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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Charlotte Everett

Brian McFadden lifts lid on rocky relationship with Westlife boys 18 years on

Brian McFadden has spoken out about his rocky relationship with the other Westlife boys 18 years after leaving the band.

The singer first became part of Westlife with Nicky Byrne alongside Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Shane Filan following an audition in 1998.

He was part of the band that featured five men which was put together by then A&R executive Simon Cowell.

The band went on to be a huge success by achieving four number one albums in Ireland and ten number one singles including 'Uptown Girl' and 'Flying Without Wings'.

However the 42-year-old left Westlife in 2004, saying he wanted to spend more time with his then-wife Atomic Kitten star Kerry and their two daughters Molly and Lily.

READ MORE: Brian McFadden rushed to doctors with severely swollen face after allergic reaction

Brian left Westlife in 2004 (United Archives via Getty Images)

But it was just months later when him and Kerry split.

It was then that Brian decided to focus on launching his own solo career.

Brian ended up signing with Sony BMG records and releasing his debut number one solo single Real to Me in 2004 as well as releasing his debut solo album Irish Son the same year.

Brian has previously said that he decided to leave Westlife as they were recording hit song Mandy, saying that he was ashamed of the song.

He told the Irish Independent : "That was definitely a turning point. I've always been very proud of Westlife, and I still think that we never got the respect we deserved, but I was f***ing ashamed of that song. From the second we went into the studio to record it, I lost all interest."

Brian's solo career didn't last long as he left BMG in 2007 due to poor record sales and songwriting disagreements.

Brian was married to Kerry Katona (Getty Images)
The pair have two children together (Getty Images)

He went on to set up his own label, BMF Records when he released single Like Only a Woman Can which became another Irish number one.

Brian extended his career in Australia, becoming a co-host of FOX8's Football Superstar before being a guest judge on Australian Idol.

In 2010 he joined the judging panel on Australia's Got Talent.

However, it seems that Brian was happy to be given the opportunity to return to Westlife.

Brian told the Irish Sun : "I was offered a big multi-million-pound deal. It was the other boys in Westlife who said 'no'. They didn't want me back. How does that make me feel? It makes me pretty upset because I didn't realise they still had those feelings towards me."

Brian is now part of Boyzlife (Getty Images)

Speaking to The Mirror Westlife member Nicky Byrne said: "The honest answer would be that we wouldn't have him back in the group anyway.

"We all get on great with Brian but we couldn't go back to having five in the group because it was such an upheaval when he left.

"We had to rebuild and start from scratch and we're a different group now. We've moved on and Brian knows that as much as we do. If you are asking me if we would let him rejoin the group then the answer is no."

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