I would imagine that many, if not most, readers had never heard of Boyzone singer Stephen Gately before the tragic announcement this weekend that he had died in Majorca at just 33. And I would guess that a lot of you would be surprised to discover how much space British newspapers such as The Sun, The Mirror, and even a conservative-minded broadsheet like The Telegraph are giving the story.
Nor is the extensive coverage of his death merely due to the fact that the Dublin-born singer was an openly gay pop star. It is hard to overemphasize quite how hugely, and enduringly, successful the Irish Boyzone and their British boy band rivals Take That have been in the UK and Ireland over the past two decades. I lived in England for the two bands’ first periods of success in the ’90s, and although in truth I was not a fan of either act, I couldn’t help but acquire through cultural osmosis a working knowledge of their hits and various personality traits. Pretty much everyone in the country, for example, could have told you Take That’s Robbie Williams was the band’s resident joker, but that it was the quintet’s chief songwriter Gary Barlow who was destined for solo success. (And thus the entire country had to eat its collective metaphorical hat when the former’s solo career ultimately easily eclipsed that of his former colleague.)
Take That were the first to crack the UK top ten with “It Only Takes A Minute,” their 1991 cover of the old Tavares song. Over the next five years they racked up an astonishing number of hits and no fewer than eight chart-topping singles. Meanwhile, Boyzone broke through in the UK with their 1994 version of the Osmonds’ “Love Me For A Reason,” and would themselves score a half dozen number ones over the next five years, including “Words,” “All That I Need,” “You Needed Me,” and “No Matter What.”
Take That split in 1996 and Boyzone followed suit in 2000, the year after Gately went public with his sexuality. In 2005, Take That reformed without Williams and continued their hit-making ways as if they had never gone away. In November 2007, Boyzone leader Ronan Keating announced that they too were getting back together, and last year they embarked on a wildly successful tour of the UK and Ireland. Their first reunion release, “Love You Anyway,” was, remarkably, their 17th single in a row to reach the British top five.
Given the fame of Boyzone, and the fact that Gately died at such young age, you can be sure this is story that will run for a while in the British press. Anyone still bewildered by the fuss, or anyone who wants to remind themselves what the group sounded like, should check out the clip of Boyzone performing “No Matter What” below.
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I still listen to BoyZone, and actually let out an audible gasp when I read that he died. I remembering buying their singles collection box set as an import ages ago. “No Matter What,” is pure blissful pop.
Ditto…My parents heard me in the next room.
I was always more of a Take That/East 17 fan than Boyzone who I found quite boring.
33 is too young to die just like that and it’s an unbelievable shame that he’s died.
The only reformed last year with ‘Love You Anyway’ which was a really good song.
The video to the song they released after that hit the news as well because it had a kiss between Gately and his ‘love interest’.
No Matter What is one of my favorites of all time.
I actually used a Ronan Keating song for my wedding dance. I have great memories of the song, not so much the marriage!!!
wow that is really a bad song! They aren’t even singing in harmony and their voices are so different they don’t gel… maybe this is just a bad example of what they can do. In fact, as successful as they are they must be able to do much better than that.
Anyhow, this is sad news, he was apparently a lovely guy and my condolences to his friends and family.
No Matter What was actually their biggest hit. It was the BEST they could do.
Okay, Brad and Chichi I will look up the song ‘No Matter What’…
I love you,Stephen..RIP
I adored Boyzone in the 90s, My sister even named her baby Ronan. I still play them every now and then. Its truly sad that theve lost a member. RIP Stephen. My condolences, all the way from New Zealand,
to all his friends and family
I’m from the US and a big fan of Boyzone – have been for several years – and I think “No Matter What” is an amazing song (written by Sir Andrew Lloyd Weber), and became somewhat an anthem for gay couples. Boybands aren’t always known for best music, but always entertaining – Boyzone did it as well as anyone. Stephen’s voice was amazing, especially after theatric training. He’ll be missed!
I love Take That, Boyzone and Westlife in the 90s and even more so today. Although these groups never achieved fame such as the Backstreet Boys or NSync in the US, they had a loyal following all over the world. RIP Stephen.
Its so sad that Stephen died at such a young age. Boyzone was no Take That – but they had some fantastic songs. I met Stephen in London and he was very nice after he played Joseph. I feel very sorry for this friends and family.
thats so sad. I have listened to boyzone since i was in year 4. I am now in year 12 btw lol. I have noticed all these deaths are rather strange, and am going to investigate into it. Not only the famous people dying, but many people around me have been aswell, that including 2 teachers, my principal, and both my grandparents.
It always surprises me that groups like Boyzone and Westlife never hit it big in the states. I must have like 20 Westlife songs on my ipod. Whenever I play one and a friend hears it, they always ask who Westlife is because they like the song. I honestly think they are better than Backstreet Boys or NSYNC. Boyzone isn’t quite that good but they are definitely better than 98 degrees.
I totally agree – it’s always amazing how many great artists are huge in Europe, the UK & Canada … but can never break through in the USA …
Well I am sorry that the guy died but you have got to be kidding me with that song.
My friends and I were some of the few who loved Take That and Boyzone when we were teenagers. I became a HUGE Robbie Williams fan (and still am) and my friends are now even more die hard TT fans. They’ve gone to see them for all of their tours since they made their comeback. When I found out Boyzone was reuniting I was very excited and even thought about going to see their tour. Stephen was my favourite member. When I woke up this morning and found out he had died I was shocked and upset. I still am. He was young (only a few years older than me), talented, and had so much going for him. My heart goes out to his partner, family and friends.
One remarkable thing that has to be said about Boyzone is that they always refused to mime their performance. In 15 years I must have seen them do it only once. This is quite an achievement for a pop band in the UK. I am a Westlife fan through and through, but I can’t forget that Boyzone were the first ever band to catch my attention back in 1996 and they released some great songs, which they wrote a lot of time.
I meant to say some of the few in North America who loved Take That and Boyzone.
Boy band ballads are the worst.
Boyzone is hugely popular in Asia in the 90s. Although they produce some big hits, I always annoyed by Stephen’s voice, but he seems such a nice guy. RIP Stephen Gately.
Btw, to all posters above who critique this song, maybe you should listen to studio version. No Matter What is their best original song to date (excluding Words, who is originally come from Bee Gees)
I appreciate the band were as big in the U.K. as Ireland but can you please change your heading on the main page to ‘Irish pop hero mourned’. Have some respect to his Irish nationality.
Yeah I’ve been a bit confused about why he keeps getting described as British. I was wondering when someone would call them up on it.
I live in Holland and actually to young to be a fan from the early days. But I love me some 90s pop music, especially the british pop boy bands… when i read this yesterday, i didn’t believe it. just doesnt make any sense, it’s so sad…
“(And thus the entire country had to eat its collective metaphorical hat when the former’s solo career ultimately, easily, eclipsed that of his former colleague.)”
So that’s why Robbie’s career petered out after a few years and he’s now had to repeatedly all but beg to be let back in Take That.
His career hardly “petered out”. Admitted he had a less than sucessful album but was still hugely popular when he decided to take a break. His appearance on X Factor last night, and the response he received, proved his enormous popularity.
Erm! Robbie has always stated that he doesn’t want to return to Take That…He’s still extremely popular in Britain. In fact, yesterday he performed on the first live show of the X-Factor. It was very anticipated and he was brilliant. His new song is very very good.
Carl, Robbie Williams is an internationally famous millionaire who wrote/performed some of the seminal British pop songs of the 90s and 00s. He might not be riding as high anymore, and Lord knows I’m hardly his biggest fan, but that sort of irrational understatement doesn’t make you sound like the voice of reason, just blinkered.
Your link line on the home page says ‘UK Pop hero…’ Please change that, he’s Irish and I as a proud Irish man also from Dublin hate the way Americans constantly say UK when talking about Ireland. Change it.
Agreed. I also hate it when people use clovers instead of shamrocks.
boy who?
Could you change the title to Irish Pop Hero please?!
Anyway, I loved Stephen. I was determined to marry him when I was about 13. Okay, between 13 – 19. I loved Boyzone and last saw them in July at Wembley. They were always good on tour…and my favourite song had to be ‘A Different Beat’.
I was lucky enough to meet Stephen on 2 occasions, and both times he was the perfect gentleman; he didn’t even mind my semi-drunken declarations of love when I bumped into him in the bar after a performance of Joseph.
R.I.P. Stephen.
Thanks for all the memories x
I love Boyzones songs, brings back happye meories of my life…
MY most favorite song of them would be “I Love the way you love me” and Everyday I love you” I dried very time i hear that song…they will always have a special place in my heart..
I will miss you stephen and thank you for the memories..
After seeing them on PBS singing No Matter What, my friend and I were weirdly obsessed with them. Steven just seemed like the sweetest person. So tragic!
Thank you for this article. I couldn’t figure out what the big deal was- but I guess this is equivalent to an N*Syncher’s death here.
I am a big fan of Boyzone and Stephen Gately. I was stunned when I read the news of his passing. He was a very talented singer and his coming out during the height of Boyzone’s fame and the subsequent success and approval of fans was incredible. He will be very much missed.
I was definitely a Take That girl back in the 90s. But now I’m an even bigger fan since their very sophisticated reunion and album “The Circus”.
Couldn’t really get into Boyzone at all, but as you say, found myself well-versed on their personalities via cultural osmosis.
Although not a huge Boyzone fan but a loyal Take That fan here in the States , I feel saddened by Stephen’s early death. RIP Stephen.
Boyzone’s last released song, “better,” best examplifies the quality and maturity of the band. The “duetting” of Ronan and Stephen in this and past tracks (“no matter what” and “every day I love you”) complements their vocals very nicely, something that on their own I do not think they were able to achieve. Stephen was an awesome singer and managed to carve a space in musical theater for himself. He will truly be missed.