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| Official extracts from book | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jun 13 2008, 04:59 PM (644 Views) | |
| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 04:59 PM Post #1 |
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THE BOSS
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Autobiography Extract: Part 2 Read part two of our fantastic preview of Westlife: Our Story! Signing the record deal was a huge decision for me, says Mark. I can clearly remember actually putting the pen on the page where I was supposed to sign. I can see it now, the pen moving in slow motion as I signed my name. At that precise second, a thousand thoughts were buzzing through my brain. I was excited about the deal, naturally, but I was very nervous about what it meant for my life back in Sligo. I was really scared that it might change things. Of course it changed everything beyond recognition. Subconsciously, I must have known this and that is why signing that piece of paper was such a big deal for me. There I was, an 18- year-old country boy, flying into this big corporate office in the middle of London, being surrounded by all these big names in the business, working for this worldwide company, sitting by accountants, lawyers, managers - it felt insane. I think in the back of my mind I'd been preparing to go to college, like a lot of kids do from around Sligo, then suddenly here I was signing a multi-million pound record deal with all the heavy responsibility that comes with that. Maybe for a kid brought up in Camden, it would have been an easy day out, but for me the contrast was so severe. Exciting, thrilling, scary, daunting, all at once. I'm just trying to be really honest here. As I signed, the noise of the city outside was as far from my idyllic country childhood as you can imagine. I could feel that distance sitting there in that room, writing my name on that sheet of paper. Right there and then, I put a barrier up. This is not going to change me, this is not going to change my life, I kept saying to myself. It was important at that point to have that feeling. It reassured me. I hadn't travelled like Nicky, I didn't have the confidence of Shane, Kian and Brian. But, ultimately, the draw to sing was greater than the desire for my life not to change, so I signed the contract. But I just kept telling myself it wouldn't really change anything. How wrong can you be? The business side of it hit us instantly, says Nicky. We had to set up a company, we hired an accountant, Alan McEvoy, and we got lawyers and tour managers lined up, all sorts. It was explained to us that the company, Blue Net, should own the band name because if any member were to leave then the band could continue without legal problems. We just agreed - it sounded reasonable and besides, no one was going to leave Westlife, were they? As soon as we signed the deal, we spoke with Louis and he said, ‘Right, you're going straight into a recording studio.' Game on. |
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| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 05:00 PM Post #2 |
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THE BOSS
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Extract From Autobiography! We've got an online exclusive especially for Westlife fans - a sneaky peek at part of Westlife: Our Story! Here's an extract from Chapter 7, in which the boys discuss signing their first ever record deal. We'll be bringing you more from the chapter tomorrow, in which Mark discusses how he felt at the meeting and Nicky reveals a bit about the business side of the band, so make sure you check back in! The book comes out on 16th June: pre-order your copy here. Signing the actual record contract was amazing, recounts Nicky. It was in the first week of November 1998, while we were still on tour with Boyzone. A lot of the lads hadn't even been to London before; I was a little more experienced in that I'd been to America, Canada and much of Europe with family holidays and football tournaments. Louis was travelling to the record label separately, so it was literally the five of us travelling over on a plane to meet him there. We made our way from the airport to this big office block where the record company was based. I remember that standing there, ready to go in, we were just giddy kids. Looking back, as soon as we entered that doorway, all of our lives changed beyond recognition. We went into a big meeting room that is now Simon Cowell's private office but back then was just a huge conference room. Sonny Takhar was also there, Simon's right-hand man who has also been instrumental in our career.We knew it was a big record deal - we signed for five albums on a contract worth several million pounds, so, understandably at that age, we all thought that once we'd signed this piece of paper, we'd be millionaires. Of course that money is split over the albums and it has to go towards paying for some incredibly expensive stuff like accommodation, clothes, cars, video shoots, recording costs and so on. It's funny, looking back, because we'd all been looking at what cars we could afford. Rather than get proper carried away, I was thinking of buying maybe a Toyota MR2, you know, for 15 grand, say - nothing too ridiculous. That's how you think at that age. Signing that record deal was all my dreams come true, says Kian. It really was a lifelong dream and here we were, signing the contract, about to record an album, put singles out, travel the world in a band and make music. It was just amazing. It was the stuff of dreams, absolutely, recalls Shane. All my life I'd been looking forward to this moment. It was one of my major goals in life, but I never thought it would happen. I knew I wanted to get married and I hoped I'd be a father, but I never thought I'd get a massive record deal. It's such a prized achievement for a band. I can't really ever forget that excitement, that moment sitting in that office, all the thoughts buzzing around my head: We are going to be pop stars! We might have a hit single! Then the teenage thoughts kick in, like Maybe I'm going to be a millionaire! Then, most importantly of all, I can go and buy a new car! westlife.com |
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| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 05:04 PM Post #3 |
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THE BOSS
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13th June 2008 - Westlife: We thought Bri was joking 11:46 - 13-June-2008 Be the first reader to comment on this story. Best-selling Irish pop band Westlife have revealed they didn't take Brian McFadden seriously when he said he was leaving the group. Speaking about the departure of the fifth member, band member Nicky Byrne said: "My initial thought when he told us was that he was punking us. That was Brian's personality. He was sitting beside me so I looked at him, smiled, laughed, and started checking him for wires because that would be a typical Brian thing to do." But the band also hinted that Brian leaving made them stronger. "It was a very big turning point. I wonder whether we would still be together if Brian hadn't left, I don't know. At the time it made us realise how lucky we were and how fickle the thing could be," said Shane Filan. The band have told all in a joint autobiography called Westlife: Our Story. Thisishull |
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| Gloria | Jun 13 2008, 05:06 PM Post #4 |
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Westlife DIVA star
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Thanks Jo for posting,i'm saving my book to read it some time later.Looks good reading.xx :) hugs |
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| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 05:13 PM Post #5 |
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THE BOSS
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oooh MARKIEs part x |
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| westlife_vera | Jun 13 2008, 05:33 PM Post #6 |
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Vera
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I really love the extracts so far :D Can't wait to read the book now. i'm going into town next week, to see if they sell the book here in Belgium :) |
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| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 05:36 PM Post #7 |
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THE BOSS
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Oh i hope they do Vera.. its for sale in Holland, i dont know if thast any good... |
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| westlife_vera | Jun 13 2008, 05:39 PM Post #8 |
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Vera
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oh is it?? That's even better :D The nearest shopping mall in Belgium is a one-hour drive, but the mall in the Netherlands is only 15 minutes from where I live :D :D |
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| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 05:50 PM Post #9 |
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THE BOSS
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I found this link dont know if it of use http://www.leeskunst.nl/bestellen_assets/bestellen.html it says to type in westlife for search xx |
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| westlife_vera | Jun 13 2008, 06:47 PM Post #10 |
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Vera
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When i search for the book it says that it can be delivered... I think i'm just going into town next week, and see if i can find it anywhere :) |
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| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 06:49 PM Post #11 |
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THE BOSS
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ok sorry Vera i didnt know if it was ok or not as i couldnt undersatnd it. soeone just agve it to me for holland... Hope youre well and find it xx |
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| Gloria | Jun 13 2008, 06:58 PM Post #12 |
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Westlife DIVA star
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I hope Vera has some luck with getting the book in Holland. :) |
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| JoanneVIP | Jun 13 2008, 07:02 PM Post #13 |
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THE BOSS
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I hope so too... |
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| melgtm | Jun 13 2008, 09:54 PM Post #14 |
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Melissa
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how the hell can i get a copy of this story!!! it's only available to order in the UK, what the hell it suppose im going to do ? ? ? ? ? ? im desperate Zulma.... cómo le vas hacer ? ? ? ? |
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| Filan's Zulma | Jun 14 2008, 06:37 PM Post #15 |
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Happy now i have the Apple's iPod Nano yeh!193 dollars
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thanks :P |
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12:33 AM Jul 11