Having scooped three Smash Hits awards Boyzone's Ronan Keating is the king of pop - it's official. Belinda Jones on her sunday best to tackle King Ronan the first for the most probing and honest interviews he has ever given...

I'm trying to make my way across the backstage area at birmingham's NEC to speak to Ronan Keating during an afternoon soundcheck, but I keep tripping over the compliments, praise and adoration steeped at his feet. You see, like the Royals, Ronan is infamous for his professionalism and impeccable manners, and that in turn makes him a rare breed in such a cut throat industry. To the outside world Ronan Keating never appears to have a 'bad day' or, despite his hectic schedule, be too busy for the likes of you and I. Which is why, as I am experiencing today, people gravitate towards him! Countless efforts to drag Ronan away from the ever swelling crowd which surrond him fail and my frustration mounts - ARRGH! - how does he keep his cool, for Gawd's sake!
Okay, so the guy has the calm radiant face of an angel, the soothing manner of the most understanding priest and the voice of a heavenly chorister but - I shout over his apperciation society - doesn't it get tiresome being so darn nice ?
Ronan: Ha, ha! How ya doin? We're doing an interview arn't we. Let's sit down. I'll find a quiet place, follow me....

So, Ro, isn't it a drag being...
So darn nice ? No, it's great! We're glad that people show us respect by saying we're nice boys, that's all we really want. We're not looking for any star trips - you see enough of those in this business! We're just honest, genuine people - it's an Irish thing - basiclly we're the same people we've always been.

But you must have changed a bit since teenage Tintin days...
Well, I was very naive in the beginning and I had an awful lot to learn, but I was willing to grow so I kept my ears open, listened to everyone and never said a bad word about anyone. It's a lot different maturing in this business than maturing in college, believe me! If I was still in Dublin I'd probably be doing 9-5 job now. People can be happy with that, I know I would have been content had I stayed, but now I'm with the band I've seen there's so much more out there.

Do you ever think you've seen too much, for someone so young?
Well, I don't believe in regrets. I'm a religious person and I believe God has set out a path for me and that is the road I am taking. Yes, I have lost the innocence of the child I was at 16 but then I've seen more countries and met more people in the last three years than most people do in a whole lifetime! The experience has opened our minds to the world. It's fantastic!

In what specific way has being in Boyzone changed you as a person?
If I'd never joined the band then I would never have found in myself the confidence I feel when I'm on stage and when i meet people now. It's allowed me to be the person I always wanted to be.

And that person is pretty popular - how do you feel about being the most high profile male in pop?
I don't know that I am, but if that is the case then I'm honoured and flattered. I didn't look for it, it just happened. We were and always will be equal in my eyes, but over the years it's just built up.

Do the rest of the band ever tease you about your popularity?
No, no, mind you they had a right laugh at the Smash Hits Pollwinners Party because I won Best Male, Best Dressed category and Best Haircut! I mean for God's sake - look at me hair, it's a mess! Maybe I should shave my head! What do you think? I can't believe I got Best.

It's easy to see how all the adulation could frazzle your brain.
Absolutely! We've seen other bands who started the same time as us get so big-headed, it's sad. I could've seen it happening to us but luckily we've kept each other in check and the people around us (our families and manager in particlar) have made sure our feet stay on the ground.

What's the most humdrum normal thing that you still do?
I still go home, go down the pub with my brother ciaron, go down the shop with me ma, try to make the bed in the house - but not that often because I'm always in a rush to get a plane!

Is there anything that makes you think'Wow, this is so showbiz!'?
Well I can jump on a plane and go anywhere I like - Paris for the night wherever - and that's kind of nice. Not that I get the time to do it, but it's nice to know I can.

And you love New York.
It's my second home! I've got two brothers out there. I know everyone in the bars and the restaurants and when I go in they have a beer waiting on the table for me. I can be who I want to be! In New York even if you are famous no-one bothers you. It's my kind of town!

it's also famous for shopping and you do have a weakness for designer labels, don't you?
I've not got much in the way of labels on today, my leather coat was a couple of quid though! I used to be very into having D&G printed on my back and DKNY down my leg but I'm not any more. Now I look for good quality cloths. I've got a black shirt that coat me £1000 but you've probably never heard of the make, whereas if I wear a D&G one that coats £200, people would assume it would be more exoensive because of the name. Anyway, I don't stad in front of the mirror going 'Heey!' I just like to look well.

You seem far too balanced to want to change anything about yourself, but is there anything...?
Absolutely not. Everybody is made to be the way God intended. I wouldn't want to be anybody else because I'm so lucky.

You have this fantastically glamorous life but are you happy?
Oh yeah, absolutely! I love it, I do! That's our priority - that we enjoy what we do. We live every day as though it's our last. I really couldn't be happier! Well, I could do with a couple hours sleep..!

If someone asked one of your mates back in Ireland, 'So, what's Ronan like?', how would he describe you - apart fro 'nice'?
I'd like to think a mate would call me generous, trustworthy and genuine.

And if he was taking the mickey, like guys do, what would he say?
He'd probably comment on the fact that I'm just never there - I'm always off because I have a million things to do when I go home and I rarely get to see the fellas.

How do you see yourself?
Happy, genuine and trustworthy. What you see is what you get. I'd say I get my honesty from me mam and my soft manner from me dad.

Where do you get your ambition from?
I don't feel I have amazing ambitiob or great focus - I had no idea that Boyzone was going to happen, no masterplan, I just knew I wanted to perform and work hard at every aspect of what I do.

And now?
I want to go on a world tour and for Boyzone to be the best band we can be. This is my life - music. We have so far to go and so much more to do. It's important for us to be respected for our musical ability.

Is that what is motivating you now?
Well, when we're not hungry any more it's over for us. But there will always be someone to reach who hasn't heard a Boyzone record whether they're sitting in a house in Sheffield or South Africa!

So you're a man on a mission!
If I want something I go for it and I don't stop untill I get it! I'm the sort of person who likes to be in control of things - I like to be on top of a situation.

The word on the street is that you've got a big brain! It's not something that's escaped us at Smash Hits, you know.
Well, I don't know about that but I've got a good head on my sholders and I can look after myself. Basically I've got a bit of 'cop on' - that's what you need to get through life, a bit of 'cop on'!

Do you ever find it hard to resist offers from groupies when you're on the road?
I think weak-minded people could very easily get sucked in but we know the groupies want us for Boyzone not for who we are as individuals - they don't know us. You have to understand that. We talk to people and we're civil to them but that's as far as it goes. We don't mess around.

If you did succumb would you hate your self?
I wouln't do it, it's not me, it's not my scene, I wouldn't ever imagine me doing it. Sex is a special and sacred thing that should be done between two people who are in love, not something that should be abused so readily.

So if it has to be love, how do you know then when you've found the genuine article?
Love is when you find the right person and it's real and you just know it. There's no symptoms or methods, it's just that you're in love. It's a knot in your stomach, it's wanting to hold her, wanting to be with her - it's a good feeling!

But don't you get a buzz out of knowing that thousands of girls lie awake at night thinking about you?
I've never really thought of it like that. For me getting up on stage infront of a wild audiende is the best buzz of all - it's fantastic, I love it!

What other skyscraper highs have you had since being with Boyzone?
Our first number one with Words, performing at the MTV awards - that was unbelievable - and our first Smash Hits show. We love doing stuff with Smash Hits - I used to buy it before I was in the band and dreamed that one day I'd be in it! Smash Hits has helped us out so much, it started us off here in England. We'll always remember the people who put us here. Actually, I'd just like to take this opportunity to say thank you to the fans and to Smash Hits for making Boyzone what we are today. Thanks so much, especially for the awards!

Wow - you're no Chris Evans in the gratful speech department! Can we assume you're not numb to the thrills yet?
I'm not numb to anything and I hope I never will be. Although I guess in a way I'm numb to the sense that those girls are screaming for me because once you start believing it, it goes to your head. I'm just Ronan. I'll always be Ronan from Dublin! That's me!

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