Best Of The West
Fresh Magazine October 1999
The Westlife lads settle down with a nice cuppa to tell us all about life and love, fame and fortune, success and er, the Spice Girls...
HOW ARE WESTLIFE FEELING AT THE MOMENT?
Kian> we've spent a lot of time this summer in Asia and Australia but we're back in the UK to release our 3rd single, Flying Without Wings. We've been full on all summer and have had no time to sit down and relax. It's quite hectic. But the feeling is good!
HAS THIS YEAR BEEN DIFFERENT FROM LAST YEAR?
Nicky: Very different. Our lives have changed dramatically. This time last year our lives were so different. We'd just signed to Louis (our co-manager) and we were just starting out. We were doing small roadshows in Ireland and just dreaming and hoping of being bigger and better and just rehearsing every day. We get recognised everywhere now. It's like a dream come true for Westlife!
Shane> It's manic now! There are always loads of screaming fans wherever we go. But we are still the same people underneath that we were last year.
ANY SUMMER ROMANCES?
Mark> One or two, but nothing too serious. We've had a lot of fun this summer, but no romances to tell you about!
Nicky> I'm with someone!
Shane> You have to have a bit of fun in the summer time!
WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO TAKE ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY WITH YOU?
Mark> Jennifer Aniston or Mariah Carey
Kian> I'll have to think about that one!
Nicky> Probably Cameron Diaz
Bryan> Yeah, Cameron Diaz!
WHAT'S BEEN THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR YEAR?
Mark> The times we went home to see our parents. It was so nice, just for a couple of days! And there have been some cool after-show parties.
Kian> Party in the Park was my favourite event for this summer! And we went to Jakarta and spent an evening at the Hard Rock Caf after a gig. That was a ball and I hope there were no photos taken!
Nicky> In Sweden, we went to the Party of the Century. That was the most recent. We had a great laugh with Precious and A1, we were just sitting together in a bar.
SO YOU HAVEN'T HAD MUCH OF A HOLIDAY THEN?
Shane> No we're working too hard! We have a goal that we have to make it with Westlife which means no rest! We have to break the market. It's the way it works. SO WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL LOCATION BE?
Nicky> The Caribbean or Australia
Kian> Sydney.
Mark> Home!
Bryan> Ibiza!
Shane> Maybe New York or something!
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO TAKE TO THE BEACH WITH YOU?
Nicky> No clothes, because I'd love to go skinny-dipping. I never have, but I'd love to! Seriously? A pair of shades and some ice cold drinks!
Mark> Sunglasses and a lovely girl and a towel.
Shane> A few cold beers.
Bryan> I'd like a lovely girl by my side.
Kian> A towel.
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE SINGLE OR ALBUM RECENTLY, EXCLUDING ANY OF YOUR OWN OF COURSE!
Mark> Probably something by TLC. I got really into that.
Kian> 'Say it Again' by Precious
Nicky> I'll have to think about that!
Bryan> The Boyzone album, By Request
Shane> The Backstreet Boys album.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME RUMOURS OF A SPLIT NEXT YEAR FOR BOYZONE. WILL THAT MEAN RONAN WILL BE DEVOTING MORE TIME TO WESTLIFE?
Mark> We're not aware of any split! We've had no news of this!
Kian> What's the story? They have been going so hard in the last six years. They are just having a break and spending time working on their solo careers for a bit. We know them and there is no split coming up. Louis never mentioned anything to us. They are human beings and just need a break! But they'll be around for Christmas.
OK, SO WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELVES NEXT YEAR?
Shane> Hopefully, the band will be still going strong, but we hope to be a lot bigger.
Nicky> Our new single Flying Without Wings will hopefully do really well like the last one. The album is out in November and we hope to go number one with our album.
Mark> We'd like to be Millennium number one first and then next summer we may just have a little break!
Kian> We just want to be bigger and more successful!
AND WHAT WILL YOU BE DOING FOR THE MILLENNIUM?
Mark> I'll be at home with my family
Kian, Shane, Bryan and Nicky (together!)> Partying! Without a shadow of a doubt!
AND I KNOW IT'S A LONG WAY OFF, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET FOR CHRISTMAS?
Mark> A laptop and to go home
Kian> A Porsche
Nicky> This year it's my turn to treat my family. They've done too much for me.
IF YOU WERE A SPICE GIRL, WHICH ONE WOULD YOU BE?
Mark> Sporty because I love her tracksuits.
Kian> Baby
Shane> Posh
Bryan> Scary
Nicky> Posh, Posh and Posh! Because she's so cool!
AND DO YOU HAVE YOUR OWN NICKNAMES?
Mark> We actually have our own spice names! I'm Homesick Spice!
Shane> Country Boy Spice!
Kian> Blondie Spice!
Bryan> Forgetful Spice!
Nicky> Troublesome Spice!
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