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Back in the zone

Spencer Bright traces the rise, split and resurrection of 90s phenomenon Boyzone; Ronan Keating claims 'We are all equal'

WHEN RONAN KEATING was reunited with the other four members of Boyzone after an acrimonious seven-year stand-off, it was agreed that, this time around, they would all share the spotlight.

"We are all equal," Keating said solemnly at the start of their summer reunion tour five months ago. "There is no individual star, we each take turns to perform out in front, and everyone's voice will be heard."

That, as far as the other members of the band were concerned, was the clincher - during the band's early years, Keating had quickly emerged as the lead singer and driving force.

Then, in 2000, after six years together, the band agreed to take a break for a while. Ronan went off and forged a highly successful solo career - notching up several number ones with hits such as 'Life Is A Rollercoaster' - and didn't look back.

He made it clear that he wasn't willing to take what he considered a step backwards, and the others made it equally clear that he wouldn't be welcome anyway.

Then, to no one's surprise more than the band itself, the reunion was on and the tour quickly sold out. However, within moments of their arrival on stage, it emerged that Keating was once again centre stage, singing lead on 17 of the 20 numbers.

But if any of the others - Stephen Gately, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch - minded, their feelings were ameliorated by the sheer thrill of performing in front of thousands of screaming fans again.

"We are men now, not boys," says Keating dismissively. "Everyone knows their place and we're just giving the fans what they want. There are no longer problems with egos.

"Anyway, I never had an ego in the first place." Seeing my look of disbelief, he adds, 'Well, not a big one. I don't think anyone has ever looked on me as leader of the band and I have never taken on that role.'

Overhearing this, Mikey mocks him. "We call him Napoleon," he says. 'After the pig in Orwell's Animal Farm.' (Napoleon turns against his comrades to become a dictator.) And soon the others are chanting Gary Glitter's hit Leader Of The Gang.

They all dissolve into laughter. It's good-natured, though I suspect it masks an underlying truth. "People have this idea that I'm calculating and working to a big game plan," but that's just not true,' says Ronan.

Band decisions, I am told, are now taken on a vote and this new camaraderie has been bolstered by their relief that the reunion gamble has paid off so handsomely. What wasn't known when they reformed was that they had risked £3million of their own money to finance the tour, because no record company would back them.

The shows were so successful - with 24 arena dates where they were seen by more than 250,000 people - that the band not only got their investment back, but earned themselves a further £1million each.

Now, in addition to next year's tour, Boyzone's first single for nine years, Love You Anyway (which reached the top five), will be followed up with Better, due out on December 1. Their greatest hits album, Back Again... No Matter What, is released today.

Keating is a complex figure. He's polite, but there is something of the politician about him. Still only 31, he has been a star since the age of 16 and those light blue eyes are intense. He's sizing up what you can do for him.

A family man, Keating has been married to model Yvonne Connelly since 1998. They have three children, Jack, nine, Marie, seven, and Ali, three.

Keating admits that it wasn't until two years ago, with his solo sales declining, that he began seriously to consider a return to Boyzone.

He concedes that 'maybe' he got a bit self-satisfied. ("I put out a mediocre record.") With his solo career losing momentum, Ronan was accused of needing this reunion tour more than his erstwhile colleagues.

When their former rivals Take That re-formed and became bigger than ever, each member of Boyzone noted the new market for the 'man band'.

They were soon on the phone to each other, discussing the possibility of their own comeback, though publicly Ronan was still hedging his bets. "Take That have caused nothing but grief for me, because everyone asks me if Boyzone are getting back together," he said at the time. "I know you should never say never, but it's not going to happen."

It wasn't long till he changed his mind. But it's different now, he claims: "The jealousies of old have gone."

So how come Ronan is still centre stage? "When we first came into rehearsals we had great ideas about everyone doing their own song and own little performance," says Shane.

"But you know what, Boyzone is what Boyzone is. Why try to make it different? I understand completely that I am not the best singer, but I tell you what, I'll do a damn good job if you put me on the wing."

In their clever Irish way, they have all allowed each other to eat humble pie without it feeling like any of them have done so.