Life after Westlife for Brian

Determined fans queued over 20-hours to meet former Westlife star Brian McFadden today as he signed copies of his new single.

The singer greeted over 300 fans in Dublin ahead of the launch of his first solo effort, Real to Me, next Monday.

McFadden said: “I wasn’t expecting it. I was delighted and flattered. Obviously it was different when I was Westlife as it was a group, when you are on your own and they do it, it is definitely more special.”

Two 16-year-old sisters from Clondalkin in Dublin claimed to be his biggest fans after they queued from 10.30pm on Thursday night for today’s 6pm signing.

One of them tearfully said: “He is worth it. He is gorgeous; I love Westlife, but I love Brian so much.”

The 24-year-old revealed the album, which he has just finished recording, may be called Irish Son.

McFadden, who was accompanied by his little girl Molly, who turned three this week, said it was the type of album he had wanted to make for many years.

He said after Westlife he was in a position to make the exact album he wanted.

“Most record companies wouldn’t give anyone the chance to do that, you know, someone starting off, they need to play by the rules. It is great I haven’t had to play by the rules, I just made the album I wanted.

“The whole album is just about personal instances that happened in my life.

“There are songs about the Catholic Church, there are songs about alcoholism, there are songs about domestic violence. Just things that have happened the whole way through my life and it is just about that.”

McFadden said he was excited to see what the reaction will be when he takes his new music to Dublin’s Phoenix Park stage for O2 in the Park tomorrow.

He said it would not be strange to appear on the same bill as his former bandmates.

“They have seen me on stage and I have seen them because I went to see their concert. We are all best mates still. I spoke to Shane today and we just kind of planned what we were going to do after the gig.”