Westlife reunion ‘definitely happening’ but without Brian McFadden who will be joining Dancing on Ice
The Irish band have opted for the Universal stable rather than X Factor star Cowell’s own company
THE Westlife reunion is signed and sealed — but the manband will be Flying Without original member Brian McFadden.
The Sun can reveal the group also snubbed former mentor Simon Cowell by Swearing It Again with a different label.
The Irish outfit have opted for the Universal stable rather than X Factor star Cowell’s own company.
Tour dates and some new material are also in the pipeline.
An industry insider told The Sun: “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.”
Sources say the decision to snub Simon for Universal is because the Syco boss only wanted a Westlife reunion if Brian was involved.
Last April, from Cowell to revert to their original line-up.
A source said: “Simon wanted a Westlife reunion but only with something extra to bring fans back.
“That meant Brian and his unpredictability. It would give the Westlife reunion the tension it needs.”
However, the deal collapsed when one member of Westlife refused to be a Fool Again and pulled out because of McFadden.
Leaving a gutted Brian, who can only reminisce about his Seasons In The Sun, to tweet: “Ego is destroying a full Westlife reunion but I completely understand the group see themselves as a four piece.”
But now a rival label has come forward with an offer to reactivate the group without Brian, for a reunion tour. It will be their first dates since farewell shows in Croke Park in 2012 and their first new album since album Gravity in 2010.
Earlier this year, . He said: “It’s up to them to decide. I can’t tell me what they want to do.”
An insider said: “There’s still a huge audience out there for Westlife. They have the songs ready too.
Since they split, Shane Filan has released three solo albums, while Nicky Byrne is successful presenter on 2fm and RTE’s Dancing With the Stars. Kian Egan was crowned king of the jungle on the 2013 season of I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here, and appeared as a judge on The Voice of Ireland.
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While Mark Feehily has released two solo albums and written up to thirty tracks which could well appear on a new Westlife album.
In the last number of years Brian McFadden has toured the UK and Ireland with Keith Duffy with a manband mash-up group called Boyzlife.
Before they disbanded in 2012, Westlife accumulated 14 number one singles in the UK as well as 50 million record sales worldwide.
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