What would you most like people to know about you?
"People know pretty much
everything there is to know! But I guess, i'd like them to know that i'm a nice
guy and that i'm well into my music. I love playing my guitar and i'm pretty
good too."
How would your
parents describe you?
"I'd hope they say i'm a really nice guy, that they love me, that i'm good
at what I do and that I deserve to be where I am 'cause of all the band work
i've put in."
Reveal your earliest
childhood memory...
"I can't remember much earlier than this but it was when I was about three
years old. I was in my grandparents' house and I was sitting on my granddad's
knee. He's passed away now bless him, but I was just sitting there all
happy." Aaah!
Are you a good judge
of character?
"I think I'm a very good judge
actually. I think we have to be in this business 'cause we meet so many false
people and you have to be careful."
How romantic are you?
"I really try, but it's been a
long time! I think true romance comes from when two people really connect
though, rather than just sending flowers o someone or taking them out for a
nice meal."
What do you look for
in a girlfriend?
"I like girly girls if you
know what mean. Girls that take care of themselves, but saying that I do prefer
girls who don't wear loads of make-up."
Is it weird that so
many girls fancy you now you're in Westlife?
"It is really weird if you
think about it, so I try not to! My mates ask me that all the time, but it
never even crosses my mind. I mean I know girls will have pictures of me on
their walls, but the best way to deal with it is by not thinking about
it."
How good-looking do
you think you are?
"I don't think I'm dead
gorgeous or anything but then again I don't think I'm butt-ugly. I guess I am
happy with what I have. Anyway, being good-looking is not really that important
in the long run, is it?"
When you look in the
mirror, what do you check first?
"I just give myself the quick once over really and that's about it. I
don't stand and stare at myself or anything - i'm not vain and I hate the fact
that people think I am. I mean, it's not like I go mad if my hair's not exactly
right, I just kinda get on with it. But for some reason people seem to have the
impression of me that I get all ratty if so much as a hair's out of place! And
it's just not true! I mean, I don't really worry about it at all!"
Who was the last
person you hugged?
"It was Bryan actually just a
few moments ago. He's been home for a few days 'casuse he's not been well and
he just got back to us and I gave him a hug to welcome him back."
What makes you smile?
"Loads of things do, but you
can't beat the feeling of stepping out on stage and having people singing your
songs and screaming for you. That will always get me smiling!"
When did you last
bawl your eyes out?
"It must of been quite a while
ago 'cause I tend not to let myself break down like that. I can't actually
remember when it was though. I'm not like Nicky who'll blub at anyting! Oooh!
He'll kill me when he reads that! No, he's not that bad, honest!"
When did you first
learn about the birds and the bees?
"I just kinda picked it up as I went along. I was never given "the
talk" at school or by my parents, so I figure I just kinda worked it out
for myself!"
Describe your
bedroom...
"It's quite small really - just a normal sort of bedroom. It's got a
single bed in it and it's got masses of South Park and Beavis & Butthead
posters on the walls. Ooh - and it's got all my gold and platinum discs in
there too. I think that's what it looks like though, 'cause i've not been back
home for nearly two months now!"
What do you worry
about most?
"I've only just started
worrying about flying, actually. It never used to bother me at all but we've
been getting in a lot of really small planes recently and you feel every bump
in those things. So yes, flying has just begun to totally freak me out!"
When was the last time
you completely lost your temper?
"It was probably last week sometime. I tend to lose it at least once a
week with one of the others. It's usually over something really silly and it's
all forgotten about the next day."
Have you ever had a
full-on fist fight?
"Yeah, I have - and it was
totally against my nature. Even now i'll walk away from any trouble. I could
get punched and i'd just turn the other cheek and walk away. I was the same at
school even though I used to get picked on all the time. Or perhaps that's why
I got bullied, 'cause they knew i'd never fight back, but anyway, I used get
beaten up pretty regularly and one day i'd just had enough of it. This guy come
up to me and started taking the mickey and I said that if he did't quit it i'd
flatten him. Well, of course, he did't pay that any attention and carried on
and I put him on his back! I don't condone violence but that did feel good and
I was left along from then on."
Is success and fame
ever a burden?
"Only one per cent of the time
but it does happen. It's just that we can get so tired and people don't
understand that. And then there's the fact that we hardly get to see our
families at all, so when we do it's a really special time. So when you get
people banging on your door and hassling you within seconds of you stepping
into your house, it can be a bit of a pain."
What do you most
admire about Shane?
"I think that he's a genuinely lovely guy. He's got a fantastic
personality and he is probably my closest friend in the band."
And what do you like
least about the fella?
"Oooh! It just has to be his
attention span. You can be calling him and calling him and he'll just be
sitting there watching the telly or reading, totally ignoring you! And then
when he does finally answer you, he's all moody like you've interrupted him or
something! And you think, "I've just been trying to get your attention for
the last half hour! You eejit!"
Have you ever had
your heart broken?
"I think so, I mean I was only
14 or 15, but it really felt like it at the time. I'm sure it's not as bad as
it's gonna be when it happens now. I fact, i'll probably have my heart broken
three or four times more before I manage to find the right girl!"
And finally. this interview has been... "Lovely. It's nice to catch up
with Live & kicking mag again!"
L&K
Magazine