BY SPECIAL REQUEST
Boyzone have been in our lives for the past five years...we've had fun with 'em,
but what's it been like for the lads? Shane and Ronan tell all.....
R: Ronan, S: Shane
How's it feel to have made a greatest hits CD?
R: It's strange! We have to pinch ourselves every now and then. A greatest hits
album....it's fantastic!
S: It's unreal. It means we've come such a long way and that we're ready to move
on to the next stage. It's like a new beginning - it's so exciting!
Why have you included new tracks on it?
S: Well we orginally had 14 tracks on there and we thought we should give the
fans a bit more. We wanted to make sure it was something a bit different.
R: And you have to put new tracks on as it sells the album, basically. The fans
need an incentive to buy it as they'll probably have all the singles already!
Don't you think it's strange to release a greatest hits this
early in your career?
S: Not at all. We're moving on and this marks a new beginning for us.
R: A lot of bands do it. We're just getting rid of the past and moving on to the
future. What does it hold for us? You never know - we take every day as it comes
and don't think too deep about things. You're only as big as your last single.
Who came up with the title, By Request?
S: It was our tour manager, to be honest. We were talking about making a TV show
called Live By Request, which'd invove viewers ringing in and requesting a song
for us to perform. But there was already one called that in America, so we
couldn't. Then it just seemed to fit.
What's your personal favourite?
S: I really don't have one. Every song brings back different memories of
different times and most of them are happy.
R: Well obviously the latest ones are more interesting than the ones we've
done a hundred times. So You Needed Me would be one of my favourites. But Isn't
It A Wonder? was my first self-penned song so that's a favourite too.
Is it annoying that Westlife are already at the same
stage you were three years after you began?
S: No, not really. They've come in with a bang and good luck to them - they
deserve all of it.
What's your favourite memory over the last six years?
R: Erm, phew....that's hard as we've got so many. There have been so many
things, like awards shows we've done, our first Number One - so many things.
We've been very lucky.
S: From the band's point of view, it has to be touring. We always have such
a laugh!
Do you still get nervous when you're on stage?
R: Well, we've been doing it for six years now, so not really. Obviously the
first night will be new to us, but we get worried for the show more than
anything - the sound and so on.
S: For the first couple of shows I do get nervous but then you settle into it.
The fans don't seem to scream so much now. Do I miss it? Yes sometimes I do as
it's a bit of an ego boost and it gets you all hyped up.
If you could pick an artist to appear on stage with you,
who'd it be?
R: Anyone from George Michael to Elvis Presley, but Elvis would be great.
Would we sing one of Boyzone's numbers? Ah, maybe one of his - I think they're a
bit better, heh heh.
What's been your dodgiest outfit?
R: There've been plenty! I had a pair of leopard skin tights once on tour -
not the cleverest thing to do, but it was cool at the time.
S: Oh dear (laughing). There's definitely been a few. But I think it has to
be when we wore these long blue coats that everyone told us would look brilliant
on stage - they looked terrible!
What's happening with you lot in America?
S: Well, we've decided not to go. Actually, we're going over to do the Rosie
O'Donnell Show which we're looking forward to, but we've made the decision not
to really do it - it'll be six months out of our lives to promote over there and
we're not prepared to sacrifice that. Maybe after we've had a break we'll think
differently...
R: We have to wait and see how it all goes. Obviously it'll take time to come
into place, but I'm sure it'll happen.
Do you feel threatened by the new bands coming up?
S: No, not at all. I think we've come through that boy band phenomenon and now
it's someone else's turn. We're going through a different stage now - Boyzone's
now more about music and playing live.
R: Erm, not really. Am I worried from manager's point of view? Westlife have had
a phenomenal start and we've been very lucky. I don't need to worry about anyone
else as the band are very different from anyone around and anyone on the way up.
Does anyone else have Westlife-type projects on the go?
S: You must be joking! It's enough for me to look after myself in this
business!
R: I'd like to concentrate on my career too, so when we have time off, I'll
be working on a solo album as well as concentrating on Westlife. Not to mention
spending time with my family.
Talking of families, how are you coping with being a dad?
R: It's grand and he's healthy and strong - no problem. My life's changed a lot,
but it's been fantastic. A lot of things come into perspective when you have a
child What? Any more on the cards? (laughing) Oh, who knows what'll happen...
Do you ever pinch yourself in case you're dreaming?
R: Yeah - it's hard to believe the level of success we've achieved. We've
been very lucky and it's all been fantastic. We're so grateful for where we are!
Sum up the last six years in one sentence...
S: That's absolutely impossible! So many great things have happened. All
I'll say is it's been brilliant and I feel very lucky to be here.
R: It's been the most exhilirating rollercoaster ride ever! I hope the next
60 years will be just as good...
And finally, what's left for Boyzone to achieve?
R: Oh, there's such a lot. We've got America and the rest of the world.
We've got more albums and a bigger level of success to strive for - that's
plenty.