News Archive July - September 2002

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We have some hot off the press news of extra tracks that will be included on Westlife's forthcoming Greatest Hits CD, released in the UK November 11th. The album will (obviously!) include all the Westlife singles that we know and love, but additionally it will feature two new cover versions of a Cliff Richards track and Connor Reeves' Earthbound. Another additional tack, 'Unbreakable' will be the debut single release from the album. [source: westlife.com, popbitch.com] [link: conner-reeves.com]

The band are busy in the States right now. They jetted off to LA last weekend and have been shooting new photos for their single and Greatest Hits album which is coming out later this year. The new video was shot in LA over two days, with Simon Cowell (from Westlife's UK record label) making sure that things ran to plan! Westlife's World of Our Own single is shaping up really well in the US. The single has been added to another 77 radio stations and MTV are starting to buzz about the video which you can see here. After the video shoot the guys are embarking on a pretty hectic US promotional tour which will include various radio stations plus an AOL live session on 28th August. We're trying to find out more details on the AOL session, when we get news we will let you know. The lads have also been invited to the final of American Idol and are trying to fit that in the schedule too! Join the Westlife Street Team USA and Canada: http://clix.to/westlifestreetteam Request World Of Our Own on US Radio: http://www.geocities.com/withashout73/wooocampaign.html! [source: westlife.com, many thanks to Steph!] [link: American Idol]

Westlife will be heading to America to start promotion over there at the end of this week. They have already hired video maestro, AttiI J, to reshoot their 'World Of Our Own' video for release in the US (which you can see here) and their new American manager Robert Livingston is confident that they will be a hit in America, having booked the group to appear on top rated US chat shows like 'The Late Show With David Letterman', 'The Tonight Show With Jay Leno' and 'Entertainment Tonight.' The World of Our Own single is already being played on U.S. radio (If you live in the US get requesting it now!!!) and accessallareas.com reviewed the single: "In a three-year span, they’ve had 742 #1 hits in the UK ... well ok, ten ... but it seems like every time you look at the chart, there they are. This peaked there a few months back and now it’s time to see if they can pick up where “Swear It Again” left off. Impact 8/6." But before they head off in what has been described “as their toughest task to date”, the Sligo members of the band arrived home to spend time with their families before heading stateside. The Sligo team of Shane, Mark and Kian are just back home after spending two weeks on holidays. Such is the high flying life these lads lead, that Kian left for London soon after touching down in Sligo. Patricia Egan, Kian's mother, spoke this week of her son’s busy life as a popstar, “Kian came back after his two weeks holidays but flew to London soon afterwards. Everyone with connections to the band including the tour manager went on holidays for two weeks. Everything just shut down. Now they are getting set for America and will be spending three weeks there. It may turn out to be longer depending on how things go.” Shane too was home in Sligo at the weekend and was spotted on Saturday driving his new black Ferrari around town. This was one of the Ferraris bought by three of the band members whilst they were over in London over two weeks ago. Along with Shane, Bryan and Nicky couldn’t resist and bought one each as well. “Kian was looking at one but didn’t purchase in the end,” said Patricia without a hint of regret. Kian drives a BMW when he is at home. So it’s up, up and away for the band as the dizzy heights of showbiz continue to keep Sligo’s best known trio flying high. [source: Westlife Watch from the Sligo Weekender, thanks also to Lauren]

Westlife Set To Storm U.S. Shores With Exclusive Domestic Version of Multi-Platinum 'World Of Our Own' Album... [Article from LOS ANGELES, Aug. 1 /PRNewswire/] When Westlife hit No. 1 in the U.K. with "My Love" in October 2000, it found its way into the Guinness Book of World Records tied with the Beatles for the most No. 1 singles in a row (seven to be exact). Three No. 1 singles later and the Westlife phenomenon is ready to storm U.S. shores. On October 8, Westlife's -- Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Bryan McFadden, Mark Feehily, and Kian Egan -- will make their RCA debut with a fresh, US only version of their latest album, "World Of Our Own." The album will include one newly recorded track, "Unbreakable" & a new mix of the worldwide smash hit "World Of Our Own" that will be available exclusively for the US release. Released globally last November, "World Of Our Own" has already tallied over 5 million in worldwide sales and is currently multi-platinum in 11 countries, including 12X over in their native Ireland. The album has already spawned two No. 1 hits in the U.K., bringing Westlife's career No. 1 total to 10 in just four years, a feat it took Madonna nearly 20 years to accomplish. Speaking of the Material Girl, Westlife's 10th No. 1 single, the album's title track, tied Madonna this past February for the most No. 1 singles within the last three decades. America, needless to say, will soon see what all the fuss is about. "World Of Our Own" draws on the group's strengths -- epic ballads and soaring harmonies which raises the bar. Up-tempo "When You're Looking Like That," reminiscent of late '80s Prince, and "Bop Bop Baby," one of seven tunes written or co-written by the group this time out, represent a new found maturity to the group's seemingly never-ending catalog of pop hits. Previously unreleased track "Unbreakable" rounds out the group's third chapter in worldwide pop dominance. The Westlife story began in Sligo, Ireland, where Shane, Mark, and Kian were the first seeds of what would eventually grow into a wildly popular musical machine with the addition of Dubliners Bryan and Nicky. With the guidance of Louis Walsh, the manager behind the success of fellow artist Samantha Mumba, Westlife made an immediate impact on the U.K. music scene. Their debut single, "Swear It Again," entered the U.K. charts at No. 1 in 1999 and the group has never, ever looked back. Highlights of their remarkable four-year run include an MTV Europe Award for Best U.K. & Ireland Act in 2000, Brit Awards for Best Pop Act in 2001 and 2002, and two MTV Europe Record of the Year Awards ("Flying Without Wings" in 2000 and "My Love" in 2001). They sang for Pope John Paul II at the Vatican late last year (the first pop act to top the bill at the fabled church) and performed an astonishing 10 consecutive dates at Wembley Arena in London. With over 15 million in worldwide album sales and counting, Midas has nothing on Westlife. Everything they touch turns to platinum. See the US video for World of Our Own at rcarecords.com! [Thanks to Bianca & Renee for the article above & to Yaara & Nancy for additional info!]

Westlife joined Lulu to perform "Back At One" at Party In The Park in London in front of an audience of 100,000 last week (7th July). The song, originally recorded by country artist Mark Wills, is taken from Lulu's new self-titled album. The performance was to promote the song which may possibly be Westlife's next UK single release. Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the next WL album will be a Greatest Hits collection that includes some new songs as well. Apparently the new CD will be half hits and half brand new meterial. The guys have insisted they are not splitting up despite the imminent release of the greatest hits CD - Bryan McFadden reassures fans that this doesn't signal the end of the band. "I just want to set the record straight - even though we're releasing a greatest hits album that doesn't mean we're splitting up," he has been reported as saying. "We've actually recorded some new tracks in Sweden that will appear on the album." The next U.S. single is likely to be 'World Of Our Own' with 'Flying Without Wings' a possible follow-up release. [source: dotmusic.com ]

Shane celebrated his birthday on July 5th at the CC club in London. You can see pics of the evening at: http://www.sintillate.co.uk [source: sintillate.co.uk ]

Hot on the heels of news about Bryan launching a rock band (check the fact or fiction page), Nicky has stated that Westlife would play rock festival Glastonbury if they were asked - although doubt that will ever happen. He joked that they'd probably have bottles thrown at them if they ever played the festival, but said that they would perform there if they were invited. Nicky said "If we were asked we would but we would never get asked. If we did, we would probably get bottled off the stage. I've sometimes wondered what it would be like to stitch everyone up by just getting on stage. Wouldn't that be funny?" [source: The Sun ]