Where We Are

Where We Are is the tenth album by Westlife.The recording process of their album started on 1 July 2009. It was released on 27 November 2009 in Ireland and 30 November 2009 in the UK through Syco Music. The first and single from this album is "What About Now" and was released on 23 October 2009."Shadows" on this album was subsequently purchased by record label boss Simon Cowellfor Leona Lewis's second album Echo but it was later decided that the song was more suited to a boyband and therefore was given Westlife to record.

On 25 October 2009, during the X Factor results show, Westlife performed "What About Now". It was released online the same day. On 26 October they performed on GMTV and were interviewed in addition to hosting a webchat, with a further interview on The One Show on 30 October 2009. They also performed BBC Children in Need on 20 November and were interviewed on Nov and 4 December on Alan Carr's Chatty Man and The Friday Show respectively.  On 27 November 2009, Westlife performed on infamous UK television shows like Paul O' Grady Show and The Late Late Toy Show.

After Westlife performed in Croke Park in 2008 Kian asked Louis "what are we going to do next Louis like we have already played in Croke Park?" Louis answered "So well do it again". And thats exactly what they were going to do.They started there Where We Are Tour on 2 May 2010 and it will end 3 December completing 36 shows. They only toured the UK and Ireland. Westlife performed in Croke Park on 5 June which was sold out of 84000 people it was afonomianl event with supporting acts Jeward JLS and irish girl band Wonderland.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RgVr_7uLeE&feature=related

The Gravity Tour is an upcoming tour by Irish pop band Westlife in support of their 11th studio album Gravity. The tour will visit the UK & Ireland starting in Cardiff, Wales and finishing in Dublin, Ireland.The tour was announced on 6 September 2010 with ten dates for UK. Tickets went on sale to the general public from 9am on 10 September, but a special fan-only pre-sale has took place on 7 September 2010 at 9am. On 11 September 2010, tour dates for Cardiff, Birmingham, and Glasgow were added. On 17 September 2010, few dates were added.On 29 September 2010, tour dates for Newcastle and Manchester have been added. On 6 October 2010, a new date for Cardiff has been added. On 8 October 2010, a Dublin date has been added. A second Belfast show was announced on 22 October.This tour will probably be their best yet. No band can compare to Westlife’s remarkable success.  In their eleven years on top they have sold over 37 million records globally. In the UK alone they have scored nine multi-platinum albums and a record breaking 14 Number 1 hits (only behind The Beatles and Elvis). Forming in July 1998, Westlife are the only act in UK history to have their first seven singles go straight in at number 1.

Westlife 10 Years

To mark their tenth year in music, Westlife staged a special 10 Years Of Westlife sold-out concert at the world's thirty-third and Europe's fourth biggest stadium, Croke Park, on 1 June 2008. With a capacity of 82 300, it was the boy's biggest show to date. Shayne Ward filled in as a support act for the concert, which Kian described to be of a "pop extravaganza". Shane confirmed that a corresponding live concert DVD will be released. The concert was fonominal one of their best to date, what ,ade it even more special for the boys was being in their home country with the people the loved.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuXMAZEdxNM.The group announced that they would be on a break for a year after their Back Home Tour and that there would not be an album release in 2008 as they would be spending more time on the production of their tenth album. As promised, the group's official website confirmed on 27 September 2008 the release of a DVD on 24 November 2008 entitled 10 Years Of Westlife - Live at Croke Park Stadium which went straight to number1 on UK, Ireland, South African, Hong Kong and New Zealand Music DVD charts.

As the group ended their successful Back Home tour, Louis Walsh announced in the show Xpose that 1 July 2008 is the official start of the longest break of the group so far. He said that it will be a one-year break, from that day up to 1 July 2009.

 On 13 December 2008, while on a break, Westlife made an unexpected appearance on X Factor Final Performance Night where they performed "Flying Without Wings" with JLS. After the presentation, Shane and Nicky were interviewed on Xtra Factor with Ronan Keating and Stephen Gately of Boyzone. As JLS performed also "I'm Already There", Westlife's version of the song re-entered the UK Singles Chart at number 63 while a new entry on Ireland Singles Chart at number 47 due to extensive downloads only.

On the last week of January 2009, a DVD entitled The Karaoke Collection was released. It contains some of their music video hits. In 27 February 2009 issue of Herald Ireland, Louis revealed that Simon already picked three new songs which he reckons to be instant hits. Nicky spread the word last 8 March 2009 that Westlife will come back to music charts when they start recording in June 2009 when he received his VIP Style Awards as the Most Stylish Man on X-pose, TV3. On 18 March 2009, they won the Best Irish Pop Act on 2009 Meteor Awards for the ninth consecutive time.

They just keep on going.

In 2006, Westlife signed a brand new five-album deal with Sony BMG. Their eighth album, The Love Album, was a "love" concept album which consisted of popular love song covers. The album outsold other compilation albums by Oasis, The Beatles, and U2 in its first week of release and went straight to number1. The first single from The Love Album was a cover version of Bette Midlers classic, "The Rose", which became their 14th UK number1 single. This made Westlife the third act in the UK to have the most number1 singles, Elvis Presley and The Beatles were the top2 being up at the top with The Beatles and Elvis Presley was an outstanding achievment for Westlife, this meant a great deal to them.

 Westlife then kicked off their eighth world tour, "The Love Tour", in Perth, Australia. The group then went on to other Australian cities before moving on to South Africa, the UK and Ireland. Westlife staged their last major concert of 2007 at Bitts Park in Carlisle, England.

On 5 November 2007, Westlife released their ninth album, Back Home, which contained nine new original songs along with three cover songs. The album debuted at number1 on the UK Music Charts and it was also 2007's fifth biggest selling album in the UK. The first single released from the album was a cover of Michael Bublé's "Home", which peaked at number3 in the UK. "I'm Already There", not released as a single, managed to chart in the UK based on downloads alone following a performance on an The X Factor episode on the 24th of November 2007.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxrZDwgCuAQ.

On 15 December 2007, they had a two-hour show called The Westlife Show where they performed 10 of their songs, some voted by the fans through online and some from Back Home. It was hosted by Holly Willoughby.This time, Westlife together with Tesco brought out "The Definitive Westlife Quiz" that asked about the whole history about the boys. It was participated by thousands of fans worldwide. Months later, "Us Against The World" was announced and released as their second single in UK and Ireland. It peaked at number 8 and is the group's lowest charting single to date. Before the release of the second single, they embarked on the Back Home Tour on 2008 February 25. This tour marked the first time that the group have traveled and performed to New Zealand, performing four sold-out shows in Auckland, Wellington, New Plymouth and Christchurch. Meanwhile, "Something Right" was released as the second single and "Us Against The World" became the third single in Europe and the Asia Pacific region. Both songs performed well on several music charts.

Nothing can stop them!

Less than a month after McFadden's departure, the group kicked off their "Turnaround Tour" they were determent not to let Brian leaving stop them from livingh their dream . A live version from the tour of "Flying Without Wings" was released as an official UK download, earning them the title of the very first UK Downloads number1 this eased their worry of failing without Brian. They then put out a Rat Pack-inspired album, Allow Us to Be Frank, peaking at number3. No singles were released in the UK from this album. "Ain't That A Kick In The Head", accompanied with a music video, was released as a physical single in other European countries. "Smile" and "Fly Me To The Moon", with music videos as well, were released as digital downloads only.

Shortly after their album release, Westlife scouted for "the perfect fan" to help promote their album from their one-season special show "She's The One", presented by Kate Thornton.After X Factor-style auditions, they found Joanne Hindley, who recorded "The Way You Look Tonight" with the group.To mark this special collaboration, a special programme was televised, showing auditions and live performances. Westlife members' fathers performed this was a surprise on the night for Westlife it was very overwhelming.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKEytRJT-48.

 Westlife continued to tour Europe as part of their "The Number Ones Tour", before taking a four-month break from work. On 4 May 2005, Westlife lost their battle for European trademark from the German trademark "West". In 2005, Westlife returned with their comeback single, "You Raise Me Up", which was taken from their Face To Face album. On 6 November 2005, both the album and the single were at number 1 in the UK at the same time at the second week of the single .The single sold over 440 000 copies on UK. It was the first time that Westlife have held both top album and single position in the same week. "You Raise Me Up" was awarded as their fourth Record Of The Year in UK for 2005.

In December that year, the group released "When You Tell Me That You Love Me", a duet with Diana Ross, as the second single and it debuted at its peak position of number 2. Westlife then released a third single, "Amazing", which debuted at number 4 and marked as the group's lowest-selling single yet. After that, in  2006 Westlife went on the "Face To Face Tour", travelling extensively to the UK, Ireland, Australia and Asia. This tour marked the first time that Westlife have travelled to mainland China for a concert.

Byran Mcfaddens Departure

  Byran McFadden was born on 12 April 1980 in Dublin,.    Throughout his younger years, he always had an interest in  singing, dancing and football. Along with his sister Susan, Byran attended the Billie Barry Stage School in Dublin which led him to doing stage and TV roles, including a role in the Irish TV show Finbar's Class, a comedy revolving around a group of student-swingers. In early 1998, he formed a pop-R&Bgroup with his friends, Tim and Darragh called Cartel, and performed live gigs in Dublin pubs.Then in 1998 he joined Westlife.

 Westlife released their eleventh UK number 1 single, "Unbreakable", in 2002.During the rumours of a split of Westlife, they released their first greatest hits album in November that same year Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 which went all the way to number 1 in the UK. The release was followed by the double a side single, "Tonight/Miss You Nights", which debuted at number 3 in the UK. At this time, Because Films Inspire... made a TV Documentary titled as "Wild Westlife" directed by Iain MacDonald and starred by the group itself. It reveals Westlifes musical life on a daily basis and when on tour.

 In 2003, Westlife went on to their third world tour, The Greatest Hits Tour shrugging off rumours of a split.
In September 2003, Westlife released "Hey Whatever", which peaked at number 4 on the UK Charts. Their fourth studio album, Turnaround, was then released in November, earning the group another UK number 1 album. "Mandy", a cover of the Barry Manilow hit, was released in November 2003. Their version won them their third Record of the Year award in under five years. Their version of Mandy is also considered as the highest single leaper to the top (it went from number 200 to number 1) in the UK music history.This left Westlife in pure amazement. "Obvious" was released as the final single from the album, charting at number 3.Byran had been saying for while now that he wanted to quit Westlife to be with his family, but Westlife never took him seriously as he was oftain drunk or just after a fight with one of the guys when he would say this.

 On 9 March 2004, just three weeks prior to embarking on their fourth world tour, Bryan suddendly left the group to spend more time with his family and work on solo projects.This devastated the other members leaving them unsure of what was left of Westlife. On that day, a press conference was held where all the group's members were present and gave emotional individual speeches. Bryan's final public performance as part of Westlife was at Newcastle Upon Tyne's Powerhouse nightclub on 27 February 2004.Hundreds of fans gatered outside this event also devasted about Byrans decision to leave.

Byran subsequently began a solo career, deciding to revert the spelling of his first name back to its original 'Brian', he released his first solo single, "Real To Me" which entered the UK chart at number 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHRDjLACuVA&ob=av2e.

Soon after, he released his first solo album, "Irish Son" under Sony Music. McFadden co-wrote most of the songs on the album with Guy Chambers, best known for his successful collaboration with Robbie Williams and INXS.

 The third single "Almost Here", a duet with Australian singer Delta Goodrem became McFadden's second Number 1 single in Ireland as a solo artist and his first in Australia,gaining a platinum accreditation there.The fourth and final single, "Demons" peaked within the top 30 on the charts in Ireland and the UK. McFadden continued writing songs for artists such as, Il Divo and Girls Aloud, as well as co-writing the theme song "Together We Are One" for the 2006 Commonwealth Games. That same year, McFadden collaborated with American singer on the song, "Everybody's Somebody"

Westlifes Start to Star dumb

Westlife recored their first single in Cheiron studio (where all the big American pop bands had recorded) in Sweden. After just 13 months Westlife released their first single "Swear It Again" in April 1999. They shot the video costing Simon Cowell £150,000 but he hated it, he made them reshoot the video again with 5 or 6 different photo shoots. This was a no expenses spared video by Simon and the label. The single immediatly topped the charts in Ireland and the UK for two weeks running. They were on Top of the Pops and made front cover of magazines such as Smash Hits.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMPF3BGUxCU
The single was a massive hit all over the world.

Shortly after they released their single "Flying Without Wings" which also went straight to the top of the charts selling 350,000 copies. This really was a real turining point in their career, it took them from being seen as a pop boy band to a vocal group. in December 1999 they did their first cover its was a double A-side "I Have a Dream/Seasons in the Sun" in December 1999.It went to straight to number 1 aswell. It was number 1 for weeks making it the last number 1 of the decade and the first number 1 of the millennium.They then won the Record of the Year with "Flying without Wings" up against Ronan Keating and Shina Twain this was huge for them.

In early 2000 they were nominated for an MTV Award for Best UK and Ireland Act and they won.Their success was just on going.
There second record Coast to Coast was even better than Flying Without Wings they sold 250,000 copies.

Westlife did their first tour after 2years together called "Where Dreams come True". They toured Europe and Asia completing 70 shows from Febuary to June 2001. They had sold out shows and were mobbed by fans and paparatzi were ever they went, but they loved every minute of it.

Westlife released World of Our Own, their third album, in November 2001. 

"Uptown Girl", "Queen of my Heart" and "World of My Own" were released as singles, which all peaked at number 1s in the UK. "Bop Bop Baby" was also released as a single but it only got to number5 in the UK Singles Chart. In 2002, Westlife went on their second world tour, the World Of Our Own Tour

The World Of Our Own Tour saw Westlife touring the UK and Europe in 2002 it went from April 1st to June 30th completing 46 shows. The tour centered around a space theme with giant globes for the band's entrance. Each band member earned £2 million, £14,000 each for their shows, £800,000 each from merchandising as well as an extra £300,000 each for lucrative deals with Adidas.

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How Westlife Became Westlife

Before Westlife became a band each member had had some expierence in the "singing world" but this is how they ended up together.


Shane did his first proper stage show when he was 12 years of age, the show was Grease at the Hawkswell Theatre in Sligo. The 3 Sligo lads started to know each other by performing this which Shane acted the role Danny, Kian as Kenickie and Mark as Vince Fortaine, all 3 lads were studying at Summerhill Colleg e at that time. Boyzone's success really made Shane wants to be in a pop group. His very first idea was with his friend Michael Garret and they thought of starting a four-piece and calling it SC4, after their school, Summerhill College. Then Shane asked Kian if he was interested and he just laughed at that time since Kian was really into heavy rock band then.

Later Shane, Kian and Mark joined 3 other members - Michael Garrett, Derek Lacey and Graham Keighron - from the same school and started off a group called IOYOU and realease their debut single "Together Girl Forever" which was co-written by Shane and Mark.

Shane's mom Mae got in touch with the manager of Boyzone Louis Walsh, he came to hear their group in some Backstreet Boys songs. But Louis just thought of signing Shane, Kian and Mark to form a pop group he taught a group of six was too many, Shane had to tell Derek he was no longing in the band , this was a really tough time for Shane as a result of this he fell out with Derek and they have never been the same since.Louis asked Simon Cowell to come to hear the band, he liked them but he was not foud of Shane. Louis felt that Graham wasnt suited for the group, he tod him this and instead asked him to be their tour manager.
Louis held auditions for a fifth member in Dublin and this is how Brian and Nicky joined the group.They were very fond of both singers so as a result they had a vote and Michael was voted out, the best five which as you know was Shane Nicky Kian Mark and Brian were now the members of IOYOU.

Simon came to hear them again and after 30seconds of their first song Simon decided to sign them and also gave them a five-album record deal with Sony BMG. Simon made the group change their name to Westside this suited them though as they lived in the west "side" of Ireland.

With Ronan Keating as their co-manager, they started to perform in public as the opening act of the By-Request Tour of Boyzone and they won the Best New Tour Act Award in the Smash Hits Roadshow Tour.
Soon they changed their name into Westlife, since they found that an American Group has already chosen the name -Westside. This was just the beginnig of Westlife. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHc7j6NokjQ

Background info

Westlife are originally from county Sligo here in the west coast of  Ireland.The band joned together on 3 July 1998.Mark , Shane and Kian grew up in the same town and went to the same secondary school but they wernt childhood friends infact Kian briefly bullied Mark in an aim to look superior. Shane and Kian however used to preform in the school shows together but Shane was a year ahead of Kian. Nikki is the only member of the band not from Sligo, he is from Dublin.He joined the band throught an audition they held for a fourth member.

Shane was born 5 July 1979 Shane Steven Filan, the youngest of seven children his sisters Yvonne, Denise and Mairead and his brothers Finbarr, Peter and Liam. He lived on top of Carlton cafe in the middle of Sligo, which his parents Mae and Peter ran. He went to Fatime Primary School. He wasnt the smarest of students usually a C+. In secondary school he stared auditioning for musicals. He got his first break in Hawks Well Theatre in the production of Grease.

Kian was born on 29 April 1980,Kian Egan in an family of nine he has three sisters Viveanne, Fenella, Marielle and three bothers Tom, Colm and Gavin also his Parents Kevin and Patricia. Kian entered poetry competitions every year from the age of four. Kian went to Summerhill college secondary school where he preformed in musicals with Shane.

Mark was born on 28 May 1980 Mark Patrick Michael Feehily. He lived in a four bedroomed bungalow in the countryside near Sligo. He has two younger borthers Barry and Colin and parents Oliver and Marie. Mark used to spend alot of time at his grannys house. Mark went to St Patricks priamry school. Mark entered a talent competition which Kian was also in this was the first time he sang in public, Mark won his category and age group which meant alot to him.

Nikki was born on 9 October 1978 in Dublin,Nicholas Bernard James Adam Byrne Nicky his parents Yvonne and Nicky. He was born in Dublin as the middle child, having an older sister, Gillian and a younger brother, Adam. From the age of 7 he played for local, successful Dublin side Home Farm Football Club. he played as a goalkeeper, and when he was in his early teens he won the Young European Keeper of the Year. He briefly palyed for Leeds United. He set up a karioke with his dad 'father and son'. he then auditioned for westlife where he and Brian Mac Fadden became members of the band.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97Whzz5Ue4o&feature=related

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