by Shane Filan
I don’t care who writes it. It doesn’t matter. It may be a guy who is sitting in a studio in California right now, or in a café in London, or in a bedroom in Berlin.
It could even be me. I know I shall keep trying.
Recently, I was due to support Garth Brooks playing some huge concerts at Croke Park. I was looking forward to it so much, but the shows got cancelled.
Why? It was a combination of objections from locals, and then those objections being handled ineptly by the local authorities. I had an ironic smile at that one. As I said to Finbarr, it all sounded rather familiar…
I love Garth Brooks – I’ve loved country music ever since I was a boy, listening to my dad’s Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves records over the Carlton Café – and when the Croke Park gigs were pulled, I was down and quite angry for a day or two.
But then I snapped out of it. Life is too short to get dragged down by things you can do nothing about; and I think you’ll agree, I have survived far worse setbacks than that one. At least I won’t lose my house over it!
If I know one thing for sure about my future career, it is that I will always sing. As a bank manager once said:
‘You can sing, can’t you?’
Singing is me; it is what I do. I will be doing no more property developing, thank God, and no more dabbling in things that I don’t fully understand. I am a singer, and even if I end up in my sixties crooning in local pubs or at weddings, that is what I will do. I like writing, but singing is like breathing to me.
I think Gillian and I might like to have more kids, because we always wanted a big family, and maybe we aren’t done yet. And I think we might return to live in Sligo one day. I have to admit that our relationship with the hometown that we love got a bit bruised along the way. But it is healing.
And will Westlife ever reform?
Ah, well, there’s a question.
The honest answer is that I simply don’t know. Mark, Kian, Nicky and I were a gang for fourteen years, up for the craic, having impossible adventures and taking on the world, but since we split up, we have hardly seen or spoken to each other.
I went to support Nicky on Strictly Come Dancing… but these days, if we do meet up, it is usually by chance. Kian is still a judge on The Voice of Ireland, so when I appeared on the show, he and I caught up. I bumped into Mark on a night out in a pub in Sligo and we had a chat over a pint.
When we happen to see each other, we reminisce. Of course we do. We went through so much together. Yet if I am honest it is different now from how it used to be.
I guess that we have grown apart.
It is only natural.
We were a gang, we were brothers; we were Westlife. Nothing, and nobody, can ever take that away from us. But will we ever take a deep breath, get those stools out of storage, and do it all again?
I don’t know. Maybe. Maybe not.
For now, I am just grateful to be happy and healthy, in love with Gillian and our three perfect children, Nicole, Patrick and Shane and making a living from singing songs. At heart, that is all I ever wanted, right from the start. And that is the extraordinary story of my life so far.
That is My Side of Life.
‘Darling, Happy Anniversary’: My parents, Peter and Mae, on their honeymoon, August 1967.
Family portrait for my brother Finbarr’s confirmation: Back row, left to right: Dad, Finbarr, Yvonne, me in my mum’s arms (that’s a lampshade on the wall behind her – not a funny hat!) Front row: Peter, Denise, Mairead and Liam. Easter, 1980.
Me, aged 3.
Lord and Lady Grantham of Sligo: Even at an early age, I loved getting into character.
‘And the tiny tots winner is...’ Me on Jasper at the Sligo Show aged 5, 1984.
My first appearance in Croke Park, as a mascot for my brothers’ big hurling win for Sligo, 1986.
The Bruce Lee years: King of the spinning kick!
‘I pity the fool’: Me and my beloved Mr T doll.
My first holy communion: Thanks for the haircut, Mum!
My front yard: Castle Street, Sligo, where I grew up.
First year in Summerhill College, Sligo. As you can see, I wasn’t exactly the tallest in my class.
IOYOU with Mary McDonagh: Left to right: me, Michael, Derek, Mark, Graham and Kian. Classic nineties haircuts all round!
One of our first ever photo shoots with the final line-up. Check out my blonde hair!
Performing at the 2FM Beat on the Street in Ballina, Co. Mayo, July 1998.
At Pinewood Studios filming our first ever video for ‘Swear it Again’. PA Images
Learning how to pose... PA Images
‘The making of a boy band’: An article from the Irish Independent, April, 1999. Picture includes Sonny Takhar (bottom right), Ronan (bttom left), Louis, (top right), and Simon, (centre). Irish Independent
My first motor: I loved that car!
Walking into star records on our return to Sligo, 1999.
Meeting the Queen for the first time, Christmas 1999. PA Images
With Denise van Outen after winning Record of the Year, 1999 for ‘Flying Without Wings’. PA Images
My 21st birthday: Opening the Harrods summer sale. PA Images
Me and the boys in Time Square, New York, summer 2000. Corbis
The boys with my mum. Thank God she made that phone call to Louis!
On location with Mariah Carey (in that famous pink top) for the ‘Against All Odds’ video shoot.
Winning record of the year for the second time for ‘My Love’. PA Images
Being presented with the key to the city of Sligo, by then mayor, Rosaleen O’Grady. A very proud day for me.
Me and Mum meeting Pope John Paul II. It was a very special moment for both of us.
On set with Claudia Schiffer shooting the video for ‘Uptown Girl’.
What a car: Behind the wheel of my black Ferrari 550 Maranello.
With Gillian: My birthday in Benihana’s restaurant, London.
‘Queen of my Heart’: Just married, Ashford Castle, 28 December 2003.
‘Baby I’m Amazed by You’: Singing to Gillian during my speech. Not a dry eye in the house.
On honeymoon in the Maldives.
Kian reading our letter to Brian during the press conference where we announced he was leaving the band. Dave Hogan/Getty Images
First show without Brian and the start of the Turnaround tour in Belfast. I genuinely think that it was one of the best shows we had ever played. ShowBizIreland/Getty Images
Back in the US, and at a Grammys party with Puff Daddy.
My 25th birthday in Miami – the day I agreed the deal for the Carraroe site.
Backstage with Gillian at the Point Depot for Nicole’s stage debut, aged 18 months.
With my mum and my helicopter outside Castledale, early 2005.
Singing for Obama at the Nobel Prize ceremony, 2009 and meeting him backstage. What a guy! Sandy Young/Getty Images for Nobel Peace Prize
On stage as part of the Where We Are tour, O2 London, 2010. Rune Hellestad/Corbis
Performing at Lissadell meant an awful lot to us. Framelight.ie
I had the pleasure of playing with the legend that is Zinedine Zidane at Soccer Aid 2010. This is one for the mantelpiece!
Me and the boys surrounded by our success. Ben Riggott/Corbis Outline
China and Southeast Asia were some of the most enjoyable dates we had played in a few years. Here I am with the boys on stage in Beijing and messing about on a night out in Hong Kong.
Getting to meet a panda cub in China was also a very special experience.
Patrick aged 3 and Shane aged 2 playing on the bumper cars that were part of our set for the Greatest Hits tour.
In the empty stadium before the final Croke Park gigs.
‘The city of twinkling lights’: Croke Park, 23 June 2012.
Saying goodbye – what an emotional night. Colin Bell
‘Going for a Song?’: The local media reaction to my bankruptcy.<
br />
My manager, my mentor, my friend: Backstage at The X Factor with Louis.
Performing with Nicholas on The X Factor final.
My first ever solo performance in Bournemouth.
Me and my band having a laugh on tour: Such a great bunch of lads! Left to right, Matt, Ben, Henry, Isaac, Jimmy.
‘Ah, Shane Filan from Sligo – look at him now!’ My name above the Hammersmith Apollo.
Celebrating a sold out UK Tour with my amazing tour promoters. Left to right, Louis Walsh, Sarah Sherlock, Maria Barry and Barry Clayman from Live Nation, and John Giddings.
Singing on stage to Nicole.
Performing at the Olympia, Dublin. What a great crowd!
I travel the world with my tour manager Liam. He’s amazing! But who’s copying whose style here?
This is what happens when my bass player, Jimmy, misses a note on tour...
At my EP launch and at an album signing in Asia. I love going there so much.
A Christmas pint with my mates from Sligo, Left to right: Philip, Cathal, Keith, Brian (Brig) and Paul.
As Gillian said, ‘You have me, Nicole, Patrick and Shane – what more do you need?’
INDEX
(the initials SF refer to Shane Filan)
The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.
Abba 76, 77
Ahern, Bertie 45
Ahern, Georgina, see Byrne, Georgina
Aikens, Peter 260
AJ (singer) 22
Albert, Jodi, see Egan, Jodi
American Idol 121, 143, 153, 205
Annie Get Your Gun 16, 18
Ant and Dec 64
A1 91
Atkinson, Nick 283
Atomic Kitten 73–4, 91
Backstreet Boys 18–19, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 41, 44, 45, 46, 49–50, 54, 55, 61, 62, 66, 70, 94, 95, 115
IOYOU supports 35, 36–8, 40, 68
Barlow, Colin 48
Barlow, Gary 236
Barry, Paul 285
BBC 92, 96
Beat on the Street 50
Beatles 62, 66, 90, 128, 134, 168–9
Benihana 55
B*Witched 73
Blair, Tony 100
Blanchardstown Centre 65–6, 67
Bob the Builder 92, 93, 109, 125
Bono 102
Boyz II Men 49
Boyzone 18, 20, 30, 31, 32, 38, 41, 43, 45, 48, 49, 54, 65, 66, 72, 96, 114, 116
Westside supports 50, 51, 55–9, 60, 61, 63, 64
Brian (‘Brig’) (friend) 19, 28, 126
Brian (manager) 34
Brooks, Garth 296
Brosnan, Pierce 63
Brunei, Sultan of 103–4
Bublé, Michael 177
Buckley’s 29, 30
Burley, Kay 136
Byrne, Jay 174, 184
Byrne (née Ahern), Georgina 45, 59, 144, 165
Byrne, Joanne 125, 136, 238, 250, 289
Byrne, Nicky 45–6, 47, 50, 57, 59, 65, 90, 94–5, 100, 106, 111, 115, 122, 124, 131–5, 144–6, 159
As a footballer 50, 94
on Strictly Come Dancing 297
see also Westlife
Byrne, Rocco 184
Campbell, Naomi 114
Carey, Mariah 18, 83–4, 85, 86, 88, 96, 160
Carlsson, Andreas 62
Carlton Café xi, 2–3, 5, 10–11, 17, 19, 23, 40, 46, 77, 78, 79, 103, 104
becomes supermarket 246
Carraroe Farm 79–80, 106
Carter, Nick 37, 44, 58
Castledale ix, 141–2, 149–50, 219, 244, 249, 256, 276, 279–81
Cathal (brother-in-law) 187
CD:UK 64, 74
Cheiron Studios 61, 62
Chieftains 230
Church, Charlotte 76
Cline, Patsy 3
Coast to Coast 88, 89, 90, 92, 107
Cobh Ramblers FC 45
Cohen, Leonard 218
Cole, Cheryl 211–12
Collins, Phil 84
Comic Relief 96, 100, 101
Connaught Rugby 20
Cosgrove’s 11
Cowell, Simon 41–2, 43, 48–9, 54–6, 64, 68–9, 71, 73, 74–5, 81, 82, 86, 87, 93, 106, 107, 113, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 123–4, 143–5, 161, 153, 166–7, 185, 174–7, 223, 278
Beverly Hills home of 205–7
and Brian’s leaving 134
changed circumstances of 121–2
and Sun anti-Westlife campaign 169
Westlife master plan of 63
Westlife signed by 61
Westside named by 49
X Factor launched by 153
Cranberries 110
Crosby, Bing 3
Crow, Sheryl 160
Cunningham, Eamonn 23, 37
Dallas 10
Damage 43
Daughtry 206
Davis, Clive 82, 146
Davis, Steve ix, 199
Deeley, Cat 64
Desmond, Dennis 271
DiCaprio, Leonardo 26
Dino’s 15
Dodd, Ken 76
Doherty, Ken ix, 34, 199
Downey, Caroline 271
Duffy, Keith 33, 96
East 17 74
EastEnders 69
Egan (née Albert), Jodi 165
Kian marries 200–1
Egan, Kian 14, 15, 17, 18, 21–2, 24, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 36, 38–9, 42, 43, 45–6, 47, 50, 51, 57, 58, 59, 67, 79, 83, 85, 87, 91, 100–3, 106, 110, 120, 124, 152
Jodi marries 200–1
letter of, to Brian 136
Shane meets 13
on Voice of Ireland 248, 297
see also Westlife
EJ Menswear (‘EJs’) 23, 26, 37
Elizabeth II 76–7, 231–2
Elofsson, Jörgen 62
Elstree Studios 68
Embassy Rooms 19, 79
Eminem 70
Equinox 19, 24, 25, 34, 41, 79
Factory Studios 94, 130
Fanning, Dave 32
Feehily, Mark 19, 20, 21, 24, 30, 34, 42, 43, 47, 50, 51, 54, 55, 57, 59, 62, 64, 79, 100, 110, 112, 117, 123, 152, 159, 167, 185, 200
boyfriend of 165
as peacemaker 106
Shane meets 18
see also Westlife
Filan, Denise (sister) 2, 6, 10
Filan, Finbarr (brother) x, xi, 2, 4, 9, 10, 12
‘The Fridge’ room of 5
and Shafin Developments, see Shafin Developments
supermarket opened by 246
Filan, Geraldine (sister-in-law) 245–6
Filan (née Walsh), Gillian (wife) ix, xi, 14, 15, 16, 19, 22, 24–5, 28–9, 30, 36–40, 47, 49, 51, 58, 59, 60, 61, 65, 68, 73, 79–81, 93, 100, 103, 106–9, 112, 200–1, 228, 272, 278–281
at band’s last show 272
daughter born to 157–8
on Face to Face tour 165–6
honeymoon of 128–9
pregnancies of 149, 151, 156–7, 183, 201, 215
on SF’s first solo tour 289
Shane marries 125–7
Shane meets 14
Shane proposes to 119
song about 26
songs written for 285–6
sons born to 194–5, 215
Surrey house bought by 163
Filan, Killian (nephew) 243
Filan, Liam (brother) 2, 6, 215
Filan, Lily (aunty) 2
Filan, Luke (uncle) 2
Filan, Mae (mother) 2–3, 5, 8–9, 10, 12, 17, 28, 29, 30–2, 33, 50, 68, 78, 90, 92, 111, 112, 174
last song dedicated to 273
on SF’s first solo tour 289
SF’s thanks to 271
Filan, Mairead (sister) 2, 10, 30
Filan, Nicole (daughter) ix, 158, 165, 178, 200–1, 246, 251
on Face to Face tour 165–6
at Kian–Jodi wedding
on SF’s first solo to
ur 289
Filan, Patrick (son) ix, 194–5
Filan, Peter (brother) 2, 9, 16, 174
Filan, Peter (father) 2–3, 6, 17, 33, 50, 68, 78, 92, 127–8
farm bought by 79–80
last song dedicated to 273
on SF’s first solo tour 289
SF’s thanks to 271
Filan, Shane:
and acting 12, 16, 28
bankruptcy of 264–8, 274–7
birth of 1–2
Carraroe house bought by 112
cars bought by 60–1, 91, 104, 111
childhood of xi, 1–20
company owned by x
creditors’ meeting concerning 250
debts incurred by x–xi
debut solo album of 286, 287