Westlife fans were left devastated in 2004 when Brian McFadden announced he was leaving the hugely successful boyband – but he has exclusively claimed to VIP that him going solo was the best thing to happen to the group.
The singer, who features in an exclusive shoot with VIP this month, opened up to us about why ending his time as one fifth of the band encouraged the others to continue reigning the pop charts for many more years.
When asked if he became bored during his Westlife years, he replied: “The Westlife lads did stick it out longer than me, but I don’t think they would have if I hadn’t left.
“When I was leaving, all five of us were unhappy. But my leaving gave the boys a new lease of life. They panicked at first because they thought it could end it all, and that gave them a kick in the ass and then they put their heads down and that’s why they lasted another eight years.”
He added: “But I think if I hadn’t left, we all would have broken up not long after that.”
In his candid interview, the Call On Me Brother singer admitted he looks back on his career in Australia a number of years ago and regards his actions as “selfish”.
“I guess I made selfish decisions, like work-wise living in Australia, when maybe I should have taken a job closer to family. I guess I always put my career before my family and friends. Not anymore though. I wouldn’t live in Australia or America again, because it’s too far away from the girls.”
For more, get your copy of VIP tomorrow, jam-packed with interviews from your favourite Irish celebrities!
