newssep99

TWILIGHT 1999 SEPTEMBER NEWS ARCHIVE

LATEST BOYZONE NEWS/RUMOURS ON TOP

20th September 1999
* BBC1 teletext
(thanx a lot to Karen Johnson kazz.johnson@btinternet.com for providing the information to all fans)
POP STARS TO APPEAR IN ABBA TV SPECIAL
Some of the biggest pop acts around will be appearing in a TV special next month celebrating the music of ABBA. Acts performing their own versions of ABBA songs in next month's ITV special include Boyzone, Westlife, The Corrs, Billie, B*witched, Steps, Martine McCutcheon and Madness.Ex-Big Breakfast presenter Denise Van Outen will host the show - and will also be singing. A spin-off CD will then be released to raise money for the National Foundation for Youth Music.

* Sunday People
(thanx a lot to Sarah Liptrott anamcara@currantbun.com for providing the information to all fans)
Steve won't be Boyalone
BOYZONE hunk STEPHEN GATELEY has put his solo career on hol because he'd been outed.The gay singer was expected to top the charts with his cover of Art Garfunkel's classic Bright Eyes. AN insider tells me: "Stephen has delayed the release because he doesn't feel up to promoting the song. He's not quite ready yet to talk about his sexuality."

11th September 1999
* MTV ASIA
Ronan is on the MTV Asia web site as the HOT SEAT ARTISTE OF THE MONTH for September. Check out this url: http://mtvasia.com/Music/Hotseat/1999Sept/index.html for an interview with ronan with sound and video, competition and review of boyzone album "by request".

* Magazine Article
(thanx a lot to sharonb@dancris.com for providing the information to all fans)
Finally, Boyzone has shown up in one of the USA magazine. In response to a question about the band's appearance in the ALW video in the Sunday Parade Magazine, the editor responded:"Lead singer Ronan Keating, 22 and his mates - Keith Duffy, 24,Stephen Gately, 22, Shane Lynch, 22 and Mikey Graham, 27 - are working-class lads from Dublin. "In the early days, our fan base was definitely young girls," Keating told us, "but after 15 hit records in Europe, we've definitely crossed over to an older audience." The singer has been promoting his solo record "When You Say Nothing At All" featured in the Notting Hill soundtrack along with "No Matter What," by the entire quintet. Boyzone plans TV appearances in the U.S. this fall and a tour next spring, and we predict they will rival such homegrown talent as N'Sync."

4th September 1999
*              Channel V AUS's website - an interview by Molly Meldrum with Ro
(thanx a lot to Weiyin Phang fenviro@yahoo.com for providing the information to all fans)
Molly: We're here in the country, at the house, all the way from Ireland - Ronan, how are you?
Ronan: How ya doing Molly.
Molly: The last time we saw each other was in Dublin.
Ronan: Yeah, at the Bee-Gees' concert.
Molly: Just quickly, how did you feel that night?
Ronan: That was unbelievable. I grew up loving the Bee-Gees and all of their music. To be on the same stage as them singing a song with Barry was just magical. A magical moment.
Molly: It was hard to explain just how amazing that night was. Everyone, all ages, were dancing and singing along.
Ronan: Absolutely. I think with the whole disco revival now everybody just loving the Bee-Gees, all the old stuff. They all wanted to come along to the show. It was such a great night. A great vibe.
Molly: Speaking of vibes, the success of Boyzone has just been phenomenal. An amazing ride.
Ronan: Indeed.
Molly: Just going back to when you first started, did you really think you'd have this major success?
Ronan: To be honest no, we didn't. We had hopes and dreams. But we never imagined this extent and this size…and so quickly. All of a sudden everyone else was gone and we were the only band left. Since then we've rode the wave.
Molly: And did you imagine that you'd have such a successful solo career as well?
Ronan: Not in the beginning, but as time went by the response that I got from people - I got a bit of a vibe for it. I enjoy working on my own and having that control. I was a bit weary about becoming a solo artist, but I thought "why not?" From the 'Notting Hill' soundtrack song, it all kind-of fell into place.
Molly: Were you worried that Boyzone were going to break up?
Ronan: Well, no, we're still very much together. We have a tour coming up. There's no bad blood, we're still best mates. We're just going out doing our own thing for a while. I think it gives the band a longer life.
Molly: How about the song - tell us about it.
Ronan: Basically it's an old country song. It was a hit in the country charts in America. A lot of great country songs turn into great pop songs!
Molly: That track has done great things for you! Robbie Williams and Gary Barlow have found it hard to break into the American charts…
Ronan: Yes, I know in particular with Robbie, it's been very hard. Robbie went the wrong way about it and he's feeling that now. You have to be nice to them, otherwise they won't have you. And Robbie has this kind of arrogance about him…
Molly: Let's go back to Boyzone. Do you have total control of what you want to do?
Ronan: Yeah … it's up to us what we do now. We don't even really have management. We're very much in control and it can be very exciting - and at the same time it can go very wrong! When a band get a hold of their own …we're working hard as individuals, then we'll get back together and record the fourth album next year.
Molly: Who were you listening to before you were in Boyzone?
Ronan: George Michael. Any of the male vocalists. Otis Reading. Stuff like that.
Molly: Did you have hopes and dreams of becoming a singer - back when you were listening to George and Otis?
Ronan: I had dreams, yeah, but I never thought I'd get away with them!
Molly: What did your family think of you getting into the group and music and this lifestyle?
Ronan: My mum thought I was joining a religious cult! But then when she saw it was on the papers and the TV she realised that I was in a band. After that it was pretty cool. We just climbed into success! When I lost me mum last year, it was very hard - what with all the tabloids, but I had strong people around me, so that helped.
Molly: Now, on the UK charts - Westlife has knocked you off the number one spot - very interesting!
Ronan: Yes, I hate to say it, but we kind-of planned it. My record started to go down on the third week after being there for two weeks - and it was perfect - Westlife was there to fill the spot! It was a nice changeover.
Molly: Back to Boyzone - did you ever think over the six years "My God, my life is consumed by this!"
Ronan: There was. It was mad. There were a few times when we were on the other side of the world and we got really homesick and it seemed like it was never ending, so we just wanted to jump on a plane and go home - and it happened! We did it a few times! We were very lucky to have an incredible amount of success - like 15 top three singles! We're in the Guinness Book of Records along with The Beatles!
Molly: But there's no pretence with you …you've remained very normal, very down to earth…
Ronan: Well, I think that's being Irish. You keep your feet on the ground, 'cos people don't have time for things like egos, you know? I treat people with the same amount of respect I want to be treated with. I enjoy what I do, so why be nasty?
Molly: I just can't believe how many bands are coming out of Ireland!
Ronan: Yeah, it is amazing. Like Bewitched, The Corrs, Therapy? …and of course U2 - who are still very vibrant and alive in Dublin. The music is flying. It's a great time for Ireland! There was a low there when nothing was happening. Just U2 and the Cranberries …but at the moment it's just booming. It's cool. It's a great place to be.
Molly: What a nice way to end the interview! Thanks for being with us, Ronan. Any chance you'll be back soon?
Ronan: That's fine. Happy to do it. I'll probably be back in March or April 2000 for a promo tour. It was good to see you again.

* article on Ronan from MTV Asia
(thanx a lot to Elsa _BZ boyzone_bz@hotmail.com for providing the information to all fans)
September 1999 - Ronan Keating
Ronan on his own Boy band idol, father, manager, and now, soloist. Ronan Keating, the unofficial frontman of the successful Boyzone, is the first from the group to strike out on his own.During this past year, many things have happened for Ronan. He married Dublin model Yvonne Connelly in 1998, and became first-time Daddy when his son Jack was born in March this year.Next, Ronan found himself managing Westlife, a boy band put together by him and Boyzone's manager Louis Walsh. And don't think of Ronan as your typical boy next door. He can be a hard-nosed businessman if he chooses to. And now, Boyzone fans, get ready for yet another of Ronan's transformations. He has recorded his first solo effort, "When You Say Nothing At All," for the soundtrack of "Notting Hill," a film starring Julia Roberts and Hugh Grant.The song was very well received when Ronan performed it during Boyzone's recent U.K. tour. Not only did it become favorite with fans, but it also won the heart of "Notting Hill" actress, Roberts. The Hollywood star could not wait to congratulate Ronan on the song when the pair met during the London premiere of the film."She told me she couldn't stop singing it!" said Ronan. From all the changes in Ronan's life, one should not be surprised at the spate of rumors of Boyzone splitting up. But whether the split is forthcoming or just plain gossip,Ronan is definitely excited about venturing into solo territory.He recalled: "The day I arrived at the set (in London's Notting Hill neighborhood) to shoot the video (of "When You Say Nothing At All"), it suddenly hit me that I was going to be there alone -- not surrounded by the other four boys, and that was a bit strange at first, but a big buzz. It's a new chapter, and I can't wait to see what happens!"