Music man and family man has new album out

It is hard to believe that Ronan Keating is still just 25. In just a few years he has become a multi-million selling singer, played TV host at the MTV Awards and Eurovision Song Contest and set Westlife on the road to stardom.

The former Boyzone lead singer is opening a new chapter of his solo career with his second solo album Destination, released on May 20, before heading off on a nationwide arena tour in June.

The Keating success story continues to go from strength to strength and his latest single If Tomorrow Never Comes went straight in at No 1.

As well as having a successful career the amiable Irishman is making the most of his time as a family man. He is married to former model Yvonne and they have two children Jack, three, and Marie, 15 months.

"It is an amazing difference having a second child," he admits. "You think it is going to be double what you are doing with the one but it isn't - it is four times the amount of work.

"We are happy with two children and we will have to wait and see if we have any more. Originally we thought about having four or five but we are all fine as we are at the moment.

"Jack and Marie are great friends and really good company for each other. I think it is good for kids to be around other kids."

Keating spent seven months putting his latest album together and once again he has drawn on the songwriting skills of former New Radicals frontman Gregg Alexander and Rick Nowles.

"Teaming up with Gregg was an obvious choice. He is a friend as well as a songwriting partner. This album is much more up tempo and is more about what I'm into - I think I've done enough big ballads already.

"I am worried about how people will react to the new stuff. The second album is always crunch time so I'm feeling pretty nervous.

"I recorded the album in Dublin and London which meant I could spend a lot of time at home and have been able to plan things. It gave me the chance to spend more time with my family and focus on my plans for the coming months. It's the longest break I've taken as I normally end up recording while I'm on tour."

While he has been developing his songwriting prowess, Keating can't see the day when he swaps over to the production side of the music industry full-time.

"I might have been going for nine years but I'm still pretty young and performing music is why I got into the business in the first place. I love doing it and can't ever see a day when I don't want to get up on stage and perform."

Although he is still enjoying the music industry Keating is in two minds about how he would feel if either of his children decided to follow in his footsteps.

"I'd love Jack and Marie to grow up loving music. If they came to me and told me they wanted to go into the music business because they were a great guitarist or they loved songwriting I would say 'Go ahead'.

"But if they said they wanted to get into the business because they wanted to be famous I would tell them to forget about it."

Keating is critical of the current wave of quick-fix popstars which are finding instant fame and chart success through shows likes Pop Idol and Popstars.

"They've got it easy compared to the slog which we had. We had to tour round and didn't even get a No 1 until our second album. But then again I suppose some people might say Boyzone have had it easy compared to themselves."

His time with Boyzone seems to be all in the past and Keating is no longer in touch with any of his former bandmates.

While these days he is an established star in his own right, he says that it was hard when he was a teenager before Boyzone made the big time.

"I was only 16 and it was tough going," he says. "There were times when I was completely run down and I felt like I couldn't do it any more and after every tour I seemed to fall ill.

"It was difficult as sometimes you would think that you were going to explode with all the questions you were getting asked. When I was in Boyzone I had to be mature, be a man but in reality I was still a kid.

"I am proud of Boyzone - it made me who I am and gave me the chance to do what I'm doing now. I'd hate to be starting out all over again."

And Boyzone are not the only boy band now in his past. While he was a guiding light in helping to bring Westlife to the record buying public's attention he severed all his ties with the popular group 18 months ago.

"There was nothing else I could do for Westlife. My involvement was very much about setting up their first album for them. I set up the way it looked and sounded, then used my name to get them a deal but the ship is now sailing itself.

"I always believed in the lads from day one but nobody imagined they would have their run of 10 No 1's. It's scary really."

TOUR DATES:

:: JUNE 10 & 11 NEC, Birmingham

:: JUNE 13 & 14 Wembley Arena, London

:: JUNE 17 Arena, Sheffield

:: JUNE 18 Telewest Arena, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne

:: JUNE 20 & 21 SECC, Glasgow

:: JUNE 29 Evening News Arena, Manchester.