Boyzone
Encyclopedia
Boyzone are an Irish
boy band
comprising Keith Duffy
, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating
,Shane Lynch
, and formerly Stephen Gately
. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK
charts and 21 singles in the Ire
charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12 of their 20 singles in the UK being in the UK Top 2. Boyzone are one of the most successful bands in the UK and Ireland. In total, the group have 19 top 5 singles on the Ire
, 18 top 10 hits on the UK
charts, nine #1 Irish singles chart
hit singles and six #1 UK
hit singles and five #1 albums, with approximately 20 million records sold by 2010 in British Isles
and worldwide. The number is confirmed by Gately's book The Tree of Seasons
.
Boyzone made a comeback in 2007, originally with the intention of just touring. They were put together in 1993 by Louis Walsh
, who is also known for managing Johnny Logan
and Westlife
. Before even recording any material, they made an appearance on RTÉ's The Late Late Show
. The band has released four studio albums and seven compilation albums to date. Gately died on 10 October 2009 of natural causes while on holiday in Majorca, Spain.
" following on from their success. The auditions were held in The Ormond Center, in Dublin, in November 1993. More than 300 people replied to the advertisement. At the auditions the applicants were asked to sing the song "Careless Whisper
" by George Michael. Each audition would be taped and watched again to judge the applicant's performance. Out of the 300, 50 were selected for a second audition. Richard Rock (son of Dickie Rock
) was invited for a second audition. For the second audition the applicants where asked to sing two songs, including one of their own choice with a backing tape. Mikey Graham
sang "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
" by Meat Loaf. Keith Duffy
sang "I'm Too Sexy
" by Right Said Fred. Ronan Keating
sang "Father and Son
" by Cat Stevens (a cover version of which the band would later release). Stephen Gately sang Hello by Lionel Richie. Out of this 50, 10 were selected for a third audition. In the end, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy, Rock, Shane Lynch
and Mark Walton were chosen.
Graham originally was rejected but would later join after the departure of Richard Rock. Ronan Keating initially faced a lot of opposition from his parents and teachers. He was planning to move to New York to study in college on a sports scholarship and pursue his dream to win an Olympic medal for athletics. In the end Ronan decided to give up his education and go along with Boyzone. Duffy's parents were against their son throwing away a solid and promising career and joining the band. Louis Walsh
set about trying to get a deal with a good record company but it would take many rejection letters before the boys would be signed. In 1994 Lynch and Duffy were involved in a nearly fatal car crash; both survived without serious injuries. Walsh was reportedly furious, and drew up contracts for all the boys to sign, leading to their activities being restricted. With some of the original lineup fading away and others being brought into the group, it took some time before Boyzone settled down into its most recognisable five-member line-up of Shane Lynch, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy. Richard Rock, one of the original members, left citing musical differences with Ronan Keating.
signed them up in 1994 and released the cover version of the Four Seasons
' hit "Working My Way Back to You
", featuring Graham and Gately on lead vocals. It reached No. 3 in the Irish Charts. The release of their cover version of the classic Osmonds' hit, "Love Me for a Reason
", broke the British charts. The song hit No. 2 in the UK and was included in their 1995 hit debut album Said and Done
. The album reached the No. 1 spot in Ireland and the UK. In 1995, the singles "Key to My Life
", "So Good
" and "Father and Son" were released, which all got the attention of new fans in Europe. Their second album, A Different Beat
– was released in 1996, the song "Coming Home Now
", was released as a single. Boyzone had their first UK number one single, a cover of the Bee Gees
' hit "Words
". The album also contained the hit singles "A Different Beat
" and "Isn't It a Wonder
". In 1997, Boyzone released three singles "Isn't It a Wonder
", "Picture of You
", and "Baby Can I Hold You/Shooting Star". Boyzone performed at the Eurovision Song Contest and performed "Let the message run free" and tried to break the US market with their version of "Mystical Experience" which they also recorded in Spanish. Ronan Keating – who by now had emerged as the lead singer and frontman – won the Ivor Novello Award
for songwriting in 1997 for "Picture of You".
Their third studio album, Where We Belong
, was released in 1998 and featured Boyzone's writing abilities. It contained the hit singles "All That I Need
" (which stayed for six weeks in the MTV Asia charts), "Baby Can I Hold You" (Tracy Chapman
cover) and "No Matter What
". Originally written for the Andrew Lloyd Webber
stage musical Whistle Down the Wind
, "No Matter What" was the group's best ever selling single and was voted Song of the Year, 1998. Since the song was also recorded by Meat Loaf
, Boyzone shared stage with him to perform the song during his 1998 live concert in Dublin. Their 1998 tour of Ireland broke all sales records when 35,000 tickets were sold out in four hours. In 1999, "When the going gets tough", "You needed me" and "Everyday i love you" were singles released as well as their greatest hits compilation, By Request
, was released and was followed by another tour. In June 1999, Gately revealed that he was gay and was in love with the ex-Caught in the Act
member Eloy de Jong. Also during this year Keating released his first solo single, "When You Say Nothing at All", an Alison Krauss
song which he had recorded for the movie Notting Hill
.
stage musicals, and Duffy had some success as an actor (including a role in the television soap Coronation Street
).
Rumours came to a head and in early 2007 there were news reports that all five members and their manager, The X Factor
judge Walsh, had met in Dublin to discuss and organise a comeback tour. On 11 October 2007, Walsh was interviewed on The Graham Norton Show
; when asked by Graham Norton
whether there was going to be a re-launch of Boyzone he replied "I think so". On 5 November 2007, Keating confirmed that Boyzone would reunite for a special appearance on the BBC's annual fundraiser, Children in Need
, performing a medley of hits, although had not yet commented on the possibility of a new tour or album. On 14 November 2007, it was reported that all five members of Boyzone were to begin a UK tour in May, which would be their first in seven years. Keating, who left the Irish boy band to pursue a solo career, joined the group for the series of concerts. On 16 November, Boyzone made a comeback appearance as part of Children In Need on BBC1 in the UK, with an Irish and UK tour announced for June 2008.
The tour began on 25 May 2008 at Belfast's Odyssey
arena and finished at Carlisle Bitts Park on 23 August 2008. On 29 August 2008 Boyzone played alongside other acts such as Sandi Thom
and Scouting For Girls
at an event in Blackpool to switch on the Blackpool Illuminations
, an annual event in the town. The event received coverage on BBC Radio 2
. On 3 September, the video for "Love You Anyway
" debuted on the digital music channel The Box. It features all 5 of the original members of Boyzone with Keating taking most of the lead vocals. The single received its first play on 20 August 2008, live on Terry Wogan
's Radio 2 Breakfast show. On 6 October 2008, "Love You Anyway" entered the UK charts at number 5, making it their seventeenth consecutive top five single. On 8 December their second single of 2008 "Better" was released and charted at number 22 in the UK charts, number 26 in the Irish charts and number 63 in the European hot singles charts. On 28 August 2009 the group joined Yvette Fielding
in Edinburgh for a Ghosthunting with...
show for ITV2.
, which was the last tour to feature Gately. On 10 October 2009, Gately died while on his holiday in Majorca, Spain with his civil partner Andrew Cowles. Three days later, AP reports that a post-mortem showed Gately died as a result of a pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs. The Balearic Islands Superior Justice Tribunal said in a statement. "The singer of the Irish group Boyzone died from natural causes, owing to an 'acute pulmonary edema'". Though still finding it difficult to come to terms with his sudden death Lynch has recently claimed that Gately died for a reason. He is reported as saying "I've got to understand that it's all for a reason. If I don't understand why then one day I'll be told.
Boyzone were originally going to release the new album in mid-2010 with a summer tour following the album but the album was released in March 2010 which was earlier then planned. The album was released as a tribute to Gately which included two new songs that were sung by Gately before his death. One song was written by singer-songwriter Mika
who has also claimed that the new song he wrote for Boyzone is the last one which will feature Stephen Gately's vocals, released as their fourth studio album on 8 March 2010. The track written by Mika became the lead single from the new album, titled "Gave It All Away
". Boyzone loved this track and wished to release this song as their comeback single. The song received its first airplay on 17 January 2010. Mikey Graham
stated that Gave It All Away
will be released on 1 March 2010 and the album will be released a week afterwards.
From 10 January to 7 March 2010, Graham was a contestant on the fifth series of Dancing on Ice
, and was eliminated in the 9th week of the competition after being in the "Skate-Off" with EastEnders
actress Danniella Westbrook
, he lost with 2 votes to Westbrook's 3. Their fourth studio album Brother
was released on 8 March 2010 and become their fourth studio number one album so far. "Gave It All Away
" peaked at #9 on the UK Singles Chart
and at #1 on the Irish Singles Chart
. "Love Is a Hurricane
" was the second and final single from Brother. It was released on 17 May, peaking #44 on the UK Singles Chart
and at #39 on the Irish Singles Chart
. The album peaked at #1 in both Ireland and the UK. Boyzone sold 547,128 copies in 2010. Boyzone were supposed to have an album released around the end of 2010, but due to Keating having personal problems, it was cancelled. Boyzone sang "No Matter What" with Kim Marsh on a ITV programme called "Coronation Street The Big 50" broadcast on ITV1
On Friday 10 December 2010, Mikey Graham
was not present due to other commitments.
and UK with their arena-based Brother Tour
and four outdoor shows around the UK during August.
Boyzone projected a virtual Gately on stage for the tour. Bringing some Antipodean sunshine to proceedings were the soulful vocals of singer/songwriter Guy Sebastian
, support act from Australia.
On the 21st March 2011 a new album from Keating was released worldwide. Louis Walsh
commented that the band should disband but rumours of a split were strongly denied by the band and band member Shane Lynch
said that the band and Walsh have not been contracted since 1998.
Keating has announced that Boyzone are recording and will release a new album towards Christmas 2011 to early 2012. On the 1st September 2011, in a interview given to Jamie Theakston
on his magic radio show he said that there will be a possible Boyzone "project" in December and a boyzone album within the next 12 months. Lynch has said in an interview on ITV1
show Loose Women
that Boyzone will be releasing a new album and be touring in 2013 which will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band forming.
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
boy band
Boy band
A boy band is loosely defined as a popular music act consisting of only male singers. The members are expected to dance as well as sing, usually giving highly choreographed performances. More often than not, boy band members do not play musical instruments, either in recording sessions or on...
comprising Keith Duffy
Keith Duffy
Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
,Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone...
, and formerly Stephen Gately
Stephen Gately
Stephen Patrick David Gately was an Irish pop singer–songwriter, actor, dancer, musician and author, who, with Ronan Keating, was one of two lead singers of the pop group Boyzone. All of Boyzone's studio albums hit number one in the United Kingdom, their third being their most successful...
. Boyzone have 19 singles in the top 40 UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
charts and 21 singles in the Ire
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
charts. The group currently have 6 UK number one singles and 9 number one singles in Ireland with 12 of their 20 singles in the UK being in the UK Top 2. Boyzone are one of the most successful bands in the UK and Ireland. In total, the group have 19 top 5 singles on the Ire
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
, 18 top 10 hits on the UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
charts, nine #1 Irish singles chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
hit singles and six #1 UK
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
hit singles and five #1 albums, with approximately 20 million records sold by 2010 in British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
and worldwide. The number is confirmed by Gately's book The Tree of Seasons
The Tree of Seasons
The Tree of Seasons is a children's book written by Boyzone member Stephen Gately and published posthumously by Hodder & Stoughton in 2010. It follows the adventures of three siblings - Josh, Michael and Beth Lotts - who are on their summer holidays, and is said to be similar in style to the works...
.
Boyzone made a comeback in 2007, originally with the intention of just touring. They were put together in 1993 by Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
, who is also known for managing Johnny Logan
Johnny Logan (singer)
Johnny Logan , is an Australian-born Irish singer and composer. He is regarded as "Mister Eurovision", having participated in the Eurovision Song Contest many times since the 1970s, and, since 1992, has been the most successful artist in Eurovision history.Logan has won the international contest on...
and Westlife
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
. Before even recording any material, they made an appearance on RTÉ's The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show
The Late Late Show, sometimes referred to as The Late Late, or in some cases by the acronym LLS, is the world's longest-running chat show by the same broadcaster and the official flagship television programme of Irish broadcasting company RTÉ...
. The band has released four studio albums and seven compilation albums to date. Gately died on 10 October 2009 of natural causes while on holiday in Majorca, Spain.
Beginnings (1993–1994)
In 1993 an advertisement appeared in many Irish newspapers calling for auditions to form a new Irish "boy band" group. The advertisements were sent out by theatrical manager Walsh who was looking to make an "Irish Take ThatTake That
Take That are a British five-piece vocal pop group comprising Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams. Barlow acts as the lead singer and primary songwriter...
" following on from their success. The auditions were held in The Ormond Center, in Dublin, in November 1993. More than 300 people replied to the advertisement. At the auditions the applicants were asked to sing the song "Careless Whisper
Careless Whisper
"Careless Whisper" is a 1984 single by George Michael , released by Epic Records in the UK, Japan, and other countries; and by Columbia Records in North America. The song was George Michael's first solo single although he was still performing in Wham! at the time...
" by George Michael. Each audition would be taped and watched again to judge the applicant's performance. Out of the 300, 50 were selected for a second audition. Richard Rock (son of Dickie Rock
Dickie Rock
Dickie Rock is an Irish singer. He experienced much success on the Irish charts during the 1960s, but has continued on as a popular live act as well as occasionally hitting the charts ever since.-Early fame:...
) was invited for a second audition. For the second audition the applicants where asked to sing two songs, including one of their own choice with a backing tape. Mikey Graham
Mikey Graham
Michael Graham - also known as Mikey Graham - is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and music producer, best known as a member of pop group Boyzone, and in 2010 he was a contestant on Dancing on Ice.-Early life:The youngest of seven children, Graham was born to housewife Sheila and carpenter...
sang "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad
Two out of Three Ain't Bad
"Two Out of Three Ain't Bad" is a love song by the American musician Meat Loaf in his solo career, preceded by "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth" and followed by "Paradise by the Dashboard Light". It is a track off his 1977 album Bat out of Hell, written by Jim Steinman. It reached #11 on...
" by Meat Loaf. Keith Duffy
Keith Duffy
Keith Peter Thomas Francis John Duffy is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor, drummer, dancer and television presenter. He began his career as part of Boyzone in the 1990s. In the 2000s, he achieved critical acclaim for his acting roles, particularly in soap operas such as Coronation Street and Fair...
sang "I'm Too Sexy
I'm Too Sexy
"I'm Too Sexy" is a song by English trio Right Said Fred from their album Up. The single topped the American charts for three weeks in early 1992, after having peaked at number two in Britain less than six months earlier....
" by Right Said Fred. Ronan Keating
Ronan Keating
Ronan Patrick John Keating is an Irish recording artist, singer-songwriter, musician, and philanthropist. Keating debuted on the professional music scene alongside Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Stephen Gately, in 1994 as the lead singer of Boyzone. His solo career started in 1999, and...
sang "Father and Son
Father and Son
Father and Son is a memoir by poet and critic Edmund Gosse, which he subtitled "a study of two temperaments."Edmund had previously published a biography of his father,originally published anonymously....
" by Cat Stevens (a cover version of which the band would later release). Stephen Gately sang Hello by Lionel Richie. Out of this 50, 10 were selected for a third audition. In the end, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy, Rock, Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone...
and Mark Walton were chosen.
Graham originally was rejected but would later join after the departure of Richard Rock. Ronan Keating initially faced a lot of opposition from his parents and teachers. He was planning to move to New York to study in college on a sports scholarship and pursue his dream to win an Olympic medal for athletics. In the end Ronan decided to give up his education and go along with Boyzone. Duffy's parents were against their son throwing away a solid and promising career and joining the band. Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
set about trying to get a deal with a good record company but it would take many rejection letters before the boys would be signed. In 1994 Lynch and Duffy were involved in a nearly fatal car crash; both survived without serious injuries. Walsh was reportedly furious, and drew up contracts for all the boys to sign, leading to their activities being restricted. With some of the original lineup fading away and others being brought into the group, it took some time before Boyzone settled down into its most recognisable five-member line-up of Shane Lynch, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy. Richard Rock, one of the original members, left citing musical differences with Ronan Keating.
Breakthrough (1994–2000)
Boyzone played through 1994 all over Northern Ireland, mainly in pubs and clubs, before PolygramPolyGram
PolyGram was the name of the major label recording company started by Philips from as a holding company for its music interests in 1945. In 1999 it was sold to Seagram and merged into Universal Music Group.-Hollandsche Decca Distributie , 1929-1950:...
signed them up in 1994 and released the cover version of the Four Seasons
The Four Seasons (group)
The Four Seasons are an American rock and pop band who became internationally successful in the mid-1960s. The Vocal Group Hall of Fame has stated that the group was the most popular rock band before The Beatles...
' hit "Working My Way Back to You
Working My Way Back To You
"Working My Way Back to You" is the debut single from Irish Boyband Boyzone. It was released in May 1994. The song reached #3 on the Irish Singles Chart. It is one of the few songs to feature Mikey Graham on lead vocals. The band recorded two versions the song, one of which was a collaboration with...
", featuring Graham and Gately on lead vocals. It reached No. 3 in the Irish Charts. The release of their cover version of the classic Osmonds' hit, "Love Me for a Reason
Love Me for a Reason
"Love Me for a Reason" is a song by The Osmonds, and released in 1974. Twenty years later, Boyzone covered the song. Both versions were successful, reaching the top ten of the charts in many countries.-Original song:...
", broke the British charts. The song hit No. 2 in the UK and was included in their 1995 hit debut album Said and Done
Said and Done
Said and Done is the debut album by Irish band Boyzone. The pop album was released on 21 November 1994 by Polygram International. It topped the UK charts at #1 for the week of September 2, 1995. Five singles were released from the album: "Love Me for a Reason", "Key to My Life", "So Good", "Father...
. The album reached the No. 1 spot in Ireland and the UK. In 1995, the singles "Key to My Life
Key to My Life
Key to My Life is the third single from Irish Boyband Boyzone. The single was taken from the band's debut album, Said and Done. "Key to My Life" saw success, reaching #3 on the UK Singles Chart...
", "So Good
So Good (Boyzone song)
So Good is the fourth single from Irish Boyband Boyzone. The single was taken from the band's debut album, Said and Done. The song entered the UK charts at #3 and Ireland at #1.-Tracklisting:UK CD1# "So Good" - 3:03...
" and "Father and Son" were released, which all got the attention of new fans in Europe. Their second album, A Different Beat
A Different Beat (Boyzone album)
A Different Beat is the second album released by Irish boy band Boyzone. Four singles were released from the album: "Words", "A Different Beat", "Isn't It a Wonder" and "Mystical Experience", which was only included on the US version of the album. The album also includes a cover of the Michael...
– was released in 1996, the song "Coming Home Now
Coming Home Now
Coming Home Now is the sixth single from Irish Boyband Boyzone, taken from their debut album, Said and Done. The single peaked at number four on the UK charts...
", was released as a single. Boyzone had their first UK number one single, a cover of the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
' hit "Words
Words (Bee Gees song)
"Words" is a song written and sung by the Bee Gees, released in the beginning of 1968. Barry Gibb said in 1996 on the VH1 Storytellers television show that it was written for their manager Robert Stigwood. It was originally intended for Cliff Richard, but he never got round to recording the track...
". The album also contained the hit singles "A Different Beat
A Different Beat (song)
"A Different Beat" is the second single from Irish Boyband Boyzone's second album, A Different Beat.-Tracklisting:CD1# "A Different Beat" - 3:24# "Angel" - 3:45# "A Different Beat" - 6:10CD2...
" and "Isn't It a Wonder
Isn't It a Wonder
Isn't It a Wonder is the third single from Irish Boyband Boyzone's second album, A Different Beat. The single reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming their first single from A Different Beat not to reach Number One.-Tracklisting:CD1...
". In 1997, Boyzone released three singles "Isn't It a Wonder
Isn't It a Wonder
Isn't It a Wonder is the third single from Irish Boyband Boyzone's second album, A Different Beat. The single reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart, becoming their first single from A Different Beat not to reach Number One.-Tracklisting:CD1...
", "Picture of You
Picture of You (song)
"Picture of You" is the first single released from Boyzone's third album, Where We Belong. The song, released in 1997, led to frontman Ronan Keating for winning an Ivor Novello award, and is best known as the main theme song for the film Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie, for which Rowan Atkinson...
", and "Baby Can I Hold You/Shooting Star". Boyzone performed at the Eurovision Song Contest and performed "Let the message run free" and tried to break the US market with their version of "Mystical Experience" which they also recorded in Spanish. Ronan Keating – who by now had emerged as the lead singer and frontman – won the Ivor Novello Award
Ivor Novello Awards
The Ivor Novello Awards, named after the Cardiff born entertainer Ivor Novello, are awards for songwriting and composing. They are presented annually in London by the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors and were first introduced in 1955.Nicknamed The Ivors, the awards take place...
for songwriting in 1997 for "Picture of You".
Their third studio album, Where We Belong
Where We Belong (album)
Where We Belong is the third studio album by the Irish band, Boyzone. The album was released on 25 May 1998 in UK and 17 November 1998 in US by Polygram International. It topped the UK charts at #1 for the week of June 6, 1998. Five singles were released from the album, including a cover version of...
, was released in 1998 and featured Boyzone's writing abilities. It contained the hit singles "All That I Need
All That I Need
"All That I Need" is the third single from Irish Boyband Boyzone's third studio album, Where We Belong. The song reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart...
" (which stayed for six weeks in the MTV Asia charts), "Baby Can I Hold You" (Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman is an American singer-songwriter, best known for her singles "Fast Car", "Talkin' 'bout a Revolution", "Baby Can I Hold You", "Give Me One Reason" and "Telling Stories". She is a multi-platinum and four-time Grammy Award-winning artist.-Biography:Tracy Chapman was born in Cleveland,...
cover) and "No Matter What
No Matter What (Boyzone song)
"No Matter What" is a song from the 1996 musical Whistle Down the Wind, written by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jim Steinman and popularized by the group Boyzone. The song reached #1 on the UK Singles Chart, and was the only Boyzone hit to become popular in the U.S. Jewels & Stone did a remix for the...
". Originally written for the Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
stage musical Whistle Down the Wind
Whistle Down the Wind (musical)
Whistle Down the Wind is a musical based on the 1961 film Whistle Down the Wind with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Jim Steinman, known for his work with Meat Loaf and Bonnie Tyler.-Stage Premiere:...
, "No Matter What" was the group's best ever selling single and was voted Song of the Year, 1998. Since the song was also recorded by Meat Loaf
Meat Loaf
Michael Lee Aday , better known by his stage name, Meat Loaf, is an American hard rock musician and actor...
, Boyzone shared stage with him to perform the song during his 1998 live concert in Dublin. Their 1998 tour of Ireland broke all sales records when 35,000 tickets were sold out in four hours. In 1999, "When the going gets tough", "You needed me" and "Everyday i love you" were singles released as well as their greatest hits compilation, By Request
By Request (Boyzone album)
By Request is a greatest hits compilation from Boyzone. The album contains material recorded between 1994–1999, and was released on May 31, 1999 by Universal. As well as containing the band's fifteen singles, the album also includes the three bonus tracks from the US release of their previous...
, was released and was followed by another tour. In June 1999, Gately revealed that he was gay and was in love with the ex-Caught in the Act
Caught in the Act (boy band)
Caught in the Act was a half English, half Dutch boy band. The band was established by record producer Cees van Leeuwen in 1993. There were four members of the group: Lee Baxter, Eloy de Jong, Bastiaan Ragas and Benjamin Boyce....
member Eloy de Jong. Also during this year Keating released his first solo single, "When You Say Nothing at All", an Alison Krauss
Alison Krauss
Alison Maria Krauss is an American bluegrass-country singer, songwriter and fiddler. She entered the music industry at an early age, winning local contests by the age of ten and recording for the first time at fourteen. She signed with Rounder Records in 1985 and released her first solo album in...
song which he had recorded for the movie Notting Hill
Notting Hill (film)
Notting Hill is a 1999 British romantic comedy film set in Notting Hill, London, released on 21 May 1999. The screenplay was by Richard Curtis, who had written Four Weddings and a Funeral. It was produced by Duncan Kenworthy and directed by Roger Michell...
.
Hiatus and reunion (2000–2008)
By this time, after six years together and amid growing tensions behind the scenes, the group members decided to take some time off from Boyzone to pursue solo projects. Boyzone performed together for the last time in Ireland at the point depot during nine dates running from 3 January - 8 January & 10–12 January 2000, they had sold more than 13 million records in total and all sixteen of their singles reached the UK top five and they became the first Irish act to have four number one hits in the United Kingdom charts. At their height, Boyzone were one of the biggest-selling artists in music. For seven years after their split, the members had mixed success in their individual careers. Keating in particular remained a force in the music industry as he continued writing and managing other bands. Gately also continued his career as a solo artist, appearing in a number of West EndWest End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
stage musicals, and Duffy had some success as an actor (including a role in the television soap Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
).
Rumours came to a head and in early 2007 there were news reports that all five members and their manager, The X Factor
The X Factor (UK)
The X Factor is a British television music competition to find new singing talent. Created by Simon Cowell, it began in September 2004 and is contested by aspiring singers drawn from public auditions. It is the originator of the international X Factor franchise. The seven series of the show to date...
judge Walsh, had met in Dublin to discuss and organise a comeback tour. On 11 October 2007, Walsh was interviewed on The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show
The Graham Norton Show is a British comedy chat show that is broadcast on BBC One in the United Kingdom. It was originally shown on BBC Two from February 2007 to May 2009 until it moved to BBC One from October 2009...
; when asked by Graham Norton
Graham Norton
Graham William Walker, known by his stage name Graham Norton , is an Irish actor, comedian, television presenter and columnist...
whether there was going to be a re-launch of Boyzone he replied "I think so". On 5 November 2007, Keating confirmed that Boyzone would reunite for a special appearance on the BBC's annual fundraiser, Children in Need
Children in Need
Children in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
, performing a medley of hits, although had not yet commented on the possibility of a new tour or album. On 14 November 2007, it was reported that all five members of Boyzone were to begin a UK tour in May, which would be their first in seven years. Keating, who left the Irish boy band to pursue a solo career, joined the group for the series of concerts. On 16 November, Boyzone made a comeback appearance as part of Children In Need on BBC1 in the UK, with an Irish and UK tour announced for June 2008.
Back Again... No Matter What (2008–2009)
The group sold 200,000 tickets for the tour within three hours and sold 20,000 tickets on the first day of them going on sale for their concert in the RDS Dublin. Keating told the Daily Star: "We've been taking it easy on the Guinness and been out for dinners and just a couple of drinks. We're taking the tour plans very seriously. We're all on diets and we've been training in the gym every day. I'm probably the fittest now that I've ever been. I think we all look better now than before. I can't wait to be back on the road and all the guys feel the same." The 29-date tour, taking in cities such as Cardiff, Newcastle, Liverpool, London at the O2 Arena and Wembley, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Edinburgh Castle and the RDS in Dublin.The tour began on 25 May 2008 at Belfast's Odyssey
Odyssey (Belfast)
The Odyssey Arena is a large sports and entertainment centre situated in Titanic Quarter, Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was jointly funded by the Millennium Commission, the Laganside Corporation, the DCAL, the Sheridan Group and the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. The Arena opened in 2000 with...
arena and finished at Carlisle Bitts Park on 23 August 2008. On 29 August 2008 Boyzone played alongside other acts such as Sandi Thom
Sandi Thom
Alexandria "Sandi" Thom is a Scottish singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. She became widely known in 2006 after a series of webcasts and the success of the single "I Wish I Was a Punk Rocker ".-1984–2004: Early life:Thom was born in Banff, Aberdeenshire...
and Scouting For Girls
Scouting for Girls
Scouting for Girls are a Brit and Ivor Novello nominated band from London, formed in 2005 by Roy Stride, Greg Churchouse and Peter Ellard. Stride and Ellard met in the Cub Scouts and Churchouse met Stride on their first day at school. They have sold over 1.2 million albums and over 1.5 million...
at an event in Blackpool to switch on the Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool Illuminations
Blackpool Illuminations is an annual Lights Festival, founded in 1879 and first switched on 18 September that year, held each autumn in the English seaside resort of Blackpool on the Fylde Coast in Lancashire....
, an annual event in the town. The event received coverage on BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
. On 3 September, the video for "Love You Anyway
Love You Anyway
"Love You Anyway" is a 2008 single by Irish boyband Boyzone, their first single release for 8 years and their first since their reunion. It is taken from their 2008 greatest hits album Back Again... No Matter What...
" debuted on the digital music channel The Box. It features all 5 of the original members of Boyzone with Keating taking most of the lead vocals. The single received its first play on 20 August 2008, live on Terry Wogan
Terry Wogan
Sir Michael Terence Wogan, KBE, DL , or also known as Terry Wogan, is a veteran Irish radio and television broadcaster who holds dual Irish and British citizenship. Wogan has worked for the BBC in the United Kingdom for most of his career...
's Radio 2 Breakfast show. On 6 October 2008, "Love You Anyway" entered the UK charts at number 5, making it their seventeenth consecutive top five single. On 8 December their second single of 2008 "Better" was released and charted at number 22 in the UK charts, number 26 in the Irish charts and number 63 in the European hot singles charts. On 28 August 2009 the group joined Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding
Yvette Fielding is a British broadcaster, producer and actress. She is best known for being the presenter of the TV shows Blue Peter, Most Haunted and Ghosthunting With....-Early life and career:...
in Edinburgh for a Ghosthunting with...
Ghosthunting With...
Ghosthunting With... is based on investigating purported paranormal activity. Yvette Fielding hosts the programme, broadcast on digital channel ITV2, where she takes celebrities to haunted buildings to investigate....
show for ITV2.
Better Tour, Gately's death, and Brother (2009–2011)
In 2009, Boyzone played their Better TourBetter Tour
The Better Tour is a concert tour by Irish boy band, Boyzone and the last one to feature Stephen Gately. They played arenas all over the UK and Germany. This tour began with 2 Northern Irish dates and 2 Irish dates...
, which was the last tour to feature Gately. On 10 October 2009, Gately died while on his holiday in Majorca, Spain with his civil partner Andrew Cowles. Three days later, AP reports that a post-mortem showed Gately died as a result of a pulmonary edema, or fluid in the lungs. The Balearic Islands Superior Justice Tribunal said in a statement. "The singer of the Irish group Boyzone died from natural causes, owing to an 'acute pulmonary edema'". Though still finding it difficult to come to terms with his sudden death Lynch has recently claimed that Gately died for a reason. He is reported as saying "I've got to understand that it's all for a reason. If I don't understand why then one day I'll be told.
Boyzone were originally going to release the new album in mid-2010 with a summer tour following the album but the album was released in March 2010 which was earlier then planned. The album was released as a tribute to Gately which included two new songs that were sung by Gately before his death. One song was written by singer-songwriter Mika
Mika (singer)
Mika is a British singer-songwriter.After recording his first extended play, Dodgy Holiday EP, Mika released his first full-length studio album, Life in Cartoon Motion, on Island Records in 2007. Life in Cartoon Motion sold more than 5.6 million copies worldwide and helped Mika win a Brit...
who has also claimed that the new song he wrote for Boyzone is the last one which will feature Stephen Gately's vocals, released as their fourth studio album on 8 March 2010. The track written by Mika became the lead single from the new album, titled "Gave It All Away
Gave It All Away
"Gave It All Away" is a song written by Mika and performed by Boyzone. It was the lead single to be released from their fourth studio album, Brother, on 1 March 2010. The song was originally meant to be their comeback single, however Mika did not allow it. The song includes lead vocals from Ronan...
". Boyzone loved this track and wished to release this song as their comeback single. The song received its first airplay on 17 January 2010. Mikey Graham
Mikey Graham
Michael Graham - also known as Mikey Graham - is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and music producer, best known as a member of pop group Boyzone, and in 2010 he was a contestant on Dancing on Ice.-Early life:The youngest of seven children, Graham was born to housewife Sheila and carpenter...
stated that Gave It All Away
Gave It All Away
"Gave It All Away" is a song written by Mika and performed by Boyzone. It was the lead single to be released from their fourth studio album, Brother, on 1 March 2010. The song was originally meant to be their comeback single, however Mika did not allow it. The song includes lead vocals from Ronan...
will be released on 1 March 2010 and the album will be released a week afterwards.
From 10 January to 7 March 2010, Graham was a contestant on the fifth series of Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
, and was eliminated in the 9th week of the competition after being in the "Skate-Off" with EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
actress Danniella Westbrook
Danniella Westbrook
Danniella Westbrook is an English actress and television presenter. She is known for being the original actress to play Samantha Mitchell in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders from 1990–93, 1995–96, 1999–2000 and 2009–10. Away from EastEnders she has presented various shows, and was also a...
, he lost with 2 votes to Westbrook's 3. Their fourth studio album Brother
Brother (Boyzone album)
Brother was the fourth studio album by Irish pop group Boyzone, which became their first studio album released in 12 years. The album is named in memory of member Stephen Gately who died five months before its release...
was released on 8 March 2010 and become their fourth studio number one album so far. "Gave It All Away
Gave It All Away
"Gave It All Away" is a song written by Mika and performed by Boyzone. It was the lead single to be released from their fourth studio album, Brother, on 1 March 2010. The song was originally meant to be their comeback single, however Mika did not allow it. The song includes lead vocals from Ronan...
" peaked at #9 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and at #1 on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
. "Love Is a Hurricane
Love Is a Hurricane
"Love is a Hurricane" is a song performed by Irish group Boyzone. It was the second single to be released from their fourth studio album, Brother, on 17 May 2010. It is the first single without bandmate Stephen Gately, who died a year earlier...
" was the second and final single from Brother. It was released on 17 May, peaking #44 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and at #39 on the Irish Singles Chart
Irish Singles Chart
The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured...
. The album peaked at #1 in both Ireland and the UK. Boyzone sold 547,128 copies in 2010. Boyzone were supposed to have an album released around the end of 2010, but due to Keating having personal problems, it was cancelled. Boyzone sang "No Matter What" with Kim Marsh on a ITV programme called "Coronation Street The Big 50" broadcast on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
On Friday 10 December 2010, Mikey Graham
Mikey Graham
Michael Graham - also known as Mikey Graham - is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and music producer, best known as a member of pop group Boyzone, and in 2010 he was a contestant on Dancing on Ice.-Early life:The youngest of seven children, Graham was born to housewife Sheila and carpenter...
was not present due to other commitments.
Brother Tour and Upcoming Fifth Studio Album (2011–present)
Boyzone toured the UK and Ireland during February and March 2011 with a 21 date tour of the IrelandIreland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and UK with their arena-based Brother Tour
Brother Tour
The Brother Tour is the first tour by Irish boy band, Boyzone following the death of Stephen Gately. They will be playing arenas all over the UK and finish with 4 Irish dates including a homecoming show at the O2 in Dublin...
and four outdoor shows around the UK during August.
Boyzone projected a virtual Gately on stage for the tour. Bringing some Antipodean sunshine to proceedings were the soulful vocals of singer/songwriter Guy Sebastian
Guy Sebastian
Guy Theodore Sebastian is an Australian pop, R&B, and soul singer-songwriter who was the first winner of Australian Idol in 2003. He is currently a judge on the Australian version of The X Factor. Sebastian has released six top ten platinum/multi platinum albums, including a number-one and...
, support act from Australia.
On the 21st March 2011 a new album from Keating was released worldwide. Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh
Louis Walsh is an Irish music manager and judge on the British television talent show The X Factor.-Band manager:...
commented that the band should disband but rumours of a split were strongly denied by the band and band member Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch
Shane Lynch is an Irish singer-songwriter, actor and professional drift driver, best known for his distinctive body art, outlandish sense of style, and as a member of Boyzone...
said that the band and Walsh have not been contracted since 1998.
Keating has announced that Boyzone are recording and will release a new album towards Christmas 2011 to early 2012. On the 1st September 2011, in a interview given to Jamie Theakston
Jamie Theakston
Jamie Theakston is an English television and radio presenter, producer and actor.-Education:...
on his magic radio show he said that there will be a possible Boyzone "project" in December and a boyzone album within the next 12 months. Lynch has said in an interview on ITV1
ITV1
ITV1 is a generic brand that is used by twelve franchises of the British ITV Network in the English regions, Wales, southern Scotland , the Isle of Man and the Bailiwicks of Jersey and Guernsey. The ITV1 brand was introduced by Carlton and Granada in 2001, alongside the regional identities of their...
show Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
that Boyzone will be releasing a new album and be touring in 2013 which will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the band forming.
Tours
- 1995: Hotfest Tour
- 1995: Said And Done Tour
- 1996: Did you have a big buzz feelin Tour
- 1997: A Different Beat Tour
- 1998: Where We Belong Tour
- 1999-2000: Boyzone...Greatest Hits Tour
- 2008: Back again...No Matter What Live TourBack again...No Matter What Live TourThe Back again...No Matter What Live Tour is a concert tour by Irish boy band, Boyzone and the first one since 2000. They played arenas all over the UK and Ireland...
- 2009: Better TourBetter TourThe Better Tour is a concert tour by Irish boy band, Boyzone and the last one to feature Stephen Gately. They played arenas all over the UK and Germany. This tour began with 2 Northern Irish dates and 2 Irish dates...
- 2011: Brother TourBrother TourThe Brother Tour is the first tour by Irish boy band, Boyzone following the death of Stephen Gately. They will be playing arenas all over the UK and finish with 4 Irish dates including a homecoming show at the O2 in Dublin...
- 2013: TBA
Studio albums
- 1994: Said and DoneSaid and DoneSaid and Done is the debut album by Irish band Boyzone. The pop album was released on 21 November 1994 by Polygram International. It topped the UK charts at #1 for the week of September 2, 1995. Five singles were released from the album: "Love Me for a Reason", "Key to My Life", "So Good", "Father...
- 1996: A Different BeatA Different Beat (Boyzone album)A Different Beat is the second album released by Irish boy band Boyzone. Four singles were released from the album: "Words", "A Different Beat", "Isn't It a Wonder" and "Mystical Experience", which was only included on the US version of the album. The album also includes a cover of the Michael...
- 1998: Where We BelongWhere We Belong (album)Where We Belong is the third studio album by the Irish band, Boyzone. The album was released on 25 May 1998 in UK and 17 November 1998 in US by Polygram International. It topped the UK charts at #1 for the week of June 6, 1998. Five singles were released from the album, including a cover version of...
- 2010: BrotherBrother (Boyzone album)Brother was the fourth studio album by Irish pop group Boyzone, which became their first studio album released in 12 years. The album is named in memory of member Stephen Gately who died five months before its release...
Compilation albums
- 1999: By RequestBy Request (Boyzone album)By Request is a greatest hits compilation from Boyzone. The album contains material recorded between 1994–1999, and was released on May 31, 1999 by Universal. As well as containing the band's fifteen singles, the album also includes the three bonus tracks from the US release of their previous...
- 2008: Back Again... No Matter WhatBack Again... No Matter WhatBack Again... No Matter What is a compilation album by Irish Boyband Boyzone, released on October 13, 2008. Three new recordings were made for the album: "Love You Anyway", "Better" and "Can't Stop Thinking About You". The new songs were the first new material recorded by the band in nine years,...
- 2012: Love Me For A Reason: The B-Sides Collection
External links
- Boyzone - Official web portal
- BBC Gallery: Boyzone at Blickling Hall (summer 2008)
- Boyzone Back in Germany!
- Boyzone Fanzone - Boyzone fan forums
- Meet Me Halfway - Website for Michael Graham fans with adjoining forums