Smash Hits presents. . . POPSTARS- March 2001

When Hear'say met Stephen!

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They're the hottest new band on the block and he's one fifth of one of the most successful bands of the '90s. So what happened when Stephen Gately dropped in on the Popstars for a good gossip?

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Kym: Stephen, what's the hardest thing about being a pop star?

Stephen: Keeping your feet on the ground. It's hard because it can all go to your head very quickly. We've tried to keep a good relationship between the five of us in Boyzone as that helps to keep you down to earth. It's also really important to have a good relationship with your record company and management as well.

Stephen: You're in a pop band and you're about to release your first single. How do you feel?

Kym: I'm a bit apprehensive. We didn't realise how big the TV show was going to be when we started out. We've been locked away for all this time and now we're meeting the public- it's weird. We're all wondering how people are going to react to us and if they'll still be behind us.

Noel: There's a lot of expectation. I'm sure people are expecting some kind of bubblegum pop groups, but that's not what we're about.

Stephen: Well, you'll prove that with your first single. The first single is always really tough, but the second single is even tougher. You're only as good as your last record. My last record went to No11 so I'm only as good as that now!

Suzanne: Did you find your first single release really scary?

Stephen: Yes, and it was so weird hearing myself on the radio for the first time. I was sitting in a car and I knew that other people were listening to the same station. It was so strange! The first single we released was Working My Way Back To You, in Ireland. We spent a year touring Ireland, having bottles thrown at us and being spat at on stage. It was pretty terrible.

Kym: Wasn't your first single Love Me For A Reason?

Stephen: No, that was the first single we released in England. We never released Working My Way Back To You in the UK, thank God! The video was terrible. We're all dancing bare-chested. I look like something out of a Tango ad 'cos I had a really bad tan.

Kym: I want to see that video!

Stephen: The suits we wore for Love Me For A Reason were pretty bad too. Pinstripes and big collars. Oh dear. . .

Myleene: Have you ever been forced to wear clothes that you didn't want to?

Stephen: At the start we wore things that we didn't necessarily like 'cos we wanted to make a good impression. When people said, "Jump" we asked how high. That's the way it is 'til you're established. When you start having hits it becomes easier and you have more say. Eventually as a group we had a say in everything, but on the first show we did Mikey was in a green outfit that made him look like Peter Pan, Keith was in a jacket that was supposed to be red but was actually pink, and I was wearing a terrible shiny shirt with the sleeves cut off. We were too scared to refuse to wear it all, ad that sort of thing will come back to haunt you.

Stephen: What's been your approach to styling?

Myleene: We've had a lot of say in what we wear because people have seen us so much on TV that if we had a Changing Rooms moment and completely changed it'd be weird.

Stephen: Have you all got quite different taste? Kym, you look like a bit of a rock chick!

Kym: That's just the way it's worked out. These are the kind of clothes I've picked out when we've been shown stuff by stylists.

Noel: All the girls like each other's stuff so they share a lot of clothes, but they've all got their own style.

Stephen's been in the music business for seven years. During that time he says he's been lucky enough to meet loads of his fans and is still incredibly thankful to them for their continuing support. Now Hear'say find themselves in the same situation, having pieces of paper and pens thrusted at them from every direction. Suzanne- once a huge Boyzone fan- is intrigued to find out whether Stephen ever got sick and tired of the constant attention from the fans over the years.

Suzanne: Have you ever got really fed up with your fans?

Stephen: No, I never get sick of them. Apart from when they're outside my house, because when you're in your house it's your private time. It doesn't bother me at all if I'm out and someone grabs me and says, "Sign these for my 50 grandchildren!" But when I'm at home it bothers me.

Suzanne: I was always dying to get your autograph. I used to come to all your concerts and scream. I don't like you anymore though.

All: Suzanne!!!!

Suzanne: I'm totally joking. Totally!

Kym: Does anything about fame scare or worry you anymore?

Stephen: I went through a stage of locking myself away whenever I wasn't working. I'd go home and hide in my house because I didn't want to deal with things. It all got too much, especially the questions about my sexuality. Having to try and dodge those questions for five years was a really heavy pressure. Now I tell people they can ask me whatever they want, but if I don't like the questions I won't answer them.

Suzanne: How did you deal with all the questions about your sexuality, 'cos you couldn't really lie, could you?

Stephen: I went around it. I used to say, "When I meet the right 'person' I'll let you know." And if I was ever asked who I fancied I'd say, "I think Madonna is great" or "Mariah Carey is beautiful", which is true, but I ever actually said I fancied them.

Kym: Do you feel better now you've made the decision to come out?

Stephen: Yes, I think it's wise and good to be honest to your fans. I did get an awful lot of respect for it. I didn't know how people were going to react and I was prepared to call it a day, but the response was amazing. People have got to take you for who and what you are.

Suzanne: And when you did come out a lot of my friends at school were Boyzone fans and it didn't affect the way they felt about you. Everyone still fancied you rotten!

Stephen hasn't always had an easy time with the tabloid press who are renowned for having a downer on pop bands. Stephen hit the headlines in a massive way when he came out in 1999, and says that rather than getting upset about everything that was said at the time, the experience taught him not to take everything to heart. Now it's Hear'say's turn to hit the front pages day after day, and 'revelations' from distant family members, former friends, and ex-girlfriends and boyfriends are likely to be just around the corner.

Suzanne: How do you handle bad press?

Stephen: I don't read it or worry about it. As long as it doesn't affect your family, 'cos they're the most important thing. As long as you've got your friends and family to support you, you can take it all with a pinch of salt. Victoria Beckham is in the press constantly and she lets it all go over her head. She knows you can't take any of it seriously.

Stephen: How do you think you're going to handle all the tabloids?

Kym: Well the press are already taking bets on how long my relationship with my boyfriend is going to last. It's so silly.

Suzanne: I've started to ignore the bad stuff already. We were looking at our website and some nasty comments had been made and I decided then that I was going to stop reading things like that because it will knock my confidence.

Stephen: There are nice things that will be written as well though. But sadly, some people will always want to knock others.

Danny: I don't understand that at all.

Kym: Apparently the press phoned my parents today and told them my 'best friends' Jen and Stacey are organising a homecoming party for me and they wanted a comment about it. Jen and Stacey are probably the two people I'm furthest removed from and yet they've reared their heads. I know the sort of jealous people they are so I'm waiting to see what they're going to do in the papers. It's horrible having to worry like that.

Noel: At the moment the papers are going round to members of my family that I haven't seen for years and trying to get stories. I've even had my house broken into by someone trying to find our stuff.

Stephen: Things like that are shocking, but there are so many good things about being in a band. . .

Noel: What do you think is the best thing about being famous?

Stephen: I come from a really poor background and I never went out of Ireland until I joined Boyzone. I'd never even been on a plane, so I think travelling is one of the best experiences. You learn so much as well. I left school at 17 to join Boyzone and I've learnt so much more through being in the band and travelling around than I ever could have done if I'd stayed in school. Being in a band also makes you more confident. I was so shy when I first started out, I wouldn't talk to anyone and I couldn't do an interview on my own. But now I can talk to anyone about anything.

Suzanne: Everyone saw our auditions as they were all over the TV and press, but what were the Boyzone auditions like?

Stephen: I walked into the auditions and I looked around and saw all these six foot tall, well built guys and thought I had no chance of getting in the band. I'd been dancing for years and been teaching underprivileged kids so I knew a lot about that, but I'd never sung before and I was really nervous. But once I'd got into the band I learned really quickly.

Danny: I've only been singing for three years. I was going to be a teacher.

Kym: Danny's got a wicked voice, I can't understand how it took him so long to realise how good he is!

Danny: Did Boyzone ever get complacent or did you always think you'd have to work harder with every single?

Stephen: You're always wondering how well your next single will do. These days you have to be No1 to be seen to be doing well. I think too much emphasis is put on chart positions and it's important not to worry about them too much.

Stephen: So finally, what are you all looking forward to most about being in a top new band?

Kym: Getting the single out there.

Suzanne: We're getting quite used to interviews now as well.

Stephen: I saw your press conference on TV actually. You seemed quite quiet during it.

Kym: Well, we only had one day of media training so we were all really wary of what we should and shouldn't say. We were thinking the questions through before speaking. Everyone's trying to trip us up at the moment so we're trying to be extra careful!

Stephen: Well, here's some advice about recorded TV interviews. If you ever say anything wrong, swear straight afterwards. Then they can't show it! I've done it loads of times.

Noel: The press are trying to make out that we've been really well trained to deal with the media already, but it's not true. We're learning as we go along.

Stephen: Well just keep learning and make sure you enjoy yourselves. That's the best advice I can give to you. Stay friends, be positive and have loads of fun!

Good advice indeed!