Boyzone ‘to SPLIT after 25 years… but will pay tribute to Stephen Gately in their final album’

They burst onto the music scene in 1993, making waves with their catchy songs and over-enthusiastic dancing.

But after 25 years, Boyzone have reportedly decided to call it a day.

The Irish boyband are said to be planning to pull out all the stops for their final album, which will be a poignant tribute to their late bandmate Stephen Gately who passed away in 2009. 

Break-up? After 25 years,Boyzone have reportedly decided to call it a day, with the four remaining band members deciding to split for good (pictured in 2010)

According to The Sun, the band made the decision to part ways after a series of meetings where they discussed the future of Boyzone.

The newspaper reports Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch, will release their final album to coincide with their 25th anniversary and embark on a goodbye tour before throwing in the towel for good.

The Love Me For A Reason hitmakers previously said they enlisted the help of Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith to write their tracks for their album, which will be released in September.

MailOnline has contacted Boyzone’s representatives for comment. 

Heartfelt: The Irish boyband are said to be planning to pull out all the stops for their final album, which will be a poignant tribute to their late bandmate Stephen Gately

Heartfelt: The Irish boyband are said to be planning to pull out all the stops for their final album, which will be a poignant tribute to their late bandmate Stephen Gately

The rumours of their split comes nine years after Stephen died from natural causes aged just 33, leaving fans around the world devastated.

Shane previously spoke about his heartache, during his stint on Celebrity Big Brother earlier this year.

He said: ‘He was 33 when he died. When that happened, we were in the middle of making a new album. And at that point we were like, ‘What do we do? Do we call it a day? Is there no more Boyzone? Is that it?’

Throwback: They burst onto the music scene in 1993, making waves with their catchy songs and over-enthusiastic dancing

Throwback: They burst onto the music scene in 1993, making waves with their catchy songs and over-enthusiastic dancing

‘But every time we got together as a group, the four of us came together, it was very apparent that he was alive, when we came together.

‘Because that was our bubble. He’s so there. So we’ll always be five, regardless of visually what you see. He will always be there.’

Born in Dublin, Gately joined Boyzone in 1993 after answering an advert to audition for Ireland’s first boyband.

The group achieved international fame as well as six UK No.1s – including Words, No Matter What, All That Matters To Me and You Needed Me.  

Goldust: The group achieved international fame as well as six UK No.1s - including Words, No Matter What, All That Matters To Me and You Needed Me (pictured in 2008)

Goldust: The group achieved international fame as well as six UK No.1s – including Words, No Matter What, All That Matters To Me and You Needed Me (pictured in 2008)

The band officially split in 2000, but have frequently got back together for landmark tours – including the Back Again…No Matter What tour in 2009 –  which was the last time they’d perform as a five-piece.

The band also reunited in 2013 to celebrate their 20th anniversary with a tour and new releases.

Shane previously talked about the upcoming tour this year on ITV’s Lorraine in May 2017.

He said: ‘We can’t let it go. I love the boys, I love being with them. I love my musical side of the world and we just have to work everything out. But I think it’s a great time for Boyzone.

‘We come and we go… but I think we might be allowed to take our own reigns this time and do what we actually want to do. We are mature men, we can make our own decisions.’

Splitting for good? The band officially split in 2000, but have frequently got back together for landmark tours

Splitting for good? The band officially split in 2000, but have frequently got back together for landmark tours



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