DECEMBER
Westlife Shane buys himself a helicopter for Christmas
Beverley Lyons And Cath Bennett
Dec 23 2004
WESTLIFE star Shane Filan has bought himself a helicopter - and his New Year
resolution is to be flying it by the summer. The hunky singer has already
splashed out on five top-of-the-range BMWs and a Ferrari since hitting the big
time. He now feels the sky's the limit. The 25-year-old said:
'It was a few
hundred grand, but I just love helicopters. I really want to get my licence. I've been on a few helicopters with the band
and I loved it. I felt it would be good to have my own one. I'd love to learn
how to fly it. I'm going to start learning after next year's tour in the spring.
I want to learn in two or three weeks. I think it's one of these things that
once you get the feel for it, it's fine.' The last time the boys flew to
Glasgow, they used Shane's helicopter, instead of hiring one.
Shane will need many hours of flying practice before he is qualified to take
passengers. But, once he's ready, he'll have at least three people who'll be
willing to hitch a ride. Band mate Kian Egan said:
'When he's passed his test
and everything, we'll have no problems. But we'll maybe give him year and a bit to get the hang of things. ' Mark
Feehily has also had some flying lessons, but he says he is keen to buy a studio
rather than have his head in the clouds.
'Nicky has bought a Ferrari, but I have nothing,' said Mark.
'I have had a few flying lessons, but I want to build a nice studio for myself.
That's after I get a house and car.'
The boys are looking forward to coming to Glasgow's SECC next March on tour and
they now feel they've passed all the record industry tests. Mark said: 'We've
broken the three albums and greatest hits barrier. I don't think we'll be doing any opera in the
future. We'll leave it to G4 for
that. We're really enjoying doing what we do now and fully appreciate
everything.'
They say they've had a very enjoyable year performing their Frank Sinatra
tribute album Allow Us To Be Frank. And they have even had their eyes opened to
a new breed of fans. Mark said: 'We've certainly met some interesting people.
'We were invited to an Italian restaurant and got treated as if we were the real
Rat Pack. We got the thumbs-up from them and that was pretty cool. They were
real Italians.' During the festive season, the boys are all planning to spend
some time with their families.
And rebelling against their sometimes too clean-cut image, Westlife are adamant
that they are now grown men who like a good drink on occasion. Nicky Byrne said:
'There will be lots of drink involved. We'll be boozing and eating turkey.
The whole cliché of clean-cut boys is so untrue.
'My New Year's resolution is to give up swearing, but I can never f***ing do
it.'
source - daily record
posted 23rd December 2004
Westlife Slam Brosnan
They're not at it again, are they? Yup! Those nut cases at Westlife need to be
separated from James Bond licensed to incense actor, Pierce Brosnan.
Eh! Has the world of showbiz gone mad?
It's true, Westloife – to give them their Irish name – are spitting mad at
Pierce because he had the audacity to criticise their latest album.
And they've hit back – verbally, not physically you understand. Because
they're not those type of fellas.
Round one was when Brosser said bands shouldn't copy the music of Frank
Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jnr.
Round two kicked off when 'singer' Shane Filan said, "I really don't give a
s**t what he thinks."
Where do we go from here, fellas?
"It's not up to Pierce Brosnan what we do," continued the non-descript wannabe
crooner.
"We decided to cover the Rat Pack because it is a little bit different and
exciting for the fans."
But why do the rest of us have to suffer too, eh? OK that was harsh for
Westlife but you guys want the latest news what can i
do?
source - MeGaStar
posted - 23rd December 2004
I want Kian as fit as me
Kian has
been told to get shape up for Westlife's tour - by missus Jodi
Albert. The former Hollyoaks babe 21, is hiring a personal trainer for her
portly fella 24, and says if it wasn't for bands upcoming gig duties, shed be
dating a fatty.
"the other day me and Kian were sitting on the couch watching Christmas films all day long and stuffing our faces. We're such babies together. As soon as we sit in front of the TV he's like 'lets eat this'. He recons that after Christmas he'll get his act together - and I'll make sure he gets a trainer and sticks to it. Come January he's going to be in shape for his tour"
It seems Jodi's got more clout with Kian than his manager Louis Walsh. Last year he was told to quit booze, cigarettes and go on a diet for their greatest hits tour. Kian's response? He said at the time 'We're not going to the gym or going on a diet. We don't need to lose weight. We don't need to get in shape. We are not cutting back on our lifestyle - why should we? Louis has got his own opinion on how we look but I just don't agree with it.
Fat or thin Kian and the other members of 'The Loife' will kick off their red carpet tour in February. This years Turnaround Tour was a huge sucess as the boys performed more than 70 shows in Five months
source - Daily Star newspaper
posted - 23rd December 2004
Fan Filan lot better
Westlife heart-throb Shane Filan has brought joy to a teenage girl fan
recovering from life-saving surgery. He phoned Sarah Mole,18, while she was in
hospital after an op on her brain to remove a birthmark which caused up to 25
epileptic fits a day.
Yesterday Sarah's delighted mum Karen said: "her face was a picture when she
realised it was Shane. It has made her Christmas. Sarah adores Westlife."
The 25-year old star called from a recording studio in Germany after hearing of
Sarah's plight.
source - Sun newspaper
posted 23rd December 2004
Ronan: Celeb Secret Santa...
Ten years ago few people would have thought that Ronan Keating would still be
going strong in the fiercely fickle pop industry, in fact few today would think
he'll be around in another ten!He may be considered as the housewives favourite
by many but it is Ronan Keating's dedicated fanbase that has kept him in the
popcharts over the past ten years.
And it is great to see that even after ten years his new single, Father and Son with Yusuf Islam, has threatened the might of the Band Aid single for Christmas No.1 spot. Surprisingly Ronan hit the Christmas No.2 spot with the same song back in 1995 with Boyzone...And even if Ronan had popped the Band Aid track, which was penned by another charitable Irishman Bob Geldof, off the No.1 spot he had already pledged to donate all the money raised from sales to the Band Aid Trust. Top Man Ronan!
And just to illustrate how respected Ronan is in the music industry when he played the first of his Christmas gigs in Vicar Street last night throngs of his fellow artists turned up to see his show which has sold out venues across the UK and Ireland.At the concert last night Westlife heartthrob Nicky Byrne turned up with his wife Georgina, as did former Boyzoner Mikey Graham and his wife Karen. Also at the gig were Bill Hughes, Brian Kennedy and Ronan's wife Yvonne.Well, here's to another ten years of hits Ronan - Happy Christmas!
source -
showbiz ireland
posted 22nd December 2004
Westlife singers' hospital call
A teenager born with a birthmark on her brain has had a surprise phone call
from Westlife singer Shane Filan hours before undergoing surgery.
Sarah Mole, 19, from Abercwmboi in the Cynon Valley, was waiting for the
operation to remove the birthmark when the Irish star called. The birthmark
causes Sarah to suffer from epilepsy and she has had several operations to try
to remove it.
Her mother, Karen, said Sarah was "over the moon" after speaking to him.
"It gave her such a boost and the look on her face was amazing," she explained.
Sarah, who was being treated at King's College Hospital, London, had the call
the night before having to go through major surgery.
"At first Sarah didn't want to speak to the person who was on the phone because
her condition means that her speech has been affected," said Mrs Mole. But her
dad said to her 'I think you'll really want to talk to this person'. So she took
the call and as soon as she heard the Irish accent she knew who it was. You
should have seen her face - she was over the moon. They spoke on the phone for a
good ten minutes and it gave her such a boost.
The singer told Sarah that the band were all wishing her well and that they were
following her progress.
"He phoned her from Germany where the band were recording and he told her that
if they had been in London they would have come to see her," said Mrs Mole.
"I spoke to him too - I couldn't believe I was speaking to someone so famous.
The band have promised Sarah some tickets when they come to Cardiff and she and
her sister are really looking forward to it."
Sarah, who has two A levels and seven GCSEs and wants to become an accountant
when she has recovered, has had a number of operations to remove the birthmark.
She started suffering from epileptic attacks at the age of 13. After the first
operation in 2001, she spent five weeks in intensive care and was in complete
paralysis for five days. She underwent further surgery earlier this month and
returned home on Monday, where she will spend Christmas with her family.
"She is such a fighter and I know this is not going to beat her," said her
mother. She has been through so much and we have to take it day to day. But
getting that phone call from Westlife was such a wonderful thing for her - she
is such a big fan of the band and it made her day," she added.
source -
BBC News
posted - 21st December 2004
Sexy Jodi's got vroom with a phew
Hollyoaks honey, Jodi Albert gets fellas all revved up as she straddles an impressive chopper. The leggy babe who plays Debbie Dean in the channel 4 soap was in Dublin to promote a charity pop concert in January which she will be hosting. We recon the 21 year old beauty will do weely well.
source -
Daily Star
posted - 17th December 2004
Kian scotches Jodi rumours
17 December 2004
Westlife's Kian Egan has denied reports that his actress girlfriend is
quitting Hollyoaks to set up home with him in Dublin.
According to Kian, Jodi Albert is leaving the teen soap to further her career
and her decision to say goodbye to her character Debbie Dean has nothing to do
with him.
"I don't live in Dublin for a start," he laughs. And she's not the kind of girl to leave a job to be with a fella - she's
leaving to further her career."
But he doesn't rule out the chances of a long-term future together.
"We're not thinking about marriage at all," he adds. "I mean, it could be on the
cards, but not for a long, long time."
Jodi and Kian were in Dublin yesterday to launch this year's Cheerios Childline
Concert on January 30, 2005.
source -
belfasttelegraph.co.uk
posted 17th December 2004
Our pops are Idols
Boyband crooners watch vestlife steal
the show
Boy band Westlife are real POP stars now after singing with their dads. The lads front a pop idol style show tomorrow called she's the one.Mark Feehily 24, Nicky Byrne 26, Kian Egan 24, and Shane Filan 25 ran the contest to find their top fan and wannabee singer And in the a surprise for the boys, their families arranged for their dads - Peter Filan, Nicholas Byrne, Kevin Egan and Oliver Feehily - to join them on stage. The dads have been dubbed Vestlife because their average age is 66.
Apart from Nicholas, a well known cabaret singer, none have performed before. But they joined in for some father and son crooning with a rendition of Sinatra's classic That's Life from Westlife's new album, Allow us to be Frank. Kian said 'when we heard the demo we cracked up Its going to be a brilliant show.
Winner of the contest, mum Joanne Hindley 22 from Bolton, Lancs also sang with the lads. And the show features 26year old Katie Price aka Jordan, film star Kevin Spacey 45, and opera foursome El Divo. Shes the one, Itv1 6.30pm
source - Daily Star
posted 17th December 2004
Beyond The Sea
Westlife will be making a new recording available to download from Sunday
December19th - their version of Beyond The Sea, a track made famous by Bobby
Darin.
You'll remember that Westlife were present at the premier of the Kevin Spacey
film of the same title a few weeks ago, which was a biopic of Darin's life. The
song will be available to purchase from
www.westlife.com from
Sunday.
source- www.westlife.com
posted- 16th December 2004
Xmas in Popworld... the aftermath
Westlife performed at the 2004 Christmas In Popworld
event at Wembley Arena on December 2nd, along with a host of other names from
the pop glitterati.
You can check out pics, backstage gossip and reviews from the event at
Popworld.com...
Source -www.westlife.com
posted - 13th December 2004
McFly take a swat at Westlife
McFly celebrated label mates Busted's Record of the Year win by having a pop
at Westlife. They spoke out after their first No 1, Five Colours in her Hair,
just failed to pip their pals' Thunderbirds at Saturday's awards on ITV.
Drummer Harry Judd, 18, said: "When Westlife won it with Barry Manilow's Mandy
last year, they covered it well. But why was that Record of the Year when it's a
cover?
"It's not really a new song is it? It should've been Record of the Year when it
was written."
McFly frontman and chief songwriter Tom Fletcher, 19, was jubilant that four of
the final five songs had been written by the performers. He told me: "This year
I won either way because I helped write the Busted song." And with tongue firmly
planted in cheek, he added: "I said before that I'd prefer it if Busted won."
"I didn't go up with them to collect the award because everyone would just look
at me and I didn't want to steal their glory!"
source - Unknown
credit - Jorgean
posted 13th
December 2004
Westlife have vowed to be true to their fans
Irish pop group WESTLIFE have vowed to be true to their fans and tell them
straight when they decide to split up. Chart rivals BLUE recently announced they
are taking a year off to pursue "solo careers", despite many tabloid reports
claiming the foursome plan to go their separate ways for good and are lying to
their followers.
Westlife singer SHANE FILAN slams Blue for being dishonest to their fans,
insisting his group would speak the truth. He says, "We're brave enough to say
if we need to get away. If we did need time to get away we'd take time off and
assess the situation. You don't bulls**t people.
"There's no way Blue's going to come back. You don't go and do things on your
own and come back and do an album."
posted 13th December 2004
Cape Town - Westlife, Britain's biggest vocal band, is heading south in
April for an extensive South African tour.
The group will kick off its tour in Durban, then Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and
finally Johannesburg. After an unprecedented five-year run of hits, the
Irish stars have grown from pop newcomers at 1998's Smash Hits Awards to
Britain's most successful chart group.
The group's first single Swear It Again went straight to number one in April
1999, swiftly followed by If I Let You Go and Flying Without Wings. Within
a year the band made UK chart history with its fifth chart topper in a row, Fool
Again.
The band has sold over 34 million records globally; had five multi-platinum
albums in the UK alone; scored a record breaking 12 UK number ones, picked up
two Brit Awards, an MTV Europe Award and six Irish Meteor Awards.
Allow us to be Frank, the band's fifth studio album, sees Westlife return with a
new look and a new sound for a new era. Adopting the smooth sound and the
super-cool look of the original Rat Pack, Westlife reinterprets the trio's
catalogue of classics in a spellbinding tribute to Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis
Jun and Dean Martin.
Ticket sales open on December 13.
Tour itinerary
Tuesday, April 5 - Westridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban
Thursday, April 7 - UPE Sports Arena, Port Elizabeth
Friday, April 8 - Bellville Velodrome, Cape Town
Sunday, April 10 - The Coca-Cola Dome, Johannesburg
Ticket Prices
Durban - R150; R225 and R275
Port Elizabeth - R175; R225 and R275
Cape Town - R150; R235 and R300
Johannesburg - R165; R235 and R320
Please note these prices are exclusive of service charges.
source - unknown
credit - Mizz
posted - 11th December 2004
THE RAZZ: I'M NO SUPERMAN
Exclusive Westlife star Mark turns down the tar Mark turns down the to appear
in new movie appear in new movie chance With Beverley Lyons And Cath Bennett
SUPERGROUP Westlife jetted into Scotland yesterday for a monster charity pop
bash, with hunk Mark Feehily admitting he could've been Superman. The singer
revealed he had been approached to take a role in the new movie - and Brian
McFadden had also been in the running for a part.
Mark said: 'I was asked to be in the new Superman film, but I found out
through talking that other people, including Brian, were asked to be in it too.
'We get offered to do a casting, or go for auditions for films. But we are not
the only ones who get asked.'
Westlife were in Glasgow for the Clyde 1 Cash For Kids lunch. The lads flew in
by helicopter to join a star- studded line-up for the radio station's annual
bash.
Girls Aloud and Lucie Silvas played live at one of the most exclusive
lunches of the year. But in an exclusive chat with The Razz, Mark explained why
Westlife will never pursue solo projects.
He said: 'We have talked about it and while we are a band, we are a band. We can
be solo at other times.' Shane added: 'We're brave enough to say if we need to
get away. If we did need time to get away we'd take time off and assess the
situation.
'You don't bullshit people. There's no way Blue's going to come back. You don't
go and do things on your own and come back and do an album.'
The boys have maintained their popularity with the recent release of their
Ratpack style album, Allow Us To Be Frank, and they say they are now keen to
release a new pop album in the new year. Kian said: 'The last album was like
nothing we'd ever done before and people were up for it. It was easy listening
and it bridged the gap. It excited fans and it keeps the spirit alive, but now
we'll return to what Westlife are best known for - pop.'
But the boys are aware not everyone appreciates their work. Having been snubbed
to record on the new Band Aid single, they count Bob Geldof as one of their
critics. Nicky said: 'We get slated for what we do and because of who we are.
People don't like seeing a band like Westlife six years later. They think we
shouldn't be here anymore. Geldof made a comment a couple of years ago saying
Westlife were not important to the music industry.' Shane added: 'But whether
that's true or not, we've sold 35 million albums. We raised over a million for
Red Nose Day when we released Uptown Girl. We have the power to raise money.'
Westlife have remained in touch with McFadden and the boys are keen to quash
rumours he's gone off the rails since his marriage split. Mark said: 'He's under
a lot of pressure. I do feel a bit sorry for him. We just need to be there and
be friends.' The boys talked about their recent gig at GAY, where Brian was
spotted swigging out of a vodka bottle. Kian said: 'He was with us - he wasn't
off the rails. He's no different from any other 24-year-old.
'We were out on the town and we were drinking too, but they made him out to be
mad in the head.'
The boys are now gearing up for Christmas when they will spend some time at
home. As well as Popworld's Christmas concert, they'll appear on She's The One
on ITV on December 18.
source -
Daily Record/The Razz
posted - 11th December 2004
Popstar Wives Out On The Town - 9/12/04
While the Cat's away or errrmm, while Ronan Keating's away playing with Cat
Stevens his wife Yvonne and her best-bud Nicky Byrne's wife Georgina are
out-on-the-town enjoying themselves...
With Ronan Keating hot favourite to grab the No. 2 slot in the Christmas chart
this year behind Band Aid the talented singer is out promoting like mad with
Cat Stevens (Yusuf Islam) their Father And Son duet.
Likewise Nicky Byrne and his Westlife bandmates are also on a massive junket
promoting their swinging album Allow Us To Be Frank all over the place.
So with their popstar husbands in a different country each day do Yvonne
Keating and Georgina Byrne sit at home doing the knitting and cleaning the
kitchen? Do they hell!
The two stunners were out last night dolled-up-to-the-nines eyeing up the
latest trends at Irish designer Synan O'Mahony's first solo fashion show at
the Mansion House.
And we have to say that the fashions on-show on the catwalk and in the mainly
female audience were mouth watering. Among the VIPs at Synan's show last night
were Fair City's Orlaith Rafter, artist Terry Bradley, Ronan Keating's sister
Victoria, Georgina Byrne's mother Miriam Ahern and many more...
source - Showbiz.ie
posted - 11th December 2004
Kim and Westlife star get touchy Feehily
WE hear of a new friendship blossoming between Girls Aloud's Kimberley Walsh and
Mark Feehily from Westlife. The 22-year-old singer watched Mark, 24, perform
with his band at G.A.Y on Saturday and they made a beeline for each other after
the performance.
Our spy says: "They really hit it off and you could tell they fancied each
other. They were very flirty and there was lots of giggling. Mark is low-key
about women but others in Westlife's dressing room noticed how much fun
Kimberley and Mark were having. They swapped numbers, so who knows what will
happen next?"
Stunning Kim split from long-term boyfriend Stockport footballer Martin
Pemberton in the summer. Ray Panthaki also fancies Kim. But let's face it, he's
no competition for sexy Mark...
Source- Mirror newspaper
posted - 6th December 2004
Worried fans fear Mark Feehily could quit Westlife after the boyband were made to record a single with Jordan. The Irish chart-toppers have been in the studio with the busty glamour girl - real name Katie Price - and will release the track next year.
But disgusted Mark, 24, blasted last night: "That is just so incredible. We
were hoping to get a new image, you know, more mature.
"But Simon Cowell thinks this is a great idea. I am upset." Now anxious fans are
worried he will follow Brian McFadden's by walking out on Westlife.
Jordan, 26, is set to sign for Cowells S Records and will sing with the band in a TV special next Saturday. She will also perform Nat King Coles classic When I Fall In Love, backed by a 41-piece orchestra. She will be one of four surprise guests who sing in front of a celebrity audience.
source - Star newspaper
posted - 5th December 2004
Could there be trouble on the horizon for Westlife?
The boys, who recently released an album of classic rat pack tunes have
recorded a track with Jordan that will be released as a single in the new year.
But the band's bachelor boy Mark Feehily, 24, has no time for the model and told
my spy, "That is just so incredible. We were hoping to get a new image, you
know, more mature, but Simon (Cowell) thinks that this is a great idea. I am
upset".
The silicone-enhanced star will sing with the boys in a TV special on December
11th and, if all goes well, will sign to Cowell's S records. What about poor
Peter Andre, though? I thought they only came as a pair......
source - new magazine
posted - 5th December 2004
Westlife Attack Pierce Brosnan
Irish boyband Westlife have hit out at fellow countryman Pierce Brosnan after he
attacked them for making an album of Rat Pack covers. The former James Bond star
claimed pop groups shouldn't try to copy the music of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin
and Sammy Davis JR.
But the four piece - whose new LP Allow Us To Be Frank hit shops earlier this
month (NOV04) - are unrepentant. Singer Shane Filan says, "I really don't give a
s**t what he thinks.
"It's not up to Pierce Brosnan what we do. We decided to cover the Rat Pack
because it is a little bit different and exciting for the fans."
source-
www.femalefirst.co.uk
posted- 3rd December 2004
Tour Update
Check the Dates section for an update on the shows which are currently on-sale -
extra dates have been added in Belfast (Feb 4th), Dublin (11th, 12th & 13th) and
Cardiff (March 3rd), and there are also new shows in Brighton and in Europe.
Also, you'll see the dates have been re-named as The No. 1's Tour. The decision
to change the name has been taken to avoid any confusion with the content of the
shows -although they will include a Ratpack section, with tracks from the band's
new album Allow Us To Be Frank, the emphasis of the tour will still be on
Westlife's best known hits...
source- www.westlife.com
posted- 3rd December 2004