Post by sparkles on Nov 3, 2007 18:21:25 GMT 8
From wl.gr
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Westlife tell New! why the last two years have been the best ever and how they would have welcomed a chart battle with the Spice Girls.
On a sunny autumn day, new! is off to meet the Westlife boys - Kian Egan 28, Shane Filan, 28, Mark Feehily 27 and Nicky Byrne, 29 - in the penthouse of a plush London Hotel.
When we arrive only three of them are there, but fans can be rest assured there hasn’t been another shock departure such as when Brain McFadden left the group in 2004. Mark’s stuck in traffic trying to get here but he wont be long, explains Shane. Of course we can forgive his lateness in the Irish Charmers, and Mark apologetically joins the group part way through our chat.
The band have been together for nearly 10 years and with 14 UK No.1, countless awards and eight multiplatinum albums under their belts, they could be forgiven for resting on their laurels. But the guys are as hungry as ever for success and have a new single out and are set to release a new album.
As they settle back on the comfy sofas with cups of tea and coffee, they tell New how they are all happier than ever in their personal lives too. Shane is married with a 2 year old daughter, Nicole, Nicky and his wife have 5 month old twins, Rocco and Jay, Kian is dating ex Hollyoaks actress Jodi Albert, and Mark is settled with his partner Kevin McDaid formerly of boyband V.
As the banter bounces between the lads, its clear they’re great friends and united in their ambition to maintain the band’s success. They also reveal how Simon Cowell nearly stopped Shane being in the band, what they think of the XFactor finalists and how life on the road has turned into a kindergarten…
The Spice Girls were going to release their album on the same date as you… How did you feel about that?
Kian: We would have welcomed it. I reckon we would have beat them! We think "Bring it on" but they obviously decided best not to.
Nicky: We have nothing personal against the Spice Girls but the battle would have been big. It would have been Simon Fuller versus Simon Cowell, boys versus girls. Simon wouldn’t want to loose, Louis Walsh wouldn’t want to loose, we wouldn’t want to loose…
Shane: We always want number 1, number 2 isn’t enough.
Nicky: If we get another number 1 with this record, it will be our 15th and that would put us third in the record books behind Elvis and The Beatles.
How do you feel about Take That being on the scene?
Kian: We’re younger than Take That so its great to see they are still going well.
Shane: It shows us we should be able to keep going for years.
Kian, you helped Louis pick his over 25 finalists for the XFactor - was it an easy decision?
Kian: Yes, as soon as I heard them sing, I knew the three I would have picked and that was the three he went for. He was deliberating over putting the crazy guy Icaro through but I told him he would make a mockery of himself.
Nicky: MY sister thinks Daniel (DE Bourg) could win it. Is he worth putting a few quid on Kian?
Kian: He’s Louis strongest chance. I don’t like the girl group HOPE. They haven’t gelled and seem to be in for it for themselves. In Simon’s Category, I would have put the geeky guys I sette Cantante, through and Ghost. I thought they were really good. Same difference are as cheesy as sin.
Why out of the entire group, were you picked to be Louis's advisor Kian?
Kian: I don’t know he just asked me.
Nicky: He’s teacher’s pet.
Kian: I was the natural choice as I want to get into that side of things.
What advice would you give to the contestants?
Take it as it comes. Don’t get too excited as you could be back at Tesco next month or you could be the biggest act in the country. Just because you are in the X Factor, it doesn’t mean you are going to be big.
Shane: Out of all the acts on these shows, not many survive. Girls Aloud have had a good career and Will Young, Leona Lewis, watch this space. But that’s about it.
Nicky: Bands like us and Take That had a gradual rise to fame. On the XFactor everyone knows everything about you by Christmas.
Two of you have become fathers recently. How is it all going?
Shane: It’s great, I’ve been doing it for two years, so a bit longer than Nicky. Every day Nicole is running, jumping, talking - she is becoming a proper little girl. The last two years have been the best of my life.
Mark: That’s the same for me. The last two years have been the best of my life.
Shane: That’s because you came out though...
Mark: Yes but I also got a dog…!
Do you find it hard you don’t get to see your children a lot because of work?
Shane: No they’re in London with us so I saw Nicole this morning and I’ll see her this afternoon...
Nicky: Since my twins were born they’ve been to Portugal, Sweden and England - we travel everywhere together. It’s like a creche on the road with Westlife now.
Shane: I really hope that all our children will grow up to be friends.
Kian, do you and Jodi have any plans to marry?
Kian: Possibly, We don’t feel under any pressure to do it. We’re both very happy at the minute and when the time comes, the time comes...
In Louis Walsh’s biography, he revealed one or two things about Westlife being reformed.
Nicky: He said Westlife were ugly but that was before Brian and I joined.
Shane: Yeah, and Simon Cowell didn’t want me to be in the band. That shows how silly he can be.
Did you mind Shane?
Shane: No it’s a funny story. I came back a month later to audition with my hair dyed blonde and Simon said, ‘Who’s the new guy, I love him!’ Simon is rarely wrong but he was wrong that time!
Do you still see Brian?
Shane: Yeah. My birthday was the last time I saw him a few months ago.
Nicky: And he texted me when he twins were born.
Kian: He's backward and forwards between London, Ireland and Australia at the moment.
Shane: It feels like forever since he was in the band. He’s had success but maybe not as much as he hoped. If anyone leaves a band of course you want to go on to be Robbie Williams but it can be hard to beat what you achieved as a band. And in a group, you also keep each others egos tamed. I think that is why we are still together and will be together for a long time.
Do you ever argue?
Shane: Everyday.
Kian: Argument is the wrong word. Its more of a debate…
Nicky: We do argue though...
Kian: No we don’t argue we debate...
Shane: See, they are arguing now…
Kian: Now we’re debating. The truth is we all just want what is best for the band...
Westlife’s single Home is out now.
Credit/Source: new! Magazine / Thanx Joanne for typing it up
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I find this interview quite funny ;D
-----------------------------------------------
Westlife tell New! why the last two years have been the best ever and how they would have welcomed a chart battle with the Spice Girls.
On a sunny autumn day, new! is off to meet the Westlife boys - Kian Egan 28, Shane Filan, 28, Mark Feehily 27 and Nicky Byrne, 29 - in the penthouse of a plush London Hotel.
When we arrive only three of them are there, but fans can be rest assured there hasn’t been another shock departure such as when Brain McFadden left the group in 2004. Mark’s stuck in traffic trying to get here but he wont be long, explains Shane. Of course we can forgive his lateness in the Irish Charmers, and Mark apologetically joins the group part way through our chat.
The band have been together for nearly 10 years and with 14 UK No.1, countless awards and eight multiplatinum albums under their belts, they could be forgiven for resting on their laurels. But the guys are as hungry as ever for success and have a new single out and are set to release a new album.
As they settle back on the comfy sofas with cups of tea and coffee, they tell New how they are all happier than ever in their personal lives too. Shane is married with a 2 year old daughter, Nicole, Nicky and his wife have 5 month old twins, Rocco and Jay, Kian is dating ex Hollyoaks actress Jodi Albert, and Mark is settled with his partner Kevin McDaid formerly of boyband V.
As the banter bounces between the lads, its clear they’re great friends and united in their ambition to maintain the band’s success. They also reveal how Simon Cowell nearly stopped Shane being in the band, what they think of the XFactor finalists and how life on the road has turned into a kindergarten…
The Spice Girls were going to release their album on the same date as you… How did you feel about that?
Kian: We would have welcomed it. I reckon we would have beat them! We think "Bring it on" but they obviously decided best not to.
Nicky: We have nothing personal against the Spice Girls but the battle would have been big. It would have been Simon Fuller versus Simon Cowell, boys versus girls. Simon wouldn’t want to loose, Louis Walsh wouldn’t want to loose, we wouldn’t want to loose…
Shane: We always want number 1, number 2 isn’t enough.
Nicky: If we get another number 1 with this record, it will be our 15th and that would put us third in the record books behind Elvis and The Beatles.
How do you feel about Take That being on the scene?
Kian: We’re younger than Take That so its great to see they are still going well.
Shane: It shows us we should be able to keep going for years.
Kian, you helped Louis pick his over 25 finalists for the XFactor - was it an easy decision?
Kian: Yes, as soon as I heard them sing, I knew the three I would have picked and that was the three he went for. He was deliberating over putting the crazy guy Icaro through but I told him he would make a mockery of himself.
Nicky: MY sister thinks Daniel (DE Bourg) could win it. Is he worth putting a few quid on Kian?
Kian: He’s Louis strongest chance. I don’t like the girl group HOPE. They haven’t gelled and seem to be in for it for themselves. In Simon’s Category, I would have put the geeky guys I sette Cantante, through and Ghost. I thought they were really good. Same difference are as cheesy as sin.
Why out of the entire group, were you picked to be Louis's advisor Kian?
Kian: I don’t know he just asked me.
Nicky: He’s teacher’s pet.
Kian: I was the natural choice as I want to get into that side of things.
What advice would you give to the contestants?
Take it as it comes. Don’t get too excited as you could be back at Tesco next month or you could be the biggest act in the country. Just because you are in the X Factor, it doesn’t mean you are going to be big.
Shane: Out of all the acts on these shows, not many survive. Girls Aloud have had a good career and Will Young, Leona Lewis, watch this space. But that’s about it.
Nicky: Bands like us and Take That had a gradual rise to fame. On the XFactor everyone knows everything about you by Christmas.
Two of you have become fathers recently. How is it all going?
Shane: It’s great, I’ve been doing it for two years, so a bit longer than Nicky. Every day Nicole is running, jumping, talking - she is becoming a proper little girl. The last two years have been the best of my life.
Mark: That’s the same for me. The last two years have been the best of my life.
Shane: That’s because you came out though...
Mark: Yes but I also got a dog…!
Do you find it hard you don’t get to see your children a lot because of work?
Shane: No they’re in London with us so I saw Nicole this morning and I’ll see her this afternoon...
Nicky: Since my twins were born they’ve been to Portugal, Sweden and England - we travel everywhere together. It’s like a creche on the road with Westlife now.
Shane: I really hope that all our children will grow up to be friends.
Kian, do you and Jodi have any plans to marry?
Kian: Possibly, We don’t feel under any pressure to do it. We’re both very happy at the minute and when the time comes, the time comes...
In Louis Walsh’s biography, he revealed one or two things about Westlife being reformed.
Nicky: He said Westlife were ugly but that was before Brian and I joined.
Shane: Yeah, and Simon Cowell didn’t want me to be in the band. That shows how silly he can be.
Did you mind Shane?
Shane: No it’s a funny story. I came back a month later to audition with my hair dyed blonde and Simon said, ‘Who’s the new guy, I love him!’ Simon is rarely wrong but he was wrong that time!
Do you still see Brian?
Shane: Yeah. My birthday was the last time I saw him a few months ago.
Nicky: And he texted me when he twins were born.
Kian: He's backward and forwards between London, Ireland and Australia at the moment.
Shane: It feels like forever since he was in the band. He’s had success but maybe not as much as he hoped. If anyone leaves a band of course you want to go on to be Robbie Williams but it can be hard to beat what you achieved as a band. And in a group, you also keep each others egos tamed. I think that is why we are still together and will be together for a long time.
Do you ever argue?
Shane: Everyday.
Kian: Argument is the wrong word. Its more of a debate…
Nicky: We do argue though...
Kian: No we don’t argue we debate...
Shane: See, they are arguing now…
Kian: Now we’re debating. The truth is we all just want what is best for the band...
Westlife’s single Home is out now.
Credit/Source: new! Magazine / Thanx Joanne for typing it up
---------------------------------------------
I find this interview quite funny ;D