October 10th 2024.
Westlife dominated the charts in the 00s, becoming one of the most successful boybands of the decade. But in 2004, they faced a major blow when Brian McFadden, one of their founding members, decided to leave the group. It was a shocking move that left fans devastated and wondering what had led to this decision.
Two decades later, Brian has opened up about his departure in a candid conversation with his former bandmate, Nicky Byrne, on the Nicky Bryne HQ podcast. As they reminisced about their time together, Brian revealed that his reasons for leaving have evolved over the years, but one thing remains constant – he has no intentions of returning to the band.
Reflecting on his departure, Brian shared that at the time, he was married to Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona and had two young children. He felt the need to spend more time with his family, which he knew wouldn't be possible if he stayed in the band. Despite their massive success, Westlife's busy schedule left little room for Brian to prioritize his personal life.
He also admitted that leaving the band was a selfish decision, as he didn't consider the impact it would have on his bandmates. Looking back, he realizes that it may have been too early for him to leave, and he could have stayed for another tour if they had been given time off. But in that moment, he was impulsive and only thought about his own needs.
Brian's departure was announced in a press conference in 2004, where he stated that he wanted to spend more time with his family and pursue solo projects. Despite rumors of animosity between him and the other members, Brian maintained that there was no bad blood. However, he does understand why there may be some lingering feelings towards him.
Nicky, who was present at the press conference, recalled feeling annoyed, scared, and hurt by Brian's decision. But he also understands why he made the call to leave. As for a possible reunion, Brian made it clear that he has no intentions of going back to Westlife. He sees the band as two different eras – one when he was a member and the other after he left. And he believes it wouldn't make sense for him to rejoin the group.
Since leaving Westlife, Brian has had a successful solo career and has also partnered with Keith Duffy from Boyzone to form the duo Boyzlife. Together, they have released two original albums and are currently on tour in the UK and Ireland. While Westlife has gone on to achieve worldwide success without Brian, he remains proud of his time in the band and hopes that their legacy will not be overshadowed by any past tensions.
As Brian and Nicky continue to catch up on old times, it's clear that their bond as former bandmates remains strong. And for fans, it's heartwarming to see that despite the changes and challenges they've faced, the members of Westlife continue to support and respect each other's journeys.
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