WOULD YOU SAY THAT YOU AND STEVE ARE THE COLSEST MEMBERS IN THE GROUP ?
"I'd say so. Being the main songwriters we spend more time together in the studio. When you write songs you're expressing your feelings and opening up your emotions. You can't help but form a close bond with a person you work with. But I love all the lads equally. None of us would have done this without each other. I would like to think that, long after Boyzone has finished, we'll still be good friends. We've gone through a lot together, shared so much. No matter what happens in the future, I know we'll stay friends for the rest of our lives."

DO THE OTHER LADS EVER GET JEALOUS OF THE ATTENTION YOU AND STEVE GET FROM FANS ?
"The lads are happy to take a back seat and let us get on with it. They've said many a time that they could never handle all the attention we get. When you're under the spotlight as much as we are it's great to be able to fade into the background whenever you can."

ARE YOU JUST A TEENSY BIT JEALOUS OF STEVE BECAUSE HE'S THE FAN'S FAVOURITE ?
Steve likes all the attention from fans - especially at concerts. When he sings Said And Done on stage the biggest smile opens up on his face. He's the one who makes most girls scream. I'm very happy for him 'cos I know he loves that. Steve needs to have that feeling of being desired. I'm not at all jealous - on the contrary."

HOW HAVE THE LADS CHANGED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS ?
At the beginning we were very naive. I was very keen to learn about fame and showbiz. I was paying a lot of attention to what was going on around me but I gign't pay any attention to any of the negative aspects. It's harder to grow up in the music business than it is at school. We've become a lot more mature since our first album. You have to changed if a band's to progress."

WAS THERE A TIME WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT MIGHT FALL APART ?
"We went through a sticky patch during the break before the second album. For a while we were kind of going our own way. Everyone was wondering what the hell was going on. No-one said anything, but everyone knew the vide. But we're much better mates for it now. We're really happy together as a group. This sort of work has opened my mind. There are so many things to learn in this world. I'm very religious and I believe God has given me a path that I must follow. The only regret I have is that this job has killed my childhood innocence."

WITH GROUPS LIKE EAST 17 WEARING TRENDY DESIGNER TOGS NOW, WHY HAVE BOYZONE DONE THE OPPOSITE AND GONE BACK TO A CASUAL LOOK ?
"When people see a Boyzone poster in magazines or a single sleeve in shops, they think of five nice boys. We take it as a compliment 'cos it's exactly the kind of image we've always been aiming for. We don't want to act like stars. We are honest, sincere people without putting on any pretentious image. Two very Irish qualities. I've stopped spending money o designer clothes - we all have. There was a time when I used to enjoy walking around in D&G or DKNY. But I find that it's too showy now. It's stupid, really. Other groups who started at the same time as Boyzone have become so full of themselves. It's sad. This could have happened to us but to prevent that we watch each other."

HOW HAVE YOU MANAGED TO KEEP YOUR FEET ON THE GROUND ?
Even though Boyzone has become very successful I haven't changed my habits. When I come home to Dublin I still go for a drink in the same local pub with my mates. Even though I've bought my own house now, I still help my mother with her shopping when I'm at home. I try to phone my mum when I'm away but she always ends up calling me more often. She reproaches me a lot of time for that. She always says, 'Why don't you ever call me, son?' I always answer that I've got too much work and I haven't had a moment. All mothers are the same when you leave home, no matter what job you do."

IS IT TRUE THAT BOYZONE HAVE BEEN BANNED FROM ALL THE BIG HOTELS IN BRITAIN ?
"In Britain and in Ireland we're forbidden to stay in hotels. They don't want us any more 'cos too many fans find out where we're staying and form a huge crowed outside the building. We've tried, for security reasons, to book under different names. Keith always checks in as Tom Cruise and Mikey thinks it's a crack to call himself Dracula. At one hotel the receptionist asked, 'And what's your first name, sir....?' Mikey said 'Oh, just call me Count'. We change our names all the time. But no matter what names we use, the fans always find out where we're staying!"

WHAT'S THE BEST THING ABOUT BEING IN BOYZONE ?
"It's been a very exciting expiriance. I've visited a lot of countries that I've only ever dreamed of seeing. And I've met a lot of interesting people along the way. If I hadn't joined Boyzone I couldn't have found confidence in myself to go on stage without being nervous. Slowly I've fought to overcome my natural shyness. Boyzone has helped me to become the person I've always dreamed of being. The money's been good too, I have to say. It's good to be able to buy a house or a car - just to have money at hand to be able to buy whatever you want. It's great to know that I can just take a plane anywhere - to spend the night in Paris or Rome, or whatever. I don't really have the time to do that but it's good to know that I can if I want to."

WHER DO YOU GO TO ESCAPE THE PRESSURES OF POPDOM ?
" New York is my second home. It's my favourite city in the world and I always have a good crack there. I've got two brothers and a sister who live there - real Irish-Americans. I'm known in all the Irish pubs. The good thing is that I can go out partying until four o'clock in the morning without being disturbed by fans. In New York, when your famous, nobody disturbs you. It's the ideal town. I know my way around now, so I can just hang out with my friends and family. Steve sometimes comes over and mybrothers always end up filling him with drink. It's funny to watch him telling one of my brothers that he's okay, he doesn't need another drink, while my other brother is up at the bar getting the next round!"

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