Latest news with #Boyzone
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Gives me goosebumps', say emotional Boyzone fans as Keith Duffy opens up about on-stage Stephen Gately tribute
FORMER Boyzone star Keith Duffy has revealed the heartfelt tribute he and Brian McFadden pay to their late friend Stephen Gately during every Boyzlife show. The 50-year-old and his fellow Advertisement 3 Stephen Gately passed away in October 2009 Credit: Getty - Contributor 3 Keith Duffy revealed the heartfelt tribute he and Brian McFadden pay to Stephen during their Boyzlife gigs Credit: Instagram 3 He said it's a 'beautiful part of the show' Credit: Getty was just 33 when he died in Majorca due to a pulmonary oedema or fluid in the lungs as a result of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect. Keith and former The pair, who joined forces in 2016 to form Boyzlife, made a promise to remember the late singer before forming their new band. Keith explained: "Brian and I made a pact when we first got together, that we would try our best to keep Stephen Gately's memories alive within the music business." Advertisement READ MORE ON KEITH DUFFY He revealed that they take a moment to remember Stephen during each show. He added: "So every night we do a little speech about Stephen and we ask the audience to remember their favourite memories of him and we dedicate the song to him and we sing it for him." The emotional moment comes before the iconic duo perform the Boyzone hit No Matter What. Keith said: "It's just a beautiful part of the show. Everybody gets out their phones and they light up, we light up whatever venue we are in. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN "What we did in our live show, we got Stephen's performance of A Different Beat, a song that Boyzone had out years ago. "It's a great performance of Stephen. So we do the vocals that Stephen didn't do and we leave Stephen's vocals on. Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy from Boyzone and Brian McFadden from Westlife are now shareholders of Chorley FC "So we have his voice in the show and it's a real hair on the neck moment and everybody lights up their phones." Explaining why the song means so much to him, he said: "For me, No Matter What - Stephen brought that song to Boyzone." Advertisement Keith went on to explain the story behind the track, which was originally part of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Whistle Down The Wind. He said: "Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen were working together and Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted Stephen to perform that song from Whistle Down The Wind and Stephen made it a Boyzone thing. "So we're very lucky to have been a part of it because it could have just been Stephen. 'BEAUTIFUL' "So that's the song that we decided that we'd always dedicate to him and it's a beautiful part of the show." Advertisement The Six O'Clock Show shared a clip of the conversation to their Instagram and fans were quick to share their love and support in the comments. Julie said: "Always get a shiver down my arms. He's always there guys." Karen wrote: "No matter what will always remind me of Stephen. He had such a beautiful voice. It's such a lovely thing they do to keep his memory alive." Colette commented: "Beautiful. Miss Steo so much." Advertisement Louise said: "Steo would be so proud of you all, as fans thank you so much for keeping his memory alive, it really means a lot." Another added: "Different beat is just stunning and gives me goosebumps every time I hear it and especially live. It's a beautiful tribute for him along with No Matter What."
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Inside Vanessa Feltz's ex Ben's whirlwind romance and wedding after series of swipes
Vanessa Feltz's ex-fiancé, Ben Ofoedu, recently tied the knot with his new partner, Vanessa Brown, in a sweet ceremony in Cumbria, marking a 'new beginning' Vanessa Feltz's ex Ben Ofoedu recently tied the knot with his new partner after getting down on one knee to propose to her in New York City earlier this year. TV presenter Vanessa, 63, and the Phats and Small singer, 53, were together for 16 years and were ready for marriage before calling time on their relationship after he cheated on her. With Ben now married to Vanessa Brown, his ex Vanessa couldn't help but take a swipe at him. It comes after Ben seemingly made a dig of his own. Following his ceremony at a stunning Cumbria castle, he explained how his nuptials were 'a new beginning' and said: "I wasted 17 years of my life." While discussing spouses on her Channel 5 show, she said to the other stars: "And I'm sitting here single, single and all alone." Ben and his new wife met last year while he was with his old girlfriend, Precious. The couple met at an awards ceremony in April of that year, but they didn't get together until a few months later. Vanessa, who is an aesthetics expert who is over two decades younger than Ben, had the happiest shock of her life when Ben got down on one knee to propose to her in Central Park in New York City in February. 'Vanessa was completely surprised. They were walking through the park, reminiscing about Elf, when Ben suddenly proposed,' a source told The Sun at the time. 'It was so heartfelt — happy tears, laughter, and, of course, an immediate yes!' Six months later, they tied the knot in a gorgeous ceremony at Rose Castle in Cumbria. In pictures shared online, the £100k ceremony featured famous faces and a lavish drone show. Ben rocked a cream suit and black shirt for the ceremony while Vanessa sported a strapless lace gown. Among the 72 guests were the likes of Boyzone's Keith Duffy, S Club 7's Bradley McIntosh, and 911's Lee Brennan. Ben's best man was none other than Shane Lynch. Ben's former Phats & Small bandmate, Rodney Williams, also gave a heartfelt speech during the special evening. When it was time for Ben and Vanessa's first dance, they opted for the band's own song, Every Day I Love You. Guests were treated to Jeal-Noel Geritage Champagne and watched in awe when it was time for the drone show, which depicted the couple's love story. The couple shared their love story in their order of service, which read: "We met on the 19th April 2024 at the Elite Awards in Carlisle – a night we will never forget. It just so happened that Ben was performing [at the event] with Boyz on Block as a last-minute addition after Boyzlife [comprising Boyzone's Duffy and Westlife's Brian McFadden] had to cancel. If Brian and Keith had not stepped back, Ben wouldn't have been on that stage, and we might never have met. 'After the show, we ended up chatting – nothing planned or forced. That conversation sparked something real, and everything changed from there. Since that night, we've packed a lifetime into a year. Then, in February 2025, during the most unforgettable trip to New York, Ben proposed. Now standing here on our wedding day with all of you, it's surreal and beautiful to think how it all began.' Speaking to MailOnline following his big day, Ben said: "I have always wanted to be married since I was seven years old. I always wanted to be with someone who would take my surname. "I almost gave up on marriage, thinking there wasn't a lady that would walk down the aisle for me. I can't believe the day has come, it is a dream come true. It feels like I've been waiting for this moment all my life. This is the finale of the chapter that was 17 years of my life."
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Vanessa Feltz, 63, appears to make subtle dig at ex Ben Ofoedu on live TV - days after his wedding to 'Vanessa 2.0'
Vanessa Feltz appeared to make a subtle dig at her ex Ben Ofoedu live on her Channel 5 show on Thursday. The TV personality, 63, previously dated the singer, 53, for 16 years, and they were set to get married, until reports of his infidelity were leaked to the press in 2023. Ben married aesthetics expert, Vanessa Brown - who he affectionately calls her 'Vanessa 2.0' - in a lavish £100,000 ceremony in Cumbria earlier this week. Just days after they tied the knot, Vanessa couldn't help but take a subtle swipe at Ben in a discussion about working with spouses. Speaking on her daytime talk show Vanessa, she chatted to Carrie and David Grant, former Strictly star James Jordan and her daughter, Saskia Joss. As the group gushed about their perfect working-marriage dynamic, Vanessa joked: 'And I'm sitting here single, single and all alone.' Among the 72 guests at Ben's wedding this week were famous faces including Boyzone 's Shane Lynch, who acted as best man, as well as his former bandmate Keith Duffy, S Club 7 's Bradley McIntosh and pop group 911's Lee Brennan. Guests toasted the newlyweds with filled-to-the-brim flutes of £33-a-bottle Jean-Noel Heritage Champagne. After a romantic first dance to Boyzone's Every Day I Love You – a nod to Ofoedu's long-standing music industry friendships – the crowd was treated to a £7,500 drone show that told the couple's love story, which began in April last year after a chance meeting backstage at a gala dinner celebrating business men and women in Carlisle, at which Ofeodu was performing. Vanessa Feltz met Ben in 2005, when she was at the height of her broadcasting fame and he was a little-known pop singer – best remembered for his stint in Phats & Small. The couple quickly became a fixture on the celebrity circuit and within months were engaged, with Feltz proudly introducing him to the public as her fiancé. She frequently featured him in her media appearances, from red-carpet events to reality-TV shows, reviving his public profile and transforming him into a household name. But behind the scenes, cracks were beginning to show. Their relationship came to a dramatic end in 2023 after he admitted to cheating — a betrayal that left Vanessa heartbroken and publicly humiliated. Reflecting on his relationship with the former This Morning agony aunt, he said: 'Never again will I do that. I wasted 17 years of my life.' Vanessa took her mind off the wedding on Wednesday and headed out dressed in a bright pink floral gown for a night at Gymkhana in London Ben added: 'I don't believe in long engagements any more. You don't want to get married if there's a question mark over your engagement. 'If you don't want to commit to someone, that's fine. But don't pretend you do and hold on to someone for a long period of time. Let them free, let them fly.' After undergoing therapy in the wake of their split, the DJ – who refuses to mention Feltz by name 'ever again' – said the torrid experience gave him clarity. 'I knew what I was getting into going out with someone that talks about their sex life on TV. What did I expect? It was great media attention for her. I went into it with my eyes wide open thinking it wouldn't affect me, but it did.' Meanwhile, Vanessa confessed that she still has hope of finding love again, despite admitting that it's a 'dating desert out there'. While she had a secret short-lived romance last year, Vanessa has been single ever since, now insisting it is 'impossible and agonising' to find someone new. Reflecting on Jennifer Aniston 's new relationship with hunky hypnotist Jim Curtis, the broadcaster admitted it had been a 'beacon of hope' to her that she would also find love again. exclusively revealed last week that Jennifer, 56, spent the Fourth of July weekend with life coach Jim, 49, with snaps showing the couple packing on the PDA onboard a yacht. Vanessa recently confessed that she still has hope of finding love again, despite admitting that it's a 'dating desert out there' (seen yesterday) Vanessa discussed the twice divorced actress' newfound happiness in her latest column for the Daily Express, where she lamented how tricky it was for women over the age of 45 to find a partner. She wrote: 'It's so tough, impossible and agonising to find a decent bloke these days. The apps are hopeless. It's a dating desert out there. 'I loathe this lament but also can't deny that these days, finding a man to love and be loved by is a huge task once maturity has kicked in. 'If Jen has indeed landed her own Mr Darcy then she'll send a beacon of hope to the rest of us. Go girl!
North Wales Chronicle
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Westlife and Boyzone duo to perform at new Holyhead festival
Party in Y Parc, to be held at Y Parc on August 30, will see the due perform both groups' greatest hits, while electronic music group N-Trance will also be making an appearance. A number of other bands from North Wales will also perform at what is being called 'Holyhead's biggest-ever outdoor music festival'. As well as live music, the family-friendly event will feature food vendors, activities, and more. Tickets are available now from £15 via A promotional poster for Party in Y Parc (Image: Submitted) Nick Murphy, tourism officer at Holyhead Town Council, said: 'Following on from Holyhead Town Council's successful A Night of Lights event at Christmas, this is another fantastic initiative that highlights how forward-thinking and community-focused Holyhead Town Council is becoming. 'Many have asked if this is a tribute festival - I can assure you it is not, and Brian McFadden and Keith Duffy and really looking forward to putting on a show on the island!' Keith Duffy (Boyzone) said: 'The whole concept of the band at the start was that we wanted to do an autobiographical show. "We wanted to tell our life experiences through the music rather than write it in a book. So, we created Boyzlife! 'Now, our collaboration brings together the nostalgic appeal of Boyzone and Westlife, together with an amazing live show.'
Daily Mail
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kavana reveals he was PAID for drug-fuelled sex amid addiction battle after 'exhausting' battle to hide his sexuality drove the 90s star to alcoholism
90s heartthrob Kavana has revealed that he was once paid for drug-fuelled sex after having an 'exhausting' battle to hide his sexuality during his pop career. In his new memoir, Anthony Kavanagh, who rose to fame under the name Kavana, has lifted the lid on the darker side of stardom with his explosive autobiography, Pop Scars, which is to be released on July 17. He found success at the age of just 16 years old with a series of hit singles such as I Can Make You Feel Good and Special Kind of Something in the late 1990s. But he has now revealed the personal cost of fame after he battled both alcohol and drug addiction which ended up leaving him homeless and admitted he 'needed to be locked up'. Kavana, who was born in Manchester, was signed to a record label in his teens and soon found himself partying with popstars and touring with Boyzone. However with a young female fanbase, the heartthrob was 'afraid' of having his sexuality outed as his fame deepened on him being 'straight' for his young teenage girl fans. While on one tour, Kavana had a secret relationship with Boyzone's Stephen Gately, who tragically died of an undiagnosed heart condition in 2009. Discussing hiding his sexuality, he told The Guardian: 'It was difficult and that's where alcohol came in as a comfort. 'It's crazy when I look back now, the time that we were in. It was a constant act and it was exhausting but you just got on with it because I was so lucky for this to happen to me'. Soon after touring, Kavana was dropped from his record label and his fame bubble popped causing him to turn to booze even more. The 90's star decided to move to the States to see if he could break America but jobs soon dried up and admitted he hit rock bottom after becoming lonely and turned to alcohol and crystal meth. Kavana said he became a 'loose cannon and got myself into situations' including waking up in a stranger's flat realising he had been paid for sex. In the memoir, Kavana described the reality of waking up in a stranger's apartment and the realisation he had been paid for the sex he couldn't remember. He also revealed that he had smoked crack in a skip in Hackney with a homeless woman he had just met and whom he trusts with his bank card to score more drugs - before adding that 'you should never give a stranger your pin code while high'. However with a young female fanbase, the heartthrob was 'afraid' of having his sexuality outed as his fame deepened on him being 'straight' He was forced to move home after seven years penniless and also lost his elderly parents home, which he had been paying the mortgage on. Kavana turned to drink once again as he saw the stars around him, including Ant and Dec and Billie Piper, reinventing themselves and become successful while he felt 'shame' and 'regret'. The ex pop star started hanging out with Amy Winehouse, who also had her own alcohol addiction, before she died age 27 in 2011 from accidental alcohol poisoning. Kavana's drink and drug problem drained his wallet and ultimately led to him 'secretly living in an old people's sheltered housing complex with his mother.' After attempting to go to rehab and AA meetings, Kavana was forced to sign up to the job center in Manchester and was scared of being recognised as 'the washed up popstar' causing him to relapse. However, following getting a large payout from a newspaper after they agreed to settle a defamation case he had long forgotten, Kavana went to a private rehab facility as he admitted 'I need to be locked up' as he thought alcohol was going to kill him. He is now three and half years sober and wrote his new memoir Pop Scars during the first year of sobriety and is using that as a reminder of where alcohol took him. Kavana noted to the publication how it is strange doing interviews again in a time where he can be open about his sexuality and mental health, 'we didn't talk about it back then'. The singer documented his 2022 entry into rehab after sadly relapsing a year earlier. In February 2022, he took to Twitter to apologise to his family for not being 'truthful' as he admitted that alcoholism had 'got a grip on him' in an emotional post. He spoke of his 'mental struggles', before signing off social media for the foreseeable future. The statement read: 'Today I go into rehab. Again. This illness of Alcoholism has got its grip. I'll be off social media for a while. 'To what family I have left, I'm sorry I wasn't truthful I've been going through a lot of mental struggles. Good news I'm going to get the help I need. 'My phone will be off for a while. Clint, Aunty Angela, Aunty Maria, Brad, I'm going to be OK and I love you all madly x.'
