ronan-keating.com
March 2010
Boyzone Don’t Care About Being "Loved" Anymore
The Irish boyband reunited in 2007, after seven years apart.
Their comeback album was a hit, but Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch no longer care about how many fans they have. Instead, the group are more concerned about their love for each other, especially after their bandmate Stephen Gately died last year.
“What we realised when we reunited was that those who we thought were friends weren’t – they didn’t call you when you weren’t working,” Mikey said. “These days we don’t get as close to people and we don’t need to feel as loved by everyone as we did.
“Coming back together after so long apart also made us realise how much we meant to each other, even more so after losing Stephen.”
Mikey says the group are still struggling with the loss of Stephen, who died of acute pulmonary oedema, a rapid build-up of fluid in the lungs, in Majorca last October. The singers just can’t understand why Stephen was taken away aged just 33.
“His death made me appreciate the fragility of life,” Mikey told the British edition of OK! magazine. “He was happy in life, that wasn’t meant to be our story. You get a reality check. We should be rejoicing in the nice things in life and not focusing on the negativity but it was a dreadful time and we’re still trying to get over it.”
From: Musicrooms
29 March 2010
Robbie tipped for 'X Factor' auditions
Robbie Williams and Ronan Keating are among stars being lined up as guest judges for The X Factor's forthcoming auditions, a report has claimed.
According to The Mirror, Simon Cowell also has Paula Abdul, Mel B and Charlotte Church in the frame to fill in for Dannii Minogue, who is not appearing at the auditions this year due to her pregnancy.
A source told the newspaper: "The stars would attend all the audition days in one city each. It would create an extra buzz and make the initial shows even more exciting.
"Simon thought it worked well on American Idol, so it is something he is willing to try."
Yesterday, a tabloid suggested that Cowell was also considering axing Minogue altogether. However, the popstar later told her Twitter followers that there was "no truth" in the claims.
The insider added: "It is difficult to know if Dannii wants a big role until after she has her baby. The situation could be up in the air a while yet."
A spokesperson for Cowell said: "He is incredibly supportive of Dannii."
From: Digital Spy
29 March 2010
Ronan Keating looking forward to Malta visit
Superstar Ronan Keating, who is being brought to Malta by NnG Promotions for a live concert on Saturday at the MFCC in Ta’ Qali, is looking forward to his first visit in Malta and to visiting the fortified cities. Keating, speaking to the press before performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London, added that he has always heard good things about Malta and that its history has always fascinated him.
He will be performing in Ta’ Qali as part of his international tour. The Malta concert will in fact be the last one in a series of sold-out events that have taken Keating from New Zealand to Australia and back to Europe.
“I am looking forward to a grand finale to my tour and am planning a great concert for all the Maltese. I want the help of you guys in having a seriously amazing party. Although I have never been to the Maltese islands yet, I have always heard good things about Malta and its people from my Boyzone mate Mikey [Graham],” Keating said.
Graham, affectionately known by fans as Mikey, is in fact a frequent visitor to Malta and has gone on record saying that it’s one of his favourite holiday destinations. Keating will be landing in Malta some time before the concert in order to have enough time to acquaint himself with island vibe.
“Too often when I give a concert it’s from the airport to the hotel, to the concert, maybe to a TV station, back to hotel and airport. This time round I want to see the old cities, meet the people, try the food and see the sights,” Keating told Maltese journalists.
The Boyzone singer’s performance on Easter Saturday is expected to include both Keating’s solo hits, such as ‘When You Say Nothing At All’, ‘Life Is A Roller Coaster’, tracks from Keating’s two new albums Songs For My Mother and Winter Songs, as well as some Boyzone classics.
Tickets, starting from €35, are available from all Vodafone, Agenda and Exotique outlets and from www.nngpromotions.com. For more information, log on www.nngpromotions.com or join NnG Promotions on www.facebook.com.
From: The Malta Independent
29 March 2010
From the official site:
Ronan at 'Wigan Life Tuned-In'
We are thrilled to announce that Ronan will be performing a special summer show at Wigan's Haigh Hall on 9th July!Ronan will be headlining the show at this spectacular venue, appearing as part of a five night open air concert series featuring other massive names like Katherine Jenkins and McFly.You can get your tickets NOW from Ticketmaster at ticketmaster.co.uk or 0844 847 2386. For more information on the concert, check out wlct.org/concerts.
26 march 2010
Ronan's tour winds up in Malta on April 3rd and after a short family break he will be fit and raring to go in the Run on Sunday April 18th in the Phoenix Park. 8,000 people have already signed up for Ireland's fastest growing running event with entries available on-line at www.greatirelandrun.org or by calling 1890 930 139. All entrants will receive a technical T-shirt before the event. Other charities supported by the event are Our Lady's Hospice, Harold's Cross and the SPAR Charity of the Year, 3Ts -Turn the Tide of Suicide. The SPAR Great Ireland Run will be shown live on RTE Two. Pictured at the Great Ireland Run photocall is Ronan Keating with his sister Linda Keating. Grand Canal Theatre, Grand Canal Square, Docklands, Dublin.
From: Advertiser
26 March 2010
Ronan Keating confirms entry to SPAR Great Ireland Run
When his sell-out world tour came to Dublin this week, singing superstar Ronan Keating took the time to receive his race number for this year’s SPAR Great Ireland Run from his sister Linda, Fundraising Director of the Marie Keating Foundation, one of the Run’s supported charities. Ronan’s tour winds up in Malta on April 3rd and after a short family break he will be fit and raring to go in the Run on Sunday April 18th in the Phoenix Park.
Over 8,000 people have already signed up for Ireland’s fastest growing running event with entries available on-line at www.greatirelandrun.org or by calling 1890 930 139. All entrants will receive a technical T-shirt before the event. Other charities supported by the event are Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross and the SPAR Charity of the Year, 3Ts -Turn the Tide of Suicide. The SPAR Great Ireland Run will be shown live on RTE Two.
From: Run Direct Magazine
(Click on the link to see a Ronan photo)
25 March 2010
Review: Ronan Keating
ON the face of it, Ronan Keating's first hometown show of the year could hardly be more upbeat. The pop songs are brash and lively, the giant video backdrop is unrelenting in its cheeriness and Keating's interaction with the audience is playful.
For the first 20 minutes, Keating runs the risk of bludgeoning us with his jollity, which seems forced, and the uniform nature of the songs has followers averting their eyes from the stage and taking in the striking surrounds of this new venue.
But it soon becomes apparent there's real sadness lurking beneath the surface and the gig loses its feel when he talks of his mother, Marie, whom he lost to breast cancer 12 years ago, and, more recently, the tragic death of Stephen Gately.
He honours Marie's memory by performing songs she had sung to him as a child, including Cyndi Lauper's 'Time After Time'.
But he is far more successful when paying tribute to "my brother Steo", with a rendition of The Blue Nile song, 'Happiness', after which Ronan wipes away the tears.
Over the course of a 20-song set, Keating is keen to give the fans all the hits. 'When You Say Nothing At All', which he devotes to his wife Yvonne, is solid, but 'Loving Each Day' sounds tired. A vibrant 'Life Is A Rollercoaster' coaxes most of the crowd to their feet, but it is closer 'The Long Goodbye' which is the best-realised song of all. Keating sings it like he means it.
- Ronan Keating Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin John Meagher Ariadne Daskalakis and Trio Vintage Dublin Castle PAT O'KELLY
From: Irish Independent
25 March 2010
POP superstar Ronan Keating and Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins have both confirmed they will be appearing at this summer’s Wigan Life “Tuned-In” Concert Series.
In February it was revealed McFly and The Saturdays had signed to appear as part of a five night open air concert series in the grounds of Haigh Hall on the outskirts of Wigan.
Organiser, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (WLCT) in partnership with Wigan Council, believe it will be one of the biggest music and cultural events in Wigan history and are currently in discussions to secure another top name as the fifth act for the week.
Pete Burt is WLCT’s executive director for Service Development. He said: “This is the first time a concert series of this scale has been held in the borough. We believe we’ve created a fantastic line-up that will appeal to all ages and tastes.
“These are some of the biggest names in the music business and we’re delighted they’re coming to Wigan.
“Haigh Hall, set in 250 acres, is a spectacular venue to hold this event for what will be one of the biggest and best open air concert series of its kind in the North West.”
Pop superstar and Boyzone singer Ronan Keating is the only artist to have ever had 30 consecutive top 10 British singles while Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins is regarded as the world’s most successful classical crossover artist. Katherine will be joined by the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Steve Sidwell.
McFly will perform on Monday 5 July, Katherine Jenkins on Wednesday 7 July, The Saturdays on Thursday 8 July and Ronan Keating on Friday 9 July.
Tickets for Ronan Keating cost £32 and Katherine Jenkins cost £33 and will go on sale this Friday (26 March). Call national ticketing partner Ticketmaster on 0844 847 2386 or visit http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk – usual ticketmaster booking fee applies.
Tickets can also be bought over the counter at Wigan Tourist Information Centre, Wallgate, Wigan.
The Wigan Life Tuned-In Concerts series is part of a much wider “summer of sound” planned across Wigan in 2010. On 4 July the borough’s best unsigned acts will be able to perform at the arena ahead of the concert series for the 2010 Haigh Fest. This free annual celebration of the borough’s best unsigned bands is now in its eighth year. Immediately following the Wigan Life Tuned-In Concerts Wigan’s 25th International Jazz Festival (10 July to 17 July) will start at Robin Park.
For more information visit www.wlct.org/concerts
From: Leigh People
24 March 2010
Steo's parents at Ronan's special gig
THE family of tragic popstar Stephen Gately last night stepped out for one of their first public appearances since the Boyzone star's sudden death last October.
The late singer's parents and sister Michelle were invited as special guests of his bandmate Ronan Keating to attend his sell-out concert at the Grand Canal Theatre, the first event to take place at the new city centre venue.
Ronan paid a special tribute to the family during the concert, thanking them for coming along before dedicating the song In This Life to Stephen.
He went on to explain how he and his fellow Boyzone bandmates, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham, had raised a glass to their late friend on St Patrick's Day, which would have been his 34th birthday.
"Steo's family are all here tonight, I don't want to draw attention to them but I want to thank them so much for being here," he said.
"The week we were bringing him home from Spain, which was one of the hardest of our lives, his mother asked me to sing a song at his funeral and I chose this one because we used to sing it together in our dressing room," he added.
Ronan's own wife, Yvonne Keating, was on hand to support her hubby in the audience, along with their three children.
His father and siblings were also there to cheer on the singer, watching his performance from an upstairs balcony.
From: Herald
24 March 2010
Now booking: Boyzone
JUST days after Ronan Keating played a sell-out show at the Royal Concert Hall, it's been announced he'll be back in the city next year with Boyzone.
The Brother Tour comes to the Trent FM Arena on Thursday March 3, the group's first date in Nottingham since the death of Stephen Gately in December.
"There was a time there when the lads and I didn't know whether we would ever get back up on stage together again - we just didn't know if we could do it as a four-piece," says Keating.
"We played three tracks live at the Albert Hall a couple of weeks ago and the reception was just unbelievable. We all came off stage buzzing, knowing that we had the full support of the fans and it all just suddenly felt so right. We can't wait to get back on the road together."
Tickets go on sale at 9am on Thursday priced at £35.50 (plus booking fee).
They will be available from the box office, 08444 124 624, www.trentfmarena.com
From: This is Nottingham
23 March 2010
Ronan Keating, Windsor Hall, BIC
RONAN Keating’s return to the Bournemouth International Centre was a bitter-sweet affair as he recalled his last visit here three years ago had been with Boyzone bandmate Stephen Gately.
The tragic death of his “best friend” coloured many sad songs with a deeper hue of pathos and yet the highs and lows created by the Life Is A Rollercoaster singer left his delighted fans on an undisputed high.
The capacity crowd fell silent as he recalled: “October 10 was the worst day of my life when I heard ‘Steo’ had passed away.
“It still seems wrong and I’m still dealing with it every day.
“We are just putting one foot in front of the other each day and seeing where the road leads us.”
Despite his emotional tribute, including a performance of In This Life, the Collin Raye song Gately always sang backstage and which Ronan had sung at the funeral, the show took on a celebratory feel as it visited many of the uplifting, sunshine-fuelled pop songs and romantic ballads from Ronan’s Boy Zone and solo careers.
With a 20ft backdrop displaying everything from snowflakes and roses to racy images of a semi-clothed Ronan sprawled on a bed, and a cracking band including a stunning string quartet, this was an impressive production.
His voice never sounded better and with so many infectious hits, from his Notting Hill theme tune When You Say Nothing at All, to The Way You Make Me Feel, and the roof-raising Life Is A Roller-Coaster, the atmosphere was electric.
Seeming to spend a little longer taking his applause, he left with the broadest of smiles and a promise he would return.
In fact, Boyzone are to announce new tour dates this week which will include Bournemouth.
From: Bournemouth Echo
(Click on the link to see a Ronan photo)
23 March 2010
Boyzone return to the ECHO arena in February 2011
BOYZONE are set to make a return to the ECHO arena.
The chart-topping Irish boy band will perform at the waterfront landmark next year as part of their first major UK tour since the death of bandmate Stephen Gately.
The February 21 concert marks the third visit to the arena for the band since the 10,600-seater venue opened in Capital of Culture year.
Ronan Keating played a solo show at the Empire theatre last month, but the last time Boyzone performed in the city was in June last year.
Earlier this month Boyzone released their new album,Brother, which saw the remaining band members coming together to pay a special tribute to Gately.
The 33-year-old died on holiday in Majorca last October.
During a long career the band has enjoyed four number one albums and a record-breaking 16 consecutive top five singles.
Fans are likely to be treated to a mixture of old favourites such as Love Me For A Reason and Words, as well as songs from the latest album which is based on ‘rockier pop’, anthemic, catchy choruses and big melodies.
New tracks include Love Is A Hurricane (written by New Radicals front man, Gregg Alexander), Let Your Wall Fall Down and Gave It All Away, which was written by Mika and features some of the last vocals Stephen Gately ever recorded.
Ronan Keating said: “We are all incredibly proud of this album. It’s a whole new sound for us as a band and the feedback so far has been brilliant.
“It’s given us a new energy and focus and we can't wait for people to hear it. It was the best tribute we could wish for to pay tribute to Steo.”
ECHO arena promotions manager Emma McHarrie said: “We’re thrilled to be welcoming Boyzone back to the ECHO arena for an amazing third time.
“We know the boys will put on another fantastic show that will make their bandmate Stephen Gately, who sadly passed away last year, proud.”
Tickets for the February 21 concert go on sale from this Thursday priced at £35.50 plus booking fee. Call the ECHO ticketline on 0844 800 3680.
From: Liverpool Echo
23 March 2010
From the official site:
Boyzone 2011 Tour Pre-Sale
Boyzone are delighted to announce their UK Tour 2011. 12 Dates are now available for fans to buy in a special pre-sale. Use the links below to buy tickets before they go on general sale on Thursday.
FEBRUARY 2011 Mon 21st Liverpool Echo Arena Tue 22nd Cardiff CIA Sat 26th London Wembley Arena Sun 27th Sheffield Arena MARCH 2011 Tue 1st Newcastle Metro Radio Arena Wed 2nd Birmingham LG Arena Thu 3rd Nottingham Trent FM Arena Sat 5th Manchester MEN Arena Sun 6th Brighton Centre Tue 8th London The O2 Thu 10th Aberdeen ECC Sat 12th Glasgow SECC
The Brother Tour promises to be even bigger and better and will include tracks such as the Top Ten single, Gave It All Away and fan’s favourite, Love Is A Hurricane. They will sit alongside classics such as Picture Of You, Love Me For A Reason, No Matter What as well as a few surprises along the way. After the success of Brother, 2010 looks set to be a very busy year for boyzone with more singles to follow, another album to record and a new 12 date tour for the beginning of 2011. When you have confirmation of your tickets from Bookings Direct, visit www.boyzone.net to register your ticket and be entered into a special draw to win a prize on the night of the show. The boyz want to say a big thanks to everyone who has bought the album and supported them and they're really looking forward to getting back on stage together.
22 march 2010
From the official twitter:
Amazing Gig in Blackpool last night on Too Belfast. Check that link I posted for BZ tour tickets. R
Mar 22nd 2010
From the official twitter:
From 9am tomorrow check that link. R
Check this out http://www.seetickets.com/bookingsdirect/?show=boyzone&filler2=boyzone5
Great Gig in bournemouth last night. Blackpool tonight. And the ITV special goes out Tonight. And the Doc follows on ITV 2. All going on. R
Mar 21st 2010
This Irish boy's zone
After 17 years in the limelight, Ronan Keating - who is performing in Malta next month - has lost none of his musical talent, charm and good looks, as Kristina Chetcuti found out when she spoke to him in London.
We are waiting in one of several dressing rooms at London's Royal Albert Hall. Our room is bleak and bare, but the surroundings are buzzing with activity, in preparation for the evening's concert by Irish singer Ronan Keating.
Outside, some fans are already queuing up, all starry-eyed, waiting to hear songs that have occupied hours of radio time - like Love Me For A Reason, which topped the charts when he was still with boy band Boyzone; and When You Say Nothing At All, the theme song to the film Notting Hill and his first number one solo single.
A knock at the door and in he strides. The stark room promptly comes to life. Keating looks me straight in the eye with his very blue eyes. His handshake is pleasantly firm. His blonde hair is deliberately roughed up in a teasingly rakish way. His stubble is attractively rugged. His manner is very boy-next-door warm. "Hiya guys. How are ya?"
He has an unmistakeable Irish accent, which is surprising as there is hardly a trace of it in his or Boyzone's songs which for the past week have been on a loop on my iPod.
What happens to the accent when he's singing?
"Well yeah," he frowns, "I guess I spent my whole life listening to American artists and singing to Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra and all these different bands. So when I sing, that just feels like the natural place to go. There are certain Irish songs I sing in my Irish tone. You'll hear one tonight called Wild Mountain Thyme, during which I tend to slip into more of my Irish tone. It's just the way I sing."
There and then, this Mountain Thyme song shoots straight up to number one of my all-time favourite songs - without ever having heard it.
I comment on the wrist beads he's absentmindedly fingering. "Are they lucky charms?" His eyes give out a cheeky - but not flirty - twinkle: "Um, I'll tell you after the concert."
He won't be getting first-time jitters for sure. He has been in the pop world limelight for 17 years. Keating was just 16 when he joined Boyzone after turning up to open auditions at his home city of Dublin.
He and his fellow band members - Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy - spent 10 months travelling around Ireland in a van, playing gigs in pubs, till they were signed up by Polygram in 1994 and in the same year their cover version of the Osmonds' Love Me For A Reason reached number two in the charts.
The band split in 2000 and for seven years the five of them pursued their own interests. Keating launched a successful solo career. He is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for being the only artist ever to have 30 consecutive top 10 singles in the UK chart.
In less than an hour, he'll be on stage again for the umpteenth time, performing most of those hit singles.
How is he feeling?
"I feel fine, I'm relaxed. I go into my room now and I'll take my guitar and sing a few songs to warm up my voice. I have a special tea that I drink for my throat. I just sing, hum, say a few prayers, call the wife before I go on stage, and off I go. That's my ritual before I go out," he says.
Is he superstitious?
"I guess I have a few things that I have to do. You know, if I don't call my wife, if I don't say a prayer, then I feel I'll have bad luck, which is silly really, but I mean, that's Catholicism for you," he laughs. It's a hearty kind of laugh. You can't help joining in.
He is openly religious, but not in a hands-and-eyes-raised-to-ceiling kind of way.
"I don't go to Sunday Mass. But I believe in God and I pray. I like to go to church and sit on my own. I don't sit and listen to Mass really. But I am a believer."
And it's not every day that you get celebrities mentioning the wife at every opportunity. She is clearly a major influence in his life. He married Yvonne, a former model, when he was only 20. How could he have known that she was the one?
"I was young. I guess you just know. When it feels right it feels right. That was the choice I made and it was the right choice, and I was lucky enough to find the right one," he says with disarming frankness.
Outside the concert hall, fans - whom he describes accurately as being "a mixed bag ranging from eight to 80" - have been queuing early, some with autograph books in hand, other with flowers in their hair.
He does not mind that he appeals to the softer, ballad-loving kind of audience; that is, mainly girls: "Yeah. That's OK, I'm alright with that," he says, followed by another husky laugh.
One would not describe his fans as the 'screaming' type; 'besotted fans' would perhaps be a more precise term. During the concert, they hold up home-drawn posters saying 'Ronan we love you'. But they wouldn't be the same kind of wonder-bra wearing fans that say, Robbie Williams, would attract.
Keating is the kind of pop star grandmothers approve of. He is very obliging, and throughout the concert manoeuvres his way through the crowds and shakes hands and gets lots of kisses.
His wife is not jealous that he is constantly mobbed by girls: "Not in the least. No way. I'm the jealous one in the family," he admits. Does he sing to his wife, I wonder?
"Well, I sing around the house and I'm always playing the guitar and singing, but I don't sing to my wife really. I think she'd laugh at me if I started singing at her - she'd be 'What ye doin' ye eejit ye!'"
His wife keeps him grounded. And it's clear he does not live for his ambitions, but for the meaningful relationships in his life. Which is, I think, a key reason why he radiates a serene and infectious joie de vivre; a Lovin' Each Day - as one of his songs goes - kind of attitude in life.
And his concert performance is a reflection of this. His is not an act - he is clearly having fun. He fools around with his band mates and constantly jokes about as he interacts with the audience. At one point, the background screen beams a bare-chested Keating lying in bed - and the crowd goes hysterical.
Tongue-in-cheek, he says: "Every time I sing this I'm like, wow they really like this song, then I remember the video." Totally unpretentious.
There are lots of things he still dreams of doing: "I want to go to the North Pole. I want to climb Mount Everest. Some things you can dream about and they happen. Some things may never happen. But for me, health and happiness for my family is everything."
His priorities in life stem from what he has been through. Boyzone reunited two years ago and last October the five of them were working on their first album in 12 years, when band mate Stephen Gately died suddenly.
He suffered a pulmonary oedema - an accumulation of fluid on the lungs - and passed away in his sleep. He was only 33. Five months on from this untimely death how is he coping?
A shadow clouds his face and his forehead creases, but he is forthcoming: "It's still very raw. You put one foot in front of the other and try to move forward. We stick together, look after each other as a family, you know, the boys in the band. He's still very much part of the band, and when the four of us are together, we feel he's in the room."
During the concert he talks to his fans about 'Steo', as he affectionately calls him, a number of times. He hopes that by the end of the year Boyzone will be touring to promote their new album Brother which features some of the last vocals Gately ever recorded:
"We're doing a special night tomorrow here at the Albert Hall. I'm doing my show and the three guys are going to join me on stage for a few songs. It's going to be the first time we've performed since Steo passed away. It will be an emotional night. We don't know how it's going feel. We're going to try, and if that works, we're going to tour at the end of the year," he says.
Work and interviews have helped. "It's almost like therapy talking about Steo. Rather than bottling it up, it's probably good to talk about it."
How does he feel about having to grieve in public?
"It's the second time it's happened to me. I lost my mother 11 years ago. But I've never known anything like this sudden, this suddenness of Steo's death. That feeling... it's devastating, just absolutely devastating..."
Keating lost his mother to breast cancer, when she was only 51. As a result, he and his four siblings have set up the Marie Keating Foundation, which funds two mobile cancer awareness units in Ireland.
Their work has helped achieve a six per cent increase in cancer survival rates. Songs For My Mother, the album he is promoting on this tour, is a collection of his mother's favourites, "but some relate to the period just after she passed away but are still as important".
As he talks it is very easy to see he has lost the boyish looks that had made him an international heartthrob. The Keating of today looks much more mature. What has weathered him?
"I was 16 when I started this, so I've been in the public eye for 17 years now. I'm 33 years of age. I'm not a kid anymore and I've seen a lot in my life," he says.
It is not just the pain of death close to home. It is also what he has come across in his travels:
"I've been lucky enough to travel the world and witness amazing cultures and people, and see devastating acts. I've been to Africa, climbed Kilimanjaro. I've been to northern Thailand with Unicef on an Aids campaign. I've been to Africa on a Christian Aid campaign.
"I've seen how devastating life can be for people. And on the other hand, I've seen amazing wealth. I've seen two extremes and it's incredible, so I guess that weathers you. That has an effect on you whether you like it or not," he says.
His life has truly been a rollercoaster. Does he feel 33? "I feel 43 some days. Right now I feel 53," he laughs heartily. "No, I'm doing ok. I'm going backwards now, next year I'll be 32..."
The sober mood lifts as he discusses parenthood. He says he is very hands-on at home: "You have no choice. With three children (Jack, 10, Missy, eight and Ali, four) and two big dogs (Stitch and Scratch), you have to be."
Does he find it difficult not to spoil his children? "Yes," he mulls, "But I think kids should be spoilt though." He believes in trying to find a balance.
"You don't have to buy them gifts all the time, bang, bang, bang. But it's important to spoil them. Like I went home the other night and I'd been on the road for quite some time, we had a lovely day and I said to Yvonne, let's give them a day off school tomorrow so we could spend the day together.
"You know, you spoil them in other ways. A little gesture sometimes that I really feel they're going to remember for the rest of their lives. And we had an amazing time. It was a lovely day off. The sun was shining. We walked the dogs. It was just perfect," he says.
What do his children say when they're asked what their father does?
"Hmm. A singer, daddy's a singer." Does he ever wish he had a normal day-job? He tucks his hands in his pockets and drawls: "Absolutely not! Why would I want a normal day-job? I have the best job in the world. This is great. No way!"
Malta will be the last date on the tour which has taken him to Australia, New Zealand and across Europe. "So it's the last show, and I'm looking forward to it. There's going to be a really big party. You guys have to organise a really big party for us OK?"
I nod eagerly. You can't say no to that piercing gaze. So, what shall we welcome him with: Guinness, Jameson or wine? "Red wine please. Some nice Spanish wine," he replies.
How about Maltese wine, I say, going all patriotic.
"Maltese wine? Is there Maltese wine? Never tried it - even better. Great. Bring it on," he pauses, then says, "Can't wait."
Neither can I.
Ronan Keating will be performing live in Malta at the MFCC in Ta' Qali on April 3. Tickets are available from Vodafone, Agenda and Exotique outlets or online on www.nngpromotions.com.
From:Times of Malta
21 March 2010
From the official site:
ITV Tribute Special and documentary
Just a reminder that the ITV1 special and documentary both air thisSunday, so make sure you don’t miss them. “Boyzone: A Tribute to Stephen Gately” is an hour long special featuringperformances by the Boyz with some special guests, interspersed withfootage of Stephen and memories of his life. It’s bound to be a movingtribute to their dear friend and brother Steo. Tune it to ITV1 at 8.00pmto catch the show. After the special, flick over to ITV2 to see “Boyzone: Life After Stephen”at 10.00pm. The documentary charts the diffucult journey of Ronan, Keith,Mikey and Shane as they come to terms with their loss, and perform forthe first time without Stephen.
19 March 2010
From the official twitter:
Thank you once again for making Album and single No 1 in Ireland. R
Great Gig in Sheffield last night. Loved it. Day off today. R
Mar 19th 2010
Review: Ronan Keating, Royal Concert Hall
IT fell perfectly for Nottingham – Ronan Keating on St Patrick's Day, just as Boyzone hit number one in the album charts.
This was a night of mixed emotions for the singer, back on the stage where he took his first nervous steps as a solo artist nearly ten years ago. He sounded genuinely pleased to be there.
But it was also the night when his Boyzone buddy Stephen Gately should have been celebrating his 34th birthday and, although it is six months since he died, Ronan told the rapt audience that the rest of the band were still struggling to come to terms with the loss.
"I miss him every day," he said, and the crowd fell silent for a brief moment.
But the show must go on – and boy, does Ronan Keating put on a show. Singing against a mesmerising projection of dazzling images that flowed from falling roses to snowflakes and the bright lights of Broadway, he opened with Friends In Time to a crescendo of screams.
Everything Ronan gave with his familiar songs and twinkling Irish blarney was returned with ear-bursting interest by the audience.
As you would expect, all the hits were there: Time After Time, When You Say Nothing At All, The Way You Make Me Feel and If Tomorrow Never Comes.
When it comes to the powerful rock ballad with an added lilt of the Emerald Isle, nobody does it better.
Just before the finale, primed by Life Is A Roller Coaster, there was the briefest walk-on appearance by Boyzone's Shane Lynch who had driven up from London just to support his mate. Nice touch, that.
Then Ronan revealed that dates for a new Boyzone tour would be announced next week and the fans went wild. It was quite an encore.
From: This is Nottingham
(Click on the link to see a Ronan photo)
18 March 2010
The way you make me feel
The Boyzone singer on the group's new album, losing Stephen Gately and becoming Simon Cowell
THERE'S something about Ronan Keating that makes him seem extremely human, even when he's half a world away. In London, to be exact, where he's getting ready for his series of concerts at the Royal Albert Hall.
He has done thousands of gigs - he has performed for the Pope, sung with Pavarotti, and became the first pop star to perform in Phnom Penh - but he said he still feels "something" just before each concert.
"No, not nervous, but you do get excited about these shows," he said over the phone. "And the boys are coming out to join me tonight, so it's going to be a momentous show."
"The boys" are, of course, the other members of Boyzone, which has just released its latest album, Brother. It's their first full album of new material since the untimely death of member Stephen Gately, who died last year at the age of 33. The album is a tribute of sorts to Gately, whose vocals feature on two tracks.
MISSING A SPIRIT SO BRIGHT
For Keating, the death of his friend is still hard to swallow; and the recording of the album was "difficult" simply because "this time he wasn't there".
"It really hurt. Till today, I still think he's going to walk into the room," said Keating, his voice filling with emotion.
"It's incredible to think that a spirit so bright is gone. I find it hard to believe. I still think that he's going to text or call me."
Nevertheless, making the album was carthartic. "We had an emotional time. It was tough for us. We got through it the best we could."
Keating adds: "Boyzone needed to come back with a bang, and it's everything we wanted it to be. Stephen's not on it, obviously, on the rest of the album, which is very hard for us to take. But we have to put our best foot forward and be a new band and that's what we're trying to do."
But while the album is making headlines for Boyzone, Keating, too, has been making his own headlines - not least for his shirtless cover shoot for gay publication Attitude Active magazine.
"Oh, yeah! Forgot about that!" laughed the 33-year-old singer. "We've been training hard. We're not kids any more so we've got to train that much harder - and I guess I got a little addicted to training. One thing led to another and I ended up like that."
BEING SIMON COWELL
He's also going to be hosting a new TV show called Debut, which tentatively is slated to be shot in Singapore. It's a singing competition of sorts not unlike Making The Band or Pop Idol.
"It's kind of going to be my show. I'm fronting it and I'm in the judging panel and we're looking for some superstars from Asia," explained Keating, adding that he's going to be a sort of Simon Cowell.
"I'm not saying that I'm going to be like Simon Cowell - I'm going to be me, but that's my role."
Aspirants had better bring their A game. "Being a pop star is an amazing thing. But you have to be serious about it," he said. "You have to work hard. It's incredibly demanding. It's not an easy job. So people have to be ready for it.
"I'm not going to pick somebody who's half-hearted about it. If I'm going to give 120 per cent; somebody else better, too."
When he's done filming in Singapore, Keating wants to get the boys back together and tour.
"We're going to wait and see how well the album does, but I think me and the boys will come back for a world tour at the end of the year. We would love to come back to Asia and Singapore will be at the top of the list."
Boyzone first came to Singapore 15 years ago, and had a "grand time" according to reports then, including an incident where, one night, after dinner at Boat Quay, Keating leapt up on a swing outside a restaurant and attempted to leap off while it swung.
"It was crazy," recalled Keating, laughing. "It's a bit of a blur right now. I was a kid - 17 or 18! We were all children!"
As for the future, Keating is ready to go the long haul. "This is all I know, man. I don't know how to do anything else. We're 16 years at it now. I've had 15 albums in 16 years. I hope to be here and still have it. I hope I'll be here a long time. Please, God."
Boyzone's Brother is available in CD shops now
From: Today Online
18 March 2010
From the official site:
Loose Women Today!
The band will be appearing on Loose Women today on ITV at 12.30pm! Make sure you tune in to catch the band chatting with the Loose Women ladies and also performing on the show too. If you miss it don't forget you can watch it again on www.itv.com.
18 March 2010
From the official twitter:
Album still hanging around Top 2 spots in midweek charts. Thanx again. R
Amazing Gig in nottingham last night. Was Steo's Birthday yesterday so Shano came up to Gig. A Good night was Had. R
Mar 18th 2010
BOYZONE DEDICATE ST. PATRICK'S DAY TO GATELY
Irish boyband BOYZONE have vowed to toast their tragic bandmate STEPHEN G ATELY this St. Patrick's Day (17Mar10), on what would have been his 34th birthday.
The No Matter What hitmakers, who are top of the U.K. album charts with their new record Brother, admit celebrating Ireland's annual holiday wil l be "bittersweet" without Gately, who died in October (09), as his birth day always coincided with the day.
But they will pay tribute to their late pal by raising a toast to his m emory.
Ronan Keating tells Britain's Daily Star, "It will be a difficult day f or us as it's bittersweet. Steo would have been so, so happy about the su ccess of the album because he was truly excited about making it.
"He'll be smiling wherever he is and we'll be having a birthday drink o f Guinness for him today."
From: PR-inside
17 March 2010
Boyzone's life after Stephen
New album's success is a fitting tribute.
It's truly fitting that Boyzone's tribute to their much-missed bandmate Stephen Gately has topped the charts, continuing their unbroken run of number one studio albums.
Following Stephen's untimely death in October, 2009 there was doubt as to whether the recently reformed group would continue. However, the boys decided their fourth album Brother should be released in honour of Gately.
While mostly recorded after his death, Brother contains two new tracks featuring Stephen's vocals: Gave It All Away and Stronger, the latter having been penned for the band by none other than Mika.
While future plans are still uncertain, Ronan Keating recently told New Zealand audiences that Boyzone would tour there by the end of the year. So it looks like fans can look forward to more Irish pop magic for some time to come.
Get Boyzone - Brother.
From: Sky songs
16 March 2010
Ronan 'addicted to exerise'
Forget chocolate or cigarettes, housewives' favourite Ronan Keating has admitted that (shock horror) he's addicted to... exercise.
In an interview with Attitude magazine, the Boyzone frontman showed off his six-pack and admitted it's harder to stay in shape the older he gets.
Keating said: "We realise we're older, and you can let yourself go a little bit, so we try that bit harder.
"I get a bit addicted to it."
He also discussed his new tattoo which he said was inspired by the death of band mate Stephen Gatley.
"On the back I have, 'The future is unwritten', which is a Joe Strummer quote", he said. "I only got it two weeks ago. Ever since Steo passed away I've realised that more than ever.
"You've got to take every day as it comes and live it as if it's your last."
Keating and his bandmates also have the letter 'S' tattooed on their arms in memory of the singer who died last year.
From: Celebrity Aol
(Click on the link to see a Ronan photo)
16 March 2010
From the official twitter:
Thank you all for buying the Record and putting us back at 1. You have no idea what it means too us all. R
Sorry that may seem random. My twitter was broken. But now I'm back.
Hello
Mar 16th 2010
Boyzone after Stephen Gately
A year before his shock death, Stephen Gately recorded the haunting opening line to Boyzone's new album, Brother: "I will learn to live before I die".
The album, released around the world today, has already raced to No 1 on the British albums chart.
It's a spot reached by all but one of the veteran boy band's previous albums, showing that despite splitting up in 2000 and reuniting in 2007, and outgrowing their band name, Boyzone's fans have remained loyal.
The group, a four-piece since Gately's death from natural causes in October, plan to see how fans respond to Brother before making plans for the future, Ronan Keating says.
Keating will sing alongside Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy, in a lineup that told OK! Magazine they were on the brink of a split following the death of Gately.
"We'll see what happens, see how we feel on the road out there without him," Keating says.
"It's hard, we don't know what it's going to be like to perform until we perform.
"We've never performed as a four-piece, we still haven't yet. We've been in the studio but that's a little easier to deal with. Actually going out on stage as a four-piece will be very strange."
Gately's death is "the hardest thing I've ever known", Keating says.
"He was amazing, an amazing character. It just feels like that light's gone out now and the world is not as bright a place as it used to be for all of us."
Although Gately's death was later found to have resulted from fluid in the lungs, a Daily Mail newspaper report linked his death to his homosexuality, saying the circumstances surrounding his death were "more than a little sleazy" and involved drugs and a threesome.
More than 25,000 complaints were made to the Press Complaints Commission about the article, which Keating says was "just horrendous", despite never having read it.
"None of us actually read the article, we were advised not to because we'd get too upset.
"Generally the other press articles were very nice about the situation. They were human, I guess, whereas the Daily Mail one was inhumane and horrible and disgusting, from what I gather."
Avoiding distraction from the press, Boyzone continued work on the album, which features Gately's voice on two tracks, including the first single, Gave It All Away, written by fellow pop star Mika.
Keating says the album is very different to what people have come to expect of the group, who released their first album in 1995.
"There's no ballads on the album, there's no covers, it's very much an adult pop record. It's got all sorts of different flavours from Coldplay to U2 to all sorts of sounds on there."
Ad Feedback After more than 15 years together, Keating says he only has one regret about the band.
"When we did break up, there were times when we didn't speak and some of us fell out and I wish that didn't happen, so I would change that."
*Boyzone's new album, Brother, is out now
From: Stuff
15 March 2010
Boyzone beat Gorillaz to secure UK Number One album
Veteran boyband Boyzone have seen their album 'Brother', their first release since the death of band member Stephen Gately in October last year, head straight to number one today (March 14) on the UK album chart
It had been thought that Gorillaz were on course for Number One with new album 'Plastic Beach'. However, Boyzone's fifth Number One album crept ahead, with sales of 100,000, as Mothering Sunday gifts were sought this week. 'Plastic Beach' is a new entry at Number Two.
Ironically, Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating was number one on Mothers’ Day last year with his solo album 'Songs For My Mother'.
From: NME
15 March 2010
Boyzone Release Album In Tribute To Gately
Following the shock death of a member last year, Boyzone have today released Brother, their sixth album, as a four-piece. Ronan Keating talks to LAURA McQUILLAN of NZPA about continuing to make music after losing his bandmate and good friend Stephen Gately.
Wellington, March 15 NZPA - A year before his shock death, Stephen Gately recorded the haunting opening line to Boyzone's new album, Brother: "I will learn to live before I die".
The album, released around the world today, has already raced to No 1 on the British albums chart.
It's a spot reached by all but one of the veteran boy band's previous albums, showing that despite splitting up in 2000 and reuniting in 2007, and outgrowing their band name, Boyzone's fans have remained loyal.
The group, a four-piece since Gately's death from natural causes in October, plan to see how fans respond to Brother before making plans for the future, Ronan Keating says.
Keating will sing alongside Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy, in a lineup that told OK! Magazine they were on the brink of a split following the death of Gately.
"We'll see what happens, see how we feel on the road out there without him," Keating says.
"It's hard, we don't know what it's going to be like to perform until we perform.
"We've never performed as a four-piece, we still haven't yet. We've been in the studio but that's a little easier to deal with. Actually going out on stage as a four-piece will be very strange."
Gately's death is "the hardest thing I've ever known", Keating says.
"He was amazing, an amazing character. It just feels like that light's gone out now and the world is not as bright a place as it used to be for all of us."
Although Gately's death was later found to have resulted from fluid in the lungs, a Daily Mail newspaper report linked his death to his homosexuality, saying the circumstances surrounding his death were "more than a little sleazy" and involved drugs and a threesome.
More than 25,000 complaints were made to the Press Complaints Commission about the article, which Keating says was "just horrendous", despite never having read it.
"None of us actually read the article, we were advised not to because we'd get too upset.
"Generally the other press articles were very nice about the situation. They were human, I guess, whereas the Daily Mail one was inhumane and horrible and disgusting, from what I gather."
Avoiding distraction from the press, Boyzone continued work on the album, which features Gately's voice on two tracks, including the first single, Gave It All Away, written by fellow pop star Mika.
Keating says the album is very different to what people have come to expect of the group, who released their first album in 1995.
"There's no ballads on the album, there's no covers, it's very much an adult pop record. It's got all sorts of different flavours from Coldplay to U2 to all sorts of sounds on there."
After more than 15 years together, Keating says he only has one regret about the band.
"When we did break up, there were times when we didn't speak and some of us fell out and I wish that didn't happen, so I would change that."
*Boyzone's new album, Brother, is out now
From: Voxy
15 March 2010
Ronan's No 1 fan.. my mum
Seeing as it's Mother's Day today I thought I'd hand the reins of Chief Reviewer to my mum Mrs Piper. So I took her down to Ronan Keating's final solo gig where he was joined on stage by Boyzone for a three-song finale. Mrs Piper said: "It was brilliant to see the boys back on stage together for the first time since Steo died. I had the best evening - Ronan's brilliant live and the set list was great. He's easy on the eye too - so that was a nice treat." Cheeky minx!
Anyway, Ronan told me before hitting the stage that he hopes to tour with the band by the end of the year as a four-piece. He said: "We'll be back. We thought it would be too hard to tour again but we're more excited about being a band again than ever before. We will tour for the fans and in memory of Stephen." And it's just as well really because the lads' new album Brother is set to be Number One in the album charts when figures are released. Congrats lads!
From: Mirror
14 March 2010
Stephen Gately's husand still haunted by telling Boyzone star Ronan Keating about the star's death
Stephen Gately's husband has revealed he will always be haunted by the moment he told Ronan Keating: "Steo's dead."
In an emotional interview Andy Cowles told how a desperate Ronan rang him in Majorca hours after the Boyzone singer's death.
He said: "Ronan was just begging me to tell him it wasn't true."
Andy opened his heart about Stephen as part of a tribute to be screened on ITV next Sunday.
Stars including Robbie Williams, Girl's Aloud's Nadine Coyle, Westlife's Nicky Byrne and ice-skating legends Torvill and Dean will all share their memories of Stephen.
Andy, 32, told how he still forgets Stephen - called "Steo" by pals - is gone. He said: "I find myself thinking, 'Ooh, I should tell Stephen this'.
"Then you realise you can't ever speak to your best friend again." Stephen died in October last year.
From: Mirror
14 March 2010
From the official site:
'Brother' goes to Number 1!
The band are delighted this evening as their new album 'Brother' has stormed straight into the number one spot in the UK album chart! The album is their first studio album in 12 years and is particularly poignant for the band as it features some of the last vocals Stephen ever recorded.
The band said on receiving the news -
Keith - "I’m so happy and emotional. We’re going to be No.1 on Stephen Gately’s birthday- what a beautiful tribute."
Mikey - "We are thrilled to have our first studio album in over 12 years go straight to the top of the charts. We are also very thankful to all our fans who bought it. Thanks for all your support."
The band are over the moon and want to say a huge thank you to all the fans who bought the album!
14 March 2010
Fans weep as Boyzone sing for first time since Steven Gately's death
Boyzone sang to a concert an audience last night for the first time since the tragic death of bandmate Steven Gately.
Mikey Graham, Keith Duffffy and Sean Lynch joined Ronan Keating at the third of his solo shows at the Royal Albert Hall.
Fans wept during an emotional performance of their new track Gave It All Away, from the album Brother.
Sean said before the show: "Tonight it is our reality."
From: The Mirror
13 March 2010
The Queen of style
Daithi O Se and Yvonne Keating scoop big prizes on night of glitz and glamour at the VIP Style Awards, reports Lorna Nolan
Krystle nightclub was the place to be last night following the exclusive Peter Mark VIP Style Awards, with winners and invitees making a dash for the elite hotspot.
The Herald spotted revellers including winner of the Best Dressed Male award Daithi O Se, Grainne Seoige, Kathryn Thomas, Lisa Cannon, Colette Fitzpatrick, Claudine Palmer, Aidan Power, the Lipsett sisters and star guest at the Shelbourne Hotel event, Katie Price, all decamping to the exclusive venue to make the most of a free bar, with celebrations continuing into the early hours.
Prior to this, guests at the invite-only affair had made a stop at members club Residence, with Lorraine Keane, Andrea Corr, winner of the Best Dressed Couple Award Anne Doyle and Dan McGrattan, and winner of the Best Dressed Female on the night, Glenda Gilson, all choosing to round off their evening at the St Stephen's Green venue.
Winner of the big prize on the night, Yvonne Keating, who scooped the category of Best Dressed Lady, chose to celebrate her win with her hubby, Boyzone's Ronan Keating.
The blonde beauty was joined by the four bandmates; Ronan, Shane Lynch, Keith Duffy and Mikey Graham, who had earlier appeared on the Late Late Show.
"How do you follow Lorraine Keane?" she asked. "I'm here with our lovely Boyzone wives and we are about to go meet our husbands, who have just become number one in Ireland and the UK. It's all about them tonight. I'm going to ruin it now after winning this," she laughed.
The mum-of-three admitted she was overjoyed when she was announced as the public's choice, having beaten off stiff competition from fellow nominees including Morah Ryan, Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, Colettte Fitzpatrick, Amy Huberman, Martina Fox and Kathryn Thomas to name but a few. While actress Amy had been hotly tipped to take the crown, the Dublin star had to turn down her invite to the popular event given that it clashed with a close friend's hen party.
Last year's winner, yummy mummy Lorraine Keane, turned on the style to hand over the coveted crown in a cream gown, explaining that she was devastated to have to give up her free hairdos, compliments of Peter Mark.
Meanwhile, glamour model Katie Price (32), aka Jordan, and platinum blonde model Caprice were the star attractions at last night's event.
Jordan and a group of pals had an impromptu singsong in the bathrooms of the Shelbourne Hotel, with the mum-of-three inviting the ITV cameras for her new reality show in to film the event. And while both Ryan Tubridy and his girlfriend Aoibhinn failed to go home with a prize after being given the nod in the categories of Most Stylish Female and Most Stylish Male, smitten Tubridy claimed that his girlfriend will always be a style winner in his eyes.
"Aoibhinn always looks very stylish to me, it doesn't matter whether she wins the award or not, she always looks lovely," he said.
Poking
VIP magazine publishing boss Michael O'Doherty didn't disappoint with his speech during the glitzy ceremony, poking fun at some of the biggest names in the showbiz industry.
Addressing the much publicised spat between top model Glenda Gilson and her ex, Johnny Ronan, he described the red carpet part of the event at the Shelbourne Hotel as like a scene from the row. "There was pushing and shoving and jostling and it felt like a pavement in Ranelagh on Saturday night," said Michael.
Following the much talked about 'Ranelagh Rumble' between Xpose beauty Glenda and her former beau, multi-millionaire businessman Johnny, Michael joked that 80pc of those in Assets modelling agency who were in attendance, "had a different offer to be whisked away for a weekend to Marrakesh with Johnny Ronan so we really appreciate them turning up tonight".
Both Rosanna and her longterm boyfriend Wesley Quirke failed to make an appearance at last night's celeb event.
Following her 'falling-out' with fellow Assets model Glenda, the beauty queen bowed gracefully out of the event, claiming that she had to be on an early flight to London in order to go on a skiing trip which had been booked since January.
Rosanna insisted that she was throwing her weight behind her pal Glenda and said she was the most deserving candidate of this year's coveted Most Stylish Female Award.
The showbiz reporter failed to win that award, but was crowned the Best Dressed Lady on the night.
Meanwhile, Rosanna's other half Wes was spotted at Krystle nightclub later in the evening.
The Dr Quirkey's heir claimed that all was well in their relationship, but said he wouldn't be joining his other half on her skiing trip.
From: Herald
13 March 2010
From the official site:
Boyzone on The Late Late Show!
Ronan appeared with the rest of the Boyz on The Late Late Show last night. The band were interviewed and also performed 'Gave It All Away'. Keith said on the show -
"Boyzone need a reason to stay together and the only we can do that is to be successful. Its great to think we started on this stage 17 years ago and now 17 years later we are still here hopefully with a No.1 album in Ireland and the UK"
If you missed the show then don't worry, as you can watch the show HERE and HERE.
13 march 2010
Girlzone glitz as Yvonne is most stylish in gala night for glamour
IT WAS every woman's dream night; wife goes on the town with the girls wins a best dressed award, and husband stays at home and feeds the kids.
Except in this case, it was Yvonne Keating, mother-ofthree winning the Peter Marks VIP Style Awards 2010 while her husband, Boyzone's Ronan Keating fed the kids Chinese for dinner and tidied up before dashing off to the Late Late because his band, Boyzone have the number one album.
Yvonne looked radiant as she picked up the Best Dressed Award, voted for by VIP magazine readers, dressed in a Jenny Packham, strapless, cream chiffon gown and heavily encrusted diamante necklace which the designer sent her to wear at the awards ceremony held in Dublin's Shelbourne Hotel last night.
Jenny is the designer of the moment and remembered Yvonne despite the hustle and bustle of dressing Miley Cyrus and others for the Oscars. Former model Yvonne is a style icon for many working mums and last night she attended the ceremony with two Boyzone wives for support - Keith Duffy's wife's Lisa and Mikey Graham's wife Karen.
Delight
There was a big cheer when Glenda Gilson won Best Dressed on the Night, and a holiday to the Irish-owned Phoenica Hotel in Malta. Former model turned Xpose presenter, Glenda has been in the eye of a media storm following her very public row with property developer Johnny Ronan in Ranelagh and his subsequent trip to Morocco with former Miss World, Roseanna Davison.
But Glenda was a popular choice on the night, wearing a Giovanni dress from Lara Boutique. Lara also dressed visiting reality tv star Katie Price in a cream Pia Michi dress.
But by far the cutest sight of the evening was not one of the babes in their shining frocks, but the vision of rugby star Gordon D'Arcy, bare-legged in shorts and trainers, coming down to see his girlfriend, model Aoife Cogan in the Shelboune reception - Aoife in cream gown from Covet in Powerscourt, ever the glamourous model and Gordon , on the eve of the big international, - wanting a quiet, intimate moment with the former Miss Ireland.
The winners of the most stylish couple were Ann Doyle and her beau, restaurateur Dan McGrattan while the man of style award went to TG4 weatherman , Daithi O Se.
Also adding glamour and glitz to the proceedings were visiting celebrities, including models Caprice and actress Liz Hurley.
Fashionwise, no one could have predicted the march of the wedding dresses. One after another they sailed through the foyer of the hotel in a series of cream gowns – demure and elegant, the polar opposite of their conspicuous consumption days of the Celtic Tiger years.
Grainne Seoige, Kathryn Thomas, Yvonne Keating, Anna Daly, Pippa O'Connor and models Sarah McGovern and the afore-mentioned Aoife Cogan, all blazed a trail for the ‘less is more', ‘cream is best' look. In fact, TV3 presenter Anna Carey took the prize of Recessionista of the Year for opting to wear her Jenny Packham satin wedding dress “because I couldn't find anything and it felt right not to go out and buy something new”, she said, looking suitably stunning.
From: Independent
13 March 2010
Ronan Keating in Ice-TV’s Debut
BOYZONE fans are currently gushing about the new album, Brother, which features two tracks sung by the late Stephen Gately; but what’s making a lot my female (and some male) colleagues gush is new form of Ronan Keating as seen in on the cover of Attitude Active.
What’s also on his cards is being featured in a key role for content production company Ice-TV, which is currently in development for a new programme called Debut, a regional talent search for Asia’s next hot pop act. Yup, the Boyzone singer will host the show and play an integral role in mentoring the contestants.
“It’s basically a kind of Pop Idol show for all of Asia,” he told us. “It’s kind of going to be my show, I’m fronting it and I’m in the judging panel and we’re looking for some superstars from Asia. I’m not saying that I’m going to be like Simon Cowell, I’m going to be me, but that’s my role, should I say.”
But if you want to be selected, you’d better bring your game on. “You have to be serious about it. You have to work hard. It’s incredibly demanding. It’s not an easy job. So people have to be ready for it. I’m not going to pick somebody who’s half-hearted about it. If I’m going to give 120 per cent, somebody else better too!”
No news yet as to when the selection process, et al, starts, but the word is that it’ll be filmed and produced right here in Singapore. So Ronan fans, keep a lookout for this!
From: Today online
13 March 2010
Boyzone gives touching Gately tribute
THE remaining members of Boyzone have performed together in public for the first time since the death of bandmate and close friend Stephen Gately,
Ronan Keating's solo concert ended with Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch joining him on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, Sky News reported.
The group then sang "Gave It All Away" with Gately's last vocals echoing through the arena.
"The time has come to celebrate an amazing life and smile, because Stephen never stopped smiling and singing," Keith Duffy told Sky News.
"He was the colour in our band, he was this big flamboyant presence and he would have wanted us to be happy."
Thousands of fans cheered wildly as each member of the band addressed the sell-out crowd, thanking them for their support since Gately's death last October.
"You have followed us for 17 years, you have made us welcome in your towns and cities and we will never forget the love and support you have shown us," Keating told them.
"Stephen will always be with us, when we sing, when we perform. He will live on in our music."
Boyzone's new album Brother topped the midweek album sales and is on track to reach number one in the UK sales chart this weekend.
Gately would have celebrated his 34th birthday next Wednesday, St Patrick's Day.
"We all miss Stephen so much, but there is strength in us being together," Mikey Graham said.
"People have been amazing to us. I use Twitter a lot and the messages from Boyzone fans around the world have really lifted me. And for that I just want to say thank you, a very sincere thank you."
From: News Com Au
12 March 2010
Ronan Keating unites Boyzone in tribute to a Brother
Having reunited as a result of Take That’s second wind, Boyzone mirrored their old rivals again by becoming a foursome — but for very different reasons.
On the last of Ronan Keating’s three solo nights in London, he sang with Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch for the first time since fifth member Stephen Gately died last October.
The quartet have a new album, Brother, set to be No 1 on Sunday. They handled with some dignity the awkward juxtaposition of a tragedy to acknowledge and a product to promote.
At the end of Keating’s set he showed five minutes of a new documentary, to be broadcast in full by ITV2 on 21 March. We saw the group stunned, tearful and confused in the immediate aftermath of Gately’s sudden passing.
It was a risky move to show this clanging mood-changer straight after Keating’s best and brightest hit, Life Is A Rollercoaster, but it would have been stranger still to carry on as normal. Boyzone Phase Two emerged for the encore, rising from a hydraulic platform while Gately was heard singing his final vocals on latest single Gave It All Away, including the line “I will learn to live before I die”.
Each member then made a short speech, all broadly positive. “As long as we’re here and you’re here, Stephen’s here too,” offered Graham. Duffy concluded that it was time for the mourning to be replaced by celebration.
Fine new song Love Is A Hurricane was followed by lively oldie Picture Of You. No one should have left in tears.
Earlier, Keating had proved himself the capable performer who has stayed near the top of the music business for 16 years. With a rich voice and good looks, he has cultivated a devoted fanbase and knows how to please them.
Cunningly scheduling these dates around Mothering Sunday, he played tracks from last year’s No 1 album, Songs For My Mother. Accordingly there were a few too many cosy ballads but he also has his share of uplifting pop choruses. I Love It When We Do and Lovin’ Each Day both hit the spot.
Sad circumstances mean he has a new gravitas to go with his lightweight music. It should propel him still further towards one of pop’s most enduring careers.
From: This is London
12 March 2010
Ronan by the river: singer set for festival
POP superstar Ronan Keating is to make a headlining appearance at this year’s Henley Festival.
The Boyzone singer will perform a selection of his best-loved songs when he takes to the floating stage on the final night of Sunday, July 11.
The show will round off five days of performances by stars including fellow pop star Will Young, welsh opera singer Bryn Terfel and acclaimed violinist Nigel Kennedy. There will also be The Music of Queen, a rock spectacular with performers from West End hit musical We Will Rock You and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Keating, 33, the only artist to have had 30 consecutive top 10 British singles, said: "I am absolutely delighted to be performing at the Henley Festival this summer. It’s great to be involved with an event that is such a celebration of music and art and I’m looking forward to being part of it."
From: Henley Standard
12 March 2010
Boyzone Remember Stephen Gately And Ronan Keating’s Hair: In Pictures
TO the Boyzone concert at the royal Albert Hall, they came to remember Stephen Gately – a career in pictures. Rumours of the death of Ronan Keating’s hair seem premature. Recently, Keating has been wearing a version of Donald’s Trump’s hair tsunami (TM), albeit with the wave gelled down. But at the concert the hair was fluffy and doing an impression of TinTin rowing in a light breeze. Also on stage was pro-celebrity ice dancer Mikey Graham, Coronation Street actor Keith Duffy and mobile adult education reading room Shane Lynch. We swooned. And took photos.
From: Anorak
Click on the link to see 10 Boyzone photos.
12 March 2010
Boyzone 'pull it together' for Stephen Gately
Shane Lynch said Stephen Gately would tell his Boyzone brothers to ‘pull it together’ as the band performed as a four piece for the first time last night in London.
Singers Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy and Lynch wowed the crowd with a performance of new track Gave It All Away at the third night of Ronan Keating’s solo shows at the Royal Albert Hall.
Speaking to Metro before he went on stage, Lynch said: ‘Stephen would pat us on the arm tonight and say, ‘‘Pull it together’’.'
'He lived in a fantasy and didn’t like dealing with reality.'
Tonight it is our reality, though. We’ve had more time to adjust but for the crowd it will be very emotional.'
The band’s new album Brother is heading to top spot in the charts this week.
From: Metro
Click on the link to see a Boyzone on stage photo.
12 March 2010
From official site:
Ronan to play The Henley Festival
Ronan is pleased to announce that he will be performing at this years Henley Festival in Henley-On-Thames. The festival takes place on Sunday 11th July and tickets go on general sale on 22nd March.
You can find out more about the Festival HERE.
12 March 2010
From official site:
The Boyz join Ronan in London!
Ronan was joined by Shane, Keith and Mikey at his final Royal Albert Hall show last night. The Boyz showed a clip of their new ITV2 documentary before going on to perform 'Gave It All Away', 'Love Is A Hurricane' and 'Picture of You', much to the fans delight!
Stay tuned as we'll have some photos from the show up online very soon!
12 March 2010
From official twitter:
Amazing gig in Albert hall last night Wow loved it .R
We are just behind Gorillaz on chart few more days too go come on Boyz .R
Mar 10th 2010
From official site:
Radio 2 today!
Ronan and Shane will be appearing on Steve Wright's show on Radio 2 from 2pm today! Be sure to check it out and if you miss it live don't forget you watch it again online at www.bbc.co.uk/radio2!
10 March 2010
Boyzone Singer Mikey Graham Voted Off "Dancing On Ice"
London, United Kingdom (CNS) - Mikey Graham has become the latest celebrity to get voted off ITV's celebrating skating show "Dancing on Ice." The singer was joined in the skate off by former "EastEnders" actress Danniella Westbrook.
Graham performed last night to his band mate Ronan Keating's solo single, "When You Say Nothing At All." However, when It came down to the judges vote, after being placed by the public in the bottom two, it was a close vote of two to three that decided it was the last spin on the ice for the Irish singer.
Graham said: "There comes a time when it's time to leave. It's been the most amazing journey - such an adventure." The singer also added that the rehearsing schedule was difficult to handle while promoting Boyzone's latest single.
Judge Jason Gardiner said he expected more, adding: "It was an alright performance - there's a lot of time where you are looking down at the ice. We're at week nine. Come on, you've got to lift and project out."
Former "Emmerdale" actress Hayley Tamaddon and partner Daniel Whiston scored a perfect 30 out of 30 and a standing ovation for their skating performance to "Jai Ho" from "Slumdog Millionaire." Head judge Robin Cousins said: "You took it to another level tonight that I didn't think you were ready for yet and it was absolutely on the money
From: All Headlines news
8 March 2010
From the official site:
Top 10 hit and 'Brother' out today!
Ronan was delighted as the new single 'Gave It All Away' went straight into the Top 10 yesterday, giving the band yet another hit single!
The new album 'Brother' is available in stores from today and is absolute treat for your ears. You can get your hands on a copy either by visitng your local record store or purchasing online from HMV or Amazon
08 march 2010
From the official twitter:
Morning Album out today. Wooooohoooo. Here we go. R
08 march 2010
Ronan Keating "addicted" to exercise
Ronan Keating has revealed that he loves exercising.
In an interview with Attitude, the Boyzone star explained that he believes it is important to stay in shape as he gets older.
"We realise we're older, and you can let yourself go a little bit, so we try that little bit harder," he said. "I get a bit addicted to it."
Keating added that he has got another tattoo to join the body art he has in memory of his late bandmate Stephen Gately.
"On the back I have, 'The future is unwritten', which is a Joe Strummer quote," he said. "I only got it two weeks ago. Ever since Steo passed away I've realised that more than ever. You've got to take every day as it comes and live as if it's your last."
From: Digital Spy
7 March 2010
One for the Boyz
Ronan Keating strips off for gay magazine
MUSCLY Boyzone frontman Ronan Keating strips off for a gay magazine - and admits he is "addicted" to staying in shape.
The 33-year-old Irishman showed off his six-pack and tattoos in pics for Attitude mag and proved his obsession with working-out has definitely paid off.
"We realise we're older, and you can let yourself go a little bit, so we try that little bit harder," he said.
"I get a bit addicted to it."
As well as his tattoo of an "S" with the dates 76 to 09, which he and bandmates got as a tribute to tragic pal Stephen Gately, Ronan also talked about his latest body artwork.
"On the back I have, 'The future is unwritten', which is a Joe Strummer quote.
"I only got it two weeks ago. Ever since Steo passed away I've realised that more than ever.
"You've got to take every day as it comes and live as if it's your last."
The star said he and Boyzone's remaining members, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham, had helped each other deal with their grief since Stephen's death last October.
"We find comfort in the four of us together," he added. "He's in the room when we're together. We feel him with us all the time."
From: News of the world
(Click on the link to see 2 Ronan topless photos)
7 March 2010
From the official twitter:
Had no idea how pretty Brighton is. Lovely town. R
Great Gig in brighton last night. On To Cardiff. Single charts today in UK fingers crossed it does well. R
Mar 7th 2010
From the official twitter:
OpenBeak Great Gig in birmingham thank You all that made it. On To sunny Brighton. R
Mar 6th 2010
From the official site:
Boyzone hit the No.1 spot in Ireland
We are very pleased to report that Boyzone have reached the Number 1 spot in their home country!
The Boyz shot to the top in Ireland, pitting last week's chart topppers Jedward and US star Rihanna to the spot.
'Gave It All Away' is taken from the Boyz new album 'Brother', out on Monday!
05 March 2010
From the official twitter:
Gotta Go .But thanx again For all your comments. R
But Preorder is a good ref. R
sorry think i confused a few people Gorillaz are just ahead of us on Amazon preorder chart Album not out in UK till Monday.
Thank You For all your comments.Amazing.R
I see the Gorillaz are just ahead of us on Amazon for Top spot wow how amazing thank You for believing Again. R
Album out in Ireland today. Wooohooooo. Here we go. R
Thank You everyone who bought the single in Ireland and made it a No 1 amazing. R
Mar 5th 2010
Boyzone story
JAMES McCARTHY revealed his shock when Ronan Keating called to wish him luck on his Ireland debut.
Just hours before McCarthy won his first cap in Tuesday's glamour friendly with Brazil, the Irish superstar made his call to welcome the Wigan midfielder him into the full squad.
Life really has been a rollercoaster for McCarthy since he pledged his future to Ireland after Scotland snubbed him as a 16-year-old.
And the former Hamilton kid was on a real high following his first appearance for the senior squad.
Keating - best mates with Celtic striker Robbie Keane - marked the occasion by phoning McCarthy's mum to pass on his 'Good Luck' message.
McCarthy, 19, said: "Ronan Keating phoned to wish me all the best before the game.
"I never actually spoke to him, it was my mum who took the call because I was with the squad preparing for the game, but it's incredible that he phoned.
"I'd heard about it and actually thought it was a bit of a wind-up.
"But then my mum told me he had been on the phone wishing me all the best and he was glad I was an Ireland player.
"It's a bit surreal that he's interested in me. I've got no idea how he got my number but it was a nice touch."
Boyzone star Keating isn't alone in seeing a bright future for McCarthy with Ireland.
The youngster took his bow for Giovanni Trapattoni's side in front of 40,000 people in the 2-0 defeat at The Emirates.
And after seeing him at close quarters, Republic skipper and Celtic loan star Keane reckons he is a superstar in the making for Ireland.
He said: "He looks a top young player.
"It's difficult to tell when you've only played with him for 15 minutes but he definitely looks the part."
Fulham star Damian Duff also singled out McCarthy for praise.
He said: "He seems like a great prospect.
"Since coming to the Premier League he's done really well, especially for a kid so young.
"It's a massive step-up joining the full international set-up but he's handled it no bother."
From: The sun
4 March 2010
From the official site:
Ronan's Birthday Surprise!
Ronan had a great birthday surprise last night when Keith & Shane turned up at his show in Bristol. The Boyz walked out onto the stage during the encores to leave Ronan absolutely speechless.
Also a big thank you to everyone who sent Ronan a Birthday message yesterday!
04 March 2010
Boyzone Still Feel Annihilated
Boyzone still have moments where they feel “annihilated” by grief following the death of band member Stephen Gately.
Stephen died of natural causes while on holiday in Majorca with his partner Andrew Cowles in October. His bandmates Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham and Keith Duffy were left devastated by his sudden passing, but agreed to release their new album with his vocals on it. He sings on their new single Gave It All Away, but the group admit finding hearing his voice hard.
“It’s different for all of us, and we all have our own way of dealing with it. Right now, it’s not as difficult as it was four weeks ago. It kind of gets easier, but you don’t get over it, you learn how to deal with it,” Keith explained to New! magazine. “And the busier we are, the more opportunity we have for a break from the grieving process, which helps you get better. But then, when you least expect it, a wave of emotion comes over you and completely annihilates you and you cry your eyes out. I was very bad for five weeks after
he passed. I couldn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel. I didn’t feel like the grieving process was progressing. I felt stuck. It’s still difficult. You can focus on what you need to on a day-to-day basis.”
Ronan added they have all found each other’s support invaluable while coming to terms with their loss. They try to talk about Stephen as much as possible, adding they always feels him with them when they are working.
“You realise how short and fragile life is. Our time together is precious now. And we feel Steo is in the room when the four of us are together,” he explained to the publication. “We enjoy talking about him. You try and put one foot in front of the other and try not to think that the world is a terrible place.”
From: Musicrooms
3 March 2010
Boyzone 'May Tour' Despite Pain Over Gately
Pop stars Boyzone have revealed to Sky News they may tour again - despite the pain caused by the absence of band member Stephen Gately
In an emotional interview, Ronan Keating and Keith Duffy revealed how singing without 'Steo', who passed away on October 10, 2009, had been difficult.
The group is currently promoting their new album Brother, which includes Gave it All Away - a song featuring Gately's voice.
Speaking to Sky's Kay Burley, Keating said just seeing the video for the track was upsetting.
The pain of bereavement is "still very raw, it's still very hard, you know", Keating said.
"But we have it, thank God, we have the song. We have his voice up there and that's the saving grace. First single on the album.
"We've been back doing promo now and, you know, you get away for a while and get busy doing other things.
"But then you come back and the single's out now and it's in your face, just reliving it all again. It's a bit hard."
Kay then asked if the Irish band would ever tour without Gately.
Duffy revealed that he and other band members Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch are now set to perform Gave It All Away at one of Keating's upcoming concerts.
Duffy, 35, said singing without their beloved bandmate was "still, obviously, a very scary thought".
"But we have decided that, on March 11, Ronan is playing at the Albert Hall in London and myself and the lads, we're going to come in," he added.
"We're going to perform that song live for the first time and we'll see how we feel (about touring) after that.
"But, so far, any performance we have done has been extremely difficult. He (Gately) was the colour in our band."
Gately died of natural causes aged 33 while on holiday in Spain.
From: Sky News
3 March 2010
KEATING: 'RECORDING NEW ALBUM WAS THERAPEUTIC'
Recording BOYZONE's new album without tragic singer STEPHEN GATELY was "l ike therapy" for bandmate RONAN KEATING - because the boy band could pour their hearts out in songs.
The Irish group was left stunned when Gately died suddenly in Majorca, Spain in October (09).
They were part way through recording new album Brother at the time, and decided to release the album as soon as possible in honour of Gately.
And Keating confesses the "negative energy" the band was feeling from t heir grief helped make it their best record yet.
He tells British talk show Live From Studio Five, "Events happened last year which almost forced this album so quickly upon us. We would have ta ken a bit more time but we found all that negative energy we had, and wer e feeling, went into the album. It was our way of releasing it.
"We spent most of the end of last year... finishing this album. It was like therapy in a way for us."
From: PR-inside
3 March 2010
Boyz united in Gately tribute
BOYZONE performed with Westlife on a star-studded tribute night dedicated to tragic star Stephen Gately.
The Irish boybands teamed up on stage for the first time to sing Boyzone classic No Matter What.
Monday night's performance was for ITV1 show Boyzone: A Tribute To Stephen Gately.
Girls Aloud's Nadine Coyle, 24, joined the group's Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham to sing Love Me For A Reason.
And Mika appeared on their new single Gave It All Away, belting out Stephen's lines - which were recorded before his death.
The show, due to air on March 21, was filmed in front of a live audience at the BBC Television Centre in London.
It also featured celebrities' memories of Stephen - who died aged 33 in Majorca last October.
Ex-Take That star Robbie Williams, 36, dubbed him the "Mark Owen of Boyzone".
Talking about his death, he added: "It doesn't seem fair and doesn't make sense. He was lovely and dripped kindness."
Boyzone's manager Louis Walsh, 57, said: "I don't know anyone who didn't like him, he lit up a room.
"Stephen lived for one thing and that was to be on stage."
Singers Peter Andre and Louise Redknapp, ice-skaters Torvill and Dean, former X Factor judge Sharon Osbourne, TV host Paul O'Grady, ex-Irish PM Bertie Ahern and actor Christopher Biggins all gave tributes.
An emotional Ronan, who turns 33 today, revealed how tough the day had been.
He told TV Biz: "I feel drained. I'm going to go and collapse somewhere."
Shane, 33, said the group left the stage each time a tribute was played to avoid getting too upset.
He added: "It was such a hard day. We are planning to watch it together on the 21st."
From: The sun
(Click on the link to see a Boyzone photo)
3 March 2010
From the official twitter:
Great show in Bristol last night. Lazy Day today well it is my birthday. R
Mar 3rd 2010
Graham to skate to Ronan Keating track
Mikey Graham will skate to a Ronan Keating track on this weekend's Dancing On Ice, it has been confirmed.
The Boyzone star will perform to his bandmate's solo hit 'When You Say Nothing At All', which was used in the Hugh Grant rom-com Notting Hill. The theme for this week's show is Songs from the Movies.
Hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby revealed the news to Graham and Keating on This Morning earlier today.
"If he goes down on my song I will never hear the end of it! I'm going to be rattled on Sunday," joked Keating.
Graham and professional skater Melanie Lambert finished bottom of the judges' scoreboard last week with 13.5 points, but were saved by the public vote.
From: Digital spy
2 March 2010
Mikey's dance to Ronan's hit
MIKEY Graham's next Dancing On Ice performance will be set to his Boyzone bandmate Ronan Keating's track.
The singer was told today by This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield - who also present the skating hit - that the theme of Sunday's show will be movie week.
They revealed that Mikey and his partner Melanie Lambert will glide along the ice to Ronan's hit When You Say Nothing At All, from romcom Notting Hill.
On hearing the news, Ronan exclaimed: "If he goes down on my song I will never hear the end of it! I'm going to be rattled on Sunday."
Mikey added: "That will be fun but it will be really weird."
Meanwhile, the group teamed up with Girls Aloud star Nadine Coyle, Mika and Westlife for the recording of an ITV1 tribute show for Stephen Gately last night.
It was the first time that the two Irish boybands had ever performed on stage together.
From: The Sun
2 March 2010
Boyzone's first reunion since death
(UKPA)
Boyzone are making an emotional on-stage reunion this month for the first time since the death of bandmate Stephen Gately.
Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham will join Ronan Keating during his solo show at London's Albert Hall for an exclusive performance of the band's new single.
It will be the Irish pop band's first live performance since Gately, 33, was found dead in an apartment on the Spanish holiday island of Majorca last October.
From: Google
2 March 2010
Boyzone: Stephen Gately’s spirit is in the room with us
Grieving Boyzone say the spirit of Stephen Gately will be with them when they make their chart comeback after 11 years with new album, Brother.
The lads said they ‘didn’t hesitate for one second’ to feature Gately’s posthumous lyrics on Gave It All Away and say they still feel ‘Steo’ is in the room with them.
Lead singer Ronan Keating, 33, led tributes to his fallen friend: ‘You realise how short and fragile life is.
Our time together is precious. And we feel Steo is in the room when the four of us are together,’ he said.
‘We enjoy talking about him. You try and put one foot in front of the other and try not to think that the world is a terrible place.’
Shane Lynch said recording had helped distract the boys from their mourning. ‘The busier we are, the more opportunity we have for a break from the grieving process, which helps you get better,’ the 33-year-old told new! magazine.
‘But, when you least expect it, a wave of emotion comes over you and completely annihilates you and you cry your eyes out.’
The new record is out on Monday.
From: Metro
2 March 2010
From the official site:
Boyzone join Ronan at London show
On Thursday 11th March; Keith, Shane & Mikey will join Ronan on stage at the Royal Albert Hall, on the final London show of Ronan's solo tour of the UK & Ireland, for an exclusive live performance of Boyzone's new single 'Gave It All Away'. The performance will be the first live appearance of Boyzone since the tragic death of their friend, brother and band mate Stephen, last October.
Fans at the concert on March 11th will also be shown an exclusive preview of the brand new Boyzone documentary. Since Stephen's passing the band have been working with renowned film-maker Phil Griffin (Britney Spears 'For The Record' & Bon Jovi 'When We Were Beautiful') to document the aftermath of their terrible loss, the making of a new album and the quest to find a way forward for Boyzone without their brother.
'Gave It All Away' is the first single from the brand new Boyzone studio album 'Brother'.
A limited number of tickets are available for the Royal Albert Hall show through www.ronankeating.com.
02 March 2010
From the official twitter:
Its important too us for him. That's all after that we have Too start again. Hope I did not offend. R
I see someone said buy a single for a dead friend. Come on whoever that is. That's not what its about. We wanna get Steo's last single to 1
via OpenBeak Single out. Get out there and buy it for Steo Please. R
Mar 2nd 2010
Review: Ronan Keating at the Liverpool Empire
When Ronan Keating appeared on stage at the Liverpool Empire, the sell-out crowd went wild.
The screams from hundreds of teenage Boyzone fanatics - now fully grown women - were deafening as the Irish crooner took to the stage with some fresh songs from his latest solo album.
Mature and looking dapper in a white shirt, black waistcoat and matching suit jacket, the heartthrob sang his heart out and demonstrated his skills on the guitar for over two hours. He owned the stage and the girls were lapping up his Irish charm.
Wearing black calf length boots, black trousers and his flashing famous chest hair, Ronan serenaded the audience, singing his favourite tracks including: Time After Time, Stay, Homeward Bound, Love It When We Do, If Tomorrow Never Comes, When You Say Nothing At All, Winter Song, Life Is a Roller Coaster, before he finished with The Long Good-Bye. But no-one wanted him to leave, screaming for more. My ears were still ringing when I got home!
The highlight of the night was a solemn, wonderful moment as Ronan paid special tribute to former Boyzone member Stephen Gately, who passed away suddenly last October aged 33.
Ronan could not mask the emotion in his voice as he struggled to hold back tears, reminiscing over shared memories and mourning the loss of not only his bandmate, but his very good friend.
The audience were in floods of tears as Ronan celebrated Stephen’s life and the times they had shared. While he was speaking about Stephen, a huge picture appeared on the back screen of the young, talented musician.
Joined by a string quartet, Ronan sang a heartfelt rendition of In This Life which he dedicated to Steve, leaving his army of fans with mascara streaming down their faces.
But the sexy Irishman soon brought the crowd back to their feet, with over 15 years in the business, he knows how to entertain his audience. From kids to grannies, long-suffering husbands to their screaming wives, Ronan Keating put on an incredible show that reaffirmed his status as one of the best solo artists around.
From: Click Liverpool
1 March 2010
Final Boyzone single featuring Gately released today
Boyzone's final single to feature the vocals of Stephen Gately has been released today, 1 March.
The track - entitled Gave It All Away - is the first release since the singer's death and is to be followed by a new album, Brother, on 8 March.
Ironically, Gately sings the song's opening lines: "I will learn to live before I die".
The accompanying video is "incredibly raw," Ronan Keating told the BBC.
It features archive video of Gately and his band-members, intercut with new footage of the group writing letters to their "other brother".
Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham are also seen shedding a tear for their former bandmate. "It's us reminiscing about the good times and the laughter," explained Keating. "There's a nice scene of us four brothers sat around a table... with Stephen's favourite picture hanging up behind us.
"Phil (Griffin, director) just filmed us fly-on-the-wall for that so it's just us as we are," he added.
"We wanted the footage to be as truthful and honest as possible based on how we were feeling and were reacting during the making of the video on that day," he added.
But Keating said the band "didn't want it being too mournful all the way through".
From: Pink paper
1 march 2010
From the official site:
'Gave It All Away' out now!
Boyzone's special new single hits the shelves today and is ready for you all to get your hands on.
To get your copy of 'Gave It All Away' simply go to one of your choice below...
Amazon / iTunes / HMV / Play
01 March 2010
Wigan’s Star-Studded Concert Series
SPAR Great Ireland Run
When his sell-out world tour came to Dublin this week, singing superstar Ronan Keating took the time to receive his race number for this year's SPAR Great Ireland Run from his sister Linda, Fundraising Director of the Marie Keating Foundation, one of the Run's supported charities.