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Westlife

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Westlife
Company typePop vocal group
IndustryMusic
FoundedJuly 3, 1998; 28 years ago (1998-07-03) in Dublin, Ireland
FounderNicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Brian McFadden (former)
Headquarters
Dublin
,
Ireland
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsMusic albums, singles
Number of employees
4 (current members)

Westlife is a pop ensemble from Ireland, established in Dublin in 1998, originally comprising Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Mark Feehily. Former member Brian McFadden departed in 2004 to focus on his solo endeavors. The band ceased activities in 2012 but reunited six years later in 2018.

Within Ireland, Westlife has achieved 11 albums and 16 singles reaching number one, alongside 304 singles entering the Top 50 charts. Globally, they have sold upwards of 55 million records and hold four Guinness World Records. Their awards portfolio includes a World Music Award, two Brit Awards, four MTV Awards, and four Record of the Year trophies.

The group’s discography includes twelve studio albums—four recorded as a five-member group and eight following their transition to a quartet. They rose to international prominence with their self-titled debut album, Westlife (1999), followed by Coast to Coast (2000), World of Our Own (2001), and Turnaround (2003). After McFadden's exit, they released cover-focused albums such as ...Allow Us to Be Frank (2004) and The Love Album (2006), along with original works including Face to Face (2005), Back Home (2007), Where We Are (2009), and Gravity (2010). Following a six-year break, the four members returned with Spectrum (2019) and later Wild Dreams (2021).

Formation and early years (1997–1998)

In 1997, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan—who attended Summerhill College in Sligo together—formed a vocal pop group initially named Six as One alongside Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron, and Michael Garrett. Managed by choreographer Mary McDonagh at the start, the ensemble was later renamed IOYOU and released the single "Together Girl Forever" through Sound Records. McDonagh had been involved with Egan since his childhood and was familiar with Filan and Feehily through local theatre.

Louis Walsh, known for managing Boyzone, became involved after being contacted by Filan’s mother. The group failed to secure a contract with BMG via Simon Cowell, who suggested reducing the number of members for better market appeal. Consequently, Lacey, Keighron, and Garrett were removed from the lineup. Subsequent auditions in Dublin brought Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden into the fold.

Formed officially on 3 July 1998 under the name Westside, they quickly changed it to Westlife due to naming rights issues. The band secured a £4 million contract with RCA Records. Their early exposure included opening performances for Boyzone and Backstreet Boys in Dublin. Ronan Keating joined Louis Walsh as co-manager. Their television debut was on Ireland’s The Late Late Show on 13 November 1998 where they performed "Flying Without Wings."

Westlife, Coast to Coast, and World of Our Own (1999–2001)

April 1999 saw Westlife release their first single, "Swear It Again", which claimed the top spot on charts in both Ireland and the UK for two consecutive weeks, becoming the highest-selling debut single during its initial week. August 1999 brought their second single, "If I Let You Go", making them the first boy band whose first two singles both reached No. 1. Their third release, "Flying Without Wings", also achieved No. 1 status and was featured on the soundtrack for Warner Brothers’ film Pokémon: The Movie 2000. Their debut album, Westlife, launched in November 1999, reached No. 2 in the UK charts and topped Irish charts; it notably re-entered charts during its 58th week. In Scotland, it debuted at No. 6 before rising to No. 1 in 2001.

In December 1999, they issued a double A-side single "I Have A Dream"/"Seasons in the Sun", which became the UK Christmas number-one hit and marked their fourth UK No. 1 single that year. This accomplishment placed them among only five artists to secure four UK No. 1 singles within a single calendar year. The fifth single from the album, "Fool Again", also topped UK charts, making Westlife unique as the only male group with every single from an album reaching No. 1 there. Following this success, they signed with Arista Records for North American distribution; "Swear It Again" peaked at No. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. On 1 July 2000, Westlife received the title of Freemen of the Borough of Sligo for representing their hometown internationally.

Their sophomore album, Coast to Coast, released a year later, became their first UK No. 1 album—surpassing the Spice Girls’ Forever—and ranked as the fourth best-selling album across the UK in 2000. It also marked their second chart-topping album in Ireland. Preceded by UK chart-topping singles including a duet with Mariah Carey titled "Against All Odds" and original track "My Love", Westlife set a record with seven consecutive UK No. 1 singles from their first seven releases. This streak ended when their eighth single, "What Makes a Man", entered at No. 2 in December 2000. Of note is that "My Love" was controversially used by the CIA during interrogation sessions.

Internationally, singles like "I Lay My Love on You" and "When You're Looking Like That" enjoyed success across Asia Pacific markets where over 2.5 million copies were sold; these tracks also ranked highly within UK and Irish sales charts. In February 2001, Westlife embarked on their inaugural world tour titled Where Dreams Come True Tour, accompanied by a live concert recording released later that year.

On 12 November 2001, Westlife unveiled their third studio album, World of Our Own, which topped charts in both Ireland and the UK once again. Singles such as "Uptown Girl"—their first million-selling track in the UK—alongside "Queen of My Heart" and "World of Our Own" all reached number one on UK charts; another single from this album, "Bop Bop Baby," peaked at No. 5. Their second global tour took place in 2002 amidst continued commercial achievements; by year-end they earned an IRMA award for selling one million units within Ireland alone. Over this three-year period, Westlife sold more than twelve million records worldwide.

Unbreakable, Turnaround, and McFadden's exit (2002–2004)

In 2002, Westlife achieved their eleventh UK chart-topping single with "Unbreakable". Despite circulating rumors about a split, they released their inaugural greatest hits compilation, Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1, which reached number one in both the UK and Ireland. To promote this album, the group set a Guinness World Record for the highest number of public appearances by a pop act within 36 hours, performing across five different UK cities. Following this, they released a double A-side single, "Tonight"/"Miss You Nights", which peaked at number three in the UK and secured the top spot in Ireland. Additionally, they debuted the BBC Choice documentary "Wild Westlife", offering fans an inside look at their touring experience.

The year 2003 saw Westlife embark on their third global tour, titled the Unbreakable Tour. A live concert from Manchester was recorded and released in November of that year. In September, the single "Hey Whatever" was issued, reaching number four on the UK charts. Their fourth studio album, Turnaround, launched in November 2003, again claimed the number one position in both the UK and Ireland. The lead single "Mandy" became their twelfth UK number one hit and earned them a third Record of the Year award; notably, it holds the record for the largest leap to number one in UK chart history, moving from position 200 to the top spot. The album’s final single, "Obvious", attained number three on the UK charts.

On 9 March 2004, just three weeks before commencing their fourth world tour, Brian McFadden announced his departure to prioritize family commitments and pursue a solo career under his original name spelling. His final appearance with Westlife occurred on 27 February 2004 at Newcastle’s Powerhouse nightclub.

Less than a month following McFadden’s exit, Westlife began the Turnaround Tour. A live recording from their Stockholm concert was subsequently released in November 2004.

Face to Face, Back Home, and cover projects (2004–2008)

In September 2004, Westlife performed at the World Music Awards and received recognition as Best Irish Act. Later that year, they unveiled their fifth album, ...Allow Us to Be Frank, inspired by the Rat Pack era, which peaked at number three on the charts. While no singles were released in the UK from this album, "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?" was accompanied by a music video and issued as a physical single in other European territories. Additional videos were produced for "Smile" and "Fly Me to the Moon". Prior to this album’s release, Westlife conducted auditions to find an ideal fan ambassador for promotion; Joanne Hindley was chosen and recorded "The Way You Look Tonight" alongside the band—a process documented in the television special She's The One. Early in 2005, they launched The Number Ones Tour, later releasing a live concert recording from Sheffield within that year.

October 2005 marked the release of "You Raise Me Up", their thirteenth UK number one single taken from their sixth studio album Face to Face, which also debuted at number one on UK charts. This track earned them their fourth Record of the Year award in Britain. The album’s second single was a duet with Diana Ross titled "When You Tell Me That You Love Me", reaching number two on UK charts. The third single, "Amazing", peaked at number four. Supporting this release, Westlife embarked on an extensive Face to Face Tour, performing 32 shows across the UK, Ireland, Australia, and Asia with nearly 239,000 attendees. A live recording from Wembley Arena was issued in November 2006.

Towards the end of 2006, Westlife signed a new contract with Sony BMG Music Entertainment for five albums. Their seventh studio effort, The Love Album, featuring well-known love song covers, debuted at number one both in Ireland and the UK; it became Ireland’s best-selling album of that year. Its only single, "The Rose", achieved their fourteenth UK number one status. The group commenced their eighth world tour named The Love Tour, beginning in Perth, Australia before visiting South Africa, the UK, and Ireland. This tour generated over £1 million in revenue.

On 5 November 2007, Westlife released their eighth studio album titled Back Home, comprising nine original tracks alongside three cover songs. The album entered at number one in both Ireland and the UK and ranked among Britain’s top five best-selling albums of 2007. Its lead single "Home" reached number three on UK charts; subsequent singles included "Us Against the World" and "Something Right", which were distributed respectively across Europe and Asia Pacific markets. On 15 December 2007, they premiered The Westlife Show, a two-hour special hosted by Holly Willoughby featuring performances of ten songs. Beginning February 2008, their Back Home Tour’’ included their first concerts in New Zealand with four sold-out shows across major cities. By year's end, Westlife was ranked as the seventh highest-grossing touring act of 2008.

10th Anniversary, Hiatus, Where We Are, and Gravity (2008–2010)

To mark their tenth anniversary, Westlife performed the sold-out 10 Years of Westlife concert at Croke Park on 1 June 2008. After completing their Back Home Tour, the band announced they would take a year-long break. The live DVD 10 Years of Westlife – Live at Croke Park Stadium was released on 24 November 2008 and achieved number one positions on music DVD charts across the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Hong Kong, and New Zealand. During this hiatus, they made an unexpected appearance on the X Factor final in December 2008 and launched The Karaoke Collection DVD in January 2009. In March 2009, Westlife secured the Best Irish Pop Act award at the 2009 Meteor Awards for the ninth year running.

Their tenth studio album, Where We Are, was released on 30 November 2009 and reached number two on both the Irish and UK Albums Charts. The album’s lead single, "What About Now", also peaked at number two on the singles charts in Ireland and the UK. The subsequent "Where We Are Tour" featured a London concert recording that was issued in November 2010. Earlier that year, Westlife contributed to the Haiti relief charity single "Everybody Hurts", which topped charts in both Ireland and the UK. The Guinness Book of World Records acknowledged Westlife as the best-selling album group in the UK for the 21st century, with total album sales reaching 10.74 million.

On 14 November 2010, they released the single "Safe", which debuted at number ten on the UK Singles Chart. Their album Gravity, produced solely by John Shanks, came out on 22 November 2010. It claimed the number one spot in Ireland—marking their ninth Irish chart-topper—and reached number three in the UK. This achievement positioned Westlife among a select group of artists to have number-one albums across three consecutive decades (1990s through 2010s) in Ireland.

Greatest Hits and Disbandment (2011–2012)

In March 2011, Westlife embarked on their eleventh major concert series, the Gravity Tour, which included first-time performances in Oman, Namibia, Guangzhou, and Vietnam. By this time, they held the distinction of being the longest-standing band and second-longest reigning number-one music act of the 21st century within the UK market. On 14 March 2011, they announced their exit from Simon Cowell’s management and Syco Music, after working together for thirteen and nine years respectively, citing a desire for more focused managerial support.

They returned to RCA Records under a one-year contract and released their Greatest Hits compilation on 21 November 2011. The album debuted at number one in Ireland and number four in the UK. The lead single from this collection was "Lighthouse", followed by a promotional release of "Beautiful World". The accompanying Greatest Hits Tour, announced on 18 October 2011, featured sold-out shows across the UK scheduled for May 2012. This farewell tour included eight performances in China alongside thirty-three shows throughout the UK and Ireland, selling a total of 489,694 tickets. On 19 October 2011, Westlife officially confirmed their decision to disband following completion of this tour.

ITV produced a special event titled Westlife: For the Last Time, as well as another program called The Westlife Show: Live, which aired on 1 November 2011. The band also appeared on The Late Late Show and received recognition from the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre (SECC) for record-breaking ticket sales—over 380,000 attendees across forty-nine concerts.

Their final performances were held at Croke Park Stadium in Ireland on 22 and 23 June 2012. Both events sold out swiftly, drawing a combined audience of 187,808—surpassing venue capacity. The concluding concert was broadcast live to over three hundred cinemas across the UK and two hundred internationally. The DVD documenting this farewell show reached number one on charts in both the UK and Ireland. In terms of touring revenue for 2012, Westlife ranked thirty-fourth globally with earnings totaling $35.2 million (€27 million). After disbandment, each member pursued solo careers releasing individual albums and singles.

Reunion, Spectrum, and tour (2018–2020)

On 23 September 2018, Westlife secured a five-year contract with Universal Music Group through Virgin EMI Records for album releases and touring. By 3 October, the band confirmed they were creating new material. Brian McFadden did not participate in the reunion, expressing no regrets about his departure. By December, the members reunited for rehearsals, marking their first joint practice in six years.

Their comeback track, "Hello My Love", launched on 10 January 2019, was their first single since 2011. They premiered it live on The Graham Norton Show on 11 January and later performed at the 24th National Television Awards on 22 January. Their initial Irish television performance took place on Dancing With the Stars Ireland in March. The single reached number 13 in the UK charts and climbed to number two in both Ireland and Scotland, earning Gold status in the UK and double Platinum certification in Ireland.

Released on 15 November 2019, their eleventh studio album, Spectrum, topped the charts across Ireland, Scotland, and the UK. It achieved Gold certification in the UK and Platinum in Ireland. Singles from the album included "Better Man," which peaked at number two on UK and Scottish sales charts; "Dynamite," released in July 2019; and "My Blood," released in October 2019, which attained moderate chart positions throughout the UK, Scotland, and Ireland.

On 17 October 2018, Westlife announced The Twenty Tour, pledging to perform worldwide: "Every country that wants to see Westlife will see us." The second evening at Croke Park was broadcast live to cinemas on 6 July 2019 and subsequently issued as a video album on 13 March 2020, dominating UK and Irish charts for over thirty weeks.

They revealed the Stadiums in the Summer Tour on 13 September 2019, initially scheduled for 2020 but postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wild Dreams, Feehily's Temporary Departure, 25: The Ultimate Collection (2021–present)

On 17 March 2021, Westlife announced a fresh recording agreement with Warner Music UK and East West Records. They performed at a BBC Radio 2 event held at Ulster Hall in Belfast on 25 August 2021, which aired on 10 September.

The lead single "Starlight" from their twelfth studio album was released on 14 October 2021, followed by the full album Wild Dreams on 26 November. On 29 October, they rebranded their fourteenth concert series as The Wild Dreams Tour, adding fourteen new shows with an additional eight dates added later. Their Wembley Stadium concert was streamed live across European cinemas. A concert recorded at London’s Bush Hall was broadcast via Tencent’s WeChat platform in China on 17 December 2021, attracting nearly 28 million viewers. In June 2022, they appeared as special guests during the Backstreet Boys’ livestream event on the same platform.

In August 2023, Westlife unveiled their inaugural tour stops in Brazil, Canada, and the United States, with performances scheduled for Toronto, Boston, New York City, and Chicago in March 2024. Shortly before embarking on the American leg of the tour on 28 February 2024, Mark Feehily temporarily stepped away from the group due to health concerns; Filan, Byrne, and Egan continued performing as a trio.

On 12 April 2024, they announced their fifteenth concert series titled the With Love Tour, featuring twelve shows across Asia from May through November. This marked their debut appearances in Chongqing and Foshan (China), Genting (Malaysia), and Incheon (Korea), including venues such as Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium and Workers' Stadium. The setlist showcased exclusive tracks like "Better Man," "Evergreen," "My Hero," "Tunnel of Love," alongside a group rendition of "Beautiful in White."

Music Week reported on 16 July 2024 that Westlife collaborated with Tencent Music to release a one-off AI-produced single called "Love + Courage," distributed exclusively in China. This cover of Johnny Zhang’s song amassed one million streams within its first week.

On 13 June 2025, the trio revealed initial dates for their sixteenth worldwide tour named the 25th Anniversary World Tour, commencing at London’s Royal Albert Hall. On 11 July, Ed Sheeran invited them to join his Ipswich concert for a performance of "Flying Without Wings." Additional tour stops in Belfast and Dublin were announced on 17 October alongside a new single titled "Chariot," released on 24 October under Sony Music. Written by Sheeran, Mac, Will Reynolds, and Johnny McDaid (Snow Patrol), this track features vocals from Feehily despite his earlier absence. Further European concerts include first-time performances in Antwerp and Paris at venues like Barclays Arena and Ziggo Dome.

Concurrently, they announced a greatest hits compilation named 25: The Ultimate Collection, scheduled for release on 13 February 2026. This collection comprises well-known hits plus four new songs across multiple formats; notably, its cover features McFadden as a nod to twenty-two years since their single "Obvious" debuted in 2004.

Public image and endorsements

Westlife's initial album and lead single were released amid the height of boy band fame, achieving certifications in markets such as Brazil, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States. By 2006, their official fan club in mainland China had grown to over 50,000 members. In 2009, "Flying Without Wings" was recognized as the seventh most favored UK wedding first dance track. By 2012, both "You Raise Me Up" and "Flying Without Wings" ranked within the top 20 songs chosen for funerals, with three of their songs featuring among Ireland’s preferred funeral music selections in 2016.

The group earned invitations to prestigious events including a private concert worth £2.5 million for the Sultan of Brunei. They performed at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in the years 2000, 2005, and 2009, and have played for distinguished figures such as Queen Elizabeth II on two occasions, Barack Obama, and Pope John Paul II. Remarkably, Westlife became the first pop act to headline a concert within Vatican City during a private performance for the Pope.

Their sophomore album Coast to Coast led to a variety of merchandise primarily targeting Asian markets, including MRT transit tickets, calendars, postcards, posters, slipcases, and Filofax organizers. The band attracted sponsorship deals with brands like Tayto (2000), Calvin Klein (2001), Adidas (2002), and Volkswagen (2011). Commemorating their tenth year together in 2008, Westlife released Westlife - Our Story via HarperCollins UK. They also introduced two fragrance gift sets titled X and With Love.

Charitable support

Westlife has actively contributed to numerous philanthropic initiatives such as the "Helping For Haiti" charity single released in 2010 and a rendition of "Uptown Girl" supporting Comic Relief. Their charitable engagements include participation in the Royal British Legion poppy appeal, Irish Blood for Life in 2004, and promotion of Galway’s Irish Water Safety campaign. They have also supported the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).

On 4 November 2005, they took part in a performance at Johannesburg’s Coca-Cola Dome during The "Unite of the Stars" Gala Banquet which raised funds for four charities: the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund, Unite Against Hunger, St. Mary's Hospital, and the Topsy Foundation. Additional charity appearances include events organized by Sport Relief, Macmillan Cancer Support, Croí, Western Alzheimer's, O'Dwyer Cheshire Home, Mayo Cancer Support Group, and the Marie Keating Foundation. They have also shown support for organizations such as Outward Bound Trust, ChildLine, Children in Need, Sheffield Children’s Hospital, as well as contributing items for auctions benefiting the Meningitis Research Foundation and Carlton Celebrity Auction for Centrepoint.

Their philanthropic efforts extend to backing the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, The Samaritans, Zutto charity painting projects, and Pushing The Envelope campaigns for the National Literacy Trust. Collaborations include work with the Royal National Institute for the Deaf (RNID), Cancer Research UK, United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP), Muscle Help Foundation, Global Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign, and the Real Man initiative. Furthermore, they act as ambassadors for The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC).

Members

Current

Former

Discography

Concert tours

Headlining

Supporting

  • Boyzone – Where We Belong Tour (1998)

Promotional tours

  • UK and Ireland Tours from 1998 to 2012 and again from 2018 onwards
  • European, East Asian, and Southeast Asian Tours in 1999
  • Tours across Europe, North America, South America, and Asia in 2000[2]
  • European, Korean, Mexican, and US Tours during 2001 and 2002
  • Tours in Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, and Malaysia in 2003
  • European and Taiwan Tours in 2005 and 2006
  • Australian Tour held in 2007
  • Swedish Tour in 2009[3]
  • Singapore, Indonesian, Chinese, and Swedish Tours in 2019[4]

See also

External links

  1. ↑ https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-westlifes-mark-feehily-makes-32235017.amp
  2. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/779656.stm
  3. ↑ http://www.westlife.com/global/news/global/2009/11/26/westlife_in_sweden
  4. ↑ https://twitter.com/westlifemusic/status/1088224865100787713
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