Boyzone star Stephen Gately dies

[Sharpys top lip]

The Boyzone singer Stephen Gately, 33, has been found dead while on holiday in Majorca.

The group's tour website said that he had "tragically died" and that the rest of the band would be flying out to Majorca on Sunday.

The website also said Gately had been on holiday with his long-term partner Andy Cowles when he died on Saturday.

Boyzone announced their comeback tour last November. The Irish band had six UK number one hits from 1994 to 2000.

The News of the World's showbusiness editor Dan Wootton told BBC News Gately had gone out for drinks, returned to his accommodation and gone to sleep, but never woke up.

Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, who is due to appear as a judge on The X Factor results show on Sunday, told the newspaper: "We're all absolutely devastated."

He said: "I'm in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don't know much about what's happened yet.

"I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man."

Music journalist Paul Gambaccini said: "He's a performer with the word 'boy' in his professional title and boys aren't supposed to die.

"This is way too soon and way too unspecific for us to feel that this is at all the right thing to happen.

"It's sad on a personal level and a professional level."

The former Irish Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, described Gately as a personal friend and his death as a "huge, huge tragedy" for Irish music and culture.

Caroline, BedfordshireWriting on the micro-blogging website Twitter, broadcaster Stephen Fry said: "Just heard the very sad news about dear Stephen Gately.

"What a dreadful shock. He was loveable and sweet-natured and will be hugely missed."

Boyzone sold more singles than Take That in the 1990s, he said, and had 16 Top 5 singles.

Going solo

A year before Boyzone split, Gately revealed that he was gay and had a boyfriend, in June 1999.


Gately and Cowles tied the knot in 2006
He later held a private civil partnership ceremony in London in 2006.

After Boyzone, Gately continued his career as a solo artist, but was dropped by Polydor in 2001 after three Top 20 singles.

He enjoyed further success performing in musicals, including Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 2003-04.

Gately also appeared in 2007 on ITV1's reality series Dancing on Ice, and was voted Hero of 1999 at the Smash Hits Poll Winners' Party.

Very sad, only 33.

R.I.P.....

 

[davek]

RIP.

However:

'Bertie Ahern, described Gately as a personal friend and his death as a "huge, huge tragedy" for Irish music and culture.'

Talk about a national leader selling his country short!

 

[bluebastardo]

It's sad that any 33 year old dies, but without wanting to sound insensitive, I find the bit about it being a ' huge huge tragedy for Irish music and culture ' rather rediculous.

 

[bluebastardo]

RIP.

However:

'Bertie Ahern, described Gately as a personal friend and his death as a "huge, huge tragedy" for Irish music and culture.'

Talk about a national leader selling his country short!

Interesting that we were writing this at the same time.

 

[davek]

Interesting that we were writing this at the same time.

To be fair, that Ahern statement leaps out begging to be taken apart.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

We should forget about one Idiot says.....an he is a bleeding Idiot.

It's just very sad about the lad.

 

[McBain]

RIP, he's gone to that big Boyband in the sky

 

[bluebastardo]

We should forget about one Idiot says.....an he is a bleeding Idiot.

It's just very sad about the lad.

Sorry Sharpy m8.
I'm normally more reserved in my comments on forums, but why exactly should we be sad, other than it's yet another death at a young age?

The guy, like most artists of his generation, had about as much talent as a mouldy cucumber, and was marketed by a total ******** in Louis Walsh, who like others is only interested in making a quick buck off the back of young kids who know no better than to get swept along by the crap music v good marketing brigade.

Gately was fortunate enough to enjoy a brief career, and become what is today known ( God only knows why ) as a POP STAR.
He got to live the life he wanted, and wanted for little there on after.

The same goes for that Big Brother girl who died recently, who was so talented that I can't even remember her name, and so annoying that I shan't Google it, and mourned by millions of dead heads who know no better.

I have no time for these ' reality show ' bands or people, and though yes, I feel for the guys family, and think death at 33 is sad for anyone, there are thousands of people with 'real' talent dying every year who's talent is ignored because the mind set of modern society would rather be brainwashed by the industry into listening to second rate karaoke singers such as Stephen Gatley and company.

Put a big bomb under shows like the X-Factor and all the 'pretty boy/girl garbage' our kids have to listen to today and it would be a great step in the right direction for music.

We could mourn them all at once then, and get it over with.

 

[gordonjblair]

Sorry Sharpy m8.
I'm normally more reserved in my comments on forums, but why exactly should we be sad, other than it's yet another death at a young age?

The guy, like most artists of his generation, had about as much talent as a mouldy cucumber, and was marketed by a total ******** in Louis Walsh, who like others is only interested in making a quick buck off the back of young kids who know no better than to get swept along by the crap music v good marketing brigade.

Gately was fortunate enough to enjoy a brief career, and become what is today known ( God only knows why ) as a POP STAR.
He got to live the life he wanted, and wanted for little there on after.

The same goes for that Big Brother girl who died recently, who was so talented that I can't even remember her name, and so annoying that I shan't Google it, and mourned by millions of dead heads who know no better.

I have no time for these ' reality show ' bands or people, and though yes, I feel for the guys family, and think death at 33 is sad for anyone, there are thousands of people with 'real' talent dying every year who's talent is ignored because the mind set of modern society would rather be brainwashed by the industry into listening to second rate karaoke singers such as Stephen Gatley and company.

Put a big bomb under shows like the X-Factor and all the 'pretty boy/girl garbage' our kids have to listen to today and it would be a great step in the right direction for music.

We could mourn them all at once then, and get it over with.

While I wouldn't perhaps go as far mass murder, I think the situation can best be summed up as:

Someone we didn't know has died, and it's a bit sad because they were young. They also happened to be slightly famous.

That's it really, doesn't really need much more in the way of comment, hopefully we'll be spared the posthumous sanctification and hysteria that we got when Jade Goody went.

 

[Sharpys top lip]

Dont get me wrong. Im not a fan by a long strech. It's just that so many young people seem to be falling by ther way side.

Just think it's very sad..!!

 

[Welton Toffee]

Not a fan of his work. But 33 is very, very young. Scary really.

RIP mate.

 

[gordonjblair]

Dont get me wrong. Im not a fan by a long strech. It's just that so many young people seem to be falling by ther way side.

Just think it's very sad..!!

nobody's casting aspersions and it is sad.

 

[bluebastardo]

While I wouldn't perhaps go as far mass murder, I think the situation can best be summed up as:

Someone we didn't know has died, and it's a bit sad because they were young. They also happened to be slightly famous.

That's it really, doesn't really need much more in the way of comment, hopefully we'll be spared the posthumous sanctification and hysteria that we got when Jade Goody went.

You're right.

I just look at some of the truly great artists in the world who've genuinely made a difference to peoples lives, and then I look at people like Gatley, who probably earned a damn site more money and fame from little talent.

The best thing young people should get from this is that life has no measurement, and if you want to do something with your life, then don't put it off untill tomorrow.

 

[Welton Toffee]

You're right.

I just look at some of the truly great artists in the world who've genuinely made a difference to peoples lives, and then I look at people like Gatley, who probably earned a damn site more money and fame from little talent.

The best thing young people should get from this is that life has no measurement, and if you want to do something with your life, then don't put it off untill tomorrow.

Great advice.

 

[Philw]

The best thing young people should get from this is that life has no measurement, and if you want to do something with your life, then don't put it off untill tomorrow.

Well, i'm f*cked. Was gonna procrastinate today but couldn't be bothered, so doing it tomorrow instead!