Brian McFadden

Infobox musical artist
Name = Brian McFadden


Img_capt = deletable image-caption
Landscape =
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Brian Nicholas McFadden
Alias = Bryan McFadden
Born = birth date and age|1980|04|12|df=y
Origin = Artane, Dublin, Ireland
Instrument = Guitar, piano
Genre = Pop, Soft rock
Occupation = Singer, songwriter
Years_active = 1998-present
Label = Sony BMG 2004– 2005
BMF 2006 – Present
Island Records 2007 - Present
Associated_acts = Westlife, Cartel, Delta Goodrem
URL = [http://www.brianmcfadden.com.au brianmcfadden.com.au]

Brian Nicholas McFadden (born 12 April 1980 in Artane, Dublin, Ireland) is an Irish singer and songwriter, who rose to fame with Irish boy band "Westlife" before forging his own solo career. He is the brother of Grease is the Word actress Susan McFadden. He is engaged to Australian pop star Delta Goodrem.

Early years

McFadden worked as a security guard in McDonald's and as a bingo caller before finding fame with Westlife. McFadden's main interests have always been singing, dancing and soccer. Together with his sister he attended "Billie Barry Stage School'" in Dublin and performed as an actor onstage all major theatres in Ireland. He also had a role in the Irish TV show "Finbar's Class", a comedy about a group of teenagers set in a school.

In 1998 he started a pop and R&B-influenced group called "Cartel" with two other boys named Tim and Darragh. Together they performed live in Dublin pubs.

Relationships

In 1998-1999, Brian dated Aqua singer, Lene Nystrøm Rasted. He also briefly dated S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt.

McFadden married Kerry Katona on 5 January 2002 at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Rathfeigh, County Meath. Their honeymoon was in South Africa. They have two daughters: Molly Marie McFadden (born 31 August 2001, Dublin, Ireland), and Lilly-Sue McFadden (born 3 February 2003, Dublin, Ireland) who were both delivered at Dublin's Mount Carmel Hospital. Brian was voted Celebrity Dad of the Year in 2002, and Kerry was chosen as Best Celebrity Mum in 2002 and 2004Fact|date=September 2008. Katona and McFadden announced their separation in September 2004 and their divorce was finalized in December 2006.

McFadden is engaged to Australian singer and actress Delta Goodrem, with whom he collaborated on the duet "Almost Here". Initially, the couple denied being romantically linked. After breaking up with Kerry, McFadden claimed Delta was 'helping him' get over the pain, and the two shared many long phone calls. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/3amcontent/tm_objectid=15033985%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html "The Mirror"] "Kerry on regardless", 3 January 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2006.] until McFadden admitted that the relationship was romantic. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=15058283%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html "The Mirror"] "Kerry's ex admits to new lover" by Cameron Robertson, 10 January 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2006.] The couple underwent weeks of tabloid scrutiny, focused particularly on the fallout of McFadden's marriage with Kerry Katona. Press speculation suggested that the pair had embarked on their affair before McFadden had separated with Katona. This was denied by both Goodrem [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/3amcontent/tm_objectid=15099202%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html "The Mirror"] "Delt's a goody", 21 January 2005. Retrieved 29 November 2006.] and McFadden. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/topstories/tm_objectid=15090995%26method=full%26siteid=94762-name_page.html "The Mirror"] "McFadden's at war", 19 January 2005Retrieved 29 November 2006.] According to both parties, Goodrem began dating McFadden in 2004, after the breakdown of Brian's relationship with Kerry, with Goodrem relocating from Australia to the UK to live with McFadden. The couple faced further media scrutiny in May 2006 when a newspaper claimed that Goodrem's mother had advised her to end her relationship with McFadden. [ [http://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/tm_objectid=17146992&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=delta-mum---ditch-loser-brian--name_page.html "The Mirror"] "Delta's mum: ditch loser Brian" by Kiki King, Eva Simpson and Caroline Hedley, 30 May 2006. Retrieved 29 November 2006.]

On 29 November 2007, Brian announced his engagement to Goodrem. The couple confirmed their engagement on Friday, amidst false reports that Goodrem had turned down the proposal insisting she was “too young” to settle down. Goodrem’s management issued a statement, saying, “The couple were hoping to keep the news private however they feel it is important to now confirm their exciting news.” It was reported in the Christmas Eve issue of OK Magazine Australia that Brian pre-planned the proposal for months. He wrote a book recounting their moments from when they first met until the final page when he asked Delta "Remember the day when I proposed to you in Bali?", and Brian did propose to her on a trip to Bali.

Westlife career

Westlife are an Irish pop music group, formed in July 1998. They are signed by Simon Cowell and managed by Louis Walsh. The group is popular in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and much of Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa. McFadden performed with Westlife as Bryan, reportedly because it made signing autographs easier for himFact|date=September 2008.

He departed from Westlife after the release of the album Turnaround.

With Westlife, McFadden sold more than 30 million albums and 7 million singles, had 12 #1 singles in the UK chart and sold out arenas all over the world.

Some of Westlife's songs were co-written by McFadden, such as "Fragile Heart" (from the album "Coast to Coast"), "Bop Bop Baby", "I Wanna Grow Old With You" and "Love Crime" (from the album "World of Our Own").

McFadden appears on the following Westlife albums:
*Westlife
*Coast to Coast
*World Of Our Own
*Unbreakable - The Greatest Hits Vol. 1
*Turnaround

olo career

On the eve of the Turnaround tour, McFadden left Westlife on 9 March 2004 [ [http://www.westlife.com/news.php?id=826&month=3&year=2004 Westlife Announce The Departure Of Bryan McFadden] ] to spend more time with his family and work on solo projects. His final public performance as part of Westlife was at Newcastle Upon Tyne's Powerhouse nightclub on 27 February 2004.

Before launching his solo career he co-wrote the song "If My World Stopped Turning" which was sung by Ireland's entry Chris Doran in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004.

In July 2004 McFadden was signed to the major record company Sony BMG and to begin his solo career Brian resumed the original spelling of his name. In September he released his debut single "Real to Me", which went straight to #1 on the UK charts. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/3650272.stm Ex-Westlife star storms to No 1] ]

His first album "Irish Son" charted in the Top 30 of the UK charts. Most of the songs were co-written with Guy Chambers, best known for his successful collaboration with Robbie Williams and INXS. Yahoo Music wrote: "Ultimately, the best you can say about McFadden is that he’s unexceptionally inoffensive and probably of equal talent to the other thousand buskers who populate the streets of Dublin."Fact|date=September 2008

His second single, "Irish Son", released in November 2004 went to #6 on the UK charts. The music video for "Irish Son" caused serious controversy as it showed a Christian Brothers school in Sutton, whilst the lyrics falsely implied that McFadden had been physically abused at that school.

After the school's protests, the label decided to withdraw the video. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/4034891.stm Label withdraws McFadden's video] ] In fact, McFadden attended a different CBS school, in Artane. The song for the most part criticised the alleged negative hold that the Roman Catholic Church held on Irish society in the past, while McFadden claimed in the song that "it was leaving that saved me."

The third single, "Almost Here", a duet with Australian singer Delta Goodrem, peaked at #3 on the UK charts and reached #1 in Australia in 2005. McFadden and Goodrem have collaborated on several songs which appeared in her album Delta.

The fourth and final single from the album, "Demons", reached #28 on the UK Charts in May 2005. McFadden's career stalled at this point due to the intense media backlash he suffered due to his personal life. The music video was directed by Howard Greenhalgh, and was later remade into a different version featuring scenes from the popular TV show "Lost" by the American network ABC in order to promote the show.

McFadden continued writing songs for artists as diverse as Il Divo and Girls Aloud, as well as co-writing the theme "Together We Are One" for the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

That same year McFadden duetted with American singer LeAnn Rimes, the song called "Everybody's Someone" featured on her album "Whatever We Wanna". The single reached #48 on the UK charts.

In 2006 McFadden stated that he was disillusioned with life in pop's fastlane and want to follow in the footsteps of country music legends Johnny Cash and Garth Brooks. He revealed: "Country music is great. It's not hick and it's not frowned upon any more. "In country music songs are not just about love but everything. "Every song tells a story. I've already been working with some amazing country songwriters."

On 22 March 2007 McFadden was reportedly dropped by Sony BMG due to disappointing album sales and the failure of recent single "Demons" . [ [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a44218/brian-mcfadden-dropped-by-record-label.html Brian McFadden dropped by record label] ] McFadden later stated that they had simply parted ways as he wanted to have creative control over his musicFact|date=September 2008.

There have been recent press reports that Westlife would not welcome him back to the group againFact|date=September 2008. Brian also stated he did not want to rejoin the group although he still has great admiration for themFact|date=September 2008.

2007 onwards

McFadden's next single “Like Only A Woman Can” was released in Ireland on 20 April 2007 and reached the Number 1 position on the Irish Singles Chart. The self-penned song is the first track from his second solo album, "Set in Stone". McFadden describes it as being about his relationship with Delta Goodrem and also says the song was about his mother and sister and women in general, and admitting mistakes in the past whilst looking forward to the future. [ [http://www.mark-jones.info/070304_news.htm "Like Only A Woman Can" press release] ] It was released on his own label, BMF.

In August 2007 McFadden launched his song, "Jones", live on Irish television talent show 'You're A Star'.

et in Stone

McFadden announced that his second album "Set in Stone" would be released in Europe in summer 2008 and in Australia and New Zealand in April, 19 2008. His first single in Australia and New Zealand was a new version of 'Like Only A Woman Can'. His first single in UK and Europe is set to be 'Room to Breathe'. The album went straight in at No. 5 in Australia in its first week of release. His second single to be released in Australia is called Twisted.

Television

In 2008 McFadden took on the role of television presenter as co-host of FOX8's Football Superstar in Australia. The reality series chronicles the fortunes of 15 would-be football stars vying for the chance to play with leading Australian A-League team, Sydney FC, in the 2008-09 season.

Controversy

Homophobic comments

While co-hosting the morning breakfast show on More FM in Auckland, New Zealand, McFadden made a number of disparaging remarks about homosexuals.

"Saying pink is a form of red is the same as saying homosexual is a form of male... In the old days there was no such thing as gay. It was frowned upon. The church would burn you at the stake. Modern day, if you are not gay, a man should not be wearing pink. Unless of course you're in the Americas Cup and you're one of these pansies who walk around with Gant t-shirts with your collars up, and you wear pink and you wear white trousers with those dirty brown slip-on shoes. Then you're just an idiot." [http://www.gaynz.com/articles/publish/2/article_6360.php]

McFadden's comments provoked considerable condemnation from the gay community. [http://www.towleroad.com/2008/08/irish-singer-br.html?cid=127064458#comment-127064458] It was later discovered that he had played a recent concert while dressed in pink. [http://www.queerty.com/calling-mcfaddens-kettle-pink-20080819/] [http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24205410-5012974,00.html] His former Westlife bandmate Mark Feehily is an out gay man.

McFadden later released a statement through his publicist denying that he is homophobic.

"To come to the conclusion that I am homophobic from these sentences is far from the truth. Some of my friends and colleagues are gay and if I was truly homophobic then I have picked the wrong industry." [http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/story/0,,24211403-5013560,00.html]

olo discography

Albums

ingles

Trivia

* He owns a recording studio in Dublin called the "Vocal Lab".
* He has five tattoos; four on his back, comprised of two Chinese symbols meaning "love" and "truth" in English, which are either side of a peace symbol, and above, the name "Kerry", after his ex-wife. The fifth is on his inner left arm, reading "Sometimes life breaks in mysterious ways" - a line from his song "Sorry Love Daddy" that he dedicated to his daughters.
* Brian is a keen footballer and is a fan of Coventry City.
* He previously managed South African rock band Franklin, and now manages Irish group Melt Hair And The Love Rats who have covered his hit single "Real To Me".
* He attends Gateway Church.
* Susan McFadden asked him not to turn up and support her in TV talent show Grease Is The Word for his own sake. She feared he might be upset by the attention he would get. She said: "I could just see them putting the camera on him in the audience all the time, and that would be annoying for him and maybe a bit distracting for me."Fact|date=September 2008
* He is a passionate Collingwood Magpies supporter in the AFL, and said "I know I might risk sales by saying this in Australia, but I am a passionate Collingwood supporter and, yes, surprisingly I still have all my teeth."
* He plays for an Australian Rules side in Sydney's Castle Hill.

References

External links

* [http://www.brianmcfadden.com.au Brian McFadden Official Australia site]
* [http://www.brianmcfadden.com/new/ Brian McFadden Official UK site]
* [http://www.brianmcfadden.ie Brian McFadden Official Ireland site (MySpace)]
* [http://www.myspace.com/brianmcfadden Brian McFadden Official MySpace site]
* [http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-McFadden/14168286772 Brian McFadden Official Facebook Page]
* [http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3853443024 Brian McFadden Official Bebo Page]
* [http://www.last.fm/music/Brian+McFadden Brian McFadden Last.fm site]
*
* [http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/browserRedirect?url=itms%253A%252F%252Fphobos.apple.com%252FWebObjects%252FMZStore.woa%252Fwa%252FviewAlbum%253Fi%253D278468109%2526id%253D278468008%2526s%253D143460%2526partnerId%253D1002%2526affToken%253D16081 'Brian McFadden - Set in Stone' on iTunes]
* [http://sketchpromotions.tripod.com/cartel.html Cartel Official site]
* [http://www.billiebarrystageschool.ie/ Billie Barry Stage School]