JULY
Rat's a great idea
Westlife are releasing a "Rat Pack" album at Christmas, we can reveal. Our favourite four Irish boys will cover classics made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
Kian, Shane, Mark and Nicky have also just signed a deal to host a show on ITV on December 18, where they'll perform songs from the new album. There'll be a celebrity audience and we're told some big name surprise guests will join in the singing on stage.
"It's all Simon Cowell's idea. He reckons the album will be a huge hit. All those songs like Strangers In The Night, The Lady Is A Tramp, I've Got You Under My Skin and My Way are such classics that they just can't fail," says our source.
"The TV show has just been sorted out. It'll appeal to their fans of all age groups. The boys have just finished their tour and couldn't wait to get their teeth sunk into something new."
The boys went to see the Rat Pack musical at the Strand Theatre in London on Monday night to prepare themselves for the show tunes album. They then went partying to Tantra until 4.30am to - er - discuss the new album. And of course have a few bevvies. Looks like Christmas for the boys will be a bit of a cracker!
Source- www.mirror.co.uk/3am
Posted - 22nd July 2004
Westlife are to release an album of swing classics for the Christmas market. Inspired by the success of Robbie Williams' 2001 album "Swing When You're Winning", the Irish four-piece will cover songs previously performed by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.
Like Williams, the band will showcase the songs in a TV special, to be broadcast on December 18. Celebrity guests will be invited and some will join the group to perform. A source said: "It's all Simon Cowell's idea. He reckons the album will be a huge hit. All those songs like "Strangers In The Night", "The Lady Is A Tramp", "I've Got You Under My Skin" and "My Way" are such classics that they just can't fail."
"The TV show has just been sorted out. It'll appeal to their fans of all age groups. The boys have just finished their tour and couldn't wait to get their teeth sunk into something new." Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan were seen watching hit musical "The Rat Pack - Live From Las Vegas" at London's Strand Theatre on Monday [July 19].
"Swing When You're Winning" shifted 300,000 copies in its first week of release in November 2001 and sold over a million copies by the end of the year.
source - dotmusic.com
posted - 22nd July 2004
He's Kian on Surfing
Westlifes Kian Egan has taken up surfing - to get rid of his beer belly. He said "Its a way to keep fit and out of the pubs"
source - News of the World
Posted 18th July 2004
Former Westlife singer Bryan McFadden is no fan of the hugely successful boyband's ballad-driven music. The Flying Without Wings hitmaker - who left the group earlier this year (04) - says he would never buy a Westlife single and admits he only stayed with the band because the money was so good.
McFadden says, "It did make us a lot of money, but if it wasn't my band I wouldn't have bought Westlife music.
"But I did enjoy being part of it and singing, because it was my job."
Although McFadden and his former bandmates insisted the split was amicable, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan and Nicky Byrne have since said they would never take him back.
source - www.contactmusic.com
posted - 16th July 2004
Bye-bye diamond spider dress . . . now what's a girl to wear on the red carpet?
Samantha Mumba and the €7.5m dress were nowhere to be seen when the opening credits rolled for Spider-Man 2 in Dublin last night. The Dublin-born singer and actress had been invited to attend the Irish premiere at the Savoy cinema in O'Connell street.
But that was before she had found herself - and the revealing diamond encrusted dress with its spider web design - splashed across the pages of almost every Irish and British newspaper yesterday. Having worn the show-stopping creation by designer Scott Henshall to the London premiere Ms Mumba found herself with the celebrity nightmare of having to find an alternative for that walk along the red carpet of Dublin's Savoy Cinema. When she failed to arrive a publicist for the event explained her absence by saying: "She's stuck in Heathrow and her mobile phone has died," while a waiting photographer was heard to remark: "There are dresses and dresses but when you have just worn one costing €8m that stopped traffic it's kinda difficult to top that. I mean what's a girl to do."
As other less head-turning guests arrived for the screening, another publicist assured waiting press photographers that the singer and actress would most likely turn up later for a VIP party in the newly opened Hard Rock Cafe in Temple Bar.
Singer Kerry McFadden, arriving without husband Brian McFadden - formerly Bryan of Westlife fame - and wearing blue jeans and a black smock top, joked that if Samantha Mumba did indeed arrive in that dress, "she's not sitting next to me." Mrs McFadden who is to appear in a new film with Irish actor Liam Cunningham in which she plays a Liverpool singer added: "She's stunning. She could wear a bin bag and and still look amazing." She explained that her husband had been unable to attend the screening as he was recording material for a new solo album.
Other guests at last night's premiere included film director Neil Jordan, concert promoter Peter Aiken, international rugby player Gordon D'arcy , Bertie Ahern's daughter Georgina and her Westlife-member husband Nicky Byrne. Also attending were television presenter Marty Whelan, 'You're a Star' winners Mickey Harte and Chris Doran, actor Colin Farrell's sister Claudine and TV3 weather man Martin King.
The black and silver figure hugging dress by Mr Henshall which Ms Mumba had worn the previous evening is reputed to be worth €7.5m. It is expected to enter the record books as the most expensive dress ever made.
source - www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk
posted - 14th July 2004
Don't worry Georgina, we don't mean you - just the hobo Nicky gave a £20 note Georgina Ahern steps out in her little black number - but for class and elegance, read tarty and trash. Leaving London's trendy Nobu restaurant on Friday, the Taoiseach's daughter showed off her fabulous figure in a strapless black top wit revealing cut-off panels and an itsy bitsy mini. Accompanied by her husband, Nicky Byrne,Georgina,25, wobbled on her heels and tightened her grip on an exclusive €350 Dolce & Gabbana handbag.
Business graduate Georgina has yet to find a career but the millions her husband earns from Westlife ensure she has time and money for the finer life. It was almost as if Georgina and Nicky had swapped places with Brian and Kerry McFadden, also photographed on Friday at the Silverstone Grand Prix Ball.
Unlike Georgina, former lapdancer and topless model Kerry oozed restraint in a powerful-blue knee-length dress. Her usually scruffy husband wore a sober suit and tie and looked more like a westlifer than Nicky. His cleaned-up image, of course, may be subconscious atonement for his stag-night romp with stripper Amy Barker to whom, hours before, he had agreed to pay a settlement after calling her a liar.
Nicky and Georgina's marriage has never been tainted by scandal and there is another respect in which the couple differ from most celebrities. They may appear here like just another pair of spoilt party animals, but when Nicky, in full view of the waiting paparazzi, handed a stg£20 note to a homeless man, it became clear he had not lost his heart. And the destitute man, who nodded in gratitude as the teen idol and his half-dressed wife teetered into the distance, could only agree.
source - unknown
posted 12th July
No deal for McFadden yet
12 July 2004 - 16:11:21
Former Westlife member Bryan McFadden has yet to sign a major record deal, according to the singer's manager Richard Griffiths who denies contrary reports in the UK press this weekend. Saturday's edition of The Mirror reported that McFadden has signed a £2 million deal with Sony Music. However, Griffiths says the only deal McFadden has been part of is the set up of his own independent production company, Pig.
McFadden is also reported to be working with a number of high-profile songwriters. Griffiths says, "We are talking to lots of labels at the moment. Bryan has been writing with Paul Barry, Guy Chambers and Phil Thornalley but he hasn't signed a major deal yet".
source - music weekly
posted 13th July
Brian's Westlife move shocked Kerry
Kerry McFadden says she had no idea that husband Brian wanted to leave Westlife, until five days before he quit.The singer left thousands of Westlife fans devastated when he sensationally quit one of the world's most successful boy-bands in March this year,
"I swear I didn't know he was leaving until five days before it was announced," says Kerry. "When he told me I thought, 'Oh my God, what on earth are you doing?' but Bryan is one of these people who, once he's made up his mind up - that's it.
"He'd mentioned it six months before but I never really thought anything of it. When he told me for real I was heartbroken - it has been our whole life. I reckon I was more upset than Bryan was!"
The straight-talking 23-year-old admits that although Bryan's shock departure from Westlife bought back painful memories of the day she left Atomic Kitten for good, she's ecstatic that he'll have more time for his young family
"Now he can make his own decisions about having time off which he couldn't do before - funnily enough at the minute he's really busy with writing his solo album but it'll all calm down again soon," she smiles.
"I wouldn't rule out us working together again, but it's nice that I have my job and he has his job. We can both come home at night and tell each other what we've been up to - it keeps things more interesting," she adds.
And as the nation's favourite jungle celebrity, it's not just 23-year-old Bryan who has faced a life-changing career move of late. In August, Kerry will get her first taste of acting when she starts work on an Irish film called Showbands.
"Acting's my ideal job. I'm really excited about Showbands - as well as being a bit nervous.
"But they wouldn't ask me be in the film if I couldn't do it I'm sure," she says confidently.
source - www.ananova.com
posted - 13th July 2004
Pop star Bryan McFadden has reached an out of court of settlement with Amy Barker, a lap dancer, to prevent her from spilling the beans about their alleged `sex rendezvous'.
According to The Sun, Amy was set to tell all in court about her romp with the ex-Westlife star on his 2001 stag night. Š But the case will now not go ahead after McFadden reportedly paid Amy thousands of pounds as part of a bargain to keep her mouth shut.
The hearing was scheduled after McFadden branded Amy a liar by denying that she gave him oral sex in a hotel just before his wedding to ex-'Atomic Kitten' Kerry. However, Amy was determined to take McFadden to court to prove her story, which was also published in a newspaper. McFadden then ordered his legal team to reach an out-of-court settlement with Amy.
"She told the truth and now the world knows Bryan lied," said a close friend of Amy.
"We are delighted," added Graham Atkins, Amy's lawyer.
source - 123Bharath.com
posted - 11th July 2004
Brian and Kerry attended the annual "Silverstone Grand Prix Ball 2004" at Stowe House on July 9, 2004 in Buckingham, England. Celebrities and drivers from the world of Formula 1 gather to attend what is the 'Social Highlight' of the Grand Prix Weekend
source- unknown
credit - Amy Byrne ( offic. boards)
posted 10th July
A New Life Of Bryan
Ex-Westlife singer will go solo HE quit Westlife in March claiming he wanted to spend more time with his family, but just four months on Bryan McFadden is hungry to be back in the spotlight.
The 23-year-old singer has just signed a £2million solo record deal, we can reveal. And music execs are convinced Bryan has what it takes to enjoy Robbie Williams-style success. He has been signed up to a new label headed by music veteran Richard Griffiths. The marketing and distribution will be handled by Sony, who count George Michael and Anastacia among their artists. Bryan is already busy working on material with fellow former boyband member Gary Barlow, the ex-Take That star who has gone on to become a successful songwriter.
"Bryan has thought long and hard about signing the deal," reveals an insider. He knows that people will wonder why he's so keen to get back into the gruelling life of a pop star after saying he wanted to take a step back and spend time with his wife Kerry and daughters Molly and Lily-Sue.
"But Kerry's had so much success in her own right after winning I'm A Celebrity... that he's felt a little bit in the shade.
"He's realised how much music means to him."
The megabucks deal is sure to sweeten the blow of Bryan having to pay thousands of pounds to lapdancer Amy Barker. He was said to be "devastated" that the episode, which threatened to wreck his marriage, had come back to haunt him again. But we are assured that his past indiscretions will soon be forgotten once Bryan's debut solo album hits the shelves in October.
"The style Bryan has gone for is very much the big ballads that his old band are famous for," says our source.
"But it's not just run-of-the-mill stuff for housewives.
"There's one track in particular that industry execs are convinced is a sure-fire No.1.
"It's got all the elements guaranteed to top the charts."
Talks with Westlife's label BMG, who had first option on Bryan's solo career, stalled earlier this year when BMG bosses decided that the label wasn't big enough to accommodate both Bryan and his former bandmates. But secret talks with Richard Griffiths have resulted in a deal far bigger than many had predicted.
"It's rare for a former boyband member to be snapped up so quickly," adds our informer.
"And to be working with the likes of Gary Barlow is proof of how much confidence Richard Griffiths and Sony have in him."Looks like it's back to the high life for Bry.
source - mirror.co.uk
posted - 10th July 2004
Westlife singer had sex with lapdancer
A magazine which published an interview with former Westlife star Bryan McFadden has apologised to the lapdancer he denied having sex with on his stag night. Mother-of-two Amy Barker claimed that her integrity was questioned by the November 2002 article and that she had had full sex with McFadden, 24, during a cocaine-fuelled night in 2001.
Ms Barker, from West Yorkshire, was one of two lapdancers hired to entertain the band on a coach trip during the singer's stag weekend. But McFadden denied having sex with the lapdancer, insisting in the Heat article: "If it were true, the Westlife boys would never speak to me again." Heat's apology said Mr McFadden and the magazine had both "implicitly accused Ms Amy Barker of lying".It went on: "We and Mr McFadden accept that a sexual encounter did take place on this occasion and it was not our intention to accuse Ms Barker of lying."
Since the publication of the Heat article, McFadden has admitted a "brief oral sex act" took place, but that it only lasted 30 seconds, adding: "I categorically state that I never had intercourse with her and have never taken drugs." Ms Barker claimed that she reluctantly had sex with McFadden on the stag night to celebrate his wedding to I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! star Kerry Katona, 23. She said: "We started off having sex and after about a minute I pulled away and performed a sex act on him. I didn't enjoy it and it was over in three minutes. He was only concerned about his own needs. There was no feeling to it. When he finished he got up, didn't look at me, didn't say a word and walked out."
source - Heat Magazine
July 2004
McFadden slams Spice Girl rumours
Former Atomic Kitten singer Kerry McFadden has slammed rumours she will replace Mel C in the reformed Spice Girls line-up. The beauty - who is married to ex-Westlife hunk Bryan McFadden - was reportedly approached to take Sporty Spice's place on the all-conquering girlband's rumoured reunion tour.
But Kerry - who won the latest series of British reality show I'm a celebrity...get me out of here! - says she believes no-one could replace the singer. Kerry says: "I haven't been asked, not by the Spice Girls. They could never replace Mel anyway." And blonde Kerry, 23, also laughed off suggestions she's poised to star in British soap EastEnders. She adds: "That's the first I've heard; I never watch it."
source - breakingnews.iol.ie
posted - 8th July 2004
Bryan and Kerry party kings of Miss Ireland
The Miss Ireland ceremony has been turned into the party event of the year and one not to be missed - this year Bryan and Kerry McFadden joined other VIPs who just love to go crazy at the City West Hotel annual beauty pageant... If you were lucky enough to get your hands on a ticket to the Miss Ireland finals in City West Hotel over the weekend you may have noticed that the celebrity partying got more attention than the actual ceremony itself!
With a big ShowBiz turnout, plush surroundings, lots of beautiful people, free booze, live music, and the McFaddens in attendance Miss Ireland 2004 was always going to be a crazy night. Miss Donegal Natasha Nigairbheith beat favourites Roz Lipsett and Robbie Keane's girlfriend Claudine Palmer to get the coveted Newbridge Silverware Crown, which was last worn by the current Miss World Rosanna Davison, to become Miss Ireland 2004.The stunning 21 year old Gweedore native was chosen by celeb judges Samantha Mumba and Yvonne Keating to represent Ireland in the Miss World finals next year.
But after the winner was picked the real partying began with Bryan and Kerry McFadden at the fore grabbing their fellow VIP guests Ronan Keating and Samantha Mumba up onto the stage to dance. At one stage Kerry even joined the live band The Divas with slightly drunken renditions of I Will Survive and It's Raining Men to the delight of the crowd. After a very late and enjoyable night at the City West Hotel we're sure everyone to who attended had a sore head - not least when they looked at the photos in the Sunday papers!
source - www.showbizireland.com
posted - 7th July 2004
An I for a Y as former Westlife star makes a name for himself at golf
The first day of the Smurfit European Open swung into action yesterday as many of the world's top golfers teed up for the coveted title. More than 9,000 golf fans braved the blustery weather to flock to the luxurious K-Club in Staffan, Co Kildare, to check out the top-class play on the immaculate new Smurfit course.
This is the first time a major tournament has been played on it since it opened last year and there was huge curiosity to see how the golfing professionals would tackle its challenging curves. As ever, unpredictable weather conditions were par for the course as intermittent sunshine combined with monsoon-like downpours, leaving both spectators and players wondering whether to reach for their brollies or their sunglasses.
The new 15m Euros clubhouse, which only opened three weeks ago, served as the perfect refuge to those who preferred to watch from more sedate surroundings.
Among them was ex-Westlifer Brian McFadden - curiously insisting on a new spelling for his Christian name - who had made a family day of it and brought along his wife Kerry and daughter Molly (3).
A keen golfer, Brian said he has been busy managing his band 'Merlin' and putting the finishing touches to his first solo album, due out in September. Looking very trim, he admitted he was still on the Atkins diet but said: "You just forget about it after a while and it becomes part of your life." He also explained the reason for changing the spelling of his name.
"It was always spelt with a 'i' but I had to change it when I was in the band. Now I'm doing my own thing, I'm using my real name again."
His wife Kerry was a little less enthusiastic about the golfing action but was still enjoying her time off.
"I don't have a clue about golf but I am learning on the computer," she said. She's been busy with day-time ITV chat-show, "Loose Women" and said she was looking forward to shooting beginning on her new film "Showband" in Galway this August. The couple were there to cheer on their pal, British contender Justin Rose, who described the course as "very difficult" but in "perfect condition".
credit - site for sore eyes
source - Irish Independent
posted - 7th July 2004
Jo's Marsh out of ten
FAIR play to JODIE MARSH. She may be a a real no-mark but she can shirt-ainly court publicity. Her latest ploy was donning this top with marks out of ten for her lovers written on it. Club owner FRAN COSGROVE got a pathetic zero while Westlife’s KIAN EGAN managed only two. Singer DANE BOWERS got six and model CALUM BEST a creditable seven. But Jodie awarded her latest boyfriend SCOTT SULLIVAN a sex rating of nine out of ten.
source - The Sun online
posted - 5th July 2004
Egan Kian on miss-ing show
KIAN Egan's excuse for missing this weekend's Miss Ireland competition was because he has a "TV thing going on in Germany". Well, that's a bit different from sunning himself in the Bahamas, where he is at the moment, lapping up the rays with gorgeous Hollyoaks babe Jodi Albert. Westlife star Kian and Jodi are in the Caribbean, enjoying the Bahamas. This is their second time in that part of the world within a year. Kian has lately moaned: "They (female fans) push their breasts in our faces. It's so degrading. We feel like sex objects."
The only singleton among the group, Mark Feehily, has gone off to New York with mates. Meanwhile, Shane Filan and wife Gillian and Nicky Byrne and wife Georgina are currently staying in the luxury *hotel name* in Miami's South Beach. As well as enjoying American Independence dat today, Shane will have a few extra drinks tomorrow as he turns 25.
source - Irish Sunday World
posted 4th July 2004
Traffic chaos which plagued concerts at Powderham Castle last year will not be repeated this summer, organisers and police have pledged. With just one week to go before a host of top names descend on Devon for a season of open-air gigs, Powderham Castle bosses have been putting the finishing touches to parking arrangements for the events. Meanwhile, traffic planners are promising that the site will be cleared no later than 90 minutes after the end of each concert.
The shows kick off on Friday, July 9, with Donny Osmond and continue until Sunday, August 15, with a performance from former Exeter University student Will Young. The improved parking plans follow complaints from Kenton and Starcross residents and festival-goers who attended Elton John's show at Powderham last July. The concert finished at 10pm, but there were still more than 1,000 vehicles trying to leave the site at 1am.
A park and ride scheme will not be operating, but a ferry service from Exmouth to Starcross may be put on for the Will Young concert.Tim Faulkner, general manager of Powderham, said: "Last year we had some problems in Starcross and Kenton where local people were inconvenienced.
"We don't want local people to feel the concerts impact on them negatively.
"What we are about is building a huge concert venue and we can only do that with the goodwill of local people."
Hugh Smith, from traffic management planners NGS, said: "We are improving the signs this year, so it will be easier for people to find the site.
"For concerts with a younger profile we will expect a high amount of drop offs and pick ups, so we're designating a huge drop-off area and dividing it into zones.
"A major innovation this year is that we are segregating our car park in a much more sturdier fashion. At the Elton John concert they ripped down the rope and drove though. Once it's pulled down it's difficult to put up again. Fencing works much better. It gives us total control."
Inspector John Perry, of Devon and Cornwall Police, promised traffic wardens would be out from sunrise cracking down on illegally parked cars. He said: "The A379 will be coned from north of Kenton to the middle of Starcross with no-waiting restrictions.
"There will also be certain temporary no-waiting areas within the villages of Kenton and Starcross.We will make sure local people can still park while at the same time preventing people coming to the concerts from abandoning their vehicles unnecessarily. There's no point parking in Kenton or Starcross because it's a big walk to the entrance. Some people think there is a cost for parking which is why they're parking off-site. It's free, so there is nothing to be gained from parking off-site. People will be off the site within an hour and a half. We have no concerns about congestion anymore. Lessons have been learned."
Also appearing at Powderham this summer will be Tom Jones, Jools Holland, Yes and boy bands Busted and Westlife.
source - Exeter Express
posted - 2nd July 2004
Jordan: Kerry is so McBad
This could get messy. Jungle buddies Jordan and Kerry McFadden have fallen out. Jordan is fuming at Kerry’s suggestion that her relationship with Peter Andre isn’t real. She says: "I’m not happy about what Kerry said about me on TV the other day.
"She was saying me and Pete won’t last and we’re not for real. I don’t know if it’s jealousy, but every week she says things like she wouldn’t buy the toy dolls of us for her kids. I thought she and Bryan were our pals."
Peter added: "If Kerry and Bryan don’t like the situation between me and Jordan, that’s their problem.
"We’re happy so other people’s comments don’t mean anything." Over to you, Kerry.
source - www.thesun.co.uk
posted - 1st July 2004
Best-life...
Westlife wife Gillian Filan looks like she's posing for a cheeky seaside postcard on holiday. The 25-year-old can't work out how to hide her modesty and stop tan lines forming on her shoulders at the same time.
Gillian is on holiday in Miami with hubby Shane, bandmate Nicky and his wife Georgina during a break in their hectic world tour schedule. The couples, who are best of pals despite spending so much time together, flew to Florida to soak up some sun before the boys resume touring again. They spent the day relaxing on the famous South Beach, topping up their tans and cooling off in the sea before heading off to do some shopping.
Westlife are set to play another sell-out Scottish gig at Edinburgh Castle on July 24.
source - www.dailyrecord.co.uk
posted - 1st July 2004
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