Nicky Byrne jokes that Westlife were secretly ‘bad boys’

Nicky Byrne has revealed that Westlife were secretly ‘bad boys’ during the band’s heyday and they were ‘tarred with the “good” brush’ due to their ballads.

The Irish singer, 42, also spoke about the group’s former ‘rivalry’ with fellow pop group Five.

It comes as Westlife are currently gearing up for a two-date show at Wembley Stadium in August.

Bad boys! Nicky Byrne has revealed that Westlife were secretly ‘bad boys’ during the band’s heyday and they were ‘tarred with the “good” brush’ due to their ballads (pictured in 2019)  

Talking to the Mirror, Nicky said: ‘Westlife were the good boys, Five were the bad boys. 

‘A band rivalry was implied, on who was the toughest, who was the craziest, and because we sang ballads and were seen as good Irish lads. We were tarred with the ‘good’ brush.’  

He added: ‘We never ended up in a brawl, but we would have fancied our chances!’ 

Fighting talk: The singer said he and bandmates Shane Filan (left), Mark Feehily (second from right), and Kian Egan (right) were seen as 'good Irish lads' (pictured in 2019)

Fighting talk: The singer said he and bandmates Shane Filan (left), Mark Feehily (second from right), and Kian Egan (right) were seen as ‘good Irish lads’ (pictured in 2019)

Earlier on Friday, Nicky’s bandmate Kian Egan, 40, revealed the secret disasters simmering backstage during the celebrated group’s reunion tour in 2019.

The band hit the road for their Twenty Tour after releasing their hit album Spectrum, however Kian lamented the fact that the tour – their most expensive ever – was haphazard. 

Despite the gaffes along the way, the 50 date tour was a roaring success although fans were left heartbroken when the coronavirus pandemic led to the postponement of their Stadiums In The Summer Tour, which has been rearranged to August.

Speaking to MailOnline ahead of the release of tickets for their two-date show at Wembley Stadium in August, he vowed to fans that the show would be amazing, having revealed he was forced to ‘shout at crew’ during their last stint on stage. 

Feud: The Irish singer, 42, also spoke about the group's former 'rivalry' with fellow pop group Five (pictured in throwback shot)

Feud: The Irish singer, 42, also spoke about the group’s former ‘rivalry’ with fellow pop group Five (pictured in throwback shot) 

Last week, Westlife announced they will hit the stage at Wembley Stadium this summer – making them the first major act to perform at the venue in two years.  

The concerts will fall on 21 and 22 August with All Saints and James Morrison supporting on the first night and All Saints & Anne-Marie on the second. Tickets are available to buy on Friday 26 March 2021 at 10am at LiveNation.co.uk.

Westlife have been blazing the comeback trail over the past two years with their album Spectrum leaving fans thrilled, however heartbreak struck last year when their one-off Wembley Stadium gig was cancelled due to coronavirus.

Speaking to MailOnline, Kian revealed that while The Twenty Tour looked smooth-sailing, there was trouble behind the scenes.   

Westlife soared to fame in 1998 when they were formed in Dublin, with the original line-up also featuring Brian McFadden (pictured back left), who later left in 2004 (pictured in 2000)

Westlife soared to fame in 1998 when they were formed in Dublin, with the original line-up also featuring Brian McFadden (pictured back left), who later left in 2004 (pictured in 2000) 

He said: ‘There were huge problems that we managed to cover up. There were moments before we were walking on stage and the crew were still trying to build the stage. There was moments where we had to pull the show right before we went on.’

Detailing the vast woes the group faced, he said: ‘Last year, three trucks got stuck in Dublin on the way to Glasgow because they missed the ferry, the lighting rig didn’t get built then it’s like shall we put on half a show for our first time back in Scotland?…

‘No, on a reunion tour with the biggest production in our career, the most money we’ve ever spent on a production and half the rig was stuck in Dublin… 

‘We wanted to give our fans in Scotland the best production they’ve seen Westlife do and the fans probably didn’t recognise it but that gets in your own head when you’re walking on stage and there were lots of moments like that…

Uh oh! Westlife star Kian Egan has revealed the secret disasters simmering backstage during the celebrated group's reunion tour in 2019 (pictured in 2019)

 Uh oh! Westlife star Kian Egan has revealed the secret disasters simmering backstage during the celebrated group’s reunion tour in 2019 (pictured in 2019)

‘That happened in a few different places, in Manchester the wall of screens built in behind us wasn’t put in properly. Lots of things, I remember standing out at the back of the stage as the arena was filling up.’

Kian admitted he needed to intervene, saying: ‘I was talking to crew going: “What are you standing around for lads? What’s going on?” I was literally shouting at crew to to get their a**e in gear and get the stage built.’ 

Westlife soared to fame in 1998 when they were formed in Dublin, with the original line-up also featuring Brian McFadden, who later left in 2004. 

The group broke hearts of fans around the globe when they announced plans to disband in 2012 before all embarking on respective solo careers over the years before reuniting in 2019 with their hit Hello My Love.  

Amazing: Westlife have announced they will hit the stage at Wembley Stadium this summer - making them the first major act to perform at the iconic venue in two years

Amazing: Westlife have announced they will hit the stage at Wembley Stadium this summer – making them the first major act to perform at the iconic venue in two years