News

07/03/2001	Hear'say Are No Match For Us
Westlife are confident their single "Uptown Girl" will go straight to number one and believe they'll trounce rivals Hear'say. The Hear'Say wannabes, who were picked for stardom on Britain's "Popstars" TV show, will release their debut single "Pure And Simple" in their Britain on March 12 -- just one week after the launch of Westlife's Comic Relief charity single, "Uptown Girl." But Westlife hunk Kian Egan insists the band aren't concerned about the competition saying, "We're not worried about them. 'Uptown Girl' will still be number one even after they release their single. "They are no match for us -- no match at all!" From mtv asia
07/03/2001	Bry-ties
Following in the footsteps of arch rivals, Spice Girls Melanie C and Emma Bunton, Westlife's Bryan McFadden has written a song with Bryan Adams. But Westlife fans needn't fear the end of the chart-topping boy band: the two Bryans have penned a song for Westlife, not for a McFadden solo track. 'Our producer Ray Hedges works with Chicane who worked with Bryan Adams,' Bryan McFadden explained. 'Ray played Bryan Adams a Westlife demo and he was really impressed and asked to meet us.' 'We went out to dinner with him,' continued an excited Nicky Byrne. 'It was mad going to his house to work with him,' McFadden added. 'We've written a really good song. It's not rock though, it's actually another ballad! It's like a cross between Westlife and Bryan Adams' early songs like Everything I Do.' The track is not yet scheduled for release. Keep checking worldpop for more details. Since scoring a No 1 with Chicane, Bryan Adams has written a track with Emma Bunton for her forthcoming solo album and he is also rumoured to be working with Dannii Minogue who is currently starring in the musical Notre Dame. from www.worldpop.com
06/03/2001	Westlife Play On Despite Foot And Mouth
Not even the foot and mouth epidemic, currently affecting much of the UK, can stop the ever successful WESTLIFE. The band's record company today denied reports that the boys would shelve three dates in Dublin, Ireland because of fears they would bring back the disease to their homeland from the UK where they are currently on tour. Westlife are due to play The Point on March 19-21. Both UK tabloid The Daily Mirror and website Worldpop claimed Westlife had been banned from returning to Ireland. The band's Nicky Byrne told the Mirror: "They're afraid we'll bring home the disease." However, The Sun reckons the gigs will go ahead but fans face having to "walk over disinfectant soaked mats before being allowed into the venue". Ireland is currently on a high state of alert following the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the UK. The Six Nations rugby union match between Ireland and Wales was called off, and the traditional St Patrick's parade in Dublin has been cancelled. From http://www.music365.co.uk
06/03/2001	WESTLIFE BACK ON TOP?
WESTLIFE look certain to secure another Number One hit this weekend with the Comic Relief single 'Uptown Girl', a cover of the Billy Joel classic. Midweek returns show that Westlife have shifted over 33,000 copies more so far than current Number One Shaggy and his 'It Wasn't Me'. From http://www.music365.co.uk
05/03/2001	Westlife put their foot in it
Ireland's biggest boy band Westlife have been banned from returning to their home country for the foreseeable future because of fears over the spread of foot and mouth disease, worldpop can exclusively reveal. Westlife, who are in the middle of a comprehensive UK tour, told worldpop that they will be unable to go home on their next day off. 'People in Ireland are afraid we'll bring home foot and mouth disease with us,' Nicky explained. And as the foot and mouth situation worsens by the day, Bryan revealed that the group's Dublin dates are also in danger of being cancelled. 'Everything's been cancelled back home, all the Saint Patrick's day parades and stuff are off. It's really bad,' continued Shane. Westlife's next break in touring will be next week, but the lads told worldpop they are not too upset about not being able to go home. 'We wouldn't have been able to go home anyway,' Shane explained. 'We have to go to Italy to film a TV show as we've got a single out in Europe at the moment.' In fact the band's schedule is so hectic, the boys have barely got time to sleep between appearances. 'On Friday night we drove down from performing in Birmingham, arrived at cd:uk at 4.30am and slept outside in the tour bus until it was time for the show,' Bryan laughed. 'Kian has no idea where we are. The last thing he remembers was being in the bar in Birmingham!' Westlife's new single Uptown Girl is released today with all proceeds going to Comic Relief and the band today announced their final two dates on their 40 date UK tour, at Sheffield Arena on 4 April and Wembley Arena on 15 April. With a further 12 dates in Ireland, the tour will have been seen by well over 500,000 fans. From www.worldpop.co.uk
05/03/2001	Westlife's Kian Egan has admitted he can't find a girlfriend.
The Irish singer says being in a boy band has made it more difficult to find love. "I have the same needs and desires as most 20-year-old men," he told the Daily Star. "Me, Mark and Shane are single and I am always looking for a girlfriend. I never know if someone likes me for who I am or likes me because I am in Westlife." From www.ananova.com
27/02/2001	Samantha, Westlife And Ronan Join Forces For Campaign
Samantha Mumba, Ronan Keating and Westlife are backing a campaign called Pennies From Heaven -- which will collect old Irish coins for charity before the euro currency is introduced. Organisers hope to raise over $7.5 million with the old coins. After February 2002, the current Irish currency will no longer be legal tender. From next October, Pennies From Heaven will set up collection points in supermarkets, fast food joints, bus depots and rail stations. Pop stars The Corrs, Samantha, Ronan and Westlife have pledged their support, as has Hollywood superstar Liam Neeson. All monies raised from the appeal will go to children's charities. Last year the Central Bank Ireland estimated that there was $45 million in coins hoarded away in the country From MYV Asia Website.
28/02/2001	Sir Elton Helps Westlife
Pop superstar Elton John helped boy band Westlife get permission to use Billy Joel'S big hit "Uptown Girl" for charity Comic Relief. The single is being released to raise funds for the long-running charity which is supported by many top celebrities. Elton says, "['Notting Hill' writer] Richard Curtis, the founder of Comic Relief, phoned me and asked me if I'd ask Billy for the publishing rights to "Uptown Girl." I rang him and he agreed immediately." And Elton, who has toured America with Joel, believes that Westlife have a huge hit on their hands with the cover. He adds, "It will definitely be a number one record and earn millions of pounds (dollars) for a fantastic charity." From MTV Asia website
26/02/2001	Westlife Showing Strain
British chart-topping boy band Westlife have warned their fans that the end may already be nigh -- because success is upsetting their lives. The five record-breaking hit-makers have revealed the strains of their punishing work schedules, which meant they have only had three weeks off in more than two years. The boys -- Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, Bryan McFadden and Nicky Bryne -- admit the enormity of the pressures have left little time to catch up with family and friends and caused arguments between them. Byrne says, "Westlife won't be about forever. We've all spoken about how long the band will last and where we'll go when it's finished. A lot of us want to go solo when Westlife finishes, or into TV or acting." And Feehily adds, "Westlife work harder than other bands. We do fall out with one another, because we spend all day together. We're not 100 per cent mature." From MTV Asia website