Boyzlife Collaboration and Tour
For nearly ten years, Brian McFadden of Westlife and Keith Duffy of Boyzone have united to perform the greatest hits from their respective boybands under the name Boyzlife. The duo began collaborating in 2016 and are preparing to embark on their latest tour across the UK and Ireland.
Despite Westlife currently celebrating their 25th anniversary with a major world tour, Duffy emphasized that there is "no rivalry" between Boyzlife and Westlife.
"They're playing stadiums and we're playing theatre halls," Duffy told NI.
"They're doing 50,000 a night and we're doing 2,000. I'm sure they're happy enough."
Duffy explained that forming Boyzlife required him to relearn how to sing Boyzone songs, as he had primarily performed backing vocals during his time with Boyzone. He admitted that his confidence was initially "shot" when they began touring, with McFadden assisting him by working through songs line by line to find the appropriate vocal balance.
He noted that it was actually easier to learn Westlife vocals because he "had to unlearn Boyzone to relearn it."
"Brian at the time was a great coach to me because he had a lot more experience and a lot more confidence in that area."
Duffy acknowledged that the pair are fortunate to have an extensive catalogue of hits to perform.
When Did Westlife and Boyzone Disband?
Both Irish bands were managed by Louis Walsh. Boyzone was formed in 1993, and Westlife followed in 1998.
Boyzone achieved numerous chart-topping songs in the UK and Ireland, while Westlife has sold over 55 million records worldwide and secured 14 UK number one hits.
McFadden departed Westlife in 2004; the group disbanded in 2012 before reuniting in 2018.
Boyzone disbanded in 2000, reunited in 2007, and disbanded again in 2019 after their 25th anniversary tour.
In September, Boyzone announced a one-off concert scheduled for June, described as a "final farewell."
Currently, Duffy and McFadden perform as two lead vocalists, typically supported by a live band, sharing verses and choruses throughout their shows.
They acknowledged that nerves still appear at the start of a tour, but these are more excitement than fear, especially when performing new material.
"We get excited for getting out and doing it live. I don't think I could do this job if we didn't have the live shows that we do," McFadden said.
The duo will perform in Belfast in April, and both singled out Belfast's audiences as among the most energetic they encounter.
"You give your best show when the audience give you that kind of energy. So we love coming and playing up here," Duffy said.
They began their 2025 tour in Belfast and said the crowd "raised the roof off the place."
"They didn't even want us to sing. They sang every song themselves," Duffy said.
"We were trying to sing, but there was no point. We just put the mics out and they'd just take over."
'Live Every Moment'
After nearly a decade of touring together, the duo said they now have more control over their schedules and focus more on enjoyment compared to their experiences in boybands during the 1990s.
When asked what advice they would give their younger selves, Duffy emphasized the importance of thinking carefully before speaking.
"I think in this business, you know, when you're so young like we were and you're given a voice, that doesn't necessarily mean you have an educated one," he said.
"So I think any advice really would be think about what you're going to say before you say it.
"And enjoy yourself. Live every moment."
McFadden added with a laugh that he would advise his younger self to "buy bitcoin when it came out."
"We made that mistake, didn't we?"
