Natalie Imbruglia will perform with Irish boyband Boyzone, as they mark the first anniversary of Stephen Gately’s death.
The group will sing on the Australian version of The X Factor, where Imbruglia sits on the judging panel alongside Boyzone member Ronan Keating. She will replace Keith Duffy, who is unable to fly to Oz because of his hectic Coronation Street schedule.
Members of Irish group Boyzone, have revealed that they hope to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Stephen Gately, by appearing on X Factor Australia.
The singer died of natural causes on the 10th of October last year, while enjoying a holiday with his husband Andrew Cowles in Majorca. All four of his bandmates travelled out to Spain to bring his body home and were on hand to carry his coffin into St Laurence O’Toole church in Dublin for the his funeral.
In a true boyband extravaganza, Irish heartthrobs Boyzone and Westlife shared a stage tonight during ITV’s tribute to Stephen Gately.
Nadine Coyle, how you annoy me so! You irritate me immensely with your ridiculous hybrid Derry/Los Angeles accent, your super skinny legs and Beckham style pout.
Boyzone singer Ronan Keating has confirmed that the band are considering performing a tribute to the late Stephen Gately on an upcoming X Factor show.
Responding to rumours that the four remaining Boyzone singers would appear on the show, the Irish singer said that they were considering it but it would have to be “done right”.
Boyzone singer Mikey Graham has told The People that he’s going to see through his commitment to star in Dancing On Ice, and has told his friends and the show’s bosses that, “I’ll do it for Stephen.”
Stephen Gately – who of course died in Majorca last month – had himself been a contestant on the show, and Mikey told the paper, “I want to do this for Steo and make him proud.
“I know he would have been there supporting me all the way.”
Mikey had already signed up to the show before Stephen died, and it seems the show’s bosses were concerned that following Stephen’s death, Mikey may pull out of the show. Read more & comment »
Westlife singer Mark Feehily has said that the late Stephen Gately was incredibly brave and admitted that his coming out. helped other gay men come to terms with their own sexuality.
Feehily told The Daily Mail: “He was extremely brave. He was the first member of a boyband to come out and in hindsight it helped me and probably lots of other gay lads understand their sexuality and come out.
“There is a cliché about gays and every time a celebrity who is admired by millions of people comes out it is one more blow to the negative cliché, and people understand there is not a whole lot of difference between gay people and themselves.”
Daily Mail journalist, Jan Moir has written a follow up article, this time apologising for her comments on the death of Stephen Gately last week.
Many of Moir’s comments on Gately’s death enraged fans. Lines that stood out were that his death “strikes another blow to the happy-ever-after myth of civil partnerships”. She also insisted that his passing was “not, by any yardstick, a natural one”.
In her new article Moir said: “Obviously, a great deal of offence has been taken and I regret any affront caused. This was never my intention.
Eoghan Quigg - X Factor 2008
After the untimely and devastating death of Stephen Gately, it seems that fans are eager to get Boyzone back out on the road again. Radio station U105 today suggested, that many are already suggesting possible replacements.
Though I find the whole thing a little distasteful, front runners for the role on a few Boyzone fansites, are said to be former X Factor stars Eoghan Quigg and Shayne Ward.
Simon Cowell has admitted that he was shocked by the sudden death of Stephen Gately.
Gately was found dead in Majorca last week and was buried on Saturday.
Cowell told the Daily Star: “I was shocked about Stephen. He was a charming, polite young man not affected by fame.”
