Keating rules out Boyzone reunion
Ronan Keating has added to speculation over the future of his band Boyzone by effectively ruling out a reunion.
The star has so far resisted saying the Irish group is over, instead deflecting questions and hinting they will reform after his forthcoming solo engagements.
Keating told Michael Parkinson, in an interview to be screened tomorrow on BBC1, he had wanted to reunite next year but admitted: ‘‘I can’t see it coming back together.’’
Other members of the band have all tried to launch solo careers, but none has compared with Keating’s success.
The group had been offered around £4m to perform together later this year, but solo dates for Keating, coupled with his career launch in the US, prevented the gigs from going ahead.
He told Parkinson: ‘‘I had every intention - I still have every intention - of going back with the band and doing a tour.
‘‘It wasn’t going to happen this year because I had my album launching in America so I thought about doing it next year.
‘‘But a lot has gone on, and I haven’t talked to the guys in quite a while, so to be really honest, I don’t think anything’s going to happen with the band.
‘‘I don’t know what what’s going on to be honest, but I can’t see it coming back together, by no fault of mine.’’
Michael pressed him: ‘‘The situation as far as you’re concerned is that you think it’s in your past now?’’
Keating said: ‘‘Oh okay, but you said that.’’
The band - which also featured Stephen Gateley, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham - clocked up a five-year run of hits and their million-selling single No Matter What was voted the nation’s favourite song of 1998.
