Exclusive Westlife Mark Feehily Interview - page 2

25-10-2007 09:24

The lads were only teenagers when Westlife hit the big time so they've learnt a lot about life as well as music over the last 9 years. Mark has perhaps struggled most with growing up in the public eye as he came to terms with his sexuality while under the glare of the media: “. I was just going through everything myself and it's not like I knew when I was 18 and all sorted in my head about it and hid it. ” he says explaining the reasons why he waited until 2005 to tell fans he is gay.

“The fact that I was in the public eye definitely slowed down the pace of how fast I dealt with my sexuality. I think that it took me a bit longer and wasn't able to just go out and test the water easily. I mean I was in Westlife and no matter where I went or what I did it would be like 'there's the guy from Westlife in the corner, look he's gay, let's tell the papers.' “

“I wouldn't lie about the fact that there was some moments where I wished so much that it was all sorted out but I can't complain because now I'm in the best situation I've ever been in my life and if that's the way it happened for me then that's that. I can't look back and want to change the past because now I'm happy.”

Mark's happiness has lot to do with long term boyfriend Kevin McDaid, formerly of failed boyband V: “Kevin is my first and only relationship. He used to be in a band as well and we were both on a charity concert in Dublin for Childline and we just met at the after party,” recalls Mark.

“I used to see Girl's Aloud quite a bit and they were at the party so I was just chatting to them and Kevin lived in the same apartment block as them so he just came over chatting as well and we just started chatting and the rest is history.”

Although they are now blissfully happy Mark says the couple have no plans to take advantage of the recent civil partnership laws just yet: “ It's just simply not something we are looking into at the minute and I think when we do, if we do, we'll be the first ones to be shouting it from the roof tops.”

Despite the ups and downs Mark and the band have been through they have managed to stick around for longer than any of their counterparts. While the Spice Girls and Take That are reforming and Boyzone are making plans for a come back Westlife have been performing non stop since their creation. So what's the secret? : “I think that Take That were very sort of experimental at the start. There wasn't a sort of English boyband around before that so I think it was all trial and error with them. I think they made some mistakes but they made a lot of really good decisions as well but for us I think a lot of bands had gone before us and we were fortunate enough to learn from some of the mistakes they made that may have led to the demise of the group or whatever. “

Friendship is also key to the Westlife story: “Myself, Shane and Kian went to school together since we were 11 years old so we made friends before we put the band together so our relationship is build on real friendship and we weren't like put into a room and made to get along with each other. We are genuinely compatible because we got together as mates naturally.”

Throughout the last 9 years the band have travelled all over the world, won Record of the Year four times and even made the notorious Christmas Number 1 spot but what is Mark's highlight so far: “I definitely think that one of the best things that I never thought I'd achieve was doing a duet with Mariah Carey,” he explains.

“Over the years we've spent quite a bit of time with her- not a lot of time, I don't want to exaggerate- but if I was to tell my 10 to 15 year old self that I was to meet her, never mind collaborate with her and hang out with her at her house, I think I would of literally crumbled into ash on the floor to be honest.”

“She was really really friendly and there was no sort of power thing going on where she was like 'I'm Mariah and your Westlife and you're lucky to be here' sort of thing. It was a lot of hanging out and going for dinner and being mates. I mean we weren't liking up to her and in a world where she is surrounded by people that lick up to her and brown nose her I don't know if she just thought it was nice to have a genuine time hanging out with a bunch of lads or whatever.”

Although they he enjoyed hanging out with stars like Mariah in the past life isn't quite so rock and roll for Mark now. These days he's more likey to stay in on a Saturday night and catch a bit of X Factor: “I don't have a favourite yet to be honest. I think it's yet to unfold as to whether or not I like anybody in it this year,” he says.

“My favourite performance last week was the lad from Scotland who did the swing number. I thought he was electric. But then all the judges slated him so I'm quite confused because for me that was by far the best performance.”

“To be honest with you it takes a few weeks before I start getting my favourite. Every now and then one of them will do an amazing performance but then the next week they sound like a cat getting hit with a baseball bat.”

It's definitely clear that after almost a decade in a business that is known for sending even the most level headed people flying of the tracks Mark Feehily still has his feet firmly on the ground. Here's to another 10 years.

Westlife's new single Home is released next Monday 29th October, and the album ‘Back Home’ is out on 5th November. Check out the video below......

Female First- Caz Moss