Plans have been teased for a 30th anniversary tour for iconic Irish boyband ‘Boyzone’ after original member Keith Duffy found renewed fame alongside ‘ Westlife’s Brian McFadden in their spin-off group ‘Boyzlife’.
‘Boyzone’ could be about to reform if Keith Duffy and Westlife star Brian McFadden are to be believed.
The iconic Irish boyband consists of 45-year-old Keithalongside Michael Graham, Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch and the late Stephen Gately – who died in 2009 aged 33.
The band have released seven studio albums since they burst onto the music scene in the mid-1990s – but appeared to call it quits with their farewell album Thank You & Goodnight which was released in 2018. However, the lads may be coaxed out of retirement – with Keith’s 40-year-old current music collaborator Brian, who he tours with under the moniker ‘Boyzlife’, spilling the beans. Brian reckons ‘Boyzone’ will head back out on tour following the success of their 2019 farewell tour – and after witnessing the success of ‘Westlife’s current own reformation. Brian discussed his prediction, telling The Sun: “It’s 16 years since I left Westlife so, for me, rejoining won’t happen. But for ‘Boyzone’ . . . the boys have been together for 25 years.
“Though Keith and I are doing [‘Boyzlife’] and Ronan Keating is doing his solo thing, if the opportunity comes up for the boys to get together – there is going to be a 30-year anniversary in a few years – you can never say never.”
In the meantime, Keith and Brian are enjoying success away from their boyband origins with their own mash-up duo group. And Keith says he might be more inclined to pursue success with Brian than return to ‘Boyzone’ – with lockdown being an opportunity of creativity for him.
He said: “With lockdown, we’re miles ahead where we were hoping to be for the new album.
“‘Boyzlife’ has gone from strength to strength. We’ve moved mountains. We’re pinching ourselves to be given this opportunity again in our forties to get on stage.” ‘Boyzlife’ unleashed their debut album, Strings Attached, and have live dates lined up for 2021.
The duo have 40 dates announced so far between March and June at venues in major cities including Liverpool, Glasgow and London.