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Tragic Boyzone singer Stephen Gately set to top the charts for one last time
Friday, 23 October 2009
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Stephen Gately could be set for the top of the charts one last time, Louis Walsh has revealed.
The tragic popstar had recorded vocals for a new Boyzone track shortly before his shocking death on October 10.
The song, written by Mika, is almost certain to be a number one hit next year if the four remaining members can bear to have it released.
Manager Louis Walsh spoke candidly about the singer's untimely death, revealing there was no rift with Andrew Cowles, Boyzone had "a few drinks" when they stayed overnight in St Lawrence O'Toole's Church and that he considered a controversial Daily Mail column on Stephen's passing to be homophobic.
However, he could not say what the future held for Ronan, Shane, Mikey and Keith, explaining that they still had to cross that bridge.
At the same time, the X Factor judge made it clear that he would like to see them release the band's last song as a five-piece. "Mika gave us an amazing song. Stephen and Ronan did a brilliant vocal on it. Stephen loved the song. So I am hoping we might get that song," said Louis.
But he added: "At the minute all the lads are still in shock. Ronan is in Los Angeles. Mikey and Keith are in Dublin and Shane is in London."
Asked by Herald columnist Colette Fitzpatrick on TV3's MidWeek about whether Boyzone could go on, Louis said: "I don't know what the future holds for Boyzone. There's four in Take That and there's four in Westlife.
"But it's entirely up to them. They have to tell me what they want."
The pop guru also denied a reported rift with Stephen's partner Andrew, saying he was "100pc happy" with their relationship.
It had been suggested that a bitter row existed between the pair as a result of an incident several years ago, but Louis said: "No, I like Andrew a lot, he texts me almost daily now. I think he was a very positive thing in his (Stephen's) life," he continued."
Louis also played down the physical altercation Andy had with the singer outside the Ivy several years ago, where he appeared to have Stephen in a headlock.
"I think they had a row, everybody has a row. Every relationship has its ups and downs but he was happy with him and I had absolutely no problem with Andrew," he explained
"Andrew was always around the place, he was part of the act. When we went on tour, he was there. All his life, he (Stephen) was looking for someone to love him -- that was all he wanted. We were happy if Stephen was happy and he was fairly happy."
However, Louis did attack an article in the British edition of the Daily Mail which sparked thousands of complaints.
The opinion piece by Jan Moir said there was nothing natural about the singer's death, but Louis fumed: "It was a bad, insensitive, horrible article at the wrong, wrong time.
"The family don't need it at this time. It was just bad, bad taste but some people are very homophobic."
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