| 08/02/2001 | Westlife albums burnt to Ashes |
| Rock group
Ash have unleashed a war of words on fellow Irishmen Westlife after publicly burning 300 Westlife singles in a car park in Leeds. Ash’s frontman Tim Wheeler is quoted on MTVAsia as saying
‘Its sad when five talentless no-hopers have more No 1s than The Beatles, especially when they sound like Daniel O’Donnell meets The Tweenies. Bob The Builder has more integrity. At least he can write his own songs!’ Apart from being factually incorrect about Westlife beating The Beatles record of No 1’s the comments have sparked an all-out war. Walsh retorted to Wheeler’s comments by stating that ‘
300 singles is more than Ash have ever sold. Where did a struggling band like that get the cash to buy the CD’s? We’re doing 11 nights in Dublin’s Point Theatre, while Ash couldn’t fill one night in the
Olympia!’ From The Sun |
|
| 05/02/2001 | Mark Westlife Dance Fears |
| Westlife
star Mark Feehily feared he would not be up to the band's
elaborate new dance routines when he first began rehearsing. The
hitmaker felt awkward -- and was scared he would not be able to cut the
mustard onstage for their upcoming world tour.
He says,"I didn't have
much confidence starting off. But we worked with a fantastic
choreographer called Priscilla. She encouraged me and pushed me
to do the type of dancing I never thought possible. From www.mtvasia.com |
|
| 31/01/2001 | Bryan Westlife Will Tour Despite Impending Birth |
| Westlife
member Bryan McFadden will tour America with his group later this
year -- even though it may mean missing his baby's birth. Bryan is scheduled to be on tour when his ex-Atomic Kitten fiancee Kerry Katona is due to give birth in September, and the Irish group have denied reports that the singer will pull out of the concert dates in order to be by Kerry's side. Fellow band member Kian Egan says, "Of course he's coming with us. It's just that we'll have to plan things to allow for anything to happen. You might have read that he's not coming with us to America, but that's not true." From www.mtvasia.com |
|
| 05/02/2001 | |
| Westlife
star Mark Feehily feared he would not be up to the band's
elaborate new dance routines when he first began rehearsing. The
hitmaker felt awkward -- and was scared he would not be able to cut the
mustard onstage for their upcoming world tour. He says,"I didn't have much confidence starting off. But we worked with a fantastic choreographer called Priscilla. She encouraged me and pushed me to do the type of dancing I never thought possible. At the beginning of the rehearsals I would say to her 'I can't do that, no way.' But she would give a really serious look and ask how I could possibly know if I'd never tried it. I suddenly started co-ordinating all the moves and it felt really great. Now I feel I could even take on Michael Jackson -- well maybe that's stretching it. But I'm now enjoying every minute of it." From www.mtvasia.com |
|
| 29/01/2001 | Bryan about Jennifer |
| WESTLIFE's
Bryan McFadden has had a dig at JENNIFER LOPEZ after they
appeared on the same TV show claiming "She had a dressing room for
catering, one for eating in, two for her dancers, one for make-up and
two for her bum because it's so big. We got chairs in the corridor."
Bryan also told News Of The World
he was in tears when he saw a scan of his unborn baby with |
|
| 29/01/2001 | You're the Worstlife |
| WESTLIFE
have been banned from next week's big music awards bash after being
labelled "a joke". Despite notching up a record seven consecutive No1s, the Irish heartthrobs have been told they aren't wanted at the glitzy NME Carling Awards on Tuesday next week. Security guards at the lavish ceremony, to be held at the Arches venue in east London, have been told to do whatever is necessary to stop the five-piece act from gatecrashing. The band have been given the amazing brush-off by organisers despite being one of Britain's biggest acts - and having beaten the Spice Girls in the album chart battle of 2000 less than three months ago. The ban on Westlife looks set to hit band member Bryan McFadden particularly hard. While the 20-year-old heart-throb won't be able to get past the guards, his pregnant fiancée is already on the guest list. Kerry Katona has been invited, along with her former Atomic Kitten bandmates. Last night, a source admitted: "The organisers don't want Westlife anywhere near the awards. They have told security to look out for any members of Westlife. If they see them, they have been told to get rid of them. The organisers want the bash to have credibility - and they don't believe that will happen if Westlife are allowed in. They like pop music, but believe bands like Westlife actually destroy it. In fact, Westlife are a joke." While Westlife have been warned off the NME Carling Awards, other pop acts are to be welcomed with open arms by the organisers. Among those who have been invited are Kylie Minogue, Robbie Williams, the Appleton sisters, Posh Spice Victoria Beckham and Liam Gallagher. Last night, a spokesman for the NME Carling Awards, confirmed: "Westlife are not welcome at this event. This is about real music." |
|
| 17/01/2001 | Westlife Score Third Brit Nomination |
| Chart
conquering Irish balladers WESTLIFE received another nomination
in the BRIT Awards 2001 today, as the committee unveiled the Best Pop
Act nominees. Westlife are already in the running for Best International Newcomer and Best International Group. Other nominees in Best Pop Act are Ronan Keating, S Club 7, Steps and Britney Spears, who has also been nominated for Best International Female Solo Artist. The Best Pop Act will be voted for by viewers of ITV programme CD:UK and readers of The Sun's 'Bizarre' column. Pop fans can also register their votes via the official BRITs website at www.brits.co.uk Nominees for Best British Single will be announced on February 5, and Best British Video hopefuls will be announced on February 2. http://www.music365.co.uk |
|
| 11/01/2001 | At the Conrad Hotel!!! |
| Seems
naughty Kerry conceived after a night of passion with Bryan at London's
plush Conrad Hotel. But no, she has no plans to call her baby
Conrad, following Posh and Becks' choice of Brooklyn for their son after
he was conceived in New York. Kerry says, "I conceived the night
before I shot the video to the new Atomic Kitten single "Whole
Again." But I certainly won't be calling the baby Conrad...or BMW
for that matter." Kerry has also revealed that she found out
she was pregnant three days before Christmas.
She adds, "It was a nice surprise but it was a shock at first. My body told me but it was Bryan who persuaded me I should do a home pregnancy test. "I did three tests in all because I didn't believe it at first. Since then I've been to the hospital for a check-up and they confirmed the pregnancy." |
|
| 11/01/2001 | Kerry's Baby Blues |
| Guess
who's got the blues? The baby blues, that is. Atomic Kitten's Kerry
Katona! The kitten has revealed the first signs of newly- announced
pregnancy and she's ready to burst into tears. The sexy singer is pregnant by Westlife fiancee Bryan McFadden and showed she was already emotional when she appeared on British TV show "The Big Breakfast" Kerry and bandmates Liz McLarnon and Natasha Hamilton were quizzed by TV host Johnny Vaughn, and it all got a bit too much for the 20-year-old when Johnny asked about the b-word. She replied, "I'm dead emotional -- don't or I'll cry" before diving behind a curtain to avoid tears. Bandmate Liz revealed Kerry has been turning on the waterworks every morning since becoming pregnant, saying, "She's been really bad every morning." Kerry also revealed to TV viewers she's had her first craving and just can't eat enough crumpets. From: http://www.mtvasia.com |
|
| 15/01/2001 | Westlife's Nicky buys Ashbourne pad... |
| Westlife’s
Nicky Byrne and his long term girlfriend Georgina Ahern, daughter of the Irish Prime Minister, are to take a step closer to marriage over the next month after confirming last night that Nicky had just bought a new house for the couple to share. Speaking exclusively to the Star last night Nicky confirmed that he was in final stages of signing on a new £750,000 home near
Ashbourne in Co Meath. “It’s just outside Dublin near Ashbourne and I just finishing off all the legal stuff this week,” Nicky told the star last night, “I hope to move in within the next month please god if everything goes as planned. It cost me just under £750,000 but I’m really happy with it because it surrounded by a couple of acres and has very good security.” When asked would Bertie Ahern’s daughter Georgina Ahern be moving in with him Nicky said that it was defiantly on the cards. “We’ve been together for six years so I think she will be with me in the new house. At least I hope she will I’ve still got to ask her mother, Miriam, who she lives with now.” On the subject of marriage the young Westlife hunk refused to confirm the couple would be engaged by the end of the year. “Well Bryan and Kerry are having a baby and getting married. I think that’s enough Westlife weddings for one year. We have not got engaged yet but we will see after we live together for a while.” Nicky did however insist that as well as fame having it’s good points there was also a bad side due to jealousy. “On Saturday night I was out with Georgina and a friend of mine and we were on our way into a bar called AKA on Wicklow street when the bouncers stopped me and said I couldn’t come in because he didn’t know me. This also happened a while ago when I was going to Club M with some school friends. I was stopped and harassed and then left due to this. It’s not that I’m in Westlife and Georgina is the daughter of the Irish Prime Minister but they know well who I was and were just being rude.” Westlife are all in Dublin this week to rehearse for their upcoming tour which will continue for most of the year. From Showbiz Ireland |
|
| 15/01/2001 | UK album chart |
| To roughly no one’s surprise, The
Beatles have kept the Number One position in the albums charts for the ninth week running. Contrary to earlier reports that
Westlife’s heavily discounted debut album (£3.99 in Woolworths) would knock the Beatles’ behemoth off the top spot, the Irish boy band only came in at
Number Three despite moving up a massive 76 places.
from music365.co.uk |
|
| 11/01/2001 | IF I LET YOU GO…TO NUMBER ONE |
| The Beatles album '1' is expected to be knocked off the top of the UK albums chart this weekend - by Westlife's two-year old debut. Having remained at the top spot in the charts since its release in October, this is the first time its place at number one has been seriously challenged. The eponymous Westlife album was first released in November 1999 and, according to midweek sales figures, the boyband's album is outselling the Beatles so far. 'Westlife' is being sold as a 'mid-price' record in all chains of Woolworths across the country, which has helped the Irish group rise up the charts once more. A spokeswoman from BMG, Westlife's record company, said that the decision to sell the album at a reduced price was made solely by Woolworths. From Dotmusic |
|
| 11/01/2001 | SHOW US YER BULGE, BRYAN |
|
WESTLIFE'S
Bryan McFadden shows his joy at being a dad-to-be - by clutching
his tum. But
Bryan's joy means a headache for Westlife. The band is booked to
start a crucial three-month U.S. tour just two weeks before the birth -
meaning they may have to try to conquer the States without Bryan, as a
FOUR-piece. He
and Kerry - who will wed in Donegal in July - plan to set up home in his
native Ireland. |
|
| 10/01/2001 | Bryan And Kerry's Love Child On The Way |
| Westlife's
Bryan McFadden and his girlfriend Kerry Katona have
another bombshell to drop on fans - the sexy blonde is pregnant. The pop pair, who recently unveiled their secret year-long engagement, are overjoyed about the pregnancy. Atomic Kitten singer Kerry is due to give birth on September 5, 2001 - the day before her 21st birthday. Heart-throb Bryan says, "This is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I just can't wait to be a dad. The rest of the lads in the band are really pleased for me. I told my folks a week ago and they were delighted for both of us. They're mad about Kerry - and her family are just as pleased. We're looking forward to becoming parents. She's the most wonderful girl in the world and we're both happy. That's all that matters." Kerry adds, "At first I thought 'Wow,' because I wasn't expecting it. But now I couldn't be happier. My family are ecstatic and Natasha (Hamilton) from the band is wanting to get down to Babygap straight away. I just can't wait to get dead fat and lie around. There'll be drinking and no showbiz parties for a while." There is one downside to the news - the couple's planned July (2001) wedding in Ireland will have to be reconsidered, so sexy Kerry isn't too pregnant at the altar. From MTV Asia |
|
| 10/01/2001 | STAR BRYAN TO BE A McDADDEN |
|
ATOMIC Kitten singer
Kerry Katona is pregnant by Westlife fiancé Bryan McFadden. The pop star pair have been dating for 17 months. They only publicly announced their engagement in the last few weeks - but have secretly planned to wed for a year. Kerry is determined to continue to be a part of Atomic Kitten - whose new single Whole Again is out at the end of January - throughout her
pregnancy. A spokesman for the band said last night: "We're delighted. Kerry and Bryan are very much in love and
obviously overjoyed."
From The Sun Website |
|
| 09/01/2001 | Bryan Westlife Has His Time Of His Life? |
| Westlife
star Bryan McFadden is enjoying the time of his life - after
coming clean about his relationship with British pop singer Kerry
Katona. The "My Love" hitmaker is relieved to have set the
record straight about his plans to wed the Atomic Kitten Star star. He says, "Not that I was hiding anything, as all the fans were aware that Kerry is my girlfriend. But I hadn't actually come out and said that we were engaged for a whole year. We just both felt that the time is right now and hope that people will be happy for us. As those of you who are lucky enough to have found love will agree, you just want to shout it from the rooftops. But it wasn't that easy in our case, as management and record companies wanted us to keep quiet about it." From MTV Asia |
|
| 08/01/2001 | Kerry 'n' Bryan in Nude Pics Bust Up |
|
Bryan
McFadden is said to be fuming after his fiancee Kerry Katona
of Atomic Kitten bared all in a lads mag. The
couple are due to marry in July 2002. |
|
| 08/01/2001 | WESTLIFE DON'T CARE ABOUT NUMBER ONES |
| Westlife's
Bryan McFadden has told worldpop that he is not bothered that the
group's latest single What Makes A Man was denied the Christmas
No 1. 'I'm not at all bothered and neither are the other lads,' McFadden revealed backstage at cd:uk this Saturday where he was accompanying fiancée Kerry Katona of girl group Atomic Kitten. 'I didn't even know until after New Year that we hadn't got the No 1,' he added. 'I was just happy to have some time off.' But despite saying he does not care about the chart position, Bryan McFadden did admit that he wasn't sure What Makes A Man was the right song to release. 'It's a weak song,' he said, 'and we didn't do much promotional work. Bob deserved it.' McFadden told worldpop that Westlife are heading back to work today for intensive tour rehearsals. The boys' first arena tour kicks off on 9 February in Newcastle and Bryan McFadden revealed that US boy band 98º are pencilled in to support them. 'At the moment it looks like they're going to support us over here and then we'll support them when we go to the States,' he explained. From Worldpop |
|
| 08/01/2001 | Westlife Jeered By Five Fan |
| Five
got their own back on rivals Westlife on January 4, 2001, when a fan
jeered the group at an Ireland shopping centre. A shop assistant shouted
Five's name and gave the band's familiar five-fingered salute as
Westlife's Kian Egan and Nicky Bryne greeted fans at the
launch of a Coca-Cola promotion. But the "Coast To Coast" hitmakers failed to hear the man over the hundreds of screaming teenagers. Last month, Five members J and Richie were arrested after a bar brawl in a Dublin pub because a man had allegedly heckled, "You're not as good as Westlife." From MTV Asia |
|
| 05/01/2001 | Irish Rock & Pop taking over... |
| Irish boyband Westlife yesterday joined up with
Coca Cola in what looks like the first of many marketing deals between the soft drink giant and the five Irish lads. Hundreds of fans turned up yesterday in the St Stephens Green Shopping centre in Dublin for the launch of the one Million pound Coca Cola giveaway in which Westlife's
Nicky Byrne and Kian Egan were special guests.
From Showbiz Ireland Website |
|
| 04/01/2001 | Bryan And Kerry: Destined To Be Together |
| Westlife
heartthrob Bryan McFadden always knew Atomic Kittne's Kerry
Katona was the woman for him, even though she wasn't attracted to
him at first, because he was too tall. The 161 cm tall (5ft 3in) singer turned down a date with Bryan when their bands toured together in August 1999, leaving the "Coast To Coast" hit maker devastated. The couple finally got together in November 1999 at a party and Bryan promptly dumped his girlfriend. He says, "The girl I was with was nice, but I knew the minute I sat down and talked to Kerry that she was the one I wanted. I left the party straight after that and finished with my girlfriend." Irish Bryan admits he is besotted with his fiancee. "In my eyes she's pure perfect" he drools. "I used to think so many girls were beautiful -- until I went out with Kerry, and now every woman pales in comparison." From MTV Asia |
|
| 04/01/2001 | Westlife Don't Need Ronan For Success |
| Westlife's
Kian Egan insists the band were destined for a success -- with or
without the help of ex-manager Boyzone's Ronan Keating. But the
Irish hunk admits having such as famous manager did initially boost the
hit makers' profile. He says, "When Ronan got involved it made people an awful lot more aware of us and gave us a higher profile. As time went by we created our own kind of vibe and people recognized us for us not for Ronan anymore." The star also says his band are not threatened by the return of fellow Irish pop-sters Boyzone. He adds, "Boyzone have their fans and we have ours. Boyzone are a great band but they are who they are and we're a bit different." From MTV Asia |
|
| 04/01/2001 | Bryan: I AM going to marry |
| WESTLIFE star
Bryan McFadden has confessed he and Kerry Katona got engaged A
YEAR AGO. The singer proposed to the Atomic Kitten beauty at Christmas 1999, just a month after they started dating. And he proposed to her AGAIN last September to prove his devotion. The couple have always denied being engaged. Record bosses told them to keep their plans secret but Bryan and Kerry have spilled the beans in a six-figure deal with Hello! magazine. Bryan said: "It's about time we spoke up for ourselves. Everything I plan, everything I do, revolves around Kerry. She is my life - full stop." The couple - who are buying a £1million home in Ireland - plan to marry next July at Doe Castle, in Donegal, where Bryan first proposed. Kerry says: "It will be a fairytale white wedding, the biggest I could imagine. Forget Posh and Becks, we're the best couple in the world!" From The Sun Website |
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