Talk Me Down
IT'S every boy's dream - to be in Westlife. Our man Paul Martin is now the envy of every pop wannabe after becoming the fifth member of the band for the day. He really is in a little world of his own...
PAUL MARTIN DODGES FANS ON THE ROAD WITH STARS
IT'S not every day you get asked to become the fifth member of a world famous pop band.
So when Westlife's Shane Filan asked me to join them a day I tuned up my vocals and pulled on my dark glasses with screaming fans, paparazzi, Garda escorts and drama around every corner.
Here's my exclusive diary of a day with Westlife as they prepare for their big Meteors Award appearance at the RDS:
12pm: Shane tells me to meet in Four Seasons hotel. When I arrive the lads are preparing for their biggest day since their comeback - the Meteors. Shane greets me with a big hug and a smile. Instantly a horde of young girls rush over bursting into hysterics and tears as they see their hero. Nicky, Mark and Kian arrive and pose for pictures - I get a feeling there is going to be a lot of this today.
12.15pm: Westlife's tour manager shouts we have five minutes to get to the RDS for rehearsals. A team of security people arrive and a black people carrier with tinted windows swings up to the front entrance like an FBI operation. I sit beside Mark and Shane. Everything is quiet for a few seconds until a pack of screaming girls emerge from the bushes.
They sprint after our moving car without fear. One of the girls grabs the handle and tries to open the door. Mark leaps across me and tries to hold the door close as the girl holds on for dear life - refusing to let go. Fearing for her safety the boys slow the car and allow her to pass a belated Valentine's card through the window to Nicky. She collapses in a flood of tears.
12.30pm: We're running late. RDS organisers take us backstage to where the stars will hang out. We arrive at Westlife's home from home for the day - a small but comfortable room decked out with sofas, plants and filled with treats such as Tayto crisps and Kit Kats. No sign of any alcohol though - it looks like the boys are as professional as ever after 10 years in the game.
1pm: Brian O'Driscoll arrives and asks to meet the lads. They leap out of their seats to greet him and spend 15 minutes chatting about Ireland's Six Nations defeat to France. I ask Brian if he fancies himself as a pop star and he jokes: "You wouldn't be asking me that if you heard me during the team's sing-songs. I'm dreadful."
1.30pm: Rehearsal time Picture: and I'm led with the boys on to the huge awards stage. Kian eyes up a guitar to be used by Florence And The Machine. He strums a few tunes then takes to the stage with the lads to rehearse their performance of What About Now.
2.30pm: After three more renditions of the song the boys are happy with their sound. Shane suddenly tells me we're going to a special interview with radio station FM104 - in Clery's shop window on O'Connell Street.
2.35pm: We have to take a last-second diversion after some over-excited fans bring the main road to a standstill. Our car sweeps up to the side-entrance but we have to wait for five gardai to hold back fans. A security man warns us: "As soon as we open this door you have to keep your head low and run straight to the entrance." We run, one by one, into the RDS, through an improvised tunnel formed by security and gardai. I'm sweating like a pig from all this running - but the lads are unfazed by all the craziness
2.45pm: The lads are about to go on air in front of the screaming masses on O'Connell Street - but first there's time for a quick autograph-signing session.
3pm: Mayhem breaks out as we're led into the window of Clery's which looks out over the mob. The lads are interviewed and then wave to the fans who are frantically waving banners proclaiming their undying love to each of the singers.
3.30pm: The interview is over but we're trapped in the building behind two giant steel doors as fans try to get in to meet their heroes. I'm grabbed by a security official and literally pushed into the waiting car with the rest of the band who seem as surprised as me by the mass hysteria. But the drama isn't over yet.
3.35pm: We've barely travelled a 100 yards when the car is mobbed by fans who have rushed up the street and forced us to a standstill. Kian shouts: "Everyone put your arm against the windows quickly." We all follow his lead. Shane explains that if they didn't do this the windows were liable to smash. The lads are all stunned by the reaction. Nicky says: "That was like the really crazy, crazy stuff that used to happen to us 10 years ago."
7pm: After dinner and a good rest we all head to the Meteors. As we pull up to the red carpet the flashlights from the paparazzi are blinding. They stop every 30 seconds to do interviews with the media - they are still the hottest ticket in town.
9pm: The lads are thrilled - they've just picked up the best pop band gong for the 10th year in a row. Kian orders a round of celebration beers. They are in the mood for a big night!
11pm: It's off to the Wright Venue for the after-show party. The lads tuck into Grey Goose vodka, champagne and beer as they live it up in their own private VIP suite.
5am: They finally dash home
Credit/Source: Irish Mirro
