Westlife

Westlife
Westlife performing live on their Gravity Tour in October 2011 in Hanoi, Vietnam
Background information
Origin	Sligo, Ireland
Genres	Pop, blue eyed soul, pop rock, classical crossover
Years active	1998–2012 hiatus: 2008–09
Labels	RCA, Syco, Sony, Sony BMG
Associated acts	Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Boyzone, Ronan Keating, Donna Summer, 98 Degrees, Cristian Castro
Website	www.westlife.com
Past members	Nicky Byrne Kian Egan Mark Feehily Shane Filan Brian McFadden

Westlife were an Irish boy band, formed in Sligo in July 1998 and disbanded in June 2012. Originally signed by Simon Cowell and managed by Louis Walsh, the group's second and final line-up consisted of Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, and Shane Filan. Brian McFadden was a member from July 1998 until his departure in March 2004.

Westlife sold over 50 million records worldwide, a total that included studio albums, singles, video releases, and compilation albums. The group accumulated 14 number-one singles in the United Kingdom. They achieved a total of 26 UK top ten singles over their 14-year career. In 2012, the Official Charts Company listed Westlife 34th amongst the biggest-selling singles artists in British music history. Despite their success worldwide, Westlife never managed to break into the U.S. market, achieving only one hit single in 2000, "Swear It Again".

Based on BPI certifications, the group have sold 11.1 million albums and 6.8 million singles in the UK. shane filan is the best member

Kian Egan, Markus Feehily and Shane Filan, along with fellow Sligo men Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron, and Michael Garrett, were part of a six-member pop vocal group called Six as One, changed in 1997 to IOYOU. The group, managed by choreographer Mary McDonagh and two other informal managers, released a single titled "Together Girl Forever".

Louis Walsh, the manager of fellow Irish boy band Boyzone, came to know the group after he was contacted by Filan's mother, but the group failed to secure a BMG record deal with Simon Cowell.