Shane Filan

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Shane Filan
Img_size =
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Shane Steven Filan
Alias =
Born = birth date and age|1979|7|5|df=y
Origin = Sligo, Ireland
Instrument = Vocals
Genre = Pop
Occupation = Singer, songwriter
Voice_type = Baritone
Years_active = 1998–present
Label = SonyBMG UK/Ireland
Associated_acts = Westlife
URL =
Notable_instruments =

Shane Steven Filan (born 5 July 1979) is a singer in the Irish pop band Westlife. Filan is one of the four (formerly five) original Westlife members, along with other current members Kian Egan, Mark Feehily and Nicky Byrne.

Biography

Filan was born on 5 July 1979 to Peter and Mae Filan, and grew up in Sligo, a small town in the northwest of Ireland. The youngest of seven children, he has three brothers and three sisters: Finbarr, Peter Jr, Yvonne, Liam, Denise and Mairead. His parents owned a diner in Sligo named Carlton Cafe located on Castle Street and Shane used to work there as a waiter from a very early age.

Filan attended Summerhill College, a Catholic school, with Kian Egan and Mark Feehily. All three of them participated in a school production of "Grease" when they were about 12. The Hawkswell Theatre became a significant part of their careers, and as a big fan of Michael Jackson, Filan taught himself how to moonwalk.

Musical career

Before Westlife, Egan and Feehily were with Filan in a band known as I.O.U. with other Sligonians Derrick Lacey, Graham Keighron and Michael "Miggles" Garrett. In 1997, he attended an audition for a new Irish boyband, where he was spotted by Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, and Walsh approached him to join his new venture, Westlife. The three Sligonans joined the band along with Nicky Byrne and Brian McFadden.

Filan, along with Mark Feehily, is the main lead singer (first voice) in Westlife. Their first album was released in November, 1999, titled "Westlife". With Westlife, Filan has received twenty-eight platinum discs and sold 36 million records worldwide. [ [http://www.visitdublin.com/Events/AllDublinEvents/Detail.aspx?id=237&mid=3217 Dublin Tourism - Concerts & Gigs - Westlife `Back Home Tour' 2008 with Special Guest Star Shayne Ward ] ]

Filan has also co-written a few songs, along with the other band members, including:

*"Fragile Heart"
*"Bop Bop Baby" (Became a hit single and made it into #5 in U.K. singles charts)
*"I Wanna Grow Old With You"
*"Don't Say It's Too Late"
*"Love Crime"
*"How Does It Feel"
*"Crying Girl"
*"Reason For Living"
*"Miss You When I'm Dreaming"

He has also written songs for other artists, (together with his former bandmate McFadden):

*"Listen Girl" sung by John Ostberg
*"Let Me Be the One" sung by Simon Casey (the song written by only Shane himself)
*"Sei Parte Ormai Di Me" sung by Il Divo [ [http://www.rhapsody.com/ildivo/ildivo/seiparteormaidime/lyrics.html Sei Parte Ormai Di Me by Il Divo - Rhapsody Online] ]

Filan's recent appearance when he becomes Walsh's guest judge in the groups category of The X Factor. Among the four guest judges, he is the only guy.

Personal life

Filan married his childhood sweetheart, Gillian Walsh (Kian's cousin) on Sunday December 28, 2003 at Ballintubber Abbey, followed by a reception at Ashford Castle, Ireland. [cite web |url=http://www.showbiz.ie/news/december03/29-westlife56.shtml |title=Shane & Gillian Marry in Mayo... |accessdate=2008-10-05 |work= |publisher=ShowBiz Ireland |date=2003-12-29] Gillian gave birth to their first child, a daughter, Nicole Rose, at Sligo General Hospital on 23 July 2005, and to a baby boy called Patrick Michael Filan, born at Sligo General Hospital on September 15, 2008.

Shane likes to play golf in his spare time, but loves horses much more. He and his family own more than 70 of them, and used to compete at horse tournaments. All of Shane's horses are named Carlton something (e.g. Carlton Flight, Carlton Clover Association of Ireland] A massive Manchester United fan, Filan and bandmate Nicky Byrne proudly wore their Man Utd scarfs as they were half time guests at Old Trafford for the game between United and Bolton Wanderers

He and his eldest brother, Finbarr, have a company called Shafin Developments Ltd. They are hoping to expand its portfolio with the proposed construction of 63 luxury apartments at the rear of Lisroyan House, Knappagh Road, Sligo

References

External links

* [http://westlife.co.uk Official Website]
*imdb|0969126|Shane Filan