Yet another perfectly oiled pop package from the Louis Walsh stable, Westlife have shattered more records in their lifetime than most bands can dream of, and are still the only act to have their first seven releases go straight in at No.1.
Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Nicky Byrne and Shane Filan are the likely lads, with Brian McFadden also part of the original quintet until he left to go solo and clock up tabloid inches in 2004. Clean-cut, good looking and immaculately turned out, Westlife are famed for their balladry, matching suits and synchronised stool-sitting, and are all-conquering in the teenland and gay pop markets.
Originally managed by that other Irish fella Ronan Keating, the lads - like Guinness - are a silky smooth Irish export. The expectation was that when McFadden left the band would fold like so many others before them. But not Westlife. Instead, they regrouped, performed a huge tour and went all Sinatra/Williams, releasing an album of Rat Pack covers Allow Us To Be Frank.
Their policy of covering safe songs and staring meaningfully into the camera is still working too, with new album Home being released at the end of 2007. |
