After 14 years, 14 number one singles, 11 top five albums and 10 sell out tours Westlife have announced they are to disband. From rosy-cheeked, leather-clad newbies to tailored pop royalty, Westlife flourished in years of boyband drought and bridged the gap between the soft, '90s Boyzone types and today's edgier collectives such as The Wanted and JLS. We chart the career of Ireland's biggest boy band…
The early days
In 1998 Louis Wash took Kian Egan, Shane Filan and Mark Feehily from six piece Six as One (which Simon Cowell described as 'the ugliest band' he'd ever seen) and
First success
The band opened for Boyzone and Backstreet Boys in 1998 and won Best New Tour Act award at that year's Smash Hits Poll Winners Party.
Debut album
Westlife's eponymous debut album was released towards the end of 1999 and peaked at number two in the UK.
Coast to coast
Westlife’s second album, Coast to coast, was released towards the end of 2000 and hit number one in the UK, it came to be the group’s biggest selling alb
First world tour
In 2001 the boys went on their first world tour - The Where dreams come true tour, nicknamed The no stools tour.
World of our own
At the end of 2001 Westlife released their third album – World of our own. The album reached number one in the UK.
Second world tour
In 2002 the boys headed off on their World of our own tour.
Greatest hits - Vol.
Greatest hits tour
In 2003 Westlife went on their third world tour – The Greatest Hits Tour.
Turnaround
Turnaround - Westlife’s fourth studio album - was released towards the end of 2003.
Bryan leaves Westlife
In March 2004 - as the boys were preparing for their fourth world tour and after two years of rumours that the band was splitting up – Bryan (or Brian) announced
Allow us to be frank
Westlife’s next album – the Rat Pack-inspired Allow us to be frank – was released towards the end of 2004.
Mark comes out
In a 2005 interview with The Sun, Mark came out as gay. Earlier this year he was shortlisted in the Top 50 most influential gays in UK.
Face to face
In 2005 Westlife released their Face to face album. Both the album and single You raise me up were at number one on 5th November.
The concept album
Towards the end of 2006 Westlife released The love album - a concept album made up of popular love songs, it was their second covers album after Allow us to b
Back Home
Towards the end of 2007 Westlife released their ninth album – Back home. The album debuted at number in the UK.
Croke Park
In June 2008 Westlife celebrated a decade of music with the 10 years of Westlife concert at Croke Park.
Where we are
Where we are, Westlife’s tenth album, was released towards the end of 2009 and peaked at number two in the UK and Irish charts.
Gravity
Westlife’s 11th album, Gravity, came out towards the end of 2010.
The end
On 19th October 2011, Westlife announced that they were to split up.
