APRIL 2006
Westlife are record breakers at Nottingham arena
Not content with just making records – Westlife are now breaking them at
Nottingham Arena. Nicky, Kian, Shane and Mark have appeared at our venue more
times than any other artist. The Irish lads have already taken to our stage
eight times since February 2001 and their two dates here on April 24th and 25th
take that number into double figures – reaching the number ten milestone.
Westlife will be wowing audiences again with their passionate vocals and
memorable lyrics next month. They’ll be performing songs from their latest
number one album ‘Face to Face’ and of course their greatest hits. They really
are one of the most successful boy bands around. They’ve notched up 14 number
ones and performed to over four million fans making them the biggest selling
arena tour act ever.
posted - 27th April
Westlife set Arena high
WESTLIFE have racked up another amazing career record - as the most popular act
in the glittering history of the M.E.N. Arena. The group's two sell-out
performances over the weekend took sales for their shows at the Manchester venue
past the 250,000 mark - the first act to do so since the Arena opened in 1996.
Before going on stage on Saturday night, Shane, Nicky, Mark and Kian were
presented with specially commissioned `Platinum Tickets' to mark the
achievement.
Arena general manager John Knight said: "It is remarkable to think that
approximately one in every 20 tickets sold at the arena over the past five years
has been for Westlife.
"The boys seemed genuinely pleased by this milestone, and asked if Take That
would beat it after their concerts here next month. "I assured them that their
record of 22 shows and over 250,000 ticket sales was safe for some time yet."
Shane told the 14,000 fans about the honour. He said: "We love coming to
Manchester and tonight has been a special night because we have been given an
award. "I would like to thank all of you for making it possible."
The Irish boyband's record will be made all the sweeter by the fact that they
pipped their former manager - Ronan Keating, who performed 14 times at the Arena
with Boyzone and fives times as a solo artist - playing to 242,000 fans. It was
Ronan who gave Westlife their first big break of course - the band supported
Boyzone at one of their MEN Arena dates and, in those days, went by the name
`Westside'. Take That are likely to claim third spot in the M.E.N. Arena
popularity stakes. They have already recorded 143,000 sales and stand to add
another 90,000 with their six sell-out shows later this month.
posted - 27th April
Against all odds Westlife are being lined up for another 5
albums.
Crooners Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan and Kian Egan are close to
signing a contract worth 5million each with Sony BMG. Manager Louis Walsh is
brokering the deal, which will see them churning out middle-of-the road ballads
for the foreseeable future.
The Irish lads are also set to receive an advance of £1 million per member for
each album. An insider said "Westlife's current record deal with BMG is about to
expire. Sony and BMG have merged since their last talks so bosses flew to
Belfast last week to talk money with the boys"
"Louis wants £5million for each of the lads and himself just to re-sign the band
to SonyBMG He also wanted a 60/40 profit split between themselves and the record
company- with the boys getting a higher cut"
As negotiations are in their early stages nothing has been signed yet. The boys
are not my favourite but there is not denying they have the power to sell
records. So SonyBMG will be reluctant to sever their unbreakable bond..
source -Sun newspaper
posted - 18th April
Westlife party at Lillie Bordello's
Westlife members Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily celebrated Easter Sunday in the middle of their 7 sold out shows in The Point Theatre with a party in Lillies Bordello. Shane Filan must have been caught short when it came to his round at the bar as he had to nip out to a nearby bank machine for cash. The Westlife boys also posed with 4 die-hard German fans who flew over to attend their 7 shows in Dublin, the girls will also attend the Westlife concerts in Manchester later this week!
source - vip Ireland
posted - 17th April
Review - Green Glens Arena
IT wasn't supposed to be like this. While their contemporaries fumble about with
reunion tours five years after the royalties have run out, the Westlife
juggernaut rolls on. Time to start feeling old - it was seven years since they
first appeared. But Westlife continue to make a mockery of the average boyband
life expectancy. Consequently, the demographic at their first Irish show of the
Face To Face tour is largely female, five years into mortgage payments and
accompanied by wide-eyed sprogs.
Rock by numbers it may be, but with the help of a flawless backing band, 'When
You're Looking Like That' sounds huge, while the industrial-tinged electronica
of 'Hit You With The Real Thing' is a welcome departure. Predictably, it all
comes laden with more costume changes than a West End drama production and
tacky, choreographed dance moves. But heck, it sure is entertaining - and
there's no let-up in the consistent high quality. Shane Filan continues to
be the vocal standard bearer, but Mark Feehily now shoulders more
responsibility, while Egan and Nicky Byrne have boosted their onstage
personalities sufficiently to render Brian McFadden a distant memory
source - unison.ie
posted - 16th April
Shane flies without wings after 'copter fire
A helicopter belonging to Westlife's Shane Filan was destroyed in a fire at the
weekend. The pop star splashed out on the flying machine two years ago. The
Sligo star was rumoured to have spent hundreds of thousands of Euros on the
helicopter. The fire destroyed three helicopters and damaged one other in
Galway. The helicopter was being stored in a hanger on the premises of Executive
Helicopters in Oranmore. It had been flown there for annual maintenance on
Thursday.
The alarm was raised at 6.45am on Saturday morning. Fire brigade units from Tuam, Athenry, Loughrea and Galway City fought to bring the blaze under control. The flames were eventually put out in just over an hour. Galway fire-fighter Noel McGuire said: "Three of the helicopters were totally written-off and the forth was badly scorched." It is estimated that the damage may run into millions of euro. The cause of the blaze is still unknown. The scene is being preserved for Garda forensic examinations. The Robinson-44 helicopter was on the ground for annual maintenance work.The flying machine seats four people: a pilot, front passenger and two back passengers. It can travel at a speed of up to 209 kilometres per hour.
A Robinson-44 would normally sell for around £á250,000, with
costs of up to £á21,000 per year for maintenance and insurance. Meanwhile Shane
and the Westlife boys are this week playing sold-out concerts to crowds in
Dublin's Point Depot. With his helicopter now out of action Shane will face a
much longer commute home to Sligo to his wife Gillian and baby daughter
Nicole.
source - Sligo Weekender
posted - 13th April
Sarah meets Westlife idols
DREAMS do come true. Sarah Kitson is living proof of that. The 14-year-old
Sacred Heart student met pop superstars Westlife at their gig in the Odyssey
Arena last Tuesday. And it was Sarah's bravery that made the whole experience
possible. Sarah was born with a congenital abnormality of the hip which affects
her mobility.
"Her condition is so rare there isn't even a name for it," said her father
Aidan. Her doctor at Musgrave Children's Hospital, Kate Russo, was so touched
by Sarah's bravery that, last August, she wrote to Aiken Promotions asking them
if there was any chance they could arrange for Sarah to meet her idols. And last
week her efforts paid off when Sarah received a phone call from Aiken's
asking Sarah if she and her family would like to be their guests for Tuesday
night's concert. Needless to say, Sarah didn't think twice about her reply.
"This is my lifetime's ambition come true," said Sarah. "I have been trying for
the past eight years to meet Westlife." The dream finally became a reality just
before the band took to the stage on Tuesday night. "They were so nice and
really friendly," she said. "It was absolutely brilliant to meet them and it
really made my night." While Sarah is obviously an avid fan of the entire band,
one of the members has a special place in her heart. "Meeting Mark was amazing
and he was so friendly and signed everything for me," she said. "It was an
amazing concert and definitely one of the best I have been to." Westlife
certainly pulled out all the stops. "They paid for the box and all of our
refreshments," said Mr Kitson. "Sarah has been through such a lot. But she has
dealt with it so bravely and positively. That's what motivated the doctor to
write to Aiken Promotions."
Sarah's bravery is all the more astounding when you consider the fact that she
is the youngest person ever to undergo an operation for this condition in the
UK. "I just want to thank Aiken Promotions and Dr Russo for making this
possible," said her mother Elsie.
source - Sligo Weekender
posted - 13th April
Jodi on X Factor
FORMER Hollyoaks actress Jodi Albert is to star in the new Celebrity X Factor.
The 22-year-old TV beauty, is likely to be coached by Irish judge Louis Walsh -
manager of her husband-to-be Kian Egan's band Westlife. An insider revealed:
"Jodi is raring to go. Kian's usually the one who gets to show off his singing
but now it's Jodi. "Other stars tipped for the May 29 ITV show are Big Brother's
Jade Goody, 24, and diet guru Gillian McKeith, 43.
source - Mirror
posted - 13th April
Jodi's prosti-hoot
EX-HOLLYOAKS star Jodi Albert was horrified when calling cards started popping
up in phone booths where she works. The 22-year-old was the victim of a prank
pulled by pals on her latest TV show Respectable, where she plays a kinky
bondage hooker.
"Someone came up mocked up a photo of her and put it on cards in and around the
studios," says our on-set insider at Shepperton, Middx. "It was hilarious. They
went everywhere and no one said a word until one of the producers found one and
handed it to her. She was mortified. But when she saw it was a fake number she
saw the funny side."
source - Mirror
posted - 13th April
Nicky's Knock
Westlife head south from their gigs in Belfast earlier this week to continue the Irish leg of their tour in west Cork this weekend. It's 3 sold-out nights in the Green Glens Arena for the boys as they continue thier Face to Face tour, then its on to Dublin for the first shows of a 7 night stint at The Point. You should know what they are all about now - an eight-legged hit machine with a string of number 1's.
Earlier this week, Westlife star Nicky Byrne revealed he almost knocked
himself out at rehearsals for the tour launch in Belfast. The singer cracked his
head on a trap door as he was coming up on stage and needed medical attention.
"We have a part in the show where we pop up through trap doors but mine didn't
open quick enough and I cracked my head and fell backwards into the trap", he
explained. Nicky lay there for several minutes while attended by medics.
" I was more shocked and dazed than anything but as a precaution they took my
blood pressure and gave me oxygen", he said. "Once the lads saw that I was ok,
they all had a good laugh".
source - Irish Star Newspaper
posted - 9th April
Boyband Move To China
Westlife are to live on a remote mountain in China with monks, the Irish Mirror
can reveal. They will share huts with no running water and spend their
days cooking, meditating and learning martial arts. The band have taken on the
extraordinary challenge for a TV documentary.
Singer Shane Filan said: “Were going to be leaving Ireland and completely
changing our lives for three weeks. Its as far from the showbiz lifestyle as you
can get. it’s the most challenging thing we have ever done and I’m sure there
will be a lot of trials and tribulations out there.
“We’re going to be suffering and everyone will see it. The monks will be
teaching us everything.” Each morning the stars will wake before dawn to
be instructed in the traditions of the Far East. They will become experts at
acupuncture and cooking but will also have to hike for miles each day to get
food and water.
“They will also be back packing to the Great Wall of China for a segment of the
documentary. Luxuries like daily showers, fresh water and three course meals
will become a distant memory for them. We’ll be pushing them to the limit to see
how much they can handle.”
The stars will jet off to China at the end of May and the documentary will be
screened in November. Shane added: “This is going to show us a new light to the
fans. It wont be pretty at times but it will be real”
source - Irish Sunday Mirror
posted - 8th April
Don't write us off yet says Westlife's Shane
Westlife's Shane Filan sent out a message for the band's critics today: "Don't
write us off just yet". The Sligo singer said the chart-topping Irish act had no
intention of calling it a day, and said he hoped the group would be around for
at least another five years. Shane was speaking ahead of tonight's concert at
the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.
Westlife will kick off their UK and Ireland tour in Belfast, playing three dates
in the city before moving on to Cork and then Dublin. He said: "We've always
said that we would only quit when our fans stopped buying our albums and didn't
want us around anymore. But our last album Face To Face was the most successful
of the last five years and was in the top five best-selling albums of last year.
We know people are waiting for the bubble to burst but the way we see
it is that this is a long-term career for us. We all love being in Westlife, we
enjoy recording, we enjoy touring. It's our lives. We never had any plans to
retire when we hit 25. We intend to keep going. Our tour sold out, our albums
and singles are doing well, so we have no reason to stop."
For the last three tours, Westlife have opted to start the ball rolling at the
Odyssey Arena. Shane said: "We love Belfast, firstly because the Odyssey is one
of the best venues in Europe and secondly, because the fans there are absolutely
mental and always give us a great reception. "Westlife themselves will be back
in the studio in the summer to record another album. Shane said: "We've already
got four or five songs written for it and it's looking good."
source - Belfast Telegraph
posted - 8th April