Westlife and Boyzone stars unite as new group ‘Boyzlife’
By Ben Kelly
Boyzone star Keith Duffy and Westlife star Brian McFadden are joining together to create a new duo called Boyzlife.
In a project which is being funded by the hotel giant Hilton, the pair are taking their two man show on the road later in 2016, starting off in London on October 16 before going on to do 11 more shows across the UK. They are expected to perform incorporating the hits of their respective bands.
Speaking to The Sun today, Brian – who left Westlife in 2004 – said that he hopes Boyzlife will eventually grow into a super group featuring all nine surviving members of the two Irish boy bands combined.
“We all had a chat, the lads. We said it would be amazing,” he said. “Not even just performing together, but can you imagine the craic? Nine of us Irish lads on a tour bus together, going round the world together.
“It would be absolute carnage,” he added. “We all get on so well so you never know. We would have so much fun on tour. We could end up adding more people to the next one. Right now this is about me and Keith but the door is always open.”
The boys will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of other boy band super groups like McBusted, who merged and toured successfully in 2013. A 2011 North American tour also brought together New Kids On The Block and the Backstreet Boys.
Keith said the new venture may well end up being filmed, or opening up the door to new music.
“It might end up on TV and we’ll record a documentary of it,” he suggested, before adding, “We might end up writing some songs together. There’s no limit to this. We’re going out there with our ears and eyes open.”
The Irish boy bands were both the creation of Irish music mogul and X Factor judge Louis Walsh.
Boyzone were formed in 1993 and scored 18 Top 10 hits in the UK Singles Charts in the 1990s, until their split in 2000. They have sold an estimated 25 million records across their career. In 2009, the boys mourned the premature death of their gay band mate Stephen Gately, after which they returned to the spotlight. They have been making music and touring on and off together since.
Westlife were formed in 1998, and overtook many of Boyzone’s records, earning 14 Number One singles in the UK and selling 50 million records worldwide. Four members continued the band after Brian McFadden’s departure, but they disbanded formally in 2012.
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