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WL VIP Magazine interview and pics December issue
Topic Started: Nov 25 2007, 10:06 AM (185 Views)
JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
Together for nearly 10 years Westlife Talk about Fans, Babies and Christmas and Reveal their plans for their extended break

This year has been a landmark one for Nicky, Shane Mark and Kian, the four lads from Westlife.

Gone are the suits and the annual covers album, to be replaced with a cooler image and a brillant pop album Back Home. Unhappy with the prospect of churning out another concept album, Westlife went to their record company and the resulting collaboration is an album that the guys are justifiably proud of.

There's no denying that they have the Midas touch - after almost a decade in the business, they have sold over 36 million albums and hit the tops of the UK charts 14 times. Despite the fact that their first single off the new album, Home, did not make number one, the album has and the boys are utterly gracious in their defeat to Leona Lewis.

Rumours are always rife about the demise of Westlife, but thankfully that's all they are - rumours. Yes, they are taking a break, but only so they can come back with more material and produce the best pop album you've ever heard - phew! The four guys are totally united as they look forward to the biggest gig of their lives, playing Croke Park on June 1st.

On a personal level 2007 was also momentous for Nicky Byrne, when he became a father to twins. Now nappies are just one more thing he takes with him on tour! With the album launched, life is manic for the lads with TV appearences, interviews and switching on the Christmas lights on Oxford Street. And while VIP waited patiently for this exclusive photoshoot, we got a sense of phenomenon that is Westlife. Despite the hype, the lads are gracious and grounded, with each taking time to expressly thank their legions of adoring fans

Well done lads, you are back to what you do best with a great pop album. Are you proud of it?

Mark: We're really delighted. Sometimes you have to go with your gut feeling and what is important for you, the band and the fans. Last year we did the Love Album, which was a lot more commercial, but this one was about making a really strong, high standard pop music album for the fans. We enjoy the cover albums, but there's no way we could do it every year. We're very proud of this one and it's selling really well, which goes to show, you don't have to be 100% commercial to have success.
Shane: It's definitely one we're proudest of - it's full of new songs, not cover versions and a step in the right direction for us. It's not changed our style of music, but it's new and fresh.

Why were you anxious to move away from doing cover albums?

Nicky: We've done concept albums and while they've worked, we felt we needed to sustain ourselves into the next era, that's how this album came about, it's about moving into the future.

It is obvious that you have much more input now 9 albums down the line, thay must be a good feeling?

Kian: Of course, but to be honest, we didn't do it for a very long time. Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh have brought us to where we are today and guided us through it all. We sat down with them during the summer and explained that we didn't want to do another album of covers. We don't feel like we're making music that way. They understood and that's where this album came from. We've a very honest and open relationship.

Is this a coming of age for a boyband?

Mark: Pop acts can be brushed off, thinking it's all about marketing and clever management and althought we've had that, there's no denying that you can't last for nine years without there being talent there. We've gained experience -I'm not saying that we are always right, far from that, but we have a seat at the table in the whole system, a say in what we do and if we didn't, I don't think we'd still be here.

Were you disappointed that Home didn't make it to number one?

Nicky: Of course, but we were beaten by a brillant song. With hindsight, which is a great thing, we mightn't have released Home as the first single. But we've no regrets, the album is absolutely flying and that's the most important thing.

It's a bit of a media circus around you guys at the moment; do you ever get fed up with it?

Kian The album is just out, so it's a bit crazy, everything is just happening at the moment. It's a big buzz, but it's crazy in a good way.
Mark: Sometimes it's hard to manage our own lives against the whole manic promotion schedules. Over the years we've got used to it, but there are occasions that it becomes very difficult. There are times that you have to attend personal things that can't be ignored, but at the same time you have to be there for the fans, it can be difficult to cater for both; you just have to try your best.

Shane and Nicky, now that you have kids, do you find it harder to balance family life and the fact that everybody wants a piece of you?

Shane: I think we are very good at separating our personal lives from Westlife. Yes, everyone wants a piece of us, but we want a piece of everybody! We want to be on the TV shows and in the magazines. It's our career and out livelihood, so if people want a piece of us, we're there to be had, We're very normal lads with a big dream that has came true and we're working hard to keep it going.

Nicky Without a doubt, once you have kids, you look at everything completely differently. The order is now the boys, then Georgina, and then me.

Nicky, how does being a pop star combine with being a new father?

It's hard at times, anyone with a new baby will tell you that. You don't get as much sleep as you used too, but the joy it brings is totally outweighs anything. It's a mind-boggling experience, difficult at times, but we didn't want nannies, we wanted them all to ourselves. While it's hard initially, we had our parents and our families around us, I think we've coped quite well.

Jay and Rocco arrived early; they must have given you an awful fright?

Thank God they were completely healthy from day one, just underweigh. All the check ups so far have been normal and we're absolutely blessed. They're 7 months old now, sitting up, smiling and giggling. If i've been out for the day, I come home and they smile at me, it would melt your heart. We're both as full on parents as we can be, they are only small for so long, so we cherish every cuddle we get.

Full on, even down to the dirty nappies?

Absolutely, I do think I'm that new type of man - the metrosexual. You do everything; you have the nappies in your man bag!

How has Georgina taken to motherhood?

She's absolutely the best. The other day I had to do the feeds on my own, it's solids and bottles, so I got it first hand and it was pretty mad, I understand what she does everyday.

The band are going to take a break - are you looking forward to spending more time with Georgina and the boys?

It's going to be amazing, a little bit scary because in the nine years we've never had the time off, but it's well overdue. It's about time to take six to seven months away and to come back with another brillant album. We need more time to find top quality pop songs to continue our careers at the top level.

What are the rest of you guys planning on doing with your time off?

Shane: I'm looking forward to spending a lot of time at home, we'll probably go on a couple of nice holidays to chill out and relax. I'll spend time with the family and hopefully get to play some golf, I'm only playing 4 years, I play off 15, but I'm determined to get it down to 12.
Mark: I'll use it to satisfy my creative side. I love photography, so I'll do more of that. I'll also do some travelling, I love seeing how other people live. I spent the first 18 years of my life in Sligo and while it was great, it was all I knew. My eyes have been opened wide by all the travelling we've done.
Kian: I want to go travelling. Jodie is very busy in her career at the moment and I'd never say to her that she should take time off and come with me, but ideally I'd love us to travel around, the world for three months. I wouldn't do it in a fancy way. I'd like to hire a camper van and go down the east coast of Australia. I want to see Bali and check out the small islands in the Pacific Ocean. I want to go to remote places, I've seen a lot of the world, but I've only seen cities.

So Kian, will we be hearing wedding bells, maybe on the beach of Bali?

Possibly in the near future, but not yet! I know the type of person I am, it would kill me to think that I hadn't picked the best spot in the world to get married, rather than just running off and doing it. You'd have to be spontaneous - Jodie would do it, she's as spontaneous as anything; I'm not the same.

Shane, you are so used to being in stage and performing, will you be jumping up on the kitchen table and expecting Gillan and Nicole to be your adoring audience?

I think it'll be an utter shock to the system, but it's something we need. We need to get away from Westlife, to miss it and appreciate it even more, to give us that buzz to get going again for the next decade and beyond. This is a lifetime thing for us; we want to keep going for as long as we can. We have great fans that have followed us for the last ten years, so as long as we bring out great albums, hopefully they'll buy then and come to the concerts.

Would you ever consider going solo?

I never think about it - it's not something I'd like to do, I love singing with the lads. You are never going to be bigger on your own if the band is huge.

Are you glad that Take That have reformed so you are no longer the old men of pop?

Kian: I was only 26 and being called the granddad of pop before they reformed, so I'm certainly happy that they've got back together and the title is lost off us! It's great they've got back together, they've blown people out of the water with great results and you can't knock them in any shape or form.

Do you have any concerns that you won't be able to regain the momentum after the break?

Nicky: It's definitely food for thought, we're going to have to work on it, but if we come back with a great song, the whole thing will snowball. I do believe we have the quality in us to find those songs, sing them at the best of our abilities and hopefully come out with something brillant.

Will there be added pressure that it's a landmark album - number ten - that you are coming back with?

Kian: No, people in the music industry might think that we are going to mess it up. They think we are going to change and that our fans won't recognise us for what they know and love. That's not it at all, what we aim to do is make the best pop album you've ever heard.

It can be a difficult business. Does it help you, Mark, that your partner Kevin was once in a boyband?

He's been in the exact same situation as me, he's dealt with all the politics, the friendships, the **** ups, the early morning and the record companies! When i go to work in the mornings, he knows where I'm going and understands.

To be in a band you often have to make personal sacrifices, do you regret any of them?

Mark: No, I wouldn't know what I know now and appreciate things if I didn't go through what I have. There are occasions that I feel silly for letting people pressurise me into doing favours, like missing my dad's birthday party to sing at somebody's party. I made the mistake, but I'm stronger now. To some people we are a product like a can of beans, but we're human beans!

Beans, that are going to play Croke Park! How does that feel?

Kian: It's the highlight of everything we've ever done. To go out on that stage in front of 80,00 people knowing that they've come to see us is pretty phenomenal idea. It'll be the most important night of our lives; it's the pinnacle and the reason why we've done everything that we've done. I don't generally get nervous before going on stage, but I guarantee you that I'll be nervous that night.
Shane: We'll be counting down the days to it; we're going to put on the best show of our lives. We're going to have a 10th birthday celebration that nobody will forget.

Nicky, as a former soccer player, you've played in stadiums before. Givem a choice, what would you choose for the boys, musicians or soccer players?

Soccer players, to be honest, there's more fun in getting stuck in a good tackle and scoring a goal for your country!

Finally Lads, What are you Christmas plans?

Mark I'll be going home, I do every year without fail; it's brillant because nobody take any notice of us!
Kian: We'll divide the time between England and Sligo. We've no definite plans, but we may go away for the New Year.
Shane: Going home to Sligo, chilling out, eating and drinking and then running it off in January!
Nicky: It's always back home because we spend so much time away. I look forward to going homw, chilling out and telling stories of the whole year to family. Dinner will probably be in our house this year and Santa Claus has definitely come early!

Source: VIP Mag/Suzanne? for typing and taking pictures.....thank you
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JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
here are some picturs of it,, thansk to Suzy, i will scans mines once i get it next week ....

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JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
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jlovenicky
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Jacqueline
Lots of Pics :D Thanks my hunnie :D :D
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JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
welcome xxx
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Villy Feehily*McDaid
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Villy
Yeeeah lovely pix and interview :D I wish they had solo pix of all the lads :P Magazines have something for Kian and Shane this year :lol: OK only had solos of them only too :P They are gorgeous and this Kian pic is one of my favourite pix ever :)
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JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
im liking his hair now its growing abit lol..
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Lisa
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WESTLIFE
they look so hot there.. omg.. where can I buy that magazine?? :D
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JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
somewhere in Ireland Lisa, the pics are gorgoeus totally agree...
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Gloria
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Westlife DIVA star
Thanks Jo for posting,love the interview & pix,the lads do look hot,grrrrr we are goin g to miss them so much after the tour etc, next year,I have alread y got WESTLIFE withdrawal symptoms already. :lol: bighug hugs
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jlovenicky
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Jacqueline
I love that pic of Kian too ;) HE is really hot on that pic, never seen that of him that lovely smilie :D
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JoanneVIP
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THE BOSS
Kian has a gorgoeus smile for sure..... they are lovely piccies xx
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Villy Feehily*McDaid
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Villy
Yeeees he's so cute :D I loooooooove him :D :D :D
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