BYEZONE FOR BOYZONE

Ronan's band set to call it quits

--15th December, 2000


Boyzone have reached the end of the road despite last ditch attempts by Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch to milk the band's profits with a final reunion tour.

It's almost a year since the have seen each other, during which they have worked on solo projects or just taken time out.

Now Westlife hunk Bryan McFadden has revealed he has chatted with the group's lead singer Ronan Keating who told him he would never go back to the Irish band which made him famous.

Bryan says Boyzone are finished because Ronan's solo career is going from strength to strength and the others should face up to live without the key figure.

Bryan said "They're well gone. I can't see them getting back together. I don't mean that in a bad way, I love Boyzone, but Ronan has reached a stage where he has to focus on his own future, and Ronan was Boyzone in my opinion."

His comments may prove hurtful to Mikey Graham, Lynch, Duffy and Stephen Gately, particularly following comments famously made by Boyzone and Westlife manager Louis Walsh who described the rest of Boyzone as "passengers".

The news comes hot on the heels of desperate pop pair Lynch and Duffy claiming that money is the driving force. Lynch said "If I could sell a fluffy monkey with my face on it, I wouldn't hesitate. It's all about the money mate."

The comment will shock loyal fans who have stuck by the group over the years. An insider said: "Yeah. It's pretty much bye-zone but there's so much money involved they'll try to squeeze what they can out of the fans."

The original Irish boy band are to attend a crisis meeting tonight in Dublin. But Ronan has already denied claims by other members of his old group that he'll tour with them next summer. He said: "I really can't see us touring. I've got to concentrate on my solo career and I have America to think of too."

But Ronan admitted he plans to enjoy a drink or two this week to celebrate Boyzone's years at the top.

Source : Pauline Walsh at [email protected]

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