Latest Westlife News & Gossip

 
Thursday, October 20, 2011

Westlife split: they'll go their separate ways in 2012

Westlife announced in a statement, published on their official website, that they are to "have a well earned break and look at new ventures".

The guys' full statement is as follows:

After 14 years, 26 top ten hits including 14 number one singles, 11 top 5 albums, 7 of which hit the top spot and have collectively sold over 44 million copies around the world, 10 sell out tours and countless memories that we will forever cherish, we today announce our plan to go our separate ways after a greatest hits collection this Christmas and a farewell tour next year. The decision is entirely amicable and after spending all of our adult life together so far, we want to have a well-earned break and look at new ventures. We see the greatest hits collection and the farewell tour as the perfect way to celebrate our incredible career along with our fans. We are really looking forward to getting out on the tour and seeing our fans one last time.

Over the years Westlife has become so much more to us than just a band. Westlife are a family. We would like to thank our fans who have been with us on this amazing journey and are part of our family too. We never imagined when we started out in 1998 that 14 years later we would still be recording, touring and having hits together. It has been a dream come true for all of us.

Kian, Mark, Nicky and Shane

After 14 years (has it really been 14 years!?!), 14 UK number one hits, 26 top ten hits, and 44 million records sold, it has been an incredible journey.

But it's not the end yet! There will be a farewell tour in 2012, a new single Lighthouse released on 13 November 2011 and a Greatest Hits album due out on 21 November 2011.

Plus we have all the exciting new projects to look forward to -- will we see the guys as judges on X factor? Who will be first to release a solo album?

We will wait and see what the next chapter in the Westlife story brings...

Read more on the BBC news website.