Boyzone 'chat' with Gately before every gig

Boyzone have a "group chat" with their late bandmate Stephen Gately before every gig they do.

The Irish group were left devastated when the 33-year-old star died suddenly in October 2009, but they still make sure he is remembered every day by speaking to him before each concert and putting a photograph of him on his old seat.

Lovely toast to Stephen Gately @theREALboyzone pic.twitter.com/g7ICQXlLhw

— Richard Ford (@richardford777) December 4, 2013

Keith Duffy said: "We have a picture of Stephen in the quick change area where his seat would be. And we have a little group chat with him before we go on stage."

Mikey Graham added: "Every tour we do from here on there will be messages of Stephen."

And the group - also made up of Ronan Keating and Shane Lynch - believe Stephen has even come back as a butterfly to watch over them and give them "strength" on several occasions.

Keating added to the Daily Star newspaper: "After Steo passed a lot of us had experiences with butterflies. When we got to Doncaster there were three butterflies in the rehearsal studio fluttering around and one landed on my leg.

"It was the freakiest thing. It's like Steo was in the room, guiding us along and giving us strength."