‘We hav e the best night of our lives at every gig’
Not only are Westlife still going strong – but they’re loving boyband life more than ever
A‘We can have an argument without worrying about splitting up’
little band called Westlife was formed in 1998 – and they went on to become one of the biggest pop groups Ireland has ever produced. Fast-forward
23 years and Shane Filan, 42, Mark Feehily,
41, Kian Egan, 41, and Nicky Byrne, 43, are as tightknit as ever.
When we meet up with the fab foursome, they’re preparing to tour next year. They’ll be playing their original 90s and noughties hits, as well as songs from their new album, Wild Dreams. It features numbers written by all four members for the first time – as well as a ballad co-penned by Ed Sheeran.
And they’re clearly on cloud nine about playing Wembley Stadium next year, with Nicky gushing, “We’re only the second Irish band to do it, after U2.”
The band, who have racked up
53 million record sales and 14 No1s, discuss how they drew on tough experiences when writing their latest album, open up about having “healthy arguments” and tell us just what their kids make of their success…
Hi, guys! So, 23 years is a long time – do you ever fight?
Kian: Of course! We’re like any four guys who spend a lifetime together. You fight with your siblings, but they’re your siblings so you make up. Same with us.
Mark: If you have an argument with a sibling, they’re not going to be like,“I’m not your brother any more.” We’re able to have a healthy argument because we’re not worried about splitting up.
What do your children think of you being in the band?
Kian: My oldest is nine. I’m the coolest dad in the world. Shane: It’s a great part of Westlife now. Someone asked
the other day,“What’s better?
The hysteria when Westlife started or the success you have now?” I say the now, because it’s 23 years on, it’s incredible we’re doing Wembley Stadium and now our children get to enjoy it. It’s a proud dad feeling and it makes it more special.
Mark, you have the youngest with two-year-old Layla. How are you finding things?
Mark: It’s amazing. One day she went to bed and she didn’t have eyelashes and the next morning she had these big brown massive eyelashes. It’s mad to see it.You never believe it’s going to happen and then she stands up and walks. I sang the first line of our song
Starlight the other day and she finished the entire chorus.
We’re excited about your forthcoming tour. Is touring your favourite thing to do?
Shane: Yeah, definitely.
Mark: We’re very lucky… We get to have the best night of our lives every time we do a gig. By the end of the gig, you come out buzzing.
Do you meet fans now who you remember from 20 years ago?
Kian: Oh yeah. We had major hardcore fans that would be outside the hotel. We’d get in the car, they’d follow. Then we’d go on tour, we’d get in the bus and they’d get in their cars and follow us to the next city. That still happens. There are probably 100 to 200 fans around the world
whose name or face we know.
Nicky: We’ve never landed in an airport without somebody there, fan wise.
You all had a hand in writing your latest album and drew on personal experiences. That was particularly hard for you, Shane…
Shane: Yeah, my mum and dad passed away in the last year and a half and I went through a very sad period. I always wanted to learn the guitar and it was a nice way to keep my mind off my mum dying. I learnt any song that reminded me of happy times then that developed into the songwriting part. It was therapeutic and brought me to a happy place. There’s a song called Always With Me and it’s about my mum and dad, their relationship and how he must have felt without her in the nine months they were apart. My parents are not with me any more, but playing music is when they can be with you. I’m closest to them when I’m singing.
Do you still keep in contact with the original Westlife manager, Simon Cowell?
Nicky: Life has a funny way of repeating itself and I’m a firm believer of never burning bridges – and we haven’t. I think one day we’ll do something with Simon again.
Westlife’s new album Wild Dreams is out now.The band will be touring the UK and Ireland in 2022. Tickets are available at livenation.co.uk