Meanwhile, some articles on book signings. Here's one from the
Belfast News Letter (With video & pics)
VIDEO: Westlife book signing
WESTLIFE fans took to Belfast city centre in their hundreds on as they queued for a glimpse of – and maybe even a chat – with their pop star heroes.
The Irish band arrived in Eason in Donegall Place to sign copies of their new autobiography, and were greeted by scores of adoring fans.
A sight to behold for bemused shoppers, crowds of cheering women – and men – were queued as far back as McDonalds and beyond, as they waited patiently on Thursday evening to get through the doors of the store.
They passed the time by singing the hit songs of their favourite four-piece, and for those who were successful in meeting Shane, Kian, Mark and Nicky, it was well worth the wait.
Tears of joy and delight flowed freely as fans shared a few moments with their idols, and for some it was all too much, as our pictures show.
Deputy store manager Trevor Proctor said last night that lots of fans had been able to meet the band.
But he accepted that judging by the scale of the event, there were many more left disappointed.
The band stayed for an hour signing books and had stipulated that no photos were taken of them with fans, nor that they could write personalised dedications.
Trevor said this was a bid to speed the process up, and "reduce the number of minutes spent at the table".
Westlife – Our Story charts the highs and lows of the group's career and a friendship that has seen them endure 10 years.
The book chronicles the band's story from their grassroots to multi-platinum records, celebrity collaborations and chart achievements.
And if this their latest offering receives as much of a welcome as the lads themselves did the day they came to Belfast, they'll definitely be flying without wings.
The full article contains 323 words and appears in n/a newspaper.Page 1 of 1
Last Updated: 21 June 2008 12:25 AM
Source: n/a
Location: Belfast
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And another from
This is nottingham.co.uk. (With interview and pic)
EG MUSIC: WESTLIFE
08:00 - 20 June 2008
After the last minute cancellation of their Arena show earlier this month due to two of the group falling ill, Westlife will be in town next week to honour the date. But it will be the last time we see them for a while, as the quartet plan to take at least a year off after the current tour. LISA WILLIAMS spoke to them about the break and their latest book Our Story...
How did you manage to write a book between the four of you?
Nicky: Well it was obviously difficult in more ways than one for the writer, Martin Roach. He interviewed us separately and interviewed us collectively. He also had to cater for four different personalities and four different people talking and telling the same story in different versions, but he did it effectively. I read the book and even though I know all the stories and I was in stitches laughing, It's a milestone in our career ten years on. Even if you're not a Westlife fan, the book is a success story in the pop industry.
Kian: We've all opened up - Mark in particular opened up and said things he might not have said to members of his band. It's sometimes easier to talk to someone outside the band about your story so we've told it as was. I'm not a massive book-reader but this one I read in three or four days - I couldn't put it down. I was quite taken aback with how fast I wanted to read it, even though I knew what was going to happen.
How did you feel when Brian McFadden announced he was leaving?
Nicky: 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. I respect him for doing it even though it was heart-breaking . I thought he was crazy. I offered him counselling, we were almost in relationships with each other in terms of how much time we were spending together so I thought maybe counselling might have helped us. But there were different things going on that we didn't know about. Obviously there were things going on with his marriage that we didn't have a clue about. But I think he made the right choice for him.
Shane: Brian leaving was a very big turning point within Westlife, I wonder whether we would be 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 - that it could be over just like that. It made us stronger as a group.
Nicky: We only got bigger after he left which was a bit weird in a way. We never expected that - to even last would have been good but you actually out-do ourselves and keep getting better was really good.
What do you think of Louis Walsh's involvement in X Factor?
Kian: As long as what he's doing with Westlife what they've always done with Westlife then that's the important thing. I think Louis being involved has done nothing but good for us. He knows the people who run the show, the people behind the scenes and it opens doors. Contacts are a very big part of our industry.
Three of you have known each other since school and Shane is married to Kian's cousin. Is Westlife a family affair?
Shane: We've known each other since we were 12, so for more than 15 years so it has been kind of like they're family to a certain degree. We picked each other as mates so that is the backbone to a strong relationship, and when the others came they gelled with us straight away.
Do you have a favourite book?
Shane: I don't read that much but I've started reading a lot crime books by writers such as Paul Williams. His are books about crime in Ireland, all true stories. In general I like history, facts and public figures. I'm intrigued by JFK, for example.
Were you worried about how people would react to news that Mark was gay?
Mark: I really didn't give a d**n what anyone thought - that's one of the key things that anyone that's gay needs to realise before they come out. It's getting to the point of not giving a s**t what anyone thinks that actually pushes you into it. Too many people care about what people will react like and that's the problem. For me I really didn't care what anyone thought and I don't mean that in any ignorant or aggressive way it was just the way it was.
What will you do during your year off?
Shane: My wife is pregnant so I'm looking forward to having some time off. But I'm worried I'll be bored after four or five months, not working. Even if you have a new baby it's going to be a shock to the system after having a schedule for so long.
What do you think Westlife stands for today?
Kian: We're not a political band, we're not trying to make any big noise politically or in the music industry. We don't try to sell ourselves as this credible, funky band that writes their own records and is making milestones in the music industry. We're just four guys that sing great pop songs for pop fans.
Westlife appear at the Trent FM Arena on Tuesday June 24 supported by Hope. Tickets are £32.50 from the venue, by calling 08444 124624 or on-line at
www.trentfmarenanottingham.com . Westlife - Our Story is in bookshops now.
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