News Archive July - September 2001

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UK Westlife fans might have noticed that the lads have been pretty rarely seen on TV for the past 6 or so months, but this is all to change with the release of the guys' new single, a double A-side of Queen of My Heart/When You're Looking Like That, released in the UK November 5th (check the calendar page for release dates elsewhere!). This is to be followed on November 12th by the lads' 3rd album, entitled World Of Our Own, which no doubt you know they have been busy recording over the last couple of months. Westlife were back in the UK last Saturday (23rd September) for the Disney Channel Kids Awards held at the London Arena. Over a million kids voted for the 15 awards that were spread across music, sport, TV and movies, but it was left to the Irish boyband to steal the show as they performed Uptown Girl & When You're Looking Like That, and won 2 awards for Best Male Group/Artist and Band of the Year! The guys have also been winning awards in the Smash Hits Pop's Sexiest 100 - Shane came 1st, Kian came 5th, Mark came 13th, Nicky came 18th, and Bryan came 22nd! Their official website, westlife.co.uk, also won the People's Choice Award at the Dotmusic Online Music Awards held in London. A new Official Westlife website is currently being designed, which is to be located at westlife.com and ready for fans' viewing later this year! [source: dotmusic.com]

Westlife have been forced to scrap their new £1million video, intended to accompany 'Queen of my heart' after the recent terror attacks in the US. The video, filmed in London earlier this month, featured the boys taking part in a stock car race, with violent explosions and showers of debris. One scene even had Bryan caught up in a dramatic crash. Kian said: "There is no way we could show that video now, in light of what happened in America. So we decided to scrap it and have now gone back to the drawing board to try to think of another idea. We hope to start shooting the new video next week." Mark, also commented: "It was a horrible thing that happened and our deepest sympathies go to all the families." [source: newsoftheworld.com]

It's the first pic of Bryan and Molly! Bryan celebrated the birth of his baby girl Molly over the weekend with a celebrity sing song in Dublin. He visited top night club Lillies Bordello on Saturday night, staying there until the wee hours along with a host of showbiz friends. With singer Moby fresh from the U2 gig at Slane on the piano in the club's private members room, Bryan sang traditional Irish songs including My Irish Molly, and Molly Malone with broadcaster Eamon Dunphy and the Irish footballer Robbie Keane. [source: showbiz-ireland.com] [pic courtesy of: Bryan Webshots Community] [thanx to: Siti]

Ex-Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona went into labour last night, a week early, and Bryan took her to Dublin's Mount Carmel Hospital. Molly Mcfadden was born after an 18 hour labour at 7pm yesterday (August 31st), weighing 8lb 2oz... Bryan commented to the press "I can't believe I'm a dad!" Bryan and Kerry have a nursery for Molly at their County Wicklow home in Ireland, decorated with Jungle Book characters. Bryan said last month: "There's three people in my life, not one. Being a star is no longer my top priority." [source: The Sun Newspaper] [link: The Sun] [thanx to: Vicky Long, Jenny Bushel, Emma Turner, Katie O'Neill & Caro Russell]

Westlife have landed a £500,000 contract to model trendy underwear designer Calvin Klein's funky new fashion range. They'll be seen in magazine and billboard ads across Europe wearing next year's spring/summer collection. Eager Westlife fans have been known to toss CK underwear on stage so much so that "none of us ever have to buy it ourselves", jokes tour manager Anto Byrne. Now it seems they’ll be getting even more free merchandise. "Both brands, Westlife and Calvin Klein are perfectly suited," said a spokesman for the American design company. "The band love wearing stylish clothes and have always been fashionable." The ad campaign will be reportedly be shot by a top fashion photographer. Westlife aren’t the first musicians to pose for Calvin Klein. Mark Wahlberg, née Marky Mark, made a splash in the early Nineties with a series of provocative ads. R&B diva Macy Gray, Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes of TLC, Moby and Dolores O'Riordan of the Cranberries have all featured in promotions for the popular designer. [source: The Sun Newspaper, Hello! Magazine] [link: Hello! Magazine article] [thanx to: Clare from California]

You may already know that Westlife have remixed When You're Looking Like That, one of the tracks that originally appeared on the 'Coast To Coast album' for release as a single. However the bad news is that it will now not be released in the UK and Ireland. Westlife's next UK and Ireland single is reported to be a brand-new ballad, with the WYLLT remix as the b-side to the single, which is expected to be released at the end of October. Westlife's 3rd album (as yet untitled) is penned for release in early November, and it's possible that the guys may release an 11th UK single in December - possibly a song that the guys have been working on with rocker Bryan Adams. Co-written by Bryan, it's apparently in the vein of 'Everything I Do'. Meanwhile, in the countries where When You're Looking Like That has been released, it's expected to be a massive hit. Tipped to smash into the Asian music charts after its release earlier this week, the single was played a record 1,500 times in its first two days of release. It's also expected to top the charts in Singapore, China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei! [source: smashhits.net] [link: WYLLT UK release campaign]

According to recent reports we can expect at least four songs on Westlife's upcoming third album to be original self-penned songs. The guys are currently in the process of recording their new album, and apparently band members Bryan McFadden and Shane Filan have written most of the tracks, although Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan are also co-writing songs. Kian adds, "We've been writing songs long before Westlife came about, we've just become better at it over time. The producers are working with us on some songs that will be included on the new album. Bryan has written a new song called 'Color Of My Skin' that is something like the big hit 'We Are The World,' We're going to record it with a children's choir." [source: MTVAsia]

Louis Walsh, Westlife's manager has told the UK press that Westlife will be concentrating their efforts on maintaining and expanding their UK and European fanbases before they consider attempting to crack the American market. 'We're not sure whether it will happen for us there,' he told UK tabloid The Sun before explaining that they will instead concentrate on maintaining their existing fan base. 'Our stronghold is in Britain and Europe. We are doing really well here and don't want to be associated with failure. We are one of the biggest bands in Europe and we want to consolidate that position. As far as we are concerned the US is off.' [source: The Sun] [links: worldpop.com dotmusic.com] [thanks to Jackie for the article!]

Bryan Mcfadden and his fiance ex-Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona have revealed that they are expecting a baby girl! Their daughter - who they will call Molly - is due in two months. Bryan said: "Iam so excited about being a dad. And when i found out we were expecting a girl, I was ecstatic. When they told us we just hugged and kissed. Though to be honest, what we've always wanted most is a healthy baby." [source: News of the World] [thanks to: Kellie for the article!]