Westlife have announced their reunion after six years apart, enlisting Ed Sheeran to help them surpass boyband rivals Take That. The Irish group, consisting of Shane Filan, Mark Feehily, Kian Egan, and Nicky Byrne, have devised a five-year plan to ensure their return to the charts is a success.
Shane Filan told The Sun: 'It's a bit like sport - you look at your rivals, and we looked at Take That, who came back with Shine, Greatest Day, Rule The World, Patience. It was unbelievable, and we have to see that as a benchmark - but obviously getting Ed on board gives us the best chance of that.' Nicky Byrne added that having Ed Sheeran involved has 'finally made me cool' to his children.
The reunion will proceed without former member Brian McFadden, who left the band in 2004. Shane previously stated that the group had 'genuinely missed each other and missed the buzz of performing on stage together to all our fans.' Manager Louis Walsh had hinted at the comeback last year, telling RSVP Live magazine that a reunion was 'definitely going to happen.'
Westlife first rose to fame in 1999 with Swear It Again, achieving 13 UK Number One singles and ten Top Ten albums. They disbanded in 2011 after a farewell tour. Their best-known songs include Flying Without Wings, World Of Our Own, You Raise Me Up, and Fool Again.
