Susan's Westlife - Web Site

An Exclusive In-depth Interview With Shane Filan

OK Magazine, 11 August 2000
Thanks to Mandy Amory - legra_godeo1@hotmail.com - for this article!

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"OK!" VISITS THE TALENTED LEAD SINGER OF IRISH POP SENSATIONS WESTLIFE AT THE BEAUTIFUL CLONTARF CASTLE IN DUBLIN.

SHANE, YOU CELEBRATED YOUR 21ST BIRTHDAY RECENTLY WITH A HUGE PARTY AT DUBLIN'S FAMOUS LILLIES BORDELLO CLUB. HOW WAS IT?
It was a great night. Everyone looked so happy and that was the main thing I wanted. Everybody I invited came too, so it was great to be surrounded by my family and friends. Lillies is a great venue. it has had loads of renovations and I've never seen it looking so great - it's a beautiful club.

WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR ACTUAL BIRTHDAY?
We opened the Harrods summer sale in London during the day and then we came home in the evening. I had dinner with my family and then I went out with my friends at night time. Let's just say I had a typical 21st - I had a pretty late night and paid the price for it the next day! It was a brilliant birthday.

ALL OF YOUR FAMILY WERE WITH YOU AT YOUR CELEBRATION IN DUBLIN. WAS IT IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO BE SURROUNDED BY THEM?
Definately. My family are the most important thing in the world to me, I've always said that. They've looked after me all my life and, as the youngest of seven, I've grown up surrounded by people who love me for who I am, not what I do.

SO WHAT PRESENTS DID YOU GET?
My mum and dad got me a horse and it was a complete surprise! I didn't know what they were getting me because they kept saying, "We don't know what to get you, it's hard now that you're in a big pop band". I really wanted a horse, but I had a feeling that they wouldn't get me one. We have a horse already, but it's getting old, so when they gave it to me I couldn't believe it. It's an amazing looking horse, beautiful.

WHAT HAVE YOU CALLED HIM?
We're thinking of Carlton Clover, as my family own a restaurant called Carlton's and we fancied naming the horse after it. We used to own a horse called Nalif, whic is Filan spelt backwards.

THE LAST YEAR WAS INCREDIBLY SUCCESSFUL - FIVE NUMBER ONES AND RECORD OF THE YEAR. DID YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WESTLIFE WOULD BE SO HUGE?
I don't think any of us expected the success we have. We've broken the UK now and hopefully we can go further afield with the same success. America is our next big challenge. A lot of bands have done well in the UK, but not in the States, it just wasn't the right time. But now, especially with the Backstreet Boys, there's a chance. The Spice Girls did it because it proved it was a perfect time for them and we're hoping it's a perfect time for us.

LOOKING BACK OVER THE PAST YEAR, WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAVE BEEN THE HIGHEST POINTS?
Winning Record Of The Year was the biggest moment. I remember when the 28,000 votes came in, I jumped up and ripped my shirt open. I looked down and thought, what have I done? But I was just so happy. It was a funny night, emotional, but funny.

YOU'RE ONLY 21, BUT YOU'RE EXPERIENCING THINGS THAT EVEN PEOPLE TWICE YOUR AGE WOULD HAVE TROUBLE DEALING WITH. HOW DO YOU COPE?
Well, after a while, you realise you need your space. It's not healthy, you need to get some private space. I love horse riding, it's a great way to relax. Just going home is great. My family own a cafe, which I've lived over all my life and it's in the dead centre of the city in Sligo. It's nice to do normal things with them.

WHAT CAN YOUR FANS LOOK FORWARD TO?
We'll be releasing three more singles here in the UK, one with Mariah Carey in August, another one in October and then a Christmas single. We're all excited about the Mariah single - Mark's a huge fan of her's, so getting to work with her in the flesh was great for him.

FEATURE: COLLETTE WALSH.