Stephen Gately, Boyzone singer died at 33

Stephen Gately, who became famous in the early 90’s as member of the first Irish boyband, Boyzone, died at 33 on Saturday while on a vacation with his partner Andrew Cowles in Majorca off the coast of Spain.

Boyzone’s lead singer, Ronan Keating together with other boy band members were heading to Majorca following news of his death. The cause of his death is not yet known. Spanish police said there were no signs of suspicious circumstances.

“I’m in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don’t know much about what’s happened yet… He was a great man…”, Ronan Keating said.

The Boyzone manager Louis Walsh was shocked when he heard the news, “We’re all absolutely devastated. I’m in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don’t know much about what’s happened yet. I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man.”

Stephen Gately joined the first Irish boyband, Boyzone in 1993 after answering an advertisement in Dublin. The boy band enjoyed huge success with six number one singles in Britain during the 90’s. But towards the end of 2000, they split up. Seven years later, they reunited but their 19-date concert tours failed to jam pack the stadium despite offers of free tickets.

Gately recently appeared in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s muscial “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”.

Gately’s announcement that he was gay created ripples in the pop music industry 10 years ago.

The four remaining members of Boyzone described Gately as “our friend and brother”.

“We have shared such wonderful times together over the years and were all looking forward to sharing many more,” a statement said.

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