Boyzone and Louis Walsh don’t hold back as they dissect their long-running feud in an explosive new documentary about the Irish boyband.
The three-part show, which is set to air on Sky Documentaries and NOW on February 2, gives fans a look at the ‘fame, fall outs and tragedy’ of the band, who formed in 1993 before splitting seven years later.
A new trailer shows the group admitting they went through some ‘cruel’ times under the leadership of Louis.
Looking back at the early days of their career, Ronan Keating remarks in the trailer: ‘We were a bunch of kids put together. We weren’t perfect, we weren’t polished.’
Louis, who masterminded the lads’ career, then appears on screens with the scathing comment: ‘I prefer ordinary people, because they work harder. And they do whatever you want at the start.’
This was one of several comments made by the Irish manager aimed at the band throughout the clip, which comes amid a long-running feud with lead singer Ronan.
Boyzone and Louis Walsh don’t hold back as they dissect their long-running feud in an explosive new documentary about the Irish boyband
A new trailer shows the group admitting they went through some ‘cruel’ times under the leadership of Louis
At one point in the trailer, Shane Lynch, 48, comments on working with Louis, stating that the former X Factor judge ‘promised us the sun, moon and stars.’
While Louis smugly suggests that he orchestrated the band’s huge publicity, quipping: ‘They believed their own publicity. They forgot I wrote it’.
A synopsis for the Boyzone: No Matter What documentary reads: ‘They were one of the most successful and iconic boybands of all time – but behind-the-scenes, conflict and rivalry, betrayal and tragedy led to their falling apart.
‘Now, thirty years on, all four remaining members – Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Michael ‘Mikey’ Graham, as well as their estranged manager, Louis Walsh – reveal the truth of what really happened, the extraordinary highs of their meteoric rise to fame, and the huge costs that being in a boyband had on each of them.’
The documentary comes a year after Louis told of his real feelings towards Boyzone while in the Celebrity Big Brother house.
The former X Factor judge, 71, reignited his longstanding feud with Ronan in front of millions of viewers.
The housemates were treated to some music during the evening and Ronan’s solo single Life Is A Rollercoaster started playing. ‘Great song,’ Louis said before leaning over to housemate Sharon Osbourne and adding: ‘He was such a p***k.’
He then said: ‘Everybody thinks he’s a lovely guy, do you know what I mean?’
The three-part show, which is set to air on Sky Documentaries and NOW on February 2, gives fans a look at the ‘fame, fall outs and tragedy’ of the Irish band, who formed in 1993 before splitting seven years later [L-R Ronan Keating, Mikey Graham, Stephen Gately, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy]
At one point in the trailer, Shane, 48, comments on working with Louis, stating that the former X Factor judge ‘promised us the sun, moon and stars’
Louis smugly suggests that he orchestrated the band’s huge publicity, quipping: ‘They believed their own publicity. They forgot I wrote it’
As the song continued to play, Louis criticised Ronan’s career, saying: ‘He hasn’t had a hit record since I left. He sacked me.’
Louis has taken numerous swipes at Ronan over the years, including previously calling him ‘talentless and spoiled’.
In an interview with Q Magazine in 2012, he said: ‘His head got turned by having nice hotels and chauffeur-driven cars, and he thought he could write songs.
‘If you’re Ronan Keating, who was working in a shoe shop when I discovered him, but end [up] thinking you’re George Michael, then you need to be stopped.’
Ronan has fired back on occasion and previously said on Magic FM that he didn’t want to work with someone who didn’t respect him.
He said: ‘[Louis] was very important to me as a mentor and I’m grateful for the opportunities he gave me, because I wouldn’t be here without them.
Louis has taken numerous swipes at Ronan over the years, including previously calling him ‘talentless and spoiled’ (pictured together in 2002)
‘But there’s only so much you can give back and be so grateful, and for that not to be appreciated or respected.’
Last year audio emerged of Ronan branding Louis a ‘jealous bulls****er’ in a foul-mouthed rant.
In the recording, from the height of their feud in 2006, Ronan can be heard fuming to biographer Rob McGibbon how Louis had ‘really hurt’ him.
Saying: ‘I’ve no respect for Louis because he has none for me. He was very jealous of me.
‘I had to sack him because he wouldn’t manage me. He’s a very selfish character. It’s bullsh** man. He’s a bullsh***er.’
The new documentary will also focus on the period in which late star Stephen Gately, who died aged 33 in October 2009, publicly came out as gay, with the singer forced to do so after a publication gave him an ultimatum.
In the trailer Louis is seen smiling as he recalls the publicity garnered by Stephen’s confession as he gleefully noted how the news made ‘the front page’.
While Keith Duffy recalled how it was ‘absolutely scandalous’ how the paper had treated the late singer.
Boyzone: No Matter What air Sunday 2 February on Sky Documentaries and streaming service NOW.