Post by Deleted on Apr 28, 2018 12:06:20 GMT -8
BRIAN McFadden claims he is losing out on a €4.5million Westlife payday because one ex-bandmate still can’t forgive him for quitting 14 years ago.
The TV presenter, 38, yesterday claimed that “ego is destroying a full reunion” after the four members he split from in 2004 turned down a huge cash deal from Simon Cowell to reform.
X Factor guru Cowell is understood to have offered Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan €11.4million each to team up with Brian again.
And he had been willing to invest a further €20-30million to put the original five-piece line-up back at the top of the charts with a new album and world tour.
But Brian says the plan came to nothing when one member of the chart behemoths pulled out because he refused to ever work with the Irish Son singer again.
He told us: “I was offered a big multi-million pound deal. It was the other boys in Westlife who said ‘no’. They didn’t want me back.
“How does that make me feel? It makes me pretty upset because I didn’t realise they still had those feelings towards me.”
He added: “I honestly don’t know if it could still happen because Nicky has his radio show going on, Mark still has all his money under his bed and Kian is just surfing. So I don’t think these boys are raised on money.”
However, the Irish Sun understands that music boss Cowell will not be deterred — and could be prepared to stump up even more cash to clinch the biggest reunion since Take That.
We have been given the full background to his astonishing offer, and the enduring feud that scuppered the get-together.
With One Direction taking time out, it has been Simon’s dream to reactivate the Irish group as a chart-topping act with Louis Walsh as their manager.
But the Syco record label chief only wanted all five original members of Westlife taking part.
And he approached estranged ex-member Brian — who missed out on a string of Westlife No1 hits when he walked away to pursue solo stardom — with a €4.5million offer to join the comeback.
An insider revealed: “Brian had meetings with Simon. The whole thing seemed to be taking off until Simon rang Brian to say ‘one of the partners’ — a former member — was refusing to take part if it meant Brian rejoining Westlife.
“They were adamant they wouldn’t do it if Brian was involved.”
Cowell has since refused to give ground on his precondition that Brian must be on-board.
A source explained: “Simon wants Westlife back but with that something extra that would bring fans back. That meant Brian and his unpredictability.
“It would give the Westlife reunion the tension it needs.”
Friends have told how dad-of-two Brian is mystified at why someone in Westlife would turn down €11million and the support of someone as powerful as Simon Cowell to put them back at No1.
A pal said: “The cash would put Brian’s kids through college and secure their future. You just can’t turn down that kind of money.
“Especially not in this part of your life when you have children, and you could look after the people you love. It’s insane anyone in Westlife could turn down a deal like this.”
But insiders have revealed that some members of Westlife can’t forgive Brian for walking out on the pop band in 2004.
Our source said: “They felt Brian tried to destroy the band to further his own solo career. But Westlife survived, had more hits and continued for a further eight years without Brian.
“That really was down to the hard work of the four guys that saved the band.”
It is thought that Cowell may now be prepared to offer the four even more money to bury the hatchet with Brian.
The source added: “Westlife back reunited and touring with Brian has really caught Simon’s imagination. He’s a guy who is used to getting what he wants, and may be prepared to offer so much money to the four guys in Westlife they won’t be able to turn him down.”
After embarking on his solo career Brian topped the charts with his first two singles.
But he now admits that he found the pop business hard going without his old boyband pals. He recalled: “I had a band for my solo tour but you feel a bit separated.
“In Westlife we could spot if someone was flagging, or upset or tired. The other guys knew how to give you a lift.”
Speaking earlier this month, Shane ruled out any comeback for the original Westlife line-up, and admitted to a distant relationship with ex-bandmate Brian.
The 38-year-old singer said: “I haven’t seen Brian in ten years. We’ve just lost touch, it’s like going to school with somebody and then not speaking. I wouldn’t speak to him to reminisce, not at all.
“We all had a good relationship with Brian, then he just left the band very early on and I don’t think we would ever reunite with him. I honestly see Westlife as being four people now — the four people who started and finished Westlife are what I consider the band.
Play Video
Brian McFadden steals hearts with amazing Westlife rendition in Glasgow's Bay Horse
“Brian has been out of the band longer than he was in it. If we ever reunited down the line it would only be the four of us.”
Brian later claimed that Westlife was taking its success for granted when he decided to walk away — and by quitting he made Shane and Co appreciate what they had all over again.
He said: “If we had been given a break, it might have been different, but when I look back now everything happens for a reason.
“None of the other guys were enjoying it at that stage, they hated it. But when I left, they all got scared with this feeling, how long is this going to last? They ended up appreciating what they had again. They started to love it again.
“They got eight years of something they were taking for granted. They enjoyed those eight years more than the first eight years.”
Getting their break supporting Boyzone in 1998, Westlife went on to eclipse their mentors, scoring a record seven consecutive No1s with their first seven singles, as well as 50million record sales worldwide.
Before they disbanded in 2012, the group had topped the UK singles charts 14 times with another 12 making Top 10 positions.
Lead singer Shane soon had to file for bankruptcy when the property development firm he owned with his brother Finbar entered receivership with debts of €23million. But he has since bounced back with three solo studio albums.
Meanwhile, Byrne, 39, has turned himself into successful presenter on 2fm and RTE’s Dancing with the Stars, as well as representing Ireland at Eurovision.
Former bandmate Kian, 37, was crowned King of the Jungle on the 2013 season of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here, and also appeared as a coach on The Voice of Ireland.
And Mark, 37, has released two solo albums and written up to 30 new songs — some of which could well appear on a new Westlife album if it goes ahead.
Source
The TV presenter, 38, yesterday claimed that “ego is destroying a full reunion” after the four members he split from in 2004 turned down a huge cash deal from Simon Cowell to reform.
X Factor guru Cowell is understood to have offered Nicky Byrne, Shane Filan, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan €11.4million each to team up with Brian again.
And he had been willing to invest a further €20-30million to put the original five-piece line-up back at the top of the charts with a new album and world tour.
But Brian says the plan came to nothing when one member of the chart behemoths pulled out because he refused to ever work with the Irish Son singer again.
He told us: “I was offered a big multi-million pound deal. It was the other boys in Westlife who said ‘no’. They didn’t want me back.
“How does that make me feel? It makes me pretty upset because I didn’t realise they still had those feelings towards me.”
He added: “I honestly don’t know if it could still happen because Nicky has his radio show going on, Mark still has all his money under his bed and Kian is just surfing. So I don’t think these boys are raised on money.”
However, the Irish Sun understands that music boss Cowell will not be deterred — and could be prepared to stump up even more cash to clinch the biggest reunion since Take That.
We have been given the full background to his astonishing offer, and the enduring feud that scuppered the get-together.
With One Direction taking time out, it has been Simon’s dream to reactivate the Irish group as a chart-topping act with Louis Walsh as their manager.
But the Syco record label chief only wanted all five original members of Westlife taking part.
And he approached estranged ex-member Brian — who missed out on a string of Westlife No1 hits when he walked away to pursue solo stardom — with a €4.5million offer to join the comeback.
An insider revealed: “Brian had meetings with Simon. The whole thing seemed to be taking off until Simon rang Brian to say ‘one of the partners’ — a former member — was refusing to take part if it meant Brian rejoining Westlife.
“They were adamant they wouldn’t do it if Brian was involved.”
Cowell has since refused to give ground on his precondition that Brian must be on-board.
A source explained: “Simon wants Westlife back but with that something extra that would bring fans back. That meant Brian and his unpredictability.
“It would give the Westlife reunion the tension it needs.”
Friends have told how dad-of-two Brian is mystified at why someone in Westlife would turn down €11million and the support of someone as powerful as Simon Cowell to put them back at No1.
A pal said: “The cash would put Brian’s kids through college and secure their future. You just can’t turn down that kind of money.
“Especially not in this part of your life when you have children, and you could look after the people you love. It’s insane anyone in Westlife could turn down a deal like this.”
But insiders have revealed that some members of Westlife can’t forgive Brian for walking out on the pop band in 2004.
Our source said: “They felt Brian tried to destroy the band to further his own solo career. But Westlife survived, had more hits and continued for a further eight years without Brian.
“That really was down to the hard work of the four guys that saved the band.”
It is thought that Cowell may now be prepared to offer the four even more money to bury the hatchet with Brian.
The source added: “Westlife back reunited and touring with Brian has really caught Simon’s imagination. He’s a guy who is used to getting what he wants, and may be prepared to offer so much money to the four guys in Westlife they won’t be able to turn him down.”
After embarking on his solo career Brian topped the charts with his first two singles.
But he now admits that he found the pop business hard going without his old boyband pals. He recalled: “I had a band for my solo tour but you feel a bit separated.
“In Westlife we could spot if someone was flagging, or upset or tired. The other guys knew how to give you a lift.”
Speaking earlier this month, Shane ruled out any comeback for the original Westlife line-up, and admitted to a distant relationship with ex-bandmate Brian.
The 38-year-old singer said: “I haven’t seen Brian in ten years. We’ve just lost touch, it’s like going to school with somebody and then not speaking. I wouldn’t speak to him to reminisce, not at all.
“We all had a good relationship with Brian, then he just left the band very early on and I don’t think we would ever reunite with him. I honestly see Westlife as being four people now — the four people who started and finished Westlife are what I consider the band.
Play Video
Brian McFadden steals hearts with amazing Westlife rendition in Glasgow's Bay Horse
“Brian has been out of the band longer than he was in it. If we ever reunited down the line it would only be the four of us.”
Brian later claimed that Westlife was taking its success for granted when he decided to walk away — and by quitting he made Shane and Co appreciate what they had all over again.
He said: “If we had been given a break, it might have been different, but when I look back now everything happens for a reason.
“None of the other guys were enjoying it at that stage, they hated it. But when I left, they all got scared with this feeling, how long is this going to last? They ended up appreciating what they had again. They started to love it again.
“They got eight years of something they were taking for granted. They enjoyed those eight years more than the first eight years.”
Getting their break supporting Boyzone in 1998, Westlife went on to eclipse their mentors, scoring a record seven consecutive No1s with their first seven singles, as well as 50million record sales worldwide.
Before they disbanded in 2012, the group had topped the UK singles charts 14 times with another 12 making Top 10 positions.
Lead singer Shane soon had to file for bankruptcy when the property development firm he owned with his brother Finbar entered receivership with debts of €23million. But he has since bounced back with three solo studio albums.
Meanwhile, Byrne, 39, has turned himself into successful presenter on 2fm and RTE’s Dancing with the Stars, as well as representing Ireland at Eurovision.
Former bandmate Kian, 37, was crowned King of the Jungle on the 2013 season of I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here, and also appeared as a coach on The Voice of Ireland.
And Mark, 37, has released two solo albums and written up to 30 new songs — some of which could well appear on a new Westlife album if it goes ahead.
Source
