Have Westlife forgotten they were Boyzone support act?
Keith Duffy slates rivals over reunion tour news
BOYZONE’S Keith Duffy has taken a dig at rival boyband Westlife in the wake of their reunion.
The foursome announced on Wednesday they would be coming back with a new tour and album – overshadowing the release of Boyzone’s new single on Thursday.
Speaking on Today FM yesterday, Keith was quick to remind listeners where Westlife began their careers.
He told host Muireann O’connell: “Ourselves and Take That always got on well, and in the early days ourselves and Westlife got on well too.
“I’m not saying we don’t now but the reality of it is, Westlife started as Boyzone’s support act.
“They started as our opening act, they warmed up our audience for us on our European tour and our first two UK tours.”
Keith, who was speaking ahead of the first play of Boyzone’s new single Love, went on to tell how the bands have lost touch over the years and he doesn’t understand why.
The former Corrie star added: “I don’t know what happened in
Westlife at 1999 gig between that and now, but we don’t seem to see the boys or talk to them very often – but there’s no bad blood as far as I’m concerned whatsoever.
“The boys went on and had a fantastic career after Boyzone broke up, they lasted the test of time.
“They stayed together a lot longer than most boybands ever do which is a testament to the lads themselves.”
But Keith, 44, also believes Westlife should give Boyzone more credit for their success, following the footsteps of former member Brian Mcfadden.
He said: “It’s gas because I work with Brian all of the time and Brian is never short to turn around and say Westlife were very lucky to get the start in the world they got because Boyzone gave them the support act on their show.
“But I’ve yet to hear any of the other members of Westlife give us any kind of credit for that.
“I don’t think their egos will permit them to say they started on Boyzone’s stage to be honest.”
TODAY FM YESTERDAY
I don’t think their egos will permit them to say they started on our stage KEITH DUFFY