Smash Hits- May 2000

STEPHEN 2000

WE HUNG OUT AT STEPHEN GATELY'S VIDEO SHOOT AND HEARD HIS THOUGHTS ON GOING SOLO, ELOY AND THE BARGAIN BIN. . .

It's hard work making a video. Stephen Gately is walking around Battersea Park in London and so far he's sung the words for his single A New Beginning a few times, he's walked up and down some stairs and he's had blossom sprinkled on his head from a tree. And, er, that's about iit.

But all sorts of video trickery is involved. "It's going to go from black and white to colour," explains director Simon Hilton. "I mentioned Pleasantville (the film starring Toby Maguire) which does that and Stephen said he was thinking of that film, too."

The single, meant to be out in January, finally reaches the shops later this month. "Once the video starts there's no stopping us," stephen grins.

STEPHEN GOES SOLO

DO YOU QUITE LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING A SOLO ARTIST, AND SEEING 'STEPHEN GATELY' ON THE FRONT OF A RECORD?
It'll be very weird. I don't know what I'm going to think when I go into record stores and see the single on the racks, and think, "Please God, move it to the front". Either that or it'll be the bargain bin. I'm really nervous about the release of it. I keep looking round for the other four guys.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY TO YOUR FANS SINCE YOU'VE BEEN AWAY?
I want to say thank you very much for everything you've done to help me out, and all the support you've given me. I hope that you like this song.

WHAT ABOUT TOURING ON YOUR OWN?
If all goes well there will be a tour. I love being on stage. I always feel sorry for the kids at the back, so I always wave to the cameras. I'll always say hello to the fans.

WHAT'S THE ALBUM LIKE?
There are some nice poppy songs and a couple of nice ballads. It's just the music I wanted to do. I wanted to do something I really liked and I love melodies. I thnk it's important to have a really strong melody.

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE LETTERS YOU GET?
You get some really moving letters from parents and young people. Then, you get normal letters saying, 'how are you doing?' I got a poster recently with two girls' pictures on, and they drew these cocktails iin and put them on this sheet of orange paper, saying, "When are we going out for a drink?"

STEPHEN AT HOME

Stephen, for the moment, is concentrating on work, although he did go out with some ol' friends the night before the shoot. "Ronan and Keith wanted to get together for a few drinks, but I had to be up for a video," he says innocently, "I was in bed by 11pm. But it was nice to see baby Jack."

Steve insists the Boyzone-to-split stories "don't even bother me". He's pleased, not jealous, of Westlife- "the work they've put in has piad off. They've done incredibly well." He'd prefer to eat "where you can hear conversation" than go to the Met Bar. Better still, he likes to curl up with a fil- he owns "about 12o DVDs". He wants to duet with Mel C and wouldn't mind TV presenting again, but he wants to get on with his solo career- and his life.

WHILE YOU'VE NOT BEEN TOURING, HAVE YOU BEEN GETTING YOUR LIFE BACK?
Yes. I've seen the family, I've been going home at night just to have a quiet meal. I sit at home catching up on movies, watching DVDs every day.

WHAT ELSE DO YOU DO?
I cycle, I used to swim a lot, but I don't anymore. I cycle and walk a lot with the dogs.

IS JOEY (YOUR SHIH-TZU) HOUSE-TRAINED YET?
Joey is, but I got a new dog for my birthday on March 17, and American Cocker Spaniel. He's called Woody- my little nephew gave him the name after he saw Toy Story 2. Two dogs is enough though!

WHO'S FIRST TO WALK HIM?
It depends on who's tired. I sometimes walk him quite early- 9am, and give him his food.

STEPHEN: THE FUTURE

If Stephen isn't first to walk him, Eloy is. Eloy de Jong- in case you were on Mars all of last year- is Stephen's boyfriend. Ten months ago, Stephen told The Sun (and the world) he was gay, and in love with Eloy. SH readers thought it was so brave you voted him Hero Of The Year at last year's Poll Winners'.

DID COMING OUT FEEL LIKE A BRAVE STEP?
It was brave because my life was on the line I didn't know what to do.

BUT YOU HAD A GREAT REACTION!
Nothing in my life has really changed, (smiles) I've just had a lot of support.

WHEN YOU'RE HOME, WHO COOKS?
We cook together, but Eloy's very good, he makes a really good pizza from scratch. I'm a good chopper, I do a lot of chopping for sauces. He makes a really good lasagne, a very good teriyaki chicken, and beef teriyaki with green pepper. I love Japanese food, but I don't like sushi. Mind you, I went to this Japanese restaurant once in Japan and asked for some shrimp, and they brought me the shrimp on a plate, and they had this big table that they cook in front of you. They put the shrimp on and the shrimp started jumping up and down- it was still alive! They cook them in front of you and then you eat them. I love shrimp- but not like that.

YOU TALKED ABOUT YOUR NEPHEW AND RONAN'S BABY, JACK. WOULD YOU EVER LIKE TO HAVE CHILDREN?
Yes, I'd love to adopt a kid. It'd be great to give some kid a better chance in life. I think you have to be a good person to want to bring up a kid, if yo realise what it takes. It is a lot of struggle and it is a lot of time, but at the end of the day it is very rewarding. When I see Jordan (Keith's five year-old nipper), I wish I'd adopted a kid.