WestLife

Westlife, the Irish pop group, came together in Dublin in July 1998 when Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Mark Feehily, who had been sc...

Westlife, the Irish pop group, came together in Dublin in July 1998 when Shane Filan, Kian Egan, and Mark Feehily, who had been schoolmates from Sligo, joined forces with Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden following auditions to complete the original five-member lineup. Managed by Louis Walsh and initially supported by Ronan Keating, they quickly signed a major record deal and burst onto the scene in 1999 with their debut single "Swear It Again," which topped the charts in both Ireland and the UK, followed by a string of number-one hits including "If I Let You Go" and "Flying Without Wings." Their self-titled debut album reached massive commercial heights, and they soon set records with their next releases, Coast to Coast in 2000 and World of Our Own in 2001, achieving an unprecedented run of seven consecutive UK number-one singles from the start of their career.The early 2000s brought continued dominance with albums like Unbreakable: The Greatest Hits Vol. 1 and Turnaround, the latter featuring the hugely successful cover of "Mandy." In March 2004, Brian McFadden left the band to focus on his solo career and family, leaving the remaining four members—Byrne, Filan, Egan, and Feehily—to carry on as a quartet. They explored different styles, releasing the Rat Pack-inspired ...Allow Us to Be Frank in 2004, followed by successful cover-driven projects such as Face to Face, The Love Album, and Back Home, each producing more chart-topping singles like "You Raise Me Up" and "Home." Their popularity extended through extensive world tours, culminating in a landmark sold-out show at Dublin's Croke Park in 2008 to mark their tenth anniversary.After further albums including Where We Are and Gravity, and with their influence spanning three decades of number-one albums, the group announced a hiatus following their 2011 Greatest Hits release. This eventually turned into a full disbandment after the emotional final concerts of the Greatest Hits Tour in 2012, including massive shows at Croke Park. Following a six-year break, Westlife reunited in 2018 as the four-piece lineup, signing with Universal Music and later other labels. They returned with fresh momentum, releasing the single "Hello My Love" and the album Spectrum in 2019, which topped charts and was supported by the successful Twenty Tour. In 2021, they delivered Wild Dreams along with its accompanying tour, which extended into later years with added dates across various continents.The post-reunion era saw them expanding their global reach, including their first-ever North American headline tour in 2024, performances across Brazil, Canada, the US, and extensive dates in Asia as part of the With Love Tour. In early 2024, Mark Feehily temporarily stepped back from touring due to health reasons, allowing the trio of Byrne, Filan, and Egan to continue performances. Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2025, the group launched the 25th Anniversary World Tour, kicking off with shows at London's Royal Albert Hall and adding dates across Europe, including first-time performances in cities like Antwerp and Paris. They marked the milestone with the new single "Chariot," co-written by Ed Sheeran among others, and announced the upcoming greatest hits collection 25: The Ultimate Collection for early 2026, featuring classic tracks alongside new material.Throughout their career, Westlife have sold over 55 million records worldwide, earned 14 UK number-one singles (ranking third for any group), 11 UK number-one albums, and an impressive 16 number-one singles in Ireland. They hold several Guinness World Records, including for consecutive number-one debuts, and have received numerous accolades such as Brit Awards, a World Music Award, and multiple Record of the Year honors in the UK, cementing their status as one of Ireland's most successful musical exports with a lasting legacy of heartfelt ballads, stadium-filling tours, and enduring fan devotion.