Westlife members Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan are planning a reunion, but Brian McFadden will not be joining them. The quartet confirmed their reunion, with new songs, co-written by their friend Ed Sheeran, and tour dates allegedly already organised.
The Irish boy band are already planning new songs and a massive tour, according to record industry insiders. “It’s signed, sealed and delivered and it’s definitely happening — and it absolutely does not include Brian McFadden. The other guys have been lined up to return to the studio and record some new songs and tour dates have even been organised, so it’s definitely going ahead this time. There’s been a lot of speculation, but this time it’s a done deal and contracts have been signed,” a source says.
Ed Sheeran is understood to be helping the band record new material, including their first comeback single, according to Simon Boyle writing in his column in this morning’s The Sun newspaper. “I can reveal that none other than Ed Sheeran is the mastermind behind Westlife’s reunion — and has secretly co-written the group a shock new single,” says Boyle.
Confirming that Ed is working with Westlife, a source said, speaking to the Irish Mirror: “Westlife have really been pulling out all the stops for their big comeback and were desperate to get Ed on board. It took quite some time to pull together and has been done totally behind closed doors, but he has finally given them the right record to make it happen. Having Ed involved is a huge coup. They think he will give them a contemporary edge for their reunion. They have already recorded the song and are delighted with the results. They’re just pulling together the final promo details including a video before they unveil it. It’s going to be huge.”
The reunion should come as no surprise to fans, as speculations about a reunion has been circling for sometime. Nicky Byrne has spoken in the past about how Westlife, who have sold over 55 million records, always wanted to do a reunion to coincide with the 20th anniversary of their first single, which was back in 1998.
“I think a reunion is getting closer, next year we’re 20 years since we released Swear It Again, the year after we’re 21 years. One day it would be great to do it again but it’s not happening until you hear from the four of us, not management not anyone else. The offers are there and I think they will always be there which is nice to feel like that. Even leaving the financial element aside, it’s nice to get back onstage, that would be brilliant, you can never relive those moments until you do them again,” Nicky said, speaking to RSVP Magazine.
The bands former manager Louis Walsh also added fuel to the fire, by confirming that a reunion was in the works. Walsh revealed last year: “A Westlife reunion is definitely going to happen – but I have no idea when. I think the reunion will be great, but its up to them to decide when they will do it.”
