Westlife not splitting up, says Kian

WHAT better way to sell a concert than spread the rumour that you’re splitting up.

Past masters at the hard sell, Irish pop idols Westlife came out fighting yesterday much to the delight of 12-year-olds everywhere.

“These rumours seem to materialise all the time, but when they do it is never from inside the band. We basically just laugh them off. We are all very happy at the moment, and get on extremely well. There are no hidden agendas,” Kian Egan said yesterday.

The band is promoting its greatest hits album and has announced details of an outdoor concert at Landsdowne Road on June 27.

The 40,000 tickets will be sold out in record time and will go on sale in various outlets on Saturday, December 14.

“Last year, we played to over 100,000 people at 13 shows in The Point. It was an amazing achievement and we really enjoyed it, but this year we wanted to go for a really spectacular show.

“I think the summer show will be top class, and we will be really pulling out all the stops to make it an excellent performance,” Kian said.

But it is not all work and no play for the five Westlife members. “It is quite hard at this time, with all the promotions, interviews and moving from one place to another. We are going to chill out with our family at Christmas and take two or three weeks off. We’ll probably head our separate ways to various hot countries, to work on the tans. I know Mark Feehily is dying to get home and tuck into his mammy’s turkey and cranberry sauce,” Kian said.

The band will release a single called Tonight in February and will begin touring in March.