Ronan Keating Recalls Breaking the News of Stephen Gately’s Death to Boyzone
Ronan Keating, the iconic Irish singer and former member of the boyband Boyzone, has recently discussed one of the hardest moments of his life. During an interview on RTE Radio One, he revealed the emotional toll of telling his bandmates about the tragic passing of their friend and colleague, Stephen Gately.
The Emotional Toll of Delivering the News
The 47-year-old singer, known for his heartwrenching ballads and chart-topping hits, spoke candidly with Miriam O’Callaghan on RTE Radio One. He described the ‘devastating’ phone calls he had to make to Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy, and Shane Lynch, sharing how those moments still haunt him today.
Stephen Gately, a beloved member of Boyzone, passed away in October 2009 due to an undetected heart condition. His passing left an indelible mark on the band and its fans, prompting them to honor his memory in a powerful way.
Boyzone: No Matter What – Honoring Stephen Gately
In a touching gesture, Boyzone is producing a three-part docuseries titled ‘Boyzone: No Matter What’, which pays homage to Stephen. The series delves into the band’s history, including their rise to fame in 1993, the pressure of media scrutiny that led to Stephen coming out of the closet, and their remarkable comeback in 2007.
Ronan’s Emotional Journey
During the RTE show, Sundays With Miriam, Ronan shared that he struggles with the grief of losing his friend, whom he affectionately calls ‘Steo.’ He detailed his experience being the first to receive the news of Stephen’s passing and subsequently informing the rest of Boyzone.
He recounted: ‘It was 2009, I was in Chicago. I was about to run the Chicago Marathon and it was the night before and I was having a bowl of pasta with the rest of the runners with the charity and Gerald Kean [the solicitor] called me. I’ll never forget it. Every single moment. It’s absolutely devastating. The hardest part was hearing the boys—because I had to call the boys—it was the hardest part. The screams down the phone. It stayed with me for life. It’s horrific. And then the days that followed, it was an out of body experience. It’s hard to put it into words.’
A Magical Night Before the Funeral
The night before Stephen’s funeral, Ronan, along with Mikey, Keith, and Shane, stayed in the church where Stephen’s coffin lay. Ronan described it as a ‘magical’ experience that they would never forget.
He elaborated: ‘We got four sleeping bags and we lay on the floor next to the coffin. It was the last night of the five, the last night we were a five piece. We sat up all night, we didn’t sleep a wink. We laughed and we cried. Talked to Steo, he answered us. It was incredible. It was sort of magical. It was a magical thing to have that last moment together.’
No More Boyzone Reunions?
While Ronan expressed his deep affection for his former bandmates and their legacy, he also indicated that a full reunion or additional tours are likely out of the question.
He said: ‘I think it’s enough. We’ve done the comeback, we’ve done the shows, I think this is the final chapter of our story. I think enough is enough. I think we’re done.’
A Final Message from Boyzone
The upcoming three-part series, ‘Boyzone: No Matter What,’ will air on Sunday, February 2, on Sky Documentaries and NOW. This emotional journey through the band’s history and tributes to Stephen Gately promises to be a poignant reminder of a generation’s music and unity.
Boyzone’s legacy continues to inspire fans worldwide, with the new docuseries aiming to keep their memory alive while sharing their extraordinary story.
Your Thoughts?
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