Boyzone are a popular Irish boy band of the 1990s. They had major success in the UK and Ireland and differing levels of success in parts of Europe and Asia with six #1 hit singles in the UK. By 2007 they had sold over 15 million records.

Boyzone was put together in 1993 by Louis Walsh who is also known for managing Johnny Logan and Westlife. Before even recording any material they made a now infamous appearance on RTÉ's The Late Late Show. Their first album Said and Done was released in 1995 and the following two studio albums in 1996 and 1998. Four compilation albums have been released, the latest being The Silver Collection in summer 2007.

Band history

Boyzone was formed in 1993 by Louis Walsh through an advertisement calling for auditions to form a vocal group. About 300 singers tried out and initially, six were selected. They made their first appearance only a day after being formed on Ireland's top-rated Late Late Show dancing to a backing track.

The band played through 1993 and in the early parts of 1994 all over Ireland. They played in Pubs when Polygram signed them up and released the cover version of the Detroit Spinners hit "Working My Way Back To You", featuring Mikey Graham and Stephen Gately on lead vocals. It reached No. 3 in the Irish Charts.

The Osmonds' hit "Love me for a Reason" paved the way for them to break the British Charts. It hit No. 2 in Britain and was included in their 1995 hit debut album "Said and Done." The album reached the No. 1 spot in both UK and Ireland.

The band's second album, "A Different Beat" released in 1996, contained their first UK number one single, "Words." The album also contained the hit singles A Different Beat, Isn't it a Wonder and Picture of You, the OST of Mr. Bean, The Ultimate Disaster Movie. Ronan Keating won the Ivor Novello award for songwriting in 1997 for Picture of you.

Their third studio album Where We Belong, released in 1998 showcased boyzone's writing abilities. The album further widened their fan base due to the more matured songs. It contained the hit singles "All that I Need" (which stayed for 6 weeks in the MTV Asia charts), "Baby Can I Hold You", and "No Matter What". "No Matter What" was their best selling single and was voted Song of the Year.

Boyzone has been commemorated by the London's Rock Circus by inviting them to place their handprints on the "Walls of Hands" beside the likes of Eric Clapton and Michael Jackson. Also, Wax figures of the boyz were made beside U2 in Dublin.

Boyzone have been active supporters of charity works. They appeared on the Childliners record The Gift Of Christmas alongside acts such as Backstreet Boys, MN8, E.Y.C., Sean Maguire, Deuce, Ultimate Kaos, Sonia, Heaven 17, Peter Andre, Michelle Gayle, Dannii Minogue and many more.

In 1999, their greatest hits compilation "By Request" was released and was followed by another tour. Also, during this time, due to the threat of a tabloid expose, Stephen Gately revealed that he was gay and was in love with the ex-Caught in the Act member Eloy de Jong. It was also during this year when Ronan Keating released his first solo single, When You Say nothing at all. They have all decided to take some time off the band to pursue solo projects.

The group performed together for the last time in January 2000. In the seven years that they were together (1993 - 2000), they have been dubbed the "most promising band of the year" by the British magazine Smash Hits in 1995. What initially started as a performance that followed their Late, Late Show appearance, Boyzone has gone on to sell more than 10 million copies. All sixteen of their singles reached the top five and they became the first Irish act to have four number one hits in the United Kingdom. Their 1998 tour of Ireland shattered all sales records when 35,000 tickets were sold out in four hours.

Band members

Ronan Keating

Stephen Gately

Mikey Graham

Shane Lynch

Keith Duffy

Album information

Said and Done

Type: Studio album

Released: August 21, 1995

Chart positions: #1 UK

Singles: "Love Me For a Reason", "Key To My Life", "So Good", "Father and Son", "Coming Home Now

Sales in Britain (BPI): 3xPlatinum (900 000+)[2]



A Different Beat

Type: Studio album

Released: October 28, 1996

Chart positions: #1 UK

Singles: "Words", "A Different Beat", "Isn't It a Wonder"

Sales in Britain (BPI): 3xPlatinum (900 000+)[2]



Where We Belong

Type: Studio album

Released: May 25, 1998

Chart positions: #1 UK, #167 US

Singles: "Picture of You", "Baby Can I Hold You", "All That I Need", "No Matter What", "I Love the Way You Love Me"

Sales in Britain (BPI): 5xPlatinum (1 500 000+)[2]



By Request

Type: Compilation album

Released: May 31, 1999

Chart positions: #1 UK

Singles: "When The Going Gets Tough", "You Needed Me", "When You Say Nothing at All"

Sales in Britain (BPI): 6xPlatinum (1 800 000+)[2]



The Singles Collection 1994-1999

Type: Box set

Released: December 6, 1999

Chart positions: #129 UK

Singles: Everyday I Love You

Sales in Britain: -



Ballads - The Love Song Collection

Type: Compilation album

Released: March 17, 2003

Chart positions: #6 UK

Singles: -

Sales in Britain: (BPI): Gold (100 000+)[2]



Key To My Life: Collection

Type: Compilation album

Released: January 30, 2006

Chart positions: #8 UK

Singles: -

Sales in Britain: -



The Silver Collection[3]

Type: Compilation album

Released: May 31, 2007

Chart positions: -

Singles: -

Sales in Britain: -



Singles

1994 "Love Me for a Reason" #2 UK

1995 "Key To my life" #3 UK

1995 "So Good" #3 UK

1995 "Father and Son" #2 UK

1996 "Coming Home Now" #4 UK

1996 "Words" #1 UK

1996 "A Different Beat" #1 UK

1997 "Isn't It a Wonder" #2 UK

1997 "Picture of You" #2 UK

1997 "Baby Can I Hold You/Shooting Star" #2 UK

1998 "All That I Need" #1 UK

1998 "No Matter What" #1 UK, #2 AUS, #12 US Adult Contemporary Chart

1998 "I Love the Way You Love Me" #2 UK

1999 "When the Going Gets Tough" #1 UK

1999 "You Needed Me" #1 UK

1999 "Everyday I Love You" #3 UK

The Year 2000 and beyond

Boyzone opened the door for fellow Irish boy band, Westlife. Since Boyzone split in 2000, Ronan Keating has made a career from going solo and has released five albums, also achieving countless hit singles such as When you say nothing at all; Stephen Gately released a modestly successful solo album and is now pursuing a career in stage acting and particularly West End musicals, starring in the Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"; Mikey Graham has also pursued solo projects and now works as a music producer; Keith Duffy has appeared in the British Soap "Coronation Street" as well as a number of theatre productions in Ireland and Wales ; Shane Lynch recently appeared on the Reality TV Show, "Celebrity Love Island".

[edit] The Re-Union

In 2003 rumours of a Boyzone reunion began to circulate. Following the success of fellow Universal artists Take That's reunion and subsequent sell-out tour in 2006, these rumours came to a head and in early 2007 there were news reports that all five members and their manager, The X Factor Judge Louis Walsh, had met in Dublin to discuss and organise a comeback tour.

In February 2007 more details of the reunion were announced. [4]

On 8 March 2007 former Boyzone manager Louis Walsh was sacked from the ITV show The X Factor (UK), saying by way of explanation that "I will be having the busiest year of my career with Westlife, Shayne Ward and the re-launch of Boyzone" [5]

On 8 April 2007 several UK newspapers widely reported that the rumored reunion was cancelled due to the lack of financial investment. The papers stated that no recording company or investors were willing to back the act to guarantee a comeback success experienced by Take That.

On 11 October 2007 Louis Walsh was interviewed on The Graham Norton Show, when asked by Graham Norton whether there was going to be a re-launch of Boyzone he replied 'I think so'.

On 5 November 2007 Ronan Keating confirmed that Boyzone will reunite for a special appearance on the BBC's annual fundraiser, Children in Need, performing a medley of hits, although have not yet commented on the possibility of a new tour or album. This was seen on 16 November 2007 on BBC1 at 21:00. [6]

On 14 November it was reported that all five original members of Boyzone are to begin a UK tour in May, which will be their first in seven years. Ronan Keating, who left the Irish boy band to pursue a solo career, will join the group for the series of concerts.

On 16 November 2007 all five members of Boyzone made a comeback appearance as part of Children In Need on BBC1 in the UK , with an Irish and UK tour in June 2008. The band sold 200,000 tickets for the tour within 3 hours and sold 20,000 tickets on the first day of them going on sale for their concert in the RDS Dublin. Ronan assured Boyzone fans that the group are taking their comeback tour plans "very seriously". The five-piece announced last week that they will be going on tour next summer 2008, and the boys are now visiting the gym on a daily basis to get fit.Ronan told the Daily Star: "We've been taking it easy on the Guinness and been out for dinners and just a couple of drinks. We're taking the tour plans very seriously." "We're all on diets and we've been training in the gym every day. I'm probably the fittest now that I've ever been. I think we all look better now than before.""We each went to see Take That on tour at different times and started talking to each other again, but Take That were the icing on the cake that made us decide now was the time to reform."We're very aware of how good Take That are, and know we have to be on a par with them. There won't be a flat, boring stage. We're all dancing again and learning different things we've never done before to rival their pole dancing and stuff."

"We've been talking about getting back together for some time now. I can't wait to be back on the road and all the guys feel the same." Keating said.

The 29-date tour, taking in Cardiff, Newcastle, Liverpool, London at the O2 and Wembley,Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen,Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Edinburugh Castle and the RDS in Dublin. The tour begins on 25 May at Belfast's Odyssey arena and finishes at Newmarket racecourse in August

The Year 2000 and beyond

Boyzone opened the door for fellow Irish boy band, Westlife. Since Boyzone split in 2000, Ronan Keating has made a career from going solo and has released five albums, also achieving countless hit singles such as When you say nothing at all; Stephen Gately released a modestly successful solo album and is now pursuing a career in stage acting and particularly West End musicals, starring in the Andrew Lloyd Webber's "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat"; Mikey Graham has also pursued solo projects and now works as a music producer; Keith Duffy has appeared in the British Soap "Coronation Street" as well as a number of theatre productions in Ireland and Wales ; Shane Lynch recently appeared on the Reality TV Show, "Celebrity Love Island".

[edit] The Re-Union

In 2003 rumours of a Boyzone reunion began to circulate. Following the success of fellow Universal artists Take That's reunion and subsequent sell-out tour in 2006, these rumours came to a head and in early 2007 there were news reports that all five members and their manager, The X Factor Judge Louis Walsh, had met in Dublin to discuss and organise a comeback tour.

In February 2007 more details of the reunion were announced. [4]

On 8 March 2007 former Boyzone manager Louis Walsh was sacked from the ITV show The X Factor (UK), saying by way of explanation that "I will be having the busiest year of my career with Westlife, Shayne Ward and the re-launch of Boyzone" [5]

On 8 April 2007 several UK newspapers widely reported that the rumored reunion was cancelled due to the lack of financial investment. The papers stated that no recording company or investors were willing to back the act to guarantee a comeback success experienced by Take That.

On 11 October 2007 Louis Walsh was interviewed on The Graham Norton Show, when asked by Graham Norton whether there was going to be a re-launch of Boyzone he replied 'I think so'.

On 5 November 2007 Ronan Keating confirmed that Boyzone will reunite for a special appearance on the BBC's annual fundraiser, Children in Need, performing a medley of hits, although have not yet commented on the possibility of a new tour or album. This was seen on 16 November 2007 on BBC1 at 21:00. [6]

On 14 November it was reported that all five original members of Boyzone are to begin a UK tour in May, which will be their first in seven years. Ronan Keating, who left the Irish boy band to pursue a solo career, will join the group for the series of concerts.

On 16 November 2007 all five members of Boyzone made a comeback appearance as part of Children In Need on BBC1 in the UK , with an Irish and UK tour in June 2008. The band sold 200,000 tickets for the tour within 3 hours and sold 20,000 tickets on the first day of them going on sale for their concert in the RDS Dublin. Ronan assured Boyzone fans that the group are taking their comeback tour plans "very seriously". The five-piece announced last week that they will be going on tour next summer 2008, and the boys are now visiting the gym on a daily basis to get fit.Ronan told the Daily Star: "We've been taking it easy on the Guinness and been out for dinners and just a couple of drinks. We're taking the tour plans very seriously." "We're all on diets and we've been training in the gym every day. I'm probably the fittest now that I've ever been. I think we all look better now than before.""We each went to see Take That on tour at different times and started talking to each other again, but Take That were the icing on the cake that made us decide now was the time to reform."We're very aware of how good Take That are, and know we have to be on a par with them. There won't be a flat, boring stage. We're all dancing again and learning different things we've never done before to rival their pole dancing and stuff."

"We've been talking about getting back together for some time now. I can't wait to be back on the road and all the guys feel the same." Keating said.

The 29-date tour, taking in Cardiff, Newcastle, Liverpool, London at the O2 and Wembley,Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Aberdeen,Sheffield, Newcastle, Nottingham, Edinburugh Castle and the RDS in Dublin. The tour begins on 25 May at Belfast's Odyssey arena and finishes at Newmarket racecourse in August

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