Boyzone and Film 24’s Stephen Gately dead at 33
Singer Stephen Gately (pictured far left above) has been found dead according to reports aged just 33. The Boyzone singer and occasional television presenter, most recently on the Film24 channel, was found dead while on holiday in Majorca.
Sky News report that Gately – who married Andrew Cowles in a civil union in March 2006 – went to bed after a night out, and never regained consciousness.
Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, who last night unaware of the death appeared live on ITV’s X Factor singing contest, spoke to the News of the World: “We’re all absolutely devastated. I’m in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don’t know much about what’s happened yet. I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man.”
Keating: Left: reportedly ‘devastated’
Big hits include a cover of the Johnny Bristol song Love Me For A Reason and a cover of the Anne Murray single You Needed Me. In January 2000 the group, consisting of Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch, finally called it a day. Keating and Gately initially forged solo careers, however Gately’s was short-lived.Others such as Duffy turned to television, acting in Coronation Street on ITV.
Gately also looked to the medium, however as a presenter rather than actor. His last television presenting work was for Film24, and his last interview was recorded earlier this month with singer-turned-actress Olivia Newton John. He had also had a successful run in West End theatre productions as well as appearing as a contestant on ITV’s Dancing On Ice celebrity skating contest.
Earlier this year he made his movie debut in the horror flick Credo. He commented at the time in Metro paper: ““It’s great to look at yourself in the mirror… …looking all gaunt and dead.”.
Gately’s short spell as a solo singer saw him notably re-recorded the Art Garfunkle song Bright Eyes for a remake of Watership Down, a song which had been the theme to the original movie.
In 2007 the band re-formed with initially a tour which has run on-and-off until 2009. New studio recordings also followed including a cover of the Tom Baxter song Better.
Right: Boyzone arrive in Newcastle earlier this year Shane meets the fans
Gately and Keating had on October 5th attended the Daily Mirror and ITV’s Pride Of Britain programme, a friend of the singer is reported in The Times as saying “Ronan is completely distraught.”
A spokesperson for Boyzone confirmed the death, however no further details have been announced other than the remaining members of the group will be flying out to Majorca.
More details on Stephen’s Demise at What’s On In Theatre.