BON Jovi are one of the most exciting live bands in show-biz. They've
always been hugely popular in Ireland, selling out big stadium gigs
and they're playing to 40,000 people at the RDS on Friday, August 25.
So imagine the thrill we experienced this week when we got the chance
to perform with them in America. It was such a buzz because the
atmosphere at a Bon Jovi gig is electric.
The concert was held in Providence, Rhode Island, and it was brilliant
for us because it introduced us to a whole new audience.
It also gave us the chance to watch Bon Jovi in action. What a show!
Irish fans are going to love it when the band play the RDS.
Jon Bon Jovi is such a crowd pleaser. He really knows how to get an
audience going and, of course, the Bon Jovi songs are amazing. They
really make a connection with people and they're very uplifting. Try
to stop yourself singing along, punching the air with your fist, or
rocking and swaying through the evening.
What a party we had with those guys! Jon told us that they just can't
wait to get to Dublin for their Irish concert. They really do believe
that there's no crowd like an Irish one - and Westlife agree with
that.
Kian hung out with Bon Jovi drummer Tico Torres and ended up getting a
pair of his drum sticks for a friend back in Sligo.
WE'VE had seven weeks of non-stop work here in the States, but now
it's all paying off. It looks like we're going to crack it big time,
which is what we set out to do.
The good news this week is that our single, Swear It Again, has shot
up to Number Two in the American sales chart. That means we have the
second biggest selling single in the US this week, with Marc Anthony
just ahead of us.
We've also gone up to No. 25 in the Billboard Top 100 chart, which is
the main chart over here and is based on a combination of radio plays
and sales. We're the highest gainer in that chart this week. So things
are looking good.
YOU know that you're making an impact in a country when tour buses
stop to take photographs of you. That's exactly what happened to us
in the Soho district of New York where we were out and about on the
streets this week.
HAVING been away from home for seven weeks, it was so good to stay in
an Irish hotel when we arrived in Manhattan this week. We just wanted
to have some real Irish food again. There's nothing to beat a good
fry-up.., and bacon and cab-bage! Sinead O'Connor was staying at the
same hotel, so we got the chance to hang out with her.
WE also took a break in New York one night this week and went along to
catch Riverdance on Broadway. It was my first time to see the show and
it was really entertaining.
YESTERDAY we flew to Los Angeles to appear on Mandy Moore's show on
MTV here in the States. It's recorded on a beach and is hugely
popular, so hopefully we'll win some more new fans when it appears.
FINALLY, congrats to our friend Samantha Mumba on going straight to
Number One in the Irish
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Our thoughts are with Mark and his grieving family
OUR hearts go out this week to Mark Feehily's family, following the
sudden death of his granddad. It was obviously a big shock for the
family and our thoughts are with them.
Bryan, who returned to America after short break in Ireland, took over
Marks vocals the group and had been doing a great job. We did some TV
shows, which were seen by millions, and had to appear as a four-piece,
but everyone understands that the situation couldn't be helped.
In fact, we've been appearing public with just four members for the
last couple of weeks, as Bryan had to take some time out to recover
from exhaustion, He was run down and feeling nauseous, so he went
home to recover.
It did him the world of good to be with his parents and the normality
of his home. He came back firing on all cylinders. Even when he was
home we spoke to him and he said he was looking forward to getting
back on the road. Now he's back over and it's business as usual.