SCORES of Westlife fans have complained about the way a book signing event was held in Lakeside shopping centre.

More than 1,000 devotees of the Irish band queued for up to ten hours at the centre to meet the chart-topping band, and get copies signed of their new autobiography, Our Story, signed on Monday evening.

However, many fans were left in tears after being turned away because they had not bought their books from WH Smith, which organised the signing.

Mel Bailey, 23, from Woodford, arrived at Lakeside at 7.30am to ensure she was among the first in the queue to meet band members Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan.

She said: "I took my mum and I have to say I was absolutely disgusted with the way we were treated."

"We waited for ten hours only to be barked orders at by Westlife's security guards like we were stalkers or something.

"All we wanted to do was to meet the band we have followed for a decade.

"We had bought our books from Woolworths for £12, but it wasn't until we were in the queue we were told we had to get them from WH Smith for £15, and produce a receipt, or we wouldn't get them signed.

"We had to rush off to buy extra copies from WH Smith, and we weren't the only ones. I think this was a terrible way to treat fans, to squeeze as much money as possible out of us."

She added: "When we got to the front of the queue our handbags were abruptly pulled off us and thrown into a pile on the floor, in case we had cameras.

"Then we were told to have our books open at a certain page, or the band wouldn't sign them.

"The whole time we were shouted at like we were stupid children who were a burden to the band."

Mum-of-one and stalwart Westlife fan, Charlotte Miller, 33, from East Tilbury, was also unhappy.

She said: "I saw people in tears because they weren't allowed to have their photos taken with the band, or because they were turned away for not having a WH Smith receipt.

"My feelings towards Westlife have definitely changed after this."

Rowena Campbell, Lakeside spokeswoman, said the book signing was organised by WH Smith and it was made clear before the event books must be bought from the store.

She added: "Fans were also advised to arrive early, because Westlife would only be at Lakeside for an hour.

"It meant time and numbers of books that could be signed were limited."

A spokesman for WH Smith, who refused to be named, added: "As far as we know the book signing went well and fans were pleased.

"We will, however, be looking into any complaints."

Credit/Source: echo-news.co.uk

by Michelle Fiddler, Liverpool Echo

WESTLIFE fans queued overnight in the pouring rain to get a chance to meet their idols.

Dozens of fans waited outside Waterstones to greet the Irish band who were due to arrive at the Bold Street store at lunchtime today.

Head of the queue, Babs Dyson, 57, from Litherland, said: “I started queuing at 8.55am on Tuesday.

“I knew I would probably never get a chance to do this again. It’s Westlife so it would be rude not to.


“I bought plenty of blankets, food and an umbrella. Everyone has been in good spirits and it was certainly entertaining on the street during the night.”

Mum Linda Boyd, 44, from Southport, queued to save a place for her 17 year-old daughter Scren

Mrs Boyd, said: “She is obsessed with them. She has seen them in concert all over the country.”

Watch the video by clicking here.

Credit/Source: liverpoolecho.co.uk

Westlife will be in Belfast on Thursday signing copies of their new autobiography celebrating the band's 10 year anniversary

POP quartet Westlife will be in Belfast on Thursday to officially launch a new book marking their 10 year anniversary.
What are your abiding memories during a decade of Westlife?

Have you been in attendance - maybe more than once - at one of their 50 Odyssey concerts?

Are they the best band ever?

Have you already read the book? Was it a good read?

Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan and Nicky Byrne will be at Eason's on Donegall Place signing copies of 'Westlife: Our Story' from 5.30pm tomorrow evening.

Adoring Ulster fans have already began queuing to assure they get the chance to meet their heroes in person.

Entrance will be strictly on a first come - first served basis and management at Eason's are warning that not all visitors to the store will be accommodated, such will be the demand.

The new Autobiography charts the highs and lows of a phenomenonal career and a unique friendship that has seen the band endure for an extraordinary ten years.

The book chronicles the band's story from their grass-roots in Sligo and Dublin to multi-platinum records, celebrity collaborations and chart achievements.

The quartet also reveal their amazing ten year journey including candid personal stories and of course the departure of Brian McFadden.

Credit/Source: newsletter.co.uk

Ladies form an orderly queue outside Waterstones 24 hours before boyband arrive in Liverpool



BABS Dyson from Litherland is going to see Westlife tomorrow. She has her flask, some sandwiches, an overnight bag, a book and, er, a chair.

For Babs, 57, it is going to be a wait well worth it. For she is camping out in front of Waterstones, Bold Street, to see her favourite boy band.

"You can't miss the beat, it's their rhythm,”she excitedly told Liverpool Confidential.

“I'm a bit tired. I was up all last night. I was so excited that I was coming down here and I wanted to be first in the queue.”

What is she going to say when you see them? “Hi guys, lovely to see you. Whatever comes out,” she chipped.

Eve Hill, left, will have one very happy grand-daughter tomorrow if things go to plan.

She is there holding the place as number two in the “queue” for the 17-year-old, passionate Westlife fan who has learning difficulties and who has been clutching her own copy of Westlife: Our Story, to her chest, since it was published last week.

Eve said: “She has absolutely no idea I am here. She eats and sleeps Westlife. Has pictures of them all over her bedroom and on her mobile phone. I will queue until tomorrow and she can take the place here in the morning. It will be a massive surprise.

The onetime boyband still have a huge girlie following and are popular among gay men, but will doubtless raise a cheeky Irish eyebrow when they see their most dedicated Liverpool followers at 12.30pm on Wednesday at their book signing.

As Babs says: "We'd be crazy not to."

Will somebody take these two game girls a brolly and a beer if need be tonight?

Credit/Source: www.liverpoolconfidential.com

Westlife are in OK! Magazine this week. Thanks Jo for typing up the interview

Those Westlife lads are a very busy bunch of fellas. Not only have they been whipping, their fans into a frenzy, on their recent UK tour, where we were invited backstage.

They have even found time to make one blushing bride the happiest in the world.

Yes the delectable Irish crooners jetted out to Coleen Mcloughlin's wedding in Italy, to provide the entertainment at the plush after ceremony party. And what’s more they went down a storm, leaving Coleen with a massive grin on her face.

Here on the eve of the release of their autobiography, Westlife - Our Story, the boys talk about how life has changed over the past decade and why one of the four almost called it a day.

You guys performed at Coleen's wedding, Can you believe all the attention the wedding is getting?
Nicky Byrne: When I was marrying Georgina (Ahern) the press were everywhere, probably because I was marrying the Prime Minister’s daughter. The whole family were harassed for three weeks before and it was hard. But you have to take the rough with the smooth and get on with it...

Westlife celebrate 10 years together next year. Surely there must have been times when you thought enough was enough…
Shane Filan: Splitting up has never been on our radar. We did a gig the other night which was unbelievable and you never want to loose that feeling. So I don’t think we will ever break up. We are doing a brand new album next year, and hopefully it will be the best album ever.
Nicky: Once, when we were recording an album, I discovered than none of my vocals have been added. I said to the boys, 'I'm going home until this changes.' I wasn't going to stand there to make up with numbers. I'm not the type of person who will just pick up the cheque. I've something to give!

Despite all success, people have always slated you, What hurts the most?
Shane: I suppose peoples perception of us really, that we’re boring guys who sing. That is so far from what we are as people…

So how rock and roll are you?
Kian Egan: We have had some pretty heavy parties, some that have gone until daylight the next day.
Mark Feehily: I can’t stay out until 6am anymore, These days I’m like "Maybe I should get some food and go home" It’s not that I don’t have the energy but I like to do things on a Sunday. Maybe it’s to do with being in a relationship. None of us want to be plastered across the papers as drunk…

You must have had some spats...
Mark: Nobody has really come to blows such as. I think Nicky bitch-kickied me one time in the chin in Italy and me and Shane sort of had a double psycho kick, but it's all little girlie fights.

You are all in relationships now, Have you noticed your middles getting thicker?
Mark: Because we have to do photoshoots, I make sure I don’t put on too much weight. Since I’ve been dating Kevin [McDaid] he motivates me to take more care of myself. He'll go to the gym and stuff so I’m into that now.

In spite of all the success what have been your worst times for you?
Kian: There was a time in America when we had been away from home and the schedule was slave driving, and was very difficult and at that time everyone just wanted to go home. It taught us how to look after ourselves and not say yes to everyone all of the time. All these lessons are valuable...
Shane: I’m lucky my wife Gillian travels with me so touring isn’t a problem. It’s not worth feeling like that.

Do your relationships ever come under pressure?
Nicky: No - You have to work at it. But you have to work at all relationships. Being away for too long is never healthy and we were always conscious on that fact and invited the girls out with us. It’s very important for a relationship. Anymore than two weeks is a killer. Especially now we have kids.

Have you thought of what life would be like if you hadn’t been in Westlife?
Mark: Westlife has taken our lives in totally random and unpredictable directions so I could literally be working in a phone shop or in another band. It’s too hard to tell.

You have worked with lots of celebrities. Who has been your favourite?
Shane: Mariah Carey, she was the first megastar we worked with...
Mark: Working with her was a dream come true. We see her from time to time, but don’t keep in touch. Everytime we’ve met her she always gives us a big welcome though...

So which celebs haven’t you liked?
Mark: Years ago we had a funny run in with Christina Aguilera. We were in the Met bar she got her bouncers, to kick us out of our seats. But the club told her bouncers to go away.
Nicky: I remember when we went to a opening of Tommy Hilfiger store as saw Liam Gallagher and at the time, we loved Oasis so we went up to him and said hi and thought it would be really cool to tell him that we were Ronan Keating's new band, but he just looked at us and didn’t even say hello...

Credit/Source: OK! Magazine / Thanks Joanne for typing it up

Westlife launch a new chapter . . . and then some . . . in their careers



WESTLIFE proudly posed with copies of their autobiography, ‘Westlife: Our Story’ at Waterstone’s booksellers in Piccadilly, central London yesterday.

The four lads – Shane Filan, Nicky Byrne, Mark Feehily and Kian Egan – will fly into Eason’s in O’Connell Street, Dublin for the first Irish signing of their autobiography thisThursday at 12.30pm.


They will also take part in book signings at Eason’s in Donegall Place, Belfast and the bookseller’s branch in O’Connell Street, Sligo.


Fans in the capital wishing to have their books signed will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis with tickets being allocated from early Thursday morning.


Martin Black, manager of the O’Connell Street, Dublin Eason’s, said:


“We are delighted to have Westlife coming to do their first Irish book signing here. However, in order to avoid disappointment, I would like to remind fans that the band’s time in-store will be limited.


“We will accommodate as many people as possible and would ask that fans adhere to orderly queues.”


The band’s official autobiography charts their highs and lows since forming a decade ago.


The book chronicles the band’s story from their grassroots in Sligo and Dublin to multi-platinum records, celebrity collaborations and chart achievements.

Credit/Source: www.independent.ie

The waiting's over - Westlife: Our Story is finally out!

You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll get a better insight into what life's really like in one of the world's most successful band that you could have ever hoped. If you haven't already snapped up your copy, order it online here.

Thanks to the hundreds of you who entered our competition to win a signed copy and a poster. We're reading through all your entries now - keep an eye out right here to see if yours was chosen as a winner.

Credit/Source: www.westlife.com

Westlife will be on BBC Radio 2 today between 2pm to 5pm.

Steve Wright talks to Deborah Meaden and Evan Davis from ‘Dragons’ Den’ and the boys from ‘Westlife’ pop in to discuss their new book. Plus there's Astrology with Debbie Frank, Tim Smith, The Oldies, sport with Jonny Saunders and the latest travel news with Sally Traffic.

LISTEN LIVE HERE

Credit/Source: www.bbc.co.uk / Thanks Katrin for the info

Read part two of our fantastic preview of Westlife: Our Story!

Click in 'Read More'
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Once you've got your copy of Westlife: Our Story, hop over to www.bebo.com/westlife and pit your wits against the fiendish quiz!

Credit/Source: westlife.com

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