New Sky series charts the rise of Irish boyband Boyzone
Kenneth Fox
In the year 1993, boy band mania swept the nation. Across Dublin, a feverish hunt begins to find the next musical sensation.
In the era before TV talent shows, hundreds vied for stardom, but only five working-class Dubliners would be lucky enough to be plucked from obscurity and thrust into the global spotlight.
For the first time in 30 years, band members Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Michael Graham grant rare and exclusive interview access for this three-part Sky documentary series Boyzone.
Revealing their personal experiences in a band that sold over 25 million records worldwide, the boys also talk candidly about how they grappled with the true cost of global fame.
As they try to close a chapter in their lives, they confront the strained relationships and tragic events that have had a lasting impact on all their lives, families and friendships.
The Sky Original series, produced by Curious Films, includes contributions from the late Stephen Gately’s sister, Michelle, his former-partner and pop star Eloy De Jong and their estranged manager Louis Walsh, as well as never-been-seen archive footage from the group’s early career.
The documentary examines the key events that shaped Boyzone, including the highs and lows of global stardom.
The series details the intense tabloid intrusion forcing Stephen Gately to come out and, after a sensational comeback in 2007, a devastating tragedy that struck the band as Stephen died — a loss the remaining band members have never fully overcome.
JD Buckley, chief executive of Sky Ireland, said: “One of the most globally beloved boy bands of the 1990s, Boyzone’s music has been cherished by Irish fans for over thirty years now.
"A story that began with just five young men from Dublin, they still remain trailblazers for Irish artists.
"With privileged access to Ronan, Shane, Keith and Mikey, we are thrilled to be bringing this exclusive new series to our Sky and NOW customers, which promises to tell their phenomenal story as viewers have never seen before.”
