Post by sparkles on Jul 26, 2008 18:38:07 GMT 8
from wl.gr
-------------------------------
A thingytail with... Nicky Byrne
Nicky Byrne, one quarter of Irish boyband Westlife, is ready for a drink. He has been rushing around promoting the book Westlife - Our Story and could do with a rest. With 40 million albums sold and a decade's worth of touring under their belts, the boys will soon be taking a year off and Nicky, 29, is looking forward to spending time with his wife Georgina - Bertie Ahern's daughter - and their twins Rocco and Jay. Aren't Nicky and bandmates Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily a bit young for an autobiography? "We've been together for ten years, so there's a lot to tell," he promises...
What's your tipple?
Today I'm having a Tom Collins. I'm also partial to Heineken, champagne and red wine. I also enjoy white wine - I used to think it tasted like vinegar until I discovered the good stuff.
You seem very relaxed. Are you not worried about all these boybands making comebacks and pinching your fans?
No, I think it's great. It'd be different if they came back and were really tacky, but Take That are doing so well, and I saw clips of the Boyzone show and it looked brilliant. As for Ronan and the lads nicking our fans, I'm not worried about that - they aren't bringing out any new music yet, plus our fans are pretty loyal.
Will you and the rest of the lads be going shirtless on stage like Boyzone?
They always took the mickey out of themselves, so it's hilarious they've done that, plus they're in great shape. I just don't think it's Westlife's style. I'm in pretty good shape, but having twin boys means there isn't much time for the gym. When we'll have some time off it'll be one of my priorities.
What have you been reading?
I'm not much of a reader, although - shameless plug here - the Westlife book is a good read! I'm not giving away too many details, but there are so many good anecdotes.
Will the book finally quash Westlife's squeaky-clean- image?
We're not squeaky clean and we're not rock'n'roll - we're somewhere in the middle. People might think of us as four boring blokes in black suits, but we know how to have a laugh.
When were you last tipsy?
The first year of parenthood you don't get much chance to go out drinking, but there was a party after our recent show in Croke Park in Dublin and I was on such a high because we'd played to more that 80.000 people - our biggest show ever.
What's your hangover cure?
If I have a cold shower before I go to bed and the aircondition's on, I don't usually get a hangover. If I go bed after few drinks and the heating's on, I wake up in a bad way. But a big Irish fry-up usually sorts me out.
Do you yearn for a cigarette to go with your thingytail?
I've never smoked, probably beause I was into football and played for Leeds United for two years. I do like a drink, though. When I got to Leeds, aged 17, I got really drunk and was fired, but they took me back.
Who would you like to join us?
Helena Christensen would be nice. Would Georgina be jealous? Of course! But she can trust me - I'd only have the thingytail and leave.
Speaking of Georgina - what's your fondest memory of your wedding?
It was a real fairytale. We had 450 guests, it was wonderfully sunny and Georgina looked stunning. I can't believe it's five years this year. Maybe we'll go back to Paris and visit the church where we had our blessing.
How are you enjoying being a dad?
On our wedding day I thought that life couldn't get any better. Then we had kids and I blew me mind. They're 14 months now and starting to crawl. They keep us awake though. Rocco doesn't sleep very well and he wakes Jay up. On a bad night they're awake every hour on the hour - like Sky News!
Mark's happilly settled with his partner Kevin McDaid now, too. How did you feel when he came out?
We'd known about it for a long time. He was worried what people might think, which made it hard for him. He had to be ready to come out, and when he did, it was hugs and tears - we were so happy for him, and of course he is much happier now. He is able to walk down the street holding Kevin's hand, he's able to kiss in public, and that's brilliant.
Ten years in the business - does that make you feel old?
It makes me feel proud, although I admit the idea of turning 30 seems a bit freaky. But there are some cool older guys out there - like George Clooney and Brand Pitt. If I end up like them, I'll be doing alright.
So what's next for you?
We're taking a year off from next month. It's time to take a little break before people get bored of us or we get bored of making music.
-------------
The picture
markevin.fan-sites.org/westlifegr/cpg140/displayimage.php?album=233&pos=0
-------------
Edit:
I don't get it. The 'thingytail' should be 'c-o-c-k-t-a-i-l'. It just switched back each time I tried modifying them
-------------------------------
A thingytail with... Nicky Byrne
Nicky Byrne, one quarter of Irish boyband Westlife, is ready for a drink. He has been rushing around promoting the book Westlife - Our Story and could do with a rest. With 40 million albums sold and a decade's worth of touring under their belts, the boys will soon be taking a year off and Nicky, 29, is looking forward to spending time with his wife Georgina - Bertie Ahern's daughter - and their twins Rocco and Jay. Aren't Nicky and bandmates Shane Filan, Kian Egan and Mark Feehily a bit young for an autobiography? "We've been together for ten years, so there's a lot to tell," he promises...
What's your tipple?
Today I'm having a Tom Collins. I'm also partial to Heineken, champagne and red wine. I also enjoy white wine - I used to think it tasted like vinegar until I discovered the good stuff.
You seem very relaxed. Are you not worried about all these boybands making comebacks and pinching your fans?
No, I think it's great. It'd be different if they came back and were really tacky, but Take That are doing so well, and I saw clips of the Boyzone show and it looked brilliant. As for Ronan and the lads nicking our fans, I'm not worried about that - they aren't bringing out any new music yet, plus our fans are pretty loyal.
Will you and the rest of the lads be going shirtless on stage like Boyzone?
They always took the mickey out of themselves, so it's hilarious they've done that, plus they're in great shape. I just don't think it's Westlife's style. I'm in pretty good shape, but having twin boys means there isn't much time for the gym. When we'll have some time off it'll be one of my priorities.
What have you been reading?
I'm not much of a reader, although - shameless plug here - the Westlife book is a good read! I'm not giving away too many details, but there are so many good anecdotes.
Will the book finally quash Westlife's squeaky-clean- image?
We're not squeaky clean and we're not rock'n'roll - we're somewhere in the middle. People might think of us as four boring blokes in black suits, but we know how to have a laugh.
When were you last tipsy?
The first year of parenthood you don't get much chance to go out drinking, but there was a party after our recent show in Croke Park in Dublin and I was on such a high because we'd played to more that 80.000 people - our biggest show ever.
What's your hangover cure?
If I have a cold shower before I go to bed and the aircondition's on, I don't usually get a hangover. If I go bed after few drinks and the heating's on, I wake up in a bad way. But a big Irish fry-up usually sorts me out.
Do you yearn for a cigarette to go with your thingytail?
I've never smoked, probably beause I was into football and played for Leeds United for two years. I do like a drink, though. When I got to Leeds, aged 17, I got really drunk and was fired, but they took me back.
Who would you like to join us?
Helena Christensen would be nice. Would Georgina be jealous? Of course! But she can trust me - I'd only have the thingytail and leave.
Speaking of Georgina - what's your fondest memory of your wedding?
It was a real fairytale. We had 450 guests, it was wonderfully sunny and Georgina looked stunning. I can't believe it's five years this year. Maybe we'll go back to Paris and visit the church where we had our blessing.
How are you enjoying being a dad?
On our wedding day I thought that life couldn't get any better. Then we had kids and I blew me mind. They're 14 months now and starting to crawl. They keep us awake though. Rocco doesn't sleep very well and he wakes Jay up. On a bad night they're awake every hour on the hour - like Sky News!
Mark's happilly settled with his partner Kevin McDaid now, too. How did you feel when he came out?
We'd known about it for a long time. He was worried what people might think, which made it hard for him. He had to be ready to come out, and when he did, it was hugs and tears - we were so happy for him, and of course he is much happier now. He is able to walk down the street holding Kevin's hand, he's able to kiss in public, and that's brilliant.
Ten years in the business - does that make you feel old?
It makes me feel proud, although I admit the idea of turning 30 seems a bit freaky. But there are some cool older guys out there - like George Clooney and Brand Pitt. If I end up like them, I'll be doing alright.
So what's next for you?
We're taking a year off from next month. It's time to take a little break before people get bored of us or we get bored of making music.
-------------
The picture
markevin.fan-sites.org/westlifegr/cpg140/displayimage.php?album=233&pos=0
-------------
Edit:
I don't get it. The 'thingytail' should be 'c-o-c-k-t-a-i-l'. It just switched back each time I tried modifying them