Tony Cowell talks to Brian McFadden
Brian McFadden talks about his career highs and lows, and the woman who has put a spring in his step…
As part of Irish boy band Westlife, Brian McFadden has enjoyed a whopping 13 UK No.1 singles. Now he’s preparing to tour as Boyzlife, alongside Keith Duffy, formerly of rival boy band Boyzone. Brian, 37, has two daughters, Molly and Lilly-Sue, with first wife Kerry Katona, and split from second wife, model Vogue Williams, in 2015. Here, he tells us how he’s loved-up with his new girlfriend, PE teacher Danielle Parkinson, and about his excitement at touring with Boyzlife… How did the idea for Boyzlife come about? It was all Keith’s idea. We’ve been pals for a long time. Our characters in Westlife and Boyzone were kind of similar, too. We go on stage, sing our hits and tell some great stories. How do you look back on that day in June 1998 when you auditioned for Westlife? I look back on that period as being almost unreal. Certainly the first two or three years were an adventure. After that, the touring became too much. We were just living life on the road. That’s when I knew I had to get out of the band.
Do you remember when Simon Cowell came over to Dublin to sign Westlife?
[Laughs] Yes, I do. I thought, ‘This guy’s trousers are really high!’ But, seriously, he had charisma and I knew immediately he had to be the only person we’d sign with. He just stood there beside Louis [ Walsh] and promised he knew how to break this new boy band – and he kept his word. He never let us down.
You left the band in 2004. Do you ever regret it?
No, I don’t. I had to take a break. I’d only had two weeks off in five years. The band couldn’t take a break because of commitments, but I could, so I did. I don’t regret that decision as it was right for me.
What’s your relationship with Louis like these days?
We’re great friends, and we talk a lot. Louis is really funny, so if I’m ever feeling a bit down I call him just to have a laugh.
You said recently that you regret wasting so much money in Westlife – is that true?
Absolutely. I’m happier now with less money because when I had the big money I was very young. I never really saw that money, either. I never had cash. If I wanted something like a flash car then someone just handed me a credit card and that was that. You don’t really appreciate money till you have kids. I now try to teach my girls to value the importance of money, too.
You were a judge on
Australia’s Got Talent – did you enjoy that role?
It was brilliant fun. It was hard work, too: sometimes audition shows can run to 14-hour days. I loved the young kids, the acts that would blow you away. I always related to the young singers, that was my thing.
Are you a fan of shows such as The X Factor?
I think they’re still a great opportunity for young singers to break through. But what’s made the difference now is the internet – producers can find new talent much quicker.
Are you happy living back in the UK permanently?
I am, yes. I live in Rochdale near Manchester. It’s my first real home and I’m very settled there. I’ve just started writing a new solo album so I’m very excited. It’s like starting over. That’s the way I feel right now.
You split from Vogue two years ago and are now in a relationship with Danielle – are you in a happier place?
I was never unhappy with Vogue, things just didn’t work out. It’s sad but, yes, I’m now in a happy place. I have a great relationship with Danielle and I feel very lucky. She’s my everything.
Any plans to get married?
It’s still early days but let’s just say we are both enjoying being with each other. That’s the most important thing.
Do you get to see your daughters regularly?
I do, actually. Molly’s just gone to live with my parents so she can study for her A levels. I get to Dublin every other weekend, so I go to see her at my mum’s, which is great. And I get to see Lilly- Sue as much as I can. We have a great relationship, and I’m very proud of them both.
The Boyzlife tour kicks off in December – what can we expect to see?
We do all the hits from Westlife and Boyzone – so there’s plenty of material. It’s a fun night because we get all the fans from both bands. And, of course, we both tell some funny stories of what happened to us during all those years on the road. So prepare yourselves! Boyzlife Christmas tour kicks off 6 December in Liverpool. For tickets, see boyzlife.seetickets.com