Two of us have young families now, and that’s a factor.
People sometimes forget that we have lost out on our late teenage years and our
early 20’s to a large extent because we’ve been working so hard for nearly 10
years now. We haven’t had that much quality time with our families and friends,
and we feel the time is right to do that now”, he explained.
The world tour which begins in Belfast next February and concludes the following
July will mark the band’s 10th anniversary, making it a perfect time for a
sabbatical. There will be no Werstlife album in 2008 and no tour until at least
2010, but the world’s biggest pop act will remain intact.
“We’ve done nine albums in nine years, which is a feat in itself. Most bands
would regard an album every three years as good going, so there’s probably a
shock reaction when we say we won’t be doing an album next year. But we’re
at the stage where we don’t have to do an album every year. In fact, we believe
the quality will be even better if we take more time, and that’s what we’re
doing. The plan would be maybe to do six albums over the next ten years, rather
than one every year. So that’s all it is, a fresh look at things. I would
say it’s the beginning of a new chapter rather than the beginning of the end.
I can say 100% that Westlife is not breaking up. I see no reason why we can’t
still be here in ten years time. When you look at bands like Take That, who have
come back bigger than ever, you can see there will always be a market for good
pop bands”, Shane added.
Westlife’s new album, Back Home, described by Shane as ‘a great pop record’ will
be released in Ireland on November 2nd, when the boys will perform on The Late
Late Show. They’re also recording a Christmas special with Pat Kenny to be
broadcast on RTE over the festive season and a special show for UTV, which will
be screened on the same night as the X Factor final and Michael Parkinson’s last
ever show
source - Sligo champion
posted - 21st October
Boys think Brian will regret the split
Westlife reckon Brian McFadden will wish he'd never left the band when he sees
them up on stage in Dublin next summer. The remaining 4 lads are planning a show
in Ireland and say it would be great to see their ex-bandmate - who quit in 2004
- in the audience at the gig.
'I'm sure he will want to come and cheer us on,' says Kian. 'He will be there
watching us perform kicking and screaming that he left the band.'
source -Now magazine
posted -18th Oct
We're not clean cut, say Westlife
They are often painted as a clean cut band but Westlife insist they are like any
other group of young men and are "just normal". While many famous faces are
falling off the wagon and going to rehab, Westlife are going from strength to
strength and are soon to release their ninth album, Back Home. Shane Filan says
their attitude is all down to their family life.
"We don't want to let our mums and dads down," he says. "It's the way we are
brought up. That's why I haven't fallen off the wagon.I don't think we look at
ourselves as a pop band," Nicky adds. "We don't do drugs, we don't go out every
night of the week - we are just normal people - as normal as any other bunch of
lads. We have been painted as a bit more clean cut. We've got good manners, but
we're not angels by any means." He adds: "A lot of people have a few drinks and
they're in rehab. It's almost cool to be in rehab."
source -MSN entertainment
posted -18th Oct
Westlife come out swinging in boyband battle
POP kings Westlife yesterday got ready to rumble as Take That make a grab for
their crown. The Irish boys claim to have made their best album in years and
Take That's return has made them more hungry for success. Nicky Byrne told
Email: "It's funny them being back - we got together because of acts like them.
Last year we met them for the first time at the X Factor final and it was a bit
surreal - like the current heavyweight champion of the world meeting the old
former champ. Standing with them I knew I wouldn't be there at all if it wasn't
for those boys. It's great to see them back but we don't want to lose our crown.
Their return made us realise we had to try a bit harder."
Nicky reckons new album Back Home - ready for release on November 5 - contains
the best song they have recorded in years. He said: "It is called Us Against The
World and I think it will be huge. It's our 10-year anniversary in July and this
will set us up for another 10. The album has taken us back to great original pop
songs. It's really boosted how we feel about the band long term."
Nicky admitted Westlife - who headline the ASDA Be Live show at the AECC,
Aberdeen, on October 28 - could well have called it a day this year if they had
listened to their record label. He said: "The label wanted us to do another
concept album - Westlife Go To The Movies but it would have killed us. You have
to take away the business side of it - rather than just picking up our cheque we
wanted to put life into it again. Another record like that would limit us too
much. We want to appeal to people who don't like us with our new album. We knew
we were better than the stuff we were doing. We just had to find the right
producers."
Nicky said the band were on the verge of splitting two years ago when they took
a break after their swing album - which followed Bryan McFadden's exit. It was
with this in mind that Nicky took an acting course in New York. He said: "We
regrouped but had not re-established ourselves properly. I was preparing myself
for the beginning of the end by doing that course. Then we came back with You
Raise Me Up and suddenly we were bigger than ever."
source -Sunday Mail
posted -14th Oct
Its Westlies Kian: we are not splitting...we're going on a world
tour instead
WESTLIFE last night slammed reports they were splitting up and promised: "We'll
still be around for years to come." The singers and their manager Louis
Walsh were fuming at claims they were breaking up next year. Today they
exclusively reveal news of their biggest world tour to Irish Daily Mirror
readers.
Singer Shane Filan, 28, blasted: "We are never going to split up. We're going to
spend a year recording our next album to make it the best ever." And
27-year-old Kian Egan slammed: "It's complete nonsense and there is no truth in
it at all. It's a joke for people to insinuate we are splitting because we have
never been busier. I said I was going to take a holiday next summer and suddenly
it's, 'Westlife to split up.' It is completely misleading to our fans. We always
take a break between albums and this time it is no different. But after a couple
of months we'll be in the studios again. It's just another of those crazy
stories that are exaggerated. I'm pleased to announce we are not splitting - and
I want Irish Mirror readers to be the first to know about our big world tour.
We're going to perform over 60 dates around the globe and will put on our most
spectacular show ever. We're also heading to the Far East and Australia for a
series of big shows. It's going to be one of our biggest tours ever and we can't
wait to get out and perform for the fans again."
And their manager Louis Walsh echoed Kian's protests. He told us: "Westlife will
be around for a long time to come. I've heard about this split story and it is
completely untrue. It gives fans the wrong impression about the band's future.
The lads are very busy and looking forward to their new album and touring again.
They are really busy and working harder than ever. Why would Westlife want to
give up when they are still enjoying No1 hits and sell out tours?"
During their nine-year pop reign, Shane, Kian, Nicky Byrne and Mark Feehily have
each made EUR15million. They scored 14 UK No1 hits since their debut single
Swear It Again topped the charts in 1999. The band are certain to score another
charttopper with their latest single, Home. Their new album, released on
November 5, is expected to be one of their biggest sellers ever.
source - Irish Mirror
posted -14th Oct
Kian: Westlife better than Spice Girls
Westlife have turned up the heat on the Spice Girls over their simmering chart
rivalry. As well as having a dig at "mean" Mel C, the Irish boyband accused the
Girls of "running scared" for bottling out of a chart challenge. And they have
been taunting the Spices to return to the original November 5 release date for
their greatest hits album. That would coincide with Westlife's Back Home CD -
and last time both bands went head-to-head the Girls were roundly trounced.
Kian spoke out at the glitzy aftershow party, where stars including Little
Britain, JK Rowling and Shirley Bassey let their hair down. He said: "We would
take great pleasure in beating the Spice Girls - especially Mel C because every
time she opens her mouth something mean comes out." Kian, 27, who was there with
his stunning fiancee, ex-Hollyoaks star Jodi Albert, added: "Our album's good,
we've worked hard on it and it would have been good to go head-to-head with
their one. As far as we were concerned we were going up against them and we were
up for it. But then they suddenly changed their minds. They're running scared."
And Shane added: "We hear they were worried and they've changed the date. I hope
they haven't, it would be a good match. It would be good for pop music. But we
are already one up on them."
The Spices insist they were never going to release on November 5 and accuse
Westlife of moving THEIR release date. Westlife's camp dismiss that as absolute
nonsense and say the boys' album is their best ever. Earlier, guests at the
Tesco-sponsored Awards were treated to a brilliant performance by The Bar
Wizards from Britain's Got Talent. And the charming Westlife lads were
incredibly moved by the Pride of Britain Awards. Shane and Nicky Byrne, who are
both dads, said the children's stories touched them the most. Nicky said: "With
my twins being born premature anything about babies just tugs on my
heartstrings."
With wives, partners and kids, the members of Westlife are certainly more mature
than the lads who first took on the Spice Girls seven years ago. Back then their
second album, Coast To Coast, hammered the Spices' Forever by 234,000 copies to
just 73,000. Seconds out... round two!
credit - cassie
posted -14th Oct
Westlife to take a 12 month break
Irish pop group Westlife broke millions of young hearts today by announcing
they are going to take a break for a year. The four members - Shane Filan, Nicky
Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily - will go their separate ways for 12 months
after touring with their latest album Back Home. The record-breaking band, who
have had 14 number one singles, have been at the top of their game for nine
years now and feel it is time to take a break from recording and touring. But
Kian Egan promised fans this did not mean the end for the chart-topping group.
In an interview with the Sun he said: "The minute people hear we're taking a
break, they are going to say we are splitting up for good - which is not true.
Myself and Jodi are going to go and do some travelling and I'm sure the other
guys have plans as well. It will be the first time in years that there hasn't
been a Westlife album vying for the Christmas number one, which will be a bit
weird, but I think we have earned the time off."
Kian said he and Jodi planned to hire a camper van and tour Australia, while
Nicky and Shane will use the break to spend more time with their families.
Sligo-born Shane has one daughter, Nicole, with wife Gillian, while Nicky
Bryne's wife Georgina Ahern gave birth to twin boys earlier this year. Westlife
formed in 1998 and have sold more than 36m albums worldwide, as well as winning
numerous awards including Record of the Year four times. Next month they release
the new album while a new single, Home, a cover of the Michael Buble song, is
due for release on October 26. Kian said the band was proud of their new work
and looking forward to the album release. He said a world tour would follow and
then the band would break up for a year. But he insisted they would be back.
"We love Westlife and people still want to hear us, so we are not going
anywhere. Why would we give that up?"
source - Belfast Telegraph
posted -14th Oct
Loife going in for mail bonding
WESTLIFE have given a first-class performance in their debut telly commercial. The cheesy crooners are starring in a new ad campaign to plug the Post Office. KIAN EGAN, SHANE FILAN, NICKY BYRNE and MARK FEEHILY liven up a postmaster’s day by popping in — probably to send a parcel to their mams in Ireland. I’m surprised they didn’t get mobbed by their legions of fans there to pick up their pensions. The lads certainly played their roles to the letter. You would think Westlife had a new album to promote . . . oh, they have. The band have a new single and album out in time for Christmas. Can’t wait.
source - Sun newspaper
posted -14th Oct
The lads cant stand Christina Aguilera
LOUIS has seen the best and worst side of the biggest stars
during his reign in the showbiz industry. He explained: "I've heard nightmare
stories about the likes of Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey and Beyonce. But
Westlife found Mariah perfectly charming when they worked with her. They can't
stand Christina Aguilera. She is extremely talented, ambitious and very
professional. Yet I've met few people in the entertainment industry who have a
good word to say about her. Westlife have no time for her since she tried to
have Mark Feehily thrown out of his seat at a club because she wanted to sit
there.
"Diana Ross was also very much the diva when she recorded When You Tell Me That
You Love Me with Westlife. The guys told me she was very aloof on the set. But
they had to admit she was a real professional who delivered on the day. In my
eyes Miss Ross is entitled to be a diva because she is a true legend. It's no
coincidence that Cliff Richard, Tom Jones and Tony Bennett are all hard-working,
courteous and totally grounded artists and still top of their game even though
they are pensioners and beyond."
source - The Mirror
posted 5th Oct
Nicky leaves missus holding the babies
NICKY Byrne, left, enjoyed a night out with his Westlife pals –
after months of nappy changes and early morning wake up calls. Nicky was joined
by Shane Filan and Kian Egan at the Grosvenor Hotel charity ball in London at
the weekend. The group happily signed autographs for fans before the event and
when they left, they were overloaded with goodie bags. No doubt Georgina
will be delighted with free pampering packs in the midst of talcum powder and
nappies.
Georgina gave birth to Rocco and Jay early on April 20 by Caeserean section and
they were both rushed into incubators. But after a few weeks they were fit
enough to leave hospital and the happy couple brought them home.
source - Daily Mail
posted 3rd Oct
Back Home Tracklisting Revealed
We’ve got another exclusive for you – the tracklisting to Westlife’s new album
Back Home, out on 5th November.Here’s what to look forward to:
1. Home
2. Us Against The World
3. Something Right
4. I’m Already There
5. When I’m With You
6. Have You Ever
7. It’s You
8. Catch My Breath
9. The Easy Way
10. I Do
11. Pictures in My Head
12. You Must Have Had A Broken Heart
source - westlife.com
posted 3rd Oct
Win Tickets to see Westlife
WESTLIFE and the MacDonald Brothers are among the line-up for a
new music event. Asda Be Live!, hosted by Emap Radio Events and the supermarket
chain, will see two big concerts take place in Aberdeen's AECC on Sunday,
October 28, and Glasgow's ABC on Sunday, December 9. Westlife headline the first
gig alongside the MacDonald Borthers, who have released the Elton John track
Runaway on i-Tunes, and new boy band Pacific Avenue.
Russell Graham, of Pacific Avenue, added: "We played in Aberdeen earlier in the
year and the fans were amazing. "We're so excited about supporting Westlife. I'm
the biggest Westlife fan and I wouldn't be surprised if Alan and John have to
stop me from running on stage with Westlife to join in with their harmonies."
Tickets to both concerts (for 14-year-olds and over) will be given out in sets
of three and are completely free. They can be won in the 42 Asda stores across
Scotland, and on the websites of Emap stations Clyde 1, Forth One, Northsound 1
and Tay FM. And the Razz has three tickets to give away for the Aberdeen
concert. You must be 14 or over to take part in the contest.
To have a chance to win, simply tell us the name of the Elton John song the
MacDonald Brothers have recorded. Then call our hotline on 0901 609 3204 and
leave your answer, name, address, and phone number. Or text DR3204 followed by a
space, your answer followed by a space, your name followed by a space and send
to 84080. The contest closes at noon on Friday and the winner will be selected
at random from the correct entries. Calls cost 60p per minute. Calls from some
networks, payphones or mobiles may be more expensive. Text entries cost pounds
1.50 plus your standard text rate. Please ask permission from the person who
pays the phone charges before entering. The Editor's decision is final. Usual
Daily Record rules apply.
source - Daily Record
posted - 3rd Oct
Intimate Westlife Gig Aberdeen 28th October
Irish pop sensations Westlife are to play for 1,500 fans at the Exhibition
Centre and conference centre on October 28th, their second visit to the venue
this year.
Westlife latest concert is to kick off a new fun, family pop event, Asda Be
Live, which will see free gigs with big name stars at venues across Scotland.
Backed by Emap Radio Events, the gigs are billed as Asda as a thank you to
customers across the country.
The Irish stars who have had had fourteen number one singles and 8 top 3 albums
will perform a set packed with new material from their forthcoming cd. That will
included the latest single HOME a cover of Michael Buble classic. Today the band
said, They are delighted to be coming to Aberdeen on the day before our new
single is released, it will be great to catch up with our Scottish fans.
Performing in Scotland is always the real deal for us, its that great Celtic
connection between the Scots and the Irish. Supporting Westlife will be the ever
popular McDonald Brothers and Glasgow three piece Pacific Avenue.... While the
Asda Be Live concert will be free, charity collectors will be out in force to
boost charity back by emap radio station including Northsound
Lindsey Ford, marketing manager of ASDA in Scotland, this is a first for ASDA
not only in Scotland but in the UK, as a whole. After retailing in Scotland for
30 years we wanted to give something back to our dedicated customers. Its a
great money cant buy show, which will appeal to all the family. Tickets are free
but admission is strictly over 14s only. Tickets to be given away, in sets of
three, are expected to be snapped up quickly, at competitions in Asda stores, or
Northsounds and in your local evening Express...
typing credit - Josie Byrne
posted 2nd Oct
Westlife Update
The boys have got a very busy day today (Thursday), with interviews for Sunday Express, Sunday Times, S Magazine, The Independent, Bliss and News Of The World! Tomorrow will be spent in rehearsals for the evening’s Radio 2 gig, which the guys are all very excited about. They’ll be singing ‘World Of Our Own’, ‘You Raise Me Up’ and ‘Home’ and will be accompanied by the Radio 2 Orchestra and a gospel choir! The performance will be broadcast live from London’s Mermaid Theatre on Radio 2 from 7.15pm.
As soon as the show ends, they’re racing off to the Grosvenor Hotel to perform at a private charity event for Kidscape. After that they’ve got a four day break to spend time with their families, with Nicky and Shane staying in London and Mark and Kian heading back to Ireland.
source - westlife.com
posted - 1st Oct