Westlife Uncovered
News of the World November 3rd 2000
WESTLIFE are heading for a sensational SEVENTH No1 in a row on Sunday with their new single My Love.
Now the five Irish lads – Kian Egan, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Bryan McFadden and Nicky Byrne – have dropped their guard - and their trousers - to reveal their thoughts on fame, money, love and being in the mega band. We kick off our two-part interview with Kian and Shane.
It's hard to find
girls I can trust
Unlucky in love ... Shane cannot seem
to find the right woman for him
SHANE FILAN admits he is jealous of bandmates Bryan McFadden and Nicky Byrne - because both have fallen in love.
Bryan has been dating Atomic Kitten Kerry Katona for the past year and Nicky goes out with childhood sweetheart Georgina Ahern, daughter of Irish Prime Minister Bertie.
Shane - voted Best Looking Pop Star at Sunday's TV Hits Awards 2000 - says he has dated a dozen girls this year but none has been right for him.
He adds: "I went out with a girl back in Sligo for a year and a half but I think that was just puppy love. I've never been in love properly before, which is ironic, seeing as most of our songs are about love.
"It can get a bit boring, being on your own, not having anyone to share all this with.
"Everything's perfect but there is a part of my life that's missing and it can be lonely when you're on the other side of the world and you can't talk to someone on the phone.
"That means I do feel a bit jealous of Bryan and Nicky because they are so in love - I wish it was like that for me. I'd like to be married within seven years and have five children."
Like Kian, 21-year-old Shane worries about women's motives and tells me: "It's hard to find a girl I can trust.
"Some women want to use you for your fame. I just want someone who understands me but I would rather she wasn't in the public eye."
That's something Shane expects to be a lot. He reckons the band will be together for a long time yet. He says: "We are definitely going to do five studio albums together - that's the minimum. You have to set your sights high."
Home is still in Sligo, where Shane is building a new house in 50 acres for his family, who run a horse-breeding business.
He says: "They've looked after me and now I want to do my bit and look after them. I haven't really been home in the last two years. I've been living in hotels and it's nice to go and sleep in my own bed with my own duvet and pillows."
"I'm quite into the business side of the band too - we know we have to be careful and we aren't stupid.
"We have done very well for ourselves and the cash has really started to come in over the last seven months."
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