Ronan Keating @ exclusive chat with the Daily Star

RONAN KEATING: I'VE BEEN A GOOD BOY ON THIS TOUR

22nd March 2011


exclusive chat with the Daily Star, Ronan is refreshed and excited about his new album When Ronan Met Burt, a collaboration with legendary songwriter Burt Bacharach.


And he says work has been the perfect way to get his life back on track. “I’ve been a good boy on this tour,” he says.


“I’ve been going to bed early.


“It hasn’t been a party tour but I’ve really enjoyed it. For me it’s been tough emotionally and physically.”


Ronan and wife Yvonne, 36, put the affair claims behind them when he landed a role on The X Factor in Australia.


They and their children – Jack, 12, Marie, 10, and Ali, five – moved from Ireland to Sydney for the series, which Ronan won as mentor to champ Altiyan Childs, 35.


And family has been a key element of his success and happiness, he says.


They are all heading Down Under again for the next Aussie X Factor series, and regularly saw Dad perform during the Boyzone tour.


“My family have been to nearly every weekend show as the kids have been in school during the week,” he says.


“Yvonne came over for my birthday and Jack came on stage in Dublin for his 12th birthday. It’s been a family tour. All the lads’ kids and wives have been around so it’s been a nice vibe.”


The manband toured to showcase their smash No 1 album Brother, which Ronan admits would have produced more than one hit single if they had been more committed to promoting it in the wake of Stephen’s death of a heart condition at the age of 33.


“We were all in very weird head spaces,” says Ronan.


“Everybody just ran. We were running scared. We didn’t do any promotion for it and everything went Pete Tong.”


But since meeting Bacharach just before Christmas, Ronan has reignited his solo career. “I jumped at the chance to work with him and a 40-piece orchestra at Capitol Studios in LA,” he says.


“This album is probably the best piece of work I’ve ever been involved in. We’re all massive fans even if you don’t know it.


"When you hear the songs you’ll know them, tracks like I’ll Never Fall In Love Again and Walk On By. They’re on the radio constantly.


“I’m getting some new fans and my audience will enjoy it. It’s a beautiful, classy record. Burt is a brilliant person, an inspiration.


"He’s 82 and so switched-on. I was very intimidated on day one and he really pushed me and I think I came up with something special.”


The 34-year-old will be stepping on to the big screen for the first time this year, playing a marine biologist in an as-yet- untitled Aussie rom-com.


“The director saw nine other people and saw me on X Factor and thought I could do it which is how it came about,” explains Ronan.


“My character is the husband of the lead so it’s quite a large role and I’m really excited about it.”


But he won’t forget about the day job – and keeps a close eye on his pop rivals.


“There’ll always be space for boybands but the key is good ones,” he says. “I’m looking forward to hearing One Direction’s album and I saw The Wanted on TV the other day, they’re not bad.

“But when you look at Take That, unless boybands are going to be as good as them, they may as well not bother. Take That are world class.


“I think they could do solo projects and come back together like we do.


"The last Take That album sounded like a Robbie album so I was a little disappointed as I’m a big Take That fan.


"But I like Robbie so if he makes an album like that and Take That do what they’ve been doing over the last few years that’d be great.


“I love Progress but was a little disappointed it wasn’t what I thought it would be. Gary on the piano is the Take That we love. Plus he’s very dear friend of mine so I’ll definitely catch the tour.”


Maybe he could put in a call for a support slot, I suggest.


Ronan Keating’s great new album When Ronan Met Burt is out now and we have 10 signed copies to give away.


Ronan Keating @ exclusive chat with the Daily Star

Ronan Keating @ exclusive chat with the Daily Star