STARGATELY!

Stephen Gately recently made himself available for a sit-down chat with NME.COM, so in a big white room the Boyzone/ex-Boyzone, depending on who you believe, chap regaled us with tales of his solo career, his epic new single 'Stay', and why he wants to work with, ahem, Eminem.

Sadly, one of Stephen's people stepped in and interrupted things when we asked the little fella about the tabloid reports about his friendship with Noel from Hear'say, saying that Stephen would not be able to answer any such questions. A shame, because of course this would have provided Stephen with the perfect opportunity to set the record straight.

Oh well.

To watch NME.COM's video interview with Mr Gately, click here.

To watch the full video for 'Stay', click here.

To win one of three wonderful Gately goodie bags packed with stuff, email [email protected] with your prediction for the chart position of 'Stay'.

To read the interview, just scroll away to your heart's content.

Hello there Stephen. There are a lot of stories going round about a Boyzone split. What"s the truth?

"Ronan's busy at the moment. He's just had a kid and he's going off to America to try and crack there, which is fair enough. I'd love to do a tour, but I don't think it's going to happen this year. Maybe next year."

Would you rather tour with Boyzone or on your own?

"With Boyzone. I'll probably end up going out on my own at the end of this year."

Do you see yourself more as a member of a group who has a solo career or a solo star?

"I see myself as a solo star - well, not a star. The group will be there and we'll get back together some time."

Would you agree that your new single, 'Stay', sounds like *N Sync?

"*N Sync, Backstreet, Britney - whatever one you want to pick. It's got that Swedish sound and it's pop. That's what I want. I think the first single and the second single were too grown up for me. I'm 25 and I was suited up and this is going back to being pop and just doing what I want to do."

Do you think you'll have more success with this?

"I hope so. Hopefully it'll appeal to a younger audience as well. It's been getting good [radio] play so I'm hoping it'll do well."

With the recent success of Hear'say and Emma Bunton, is this the return of pop and the death of indie?

"I don't know. It is changing - pop is really hot at the moment. Especially new groups. Hear'say are fantastic. The exposure they got was great, you couldn't wish for better exposure. I do think it's hard for new groups coming out trying to crack America."

What about your experience with Stargate?

"They were great. I went in to re-do the vocal track and the single 'Stay' to update it and they were good to work with. Norway's a bit far to travel, though."

Are you saying it's a hard life being a popstar?

"It's not as easy as people think it is. It can be quite difficult as it's quite stressful and a lot of work. It's not all glamour and glitz."

How do you cope with the stress?

"I do a lot of meditation and chakra healing. I just chill out. I have to escape from the busy schedule and chill out."

Apart from new-age relaxation techniques, are you traditionally religious?

"I've been brought up to be Catholic, but I don't know the last time I was in church! I believe in God in my own way and do my own things like meditation."

How many years of sin would you have to be absolved of in the confession box?

"It would be about five or six. Sorry, Father."

Is it true you wanted to act in the Harry Potter film?

"Yeah, I'd kill for a part in that. I think the books are brilliant. I've been into magic books since I was a kid, reading Enid Blyton (?! - Ed) and stuff like that. The Harry Potter books have been such a success and I think the film's going to be such a success and go down in history."

Is acting something you'd like to do after or during your singing career?

"During. I studied acting for a few years when I was a teenager, so I'd like to get back into it."

What sort of acting did you do?

"I directed a play when I was 16. Everyone else was in their 20s. It ran in Dublin for a week. I've done some plays and a two-second clip in 'The Commitments'."

What was your role in 'The Commitments'?

"An extra! �25 for the day, along with about three million kids from my area."

Just look where you are now and where Andrew Strong is...

"Yeah, poor Andrew. Where is he now?"

Have you ever thought of doing a duet?

"Yeah, I'd love to. The B-side of my single was originally a demo for me and Baby Spice, but she was doing her own album at the time so it didn't work out. I think she's doing a duet with her boyfriend now. I'd like to do a duet with Janet or Madonna, but there's a fat chance of that happening."

Elton John recently duetted with Eminem. Would you do something like that?

"Yeah, I'd love to do something with Eminem or Marilyn Manson."

Are you into Marilyn Manson?

"I have a CD and I have listened to a couple of songs, but I'm not majorly into it. It's a bit heavy for me. I can see why people like it. I like all types of music. I can sit down and listen to a Guns N'Roses album or S Club 7."

Eminem's thought of as notoriously homophobic. It didn't cause a problem with Elton, but what about you?

"I don't know if he is or not. If he is, that's just his mentality and I don't hold a grudge against that. A lot of people would disagree. I think he's hyped up a lot and he's probably very quiet. A bit like Marilyn Manson. I don't think he's quite as mad offstage."

Has the attitude towards gay pop stars changed since you came out?

"I don't think anyone else has come out since me. I hope so, but I'm just a person doing my thing. I'm a normal person like everyone else in a committed relationship. People should take me for who I am."

Is your family very supportive of you?

"Yes, they've known for a long time, anyway."

There are a few people in pop bands that people in the industry know are gay but who haven't come out. Do you have any advice for them?

"All I can say is do it when you feel comfortable. Don't be pushed into it and don't think that you're alone. I didn't know whether it was going to go against me or whether I'd be OK. Luckily it was OK. People are just accepting us so much more than what they used to."

Did you have any letters from fans who were going through the same thing?

"Yeah, I had loads from teenagers going through the same thing asking for help and advice. Some kids were even saying they were trying to commit suicide because they couldn't deal with it. I'd given them hope and that's good."

Why did you leave Louis Walsh's management?

"Louis was very busy. He had Westlife, Ronan and another group. I wanted to work with someone who was going to look after me and didn't have too many acts. Louis is a great guy and he's turned into an exceptional manager now."

Was Puff Daddy right to change his name to P Diddy?

"People change their names all the time. If he wants to be called that, fine. But I think people will always call him Puff Daddy."

Do you ever check into hotels under pseudonyms?

"Yeah. What are my favourites? Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, a couple of Disney characters. It usually works out better if you're Stephen King, because you get a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of wine in your room."

Do nuns have hair?

"Yeah. I knew a nun when I was a kid. She was very friendly with my family and she used to come over and help us. She was very nice - and she had hair."

Will you get married one day?

"I would like to. That'd be in the future. I wouldn't say no. Well, I would say no if it wasn't Eloy and it was someone else. I haven't been asked yet, but I would. If two people love each other so much, then I don't think it's a bad thing."

Have you considered adopting children when you're older?

"Yeah, I love kids. I'd adopt tomorrow. I've been watching Lorraine Kelly's show with kids that need adopting. It's so difficult to adopt and I can understand why it is with all the assessments and stuff like that, but I'd love to have a kid."

Interview: Ben Clancy

To visit Gatelo's website, have a look at www.stephengately.com.