Boyzone wow Keith's charity night with an impromptu show

5th December 2008

http://www.herald.ie/entertainment/music/boyzone-wow-keiths-charity-night-with-an-impromptu-show-1564893.html

DELIGHTED Boyzone fans got a sneak preview of what they can expect from the group's O2 arena gig this month when the boys performed a surprise concert in aid of charity last night.

And it was a real family occasion as three of the band members stepped out with their wives as the reformed pop group took to the stage for an impromptu performance in Kilmainham last night, to the delight of fans.

The celebrity singers stunned guests at band member Keith Duffy's annual masquerade ball, sponsored by jeweller Raymond Weil, in aid of Irish Autism Action, when it was announced that they would be providing the post dinner entertainment.

surprise

Delighted revellers were treated to a full set of songs by the popular fivesome which included new and old hits and a special performance of their controversial new single Better.

Prior to the surprise gig, lead singer Ronan Keating told the Herald: "It's all hush-hush, no-one except the band knows, but we're really looking forward to performing later on. It's a great cause and we're always happy to support Keith any way we can.

"He's done great work since he started the charity and I'm sure tonight will be a great success as always," he added.

Keith Duffy, meanwhile, was delighted to have his fellow band members on hand to help celebrate the third annual event, which saw his daughter Mia attend her first ever charity ball.

"It's a huge achievement and I just thought it appropriate that she be here tonight," he said. "This is her first time to come to one of these balls and people have been supporting us for a long time, so it's good to show them what their money and their hard work has achieved.

"Myself and the wife wouldn't take no for an answer when we learned she had autism and we fought our own battle and six years later Mia's in her second year of school and she's talking and she's socialising and even here tonight with us," he added.

controversy

However, one subject Keith was not so positive about was the critics who have blasted Boyzone for setting out to cause controversy with the video for their single Better, which features Stephen Gately embracing another man.

According to Keith: "We kind of expected there to be some sort of a reaction, I mean, it's never been done before, but the reason we did it was not to cause controversy.

"We wanted to be able to get the lyrics across because basically what the song is about is telling the person that you love how her love for you or his love for you makes you better, makes the world better and makes you want to get up in the morning.

"And for us to act that out with actresses is fine because we're heterosexual, but Stephen is homosexual, so why should he do that when he's in love with a man?" he told the Herald.