KEY POINTS:
Plenty of singer-songwriters use the rollercoaster ups and down of their own lives as inspiration for songs but Brian McFadden's highs and lows are on a different scale to most.
In fact, if the 28-year-old Irishman's life was a movie it would be pretty hard to believe. A lucky break saw him go from performing arts school graduate and McDonald's security guard to international pop idol. "I was in the right place at the right time when I auditioned for Westlife," he says during a whistlestop visit to Auckland. "I didn't have time to have a back-up career because once we were signed we toured with Boyzone and then it took off."
During McFadden's seven years with the boy band, Westlife sold more than 30 million albums and had 12 number one singles. Seven of these were consecutive, earning them the record for the most number one singles in a row on the UK charts. Through it all he enjoyed all the first-class fun of a millionaire lifestyle including a celebrity marriage to Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona and the birth of daughters Molly (now 7) and Lily (5).
But from the highs of Westlife success came some low years of personal distress. He left the band in March 2004 to spend more time with his family and pursue a solo career. But six months later his marriage was over. For two years he traded tabloid insults with Katona before they finalised their divorce in 2006. The pair are now battling over custody of their daughters.
In all this turmoil he released his debut album Irish Son (2004) which was praised for its lyrical honesty and sold moderately well but not well enough for record label Sony BMG, which dropped him last year. This year McFadden is back on the up with Set in Stone, a self-funded album that is emotionally lighter and more musically diverse than his debut. "I have to use my own life as inspiration," he says. "The first album came from such a terrible place it was easy to write because it just spilled out. The second album was harder because I'm in such a different place. It is much harder to write happy love songs without being cliched."
The source of his happiness is Australian singer Delta Goodrem whom he describes as an "angel" who has made his life a better place to be. The pair sang a duet on his debut album and collaborated on songs for her third album. They plan to get married next year although McFadden, who has homes in Sydney, London and California, says it will be years before they have kids of their own. "She's too young at the moment," he says.
"She's only 23 and both of us are very focused on our careers at the moment. Perhaps when my two are teenagers it might be nice." If McFadden's extended family is anything to go by Goodrem had better be ready for a big family. While his only sibling is younger sister Susan (25), McFadden has 128 first cousins as both his parents have 10 siblings.
Better looking in real life than his photographs, McFadden is modest and down to earth with a soft Irish accent and thoughtful seriousness that would win over the even the most cynical. He is also very philosophical about the superficial value of fame. "I've lived a flash life and I don't need that any more. The grass is always greener on the other side but it's just things." While Geri Halliwell was welcomed back into the Spice Girls with open arms for a reunion tour, that is unlikely to be repeated for McFadden among his ex-bandmates, coincidentally touring New Zealand this week.
"I'm proud of the guys and of their success," says a diplomatic McFadden. "But it is really two different bands from when I was in it to now." McFadden does admit though that he sometimes misses their company and concedes it would be nice to have the support of the huge machine that drives Westlife. And yet he's happy with his choice to exit.
"I really have all of the good things from when I was in Westlife and none of the downside. I'm creating, writing and recording songs and I have a band but I also have a life. There is a balance that I couldn't have in Westlife. At that level of fame it is very hard to keep a piece for yourself."
GIVEAWAY
We've got 10 CDs of Set in Stone to giveaway. To be in to win, email your name, address and daytime phone numbers to view@heraldonsunday.co.nz (with McFadden in the subject line). Or put the same details on the back of an envelope and send to: McFadden Giveaway, View magazine, Herald on Sunday, PO Box 3290, Auckland. Entries close 1pm Thursday May 8. Winners' names published in View, May 11.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY
