TOTP Magazine- May 2000

"We Want To Adopt"

It's been a bit quiet on the Stephen front recently but things are about to change! Could the patter of tiny feet be the reason?

YOUR FIRST SOLO SINGLE IS CALLED NEW BEGINNING. IS THIS THE START OF A NEW ERA FOR STEPHEN GATELY?
The song is about starting afresh. This single is a big step for me. The lyrics are important to me but I hope they'll apply to a lot of people who are going through changes in their lives. Maybe someone will even play it at a wedding!

HAVE YOU FINISHED THE ALBUM?
Yes, and I'm really chuffed with the results! I can't wait for everyone to hear it. You're in for a surprise, you know, because it's not what you expect. It doesn't sound like Boyzone at all. Even my voice sounds different!

DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE TRACKS?
I like New Beginning, Do Without Me, Coming Back For More and If Only You Were Here. There are fast, slow and mid-tempo tunes. I've even included songs I wrote two years ago- I was desperate to put them out. I'm very proud to have achieved so much.

HAS ELOY HEARD THE ALBUM?
Yes, he's very supportive of me. And of course he has my support as well- he's been working on his album while I've been recording mine. It sounds similar to what he did with his old band Caught In The Act. It's very poppy.

HAVE YOU DEDICATED ANY TRACKS TO ELOY?
I can't tell you! (Ah, go on. . .) OK. I wrote a song called If Only You Were Here for him. It's about being away, travelling and not being close to the person you want to be with. It's nice.

ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE WEST END STAGE ON HOLD?
No, in fact I'm very close to being able to sing in a new musical. I've been offered a part I'd love to do but I'm still in negotiations, so you never know.

HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE GOING SOLO?
It's no different really. We often recorded our Boyzone vocals individually and I've always done work by myself, even within the band. I shot the Shooting Star video by myself and the Watership Down song was my first real solo work.

ON THE GOOD SIDE, GOING SOLO GIVES YOU THE CHANCE TO TALK MORE. YOU'LL LIKE THAT, BEING A BIT GOBBY!
Too right! I do like that. And it gives me the chance to concentrate without having four eejits squealing, 'Would you move over! You're stepping on me toes!' You know how giddy we all get at shoots. (Thinks) Actually I do miss the lads.

YOU'VE LEARNED A LOT WITH BOYZONE. ARE THERE ANY MUSIC BIZ TRAPS YOU'LL KNOW TO AVOID NOW?
Nah. I'll be the same Stephen. I'll have to get up, have breakfast and wash me hair. I'll still have to go to the toilet. . . what can change? One thing - I might rediscover the dance routine. This single is a ballad but I'm sure I'll dance onstage to fast songs.

YOU'RE EMBARRASSED BY EARLY BOYZONE PHOTO SHOOTS. PLEASE DON'T GO ALL PRECIOUS ON US NOW!
Oh no, I won't. I don't like having photos taken but it's part of the job. On the whole, photo shoots wear me out but I know I have to do them to get the best results. If you came down to the interview with a snappy camera instead of a photographer we'd have a right laugh but somehow I don't think the pictures would be good enough to make it on to the TOTP cover. Hint!

WHERE IS HOME THESE DAYS?
I live near Dublin. My house is lovely and my garden should be full of flowers this summer. Of course, I've been spending a lot of time in Amsterdam too.

HOW DO YOU LIKE AMSTERDAM?
The people are friendly and everyone is very laid back. There are lots of canals you can relax beside drinking coffee at pavement cafes. The land is very flat and there are lots of dykes. I like it.

ARE YOU LEARNING THE DUTCH LANGUAGE?
Yeah, Dutch is great- it sounds like people clearing their throats! Ican say 'danke val', which means 'thank you'. I know the alphabet and numbers and, oh yes, I know lots of rude language! I can understand most things.

WE BET YOU CAN. . .
Ha ha! I could never learn languages before now. I even left French lessons at school cos the teacher was nasty and talked too fast!

OOH, CURSE OF GATELY!
I never cursed her! Mind you I would if I saw her now! She had one of these sour faces with curly-up poodle hair on top.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO HAVE ACHIEVED BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR?
I'd love to have had a No 1 single and a No 1 album. But I'd be happy if they get into the Top 10. In fact I'll be happy to go into the charts at all! I'll know then that I've done something worthwhile.

YOU'VE THANKED THE FANS AND MEDIA FOR THEIR SUPPORT WHEN YOU CAME OUT LAST YEAR. HOW HAVE YOUR FAMILY COPED WITH THE EXTRA ATTENTION?
My sister Michelle is great but I think it might be a bit tough for my folks to deal with. At the end of the day they love me and I know they're there for me when they need to be. We're working on it and everything will be fine. It's amazing to think how well the last year turned out.

IS IT TRUE YOU'D LIKE TO ADOPT A CHILD?
Yes, and Eloy would do. I'd like to give a chile every opportunity possible. I'd put them through college, give them a chance to do well in life- be a doctor, lawyer, or whatever they wanted.

DO YOU THINK YOUR BEING GAY WILL AFFECT YOUR CHANCES OF ADOPTING A CHILD?
I think it will be hard. If adoption was too easy anyone could do it. But we can offer a stable background and we have financial security- hopfeully that'll help.

FINANCIAL SECURITY! THAT MEANS HUGE WADS OF CASH!
I have about two-fifty! (Pounds, pence, millions?) Pounds. Ah, I have enough money but I don't spend it on things I don't need. I'm not stupid with it.

THE LAWS IN HOLLAND ARE LESS STRICT THAN THEY ARE IN IRELAND. WILL IT BE EASIER FOR YOU TO ADOPT IN AMSTERDAM?
Possibly yes. We'd have to investigate. But I think the laws in the country where you adopt the child are more important than the ones in the country where you're taking him or her to.

JUST THINK! YOU COULD SHARE ALL YOUR TOYS. . .
Yeah, I love kids and I'm good with them but I'd be strict. I'd make sure there was a supportive environment. And I'd be kind and honest and open with the child; that's important. Adoption is something Eloy and I really want to do, and we will do it.

SO WE COULD HAVE ANOTHER BOYZONE DADDY BEFORE TOO LONG?
Hold on! We'll do it soon, but not yet. We haven't time just now. My personal goal for the next year is just to be happy. And I'm happy right now!