Take that, Boyzone! Irish boyband's comeback gig is only half full

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Take that, Boyzone! Irish boyband's comeback gig is only half full

 

By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 4:42 PM on 18th June 2009

 

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When Boyzone leaped to fame in 1994, they were billed as the 'Irish Take That'.

And 15 years later, it seems Boyzone are still playing second fiddle to the English band.

Continuing their comeback tour in Liverpool last night, the Love Me For A Reason group were dismayed to find the concert arena only half full.

 

 

Comeback: Boyzone members (L-R) Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham, Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately and Shane Lynch performed in Liverpool Echo Arena on Wednesday

 

 

Enlarge Half full... or half empty: Only 5,000 of the 10,500 seats in the Liverpool Echo Arena were filled

 

Bandmembers Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham performed to just 5,000 fans in the 10,500 seat Echo Arena on Wednesday.

In comparison, their closest rivals Take That have broken records by selling out stadiums across the country.

Reports claim not all of the tickets were sold at full price, with many given away free on a local radio station and others being sold two-for-the-price-of-one.

One concertgoer said: ''Shane looked really p***ed off. Ronan and Stephen still carried on like true professionals, they carry the other three.'

 

 

 

Manzone: Ronan (L) and Shane belted out the group's biggest hits, including Love Me For A Reason, A Different Beat and No Matter What

 

 

Despite the disappointing turnout, the group belted out their biggest hits, including Love Me For A Reason, A Different Beat and No Matter What.

With their fans all grown up, the formerly clean-cut group were able to push the boundaries with flirty antics and saucy jokes in between songs.

Announcing their comeback last year, Boyzone hoped to recapture the success they enjoyed in the Nineties.

But it appears with Take That, New Kids On The Block and the Spice Girls reuniting in recent years, the twentysomething fans who worshipped them as teens are becoming jaded by the comebacks.

 

Tartan tribute: Stephen performs with a group of scantily-clad dancers

 

The timing of Boyzone's comeback couldn't be worse, with Brits' disposable income shrinking steadily as the credit crunch continues.

Boyzone were formed in 1992 by X Factor judge Louis Walsh and enjoyed their first top 10 hit Love Me For A Reason in 1994 - when Take That were ruling the charts.

 

When the group first started out, all five were seen as young, free and single.

Now, four of the five are married and gay bandmember Stephen entered into a civil partnership with Andrew Cowles in 2006.

Ronan has three kids with wife Yvonne, Keith has two with wife Lisa, Shane has a daughter with second wife Sheena and Mikey has two children, one with wife Karen and another from a previous relationship.

Boyzone's 23-date Better '09 tour is scheduled to end in Cork, south west Ireland on June 28.

 

 

As they were: Fresh-faced Boyzone in 1995

 

 

Boyzone Vs Take That

 

Boyzone

 

Bandmembers: Ronan Keating, Shane Lynch, Mikey Graham, Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy

Origin: Dublin, Ireland

 

Years active: 1993-2000, 2008 - present

 

Combined age of bandmembers (2009): 167 years (five members)

Number of studio albums: Four

Number of No.1 hits: Six

 

Number of Top 40 hits: 18

 

Album sales: 20million

Brit Awards: None

 

Significant moment: Stephen Gately coming out as homosexual in 1999

 

Take That

 

Bandmembers: Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Jason Orange, Howard Donald

Origin: Manchester

Years active: 1989-1996, 2005-present

 

Combined age of bandmembers (2009): 154 years (four members)

Number of studio albums: Five

 

Number of No.1 hits: 11

 

Number of Top 40 hits: 21

 

Album sales: 34million

Brit Awards: Seven

Significant moment: Robbie Williams quitting the band in 1995

 

Rivals: Grown-up boy band Take Tha