WESTLIFE: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO LOU
Mark hails Walsh on 70th
WESTLIFE star Mark Feehily has hailed Louis Walsh on his 70th birthday as a ‘huge part of their story’.
Music manager Louis celebrated his 70th birthday yesterday.
He was born in Kiltimagh, Co Mayo, in 1952 and began his career in the music industry in the 1990s.
Louis managed Johnny Logan, Boyzone and Jedward in the 1990s and 2000s as well as Westlife.
He also became a judge on television shows such as Popstars, You’re a Star, The X Factor and Ireland’s Got Talent.
Influence
Westlife, who began working with Louis in 1998, said the music mogul is responsible for their success.
Speaking on ITV’s This Morning on Friday, the band wished the music manager a happy birthday.
They recalled his influence on the group as they prepared for their sold-out gig at Wembley Stadium tonight as part of their Wild Dreams Tour.
Mark said: “The way that Louis sort of plucked us and put us into the music industry and put us on the map, this gig, this weekend, for me,
Louis is a huge part of our story.” Manager Louis admits he never thought Westlife would still be going in 2022 when they first started out.
The music manager said they’ve been so successful as they’ve stayed true to their roots.
He said: “Every song is a hit. There will be no fillers in the show tomorrow night, no album tracks – all hits. “They’ve done so many big records. I think it’s the soundtrack to an awful lot of people’s lives and that’s why it works because it’s hit after hit after hit. “They look like a young band! It’s amazing.
“They look the same, their accents are the same and they still love it — that’s the secret.”
Deal
Louis added: “They’ve been filling arenas everywhere else so it’s a big deal for any band to play a stadium – especially for a band going over 20 years.
“It’s not like it’s a job to them. They just love it.”
Mark, along with Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan, said that securing the Wembley concert had “blown our minds a little bit”.