Ronan
Yvonne Keating
Golden Couple
Jack Keating
Marie Keating
Boyzone
The Band
Little
Facts | First
Times | Achievements
| Quotes
on Himself | Quotes
from LIAR
Ronan
Patrick John Keating born 3rd March, 1977, at home, in a town called
Swords, Dublin, Ireland. His name means Baby Seal, and has nick names
like, Tintin and Little Ro. He is 5'10" (175 cm), weighs 10.5
stones, waist is 32 inches, has blue eyes and strawberry blonde hair.
His likes...
Sports - Running, swimming, car racing, and golf.
All shades of blue.
His family.
Cabbage and pasta together.
Japanese food.
Boxers short.
Ireland at home
He hates...
Smoking
Obnoxious and rude women - makes him blush
Women's
touch - other then his own wife
Cheese - makes him have nightmares
The Paparazzi - especially when they intrude his home.
Regrets - nothing anymore - but earlier had the thing about being a
virgin
Passion - cars, motorbikes and his family
Greatest fear - snakes and loosing his voice
Favorite singers - George Michael and R Kelly
Heroes - eldest brother Ciaran and George Michael
Important Dates...
2nd February, 1998 - Mom's death anniversary
8th February, 1974 - Yvonne's birthday
3rd
March, 1977 - Ronan's Birthday
18th February, 2001 - Marie's birthday
15th March, 1998 - Jack's birthday
30th April, 1998 - marriage anniversary
Little
Facts
Boyzone
Single : Isn't it a
wonder
Boyzone
Album : Where We belong
Concert
Experience : "
Well, the biggest audience we've ever played to was 120,000 at the Prince's
Trust Party in the Park concert for Capital Radio last July ( that's July 98 --
see left). That was an incredible show. But, as I speak ( May 27, 1999 ), our
biggest show is yet to come this Sunday -- it'll be in the RDS in Dublin ... and
it's 30,000 people. "
Possession
: "Easily my darling wife and my little son"
Boyzone
Memory : " I think
our very first Smash Hits tour when we got the award for Best Show on the Road,
which opened the door for Boyzone. We were young and naive and innocent and the
world was our oyster. It was a fantastic feeling".
Boyzone
Video : Isn't it a
wonder
Country
: "Awash, easily Ireland for me. Sorry ! We love it so much. "
Hotel
: " The best hotel
for us is easily the Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow. It's a beautiful hotel and
there's a lovely lady, Jeanette that runs it."
Food
: "I have to say Japanese. I love benyhanas. "
Experience
: " I have to say
the birth of my son. It was really a magical moment for me. As far as my career
is concerned anything really, from our first Number One single to our first
Number One album to our first sell-out tour."
Holiday
: His holiday to Nevis
when he married Yvonne
Fear
: Snakes
Film
: "I've plenty of
movies I like, and I couldn't pick any one. It's anything from the Godfather
trilogy to the Star Wars trilogy to State of Greece. There's so many different
movies out there that I like to watch at different moments. "
Record
: George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice
Wish
: "Well, obviously for my son, wife and family to be healthy and strong. On
a personal level, your health is your life. That's the way I see it.
Professionally, I'd like to be a successful artist for as long as I can be -
with or without Boyzone."
Pleasure
: "I do enjoy good wine and good food and good company."
Party : "One of the best parties I've ever been to was Elton John's
50th. But one of the greatest Parties I've ever
thrown was my 21st in Dublin." ( The theme was Grease )
Night Out : "Haven't had it yet, ha-ha. Like I said : good wine,
good food, good company. I enjoy any of that."
Night In : "Just watching a movie with my wife and Jack."
Group or Singer : "My favorite singer is obviously George Michael.
My favorite group is anyone from The Beatles thought the Rolling Stones. Anyone,
man. The Jacksons...whatever."
Person he's met : "I've met a lot of people in the last six years.
I've been very lucky to meet some successful artists -- some of the biggest
artists in the world. I've also met a lot of 'normal' people and sometimes, it's
just the normal people that kind of affect you more and hit you harder than some
of theses people that have been around in the business for 40 years. I couldn't
pick any one person... Cat Stevens was wild though. He was a nice fellah. He was
a trip."
Piece of advice : "The best advice I ever got was 'Be nice to
everyone on your way up, because you'll meet them on your way down.'. The only
advice I can give anyone is 'Enjoy your life, for God's sake. Go for it. '
".
Disappointment : "Boyzone have been very lucky and have had only
minor disappointments over the years. We have nothing really to moan about.
We've been very lucky. So, greatest disappointment ? ... the last flight I
missed. "
TOP
thanx to Maple, visit her Ronan site: Lovin'
Ronan Each Day
Ronan's
First Times
The first time
I realized I was famous
I still haven't! though, when I hosted the MTV awards that was pretty special I
have to say. It was a rush and I felt pretty cool and important then - but I
wouldn't say famous, I could never use that word. Ronan Keating and famous
doesn't really go. Never does, never has, never will! That's what keeps your
feet on the ground. I hope!
The first time I felt like a grown up
was when I got my first car. It was a white banger and it cost me £400 but it
got me around. I was 17.
The first time I thought Boyzone might make it
was the very first time we appeared at the "Smash Hits" awards. I
thought we were gonna go somewhere - dunno where - but we were going somewhere!
The first time I realized what being in a pop band was really all about
was when I started getting involved in co-production and writing, the whole
involvement with music, just the whole music aspect, singing and writing, that's
when I realized what it's all about. Also at concerts, watching the people
smiling and singing the songs back and the happiness that brings. That's pretty
cool.
The first time I went to the shops on my own
I must have been nine or ten. I lived across the road from the shops. I'd be
sent with a list and I was the only one in the family who came back with the
right things! I was such a goody goody?
The first time I was really naughty
was the time I stole some sweets from our local shop. Then I ate the evidence so
I wouldn't get caught!
The first time I earned my own money
was when I worked in the hairdressers sweeping the floor. I always spent it all
- I couldn't save a penny if I tried, it used to burn a hole in my pocket.
The first time I want on holiday without my family
Was back when the band started. I was seventeen or eighteen. I went on a package
holiday somewhere, one of those dodyy holidays. Meself and Mikey went.
The first time I met someone famous
I can't remember. The first time I really felt like I'd met someone famous was
George Michael. I met him at the Capital Radio Awards and he came over to me and
shook my hand and said hello. He knew me name, it was a result. Am I used to all
that now? No, you still get starstruck - specially when you meet people like
George Michael or Elton John - no way, you never get used to that. They're like
royalty when it comes to music
The first time I did something I regret
I don't regret anything I did. I'm here today because I did what I did. I don't
regret any of it.
The first time I had a fight
I've had many fights, in many places, everywhere.
The first time I was homesick
was during the first long trip away from home, I think it was an Asian trip we
did for three months. That hurt, that was hard
TOP
Achievements
AWARDS WON
Smash Hits '94 : Boyzone was voted the "Best Band on the Road"
Smash Hits '95 : Boyzone's debut album "Said and Done" was
voted the "Best Album"
Smash Hits '96 : Ronan and his band Boyzone swept the show with no less
then 6 awards to their credit. Boyzone won "Best Album" for "A
Different Beat", "Best Single" for "Words" and
"Best International Group". Ronan himself picked up three awards for
"Best Haircut", "Most Fanciable Male" and "Best Dressed
Male".
Ivor Novello Award '97 : Ronan won this prestigious award previously
awarded to the likes of Elton John and George Michael for writing the hit song
"Picture of You".
PERFORMED AND COLLABORATED WITH
Luciano Pavarotti : Boyzone performed with the great man for the
"Pavarotti and Friends" concert in 1999.
U2 : Boyzone appeared in U2's video -- "The Sweetest Thing".
Elton John : Ronan gave a moving rendition of "Your Song"
alongside Elton John at New York's Madison Square Garden in 2000.
SHOWS HOSTED
Eurovision Song Contest
World Music Awards '99
Top of the Pops
Get Your Act Together : BBC's talent show
MTV Europe Music Awards : Ronan hosted the show in Rotterdam in '97, in
Dublin in '99 and will be hosting the show for a record third time in 2001.
ON THE CHARTS
With Boyzone : More than 15 UK top 3 hit singles ( putting them in the
Guinness Book of World Records ) including 6 number 1's and 4 number 1 albums.
Solo : 4 UK top 10 hit singles including 2 number 1's and a number 1
album.
OTHERS
Wax Models : Boyzone have been immortalized in wax alongside U2 in their
home-town of Dublin.
Wall of Hands : Boyzone were invited to place their hand prints on the
Wall of Hands in London's Rock Circus alongside the likes Michael Jackson.
MANAGEMENT
Westlife : Not content with just making music Ronan managed Irish
boy-band Westlife along with Boyzone manager Louis Walsh during their initial
phase.
TOP
thanx to Maple, visit her Ronan site: Lovin'
Ronan Each Day
Ronan's
Quotes On Himself In General
"I wouldn't say my upbringing was strict, we just knew our place. We knew
when to say things and when not to. Obviously I was bold, and I did naughty
things. I can't say I was the perfect child. Then again we weren't wild. We had
a very Catholic upbringing. My mum particularly is a very religious woman and
she's brought us all up to be very religious too. I try to spend as much time as
possible in church."
"When I was about 12, I'd
been having really bad headaches and I had to go into hospital for a load of
tests. They didn't find anything wrong but I had to stay in for a week. I hate
hospitals, too - can't stand them. I couldn't eat the food, so people smuggled
in lots of sweets for me."
"I was always known in my
family as "Little Ro". At least it meant I was very spoilt especially
on my birthday and when Christmas came around. I was very close with my eldest
brother Ciaran even at that time, and he'd always protect me from the others.
Gary and I really got on too. He was five years older and I wanted to do
everything he was doing."
"I always used to think I was a superhero. I thought I was Superman for a
while, then it was Spiderman. I used to climb trees and then fall off. I broke
my arm about six or seven times! I never had an imaginary friend, but some
people have to."
"When I went to a new
school in the country some of the boys didn't like me 'cos I was from Dublin.
They ganged up on me but I sorted them out. That was my first big fight."
"I started writing songs in my first year in secondary school in English
classes. I had melodies in my head."
"My mother didn't want me to leave (school) and neither did my father. I
didn't really persuade them I just did it. I had to take my own life in my
hands."
"I don't feel I have any amazing ambition of great focus - I had no idea
that Boyzone was going to happen, no master plan, I just knew I wanted to
perform and worked hard at every aspect of what I do."
"I remember when (my first kiss) happened - I was 13 and she knew exactly
what she was doing, but I didn't have a clue and it scared the life out of me. I
can't even remember her name - some first kiss!"
"I always wanted to do something with my life that was in the public eye,
whether it be sports or entertainment. I was in a few rock bands before and I
got the taste of it and wanted more. Once I got that taste it just grew and
grew."
"Until I joined Boyzone I was never very dedicated to anything. I hated
school, I was a bit of a wild one. The only thing that ever held my interest was
drama. That's why I knew I had to join Boyzone - it was, like fate calling at my
door. Until I joined the group, the highlight of my career as a performer was
directing a play and playing a donkey in a Nativity play."
"As much as I want my son to have a stable background and schooling and
things like that, I also want him to travel around the world and learn to be
street-wise. While there was nothing wrong with my childhood, I never left
Ireland until I joined the band at 16. I'd just like my child to try the food of
the world and to meet different people from different cultures. Because it's a
wonderful world out there."
"All I ever wanted to do was make something of myself - and now I
have."
"As a child, I wanted to be up there on the silver screen. I loved Clint
Eastwood, Al Pacino, John Wayne. All the he-men."
"I was spoiled by my mother. My siblings all accepted it. They didn't mind
- God, no. They knew I was the baby. I was her baby. My father was mostly out of
the family working. He didn't show us his love, he was used to doing his own
thing. I had all the love I needed from my mother."
"When I was offered Boyzone, all I wanted was to be able to leave school,
to be honest. I hated it that much. I wanted so much for my mam to say, 'Yes you
can leave school.' But of course she didn't want me to leave. that was hard
because I needed my mam's approval - I wouldn't have left if she hadn't come
around to the idea. At the beginning she didn't know what her teenage son was
getting into. She was scared, thinking the music business was all drugs and
drinking."
"We were on TV the day after we were picked. We had no routine, no
choreographer and we weren't even friends! We were pathetic."
"There just wasn't enough food to go around and the early mornings were
also getting us down. But you just have to get on with it and put the bad times
behind you because the good times far, far outweigh them. When we moved into the
house in London it was the first time most of us had been away from our parents.
We were given £100 for the housekeeping which we spent down the supermarket,
although we probably bought far too many biscuits and cakes.
But it was the state of the house that eventually got to us the most. You should
have seen what a tip we'd turned into after just three weeks living there! We
never did any housework. I think the washing-up only got done twice. There were
takeaway cartons all over the place, mixed in with smelly socks and clothes
everywhere. I was ashamed to invite anyone in. It was a complete dump by the
time we moved out. It's probably better that we stay in hotels in the
future."
TOP
Quotes
From The Book - LIAR
week of
28.04.02:
Ro on his children: "Jack is a
lunatic - all he wants to do is play fight, and Marie is a
total little woman- all she wants to do is annoy is Jack!"
week of
21.04.02:
One day Gar and myself
were out in the fields when we spotted some the cows in the distance.
'Gar!' I said ' I don't
like the way they're looking at us.'
'What are you afraid of
Ro? I am sure cows don't attack people.'
'Are you sure Gar?' I was unconvinced. These beasts look
awfully big.
'Of course I'm sure, Ro.'
Well, that's all right then. If my big brother says so....
Just then some of the cows
made a sudden move in our direction. First one then the whole herd.
I stood rooted to the
stop. i looked to Gar for help. As usual he led by example:
'Run Ro! Run for your
life!' Gar screamed back at me, leaving a trail of dust - and his
little brother - in his wake.
p.
57 – Life
Is A Rollercoaster
week of
14.04.02:
"'Shit,'
Mam and Dad will kill me, Gar sighed. 'Go over that cafe across the
street and get yourself some coffee'
'Ri-ight
Ga-aa-ar!'
Ten
minutes later I arrived back,"Ga-ar!' I Stuttered.
'What?'
'There
is no cof-fee!'
'Well
go and get some tea for God's sake!'
So
I go off again, rocking and swaying across the road. Five minutes
later I arrived back.
'Ga-ar!'
"What
Ronan?'
'I
don't like tea Gar!'"
p.
62 – Life
Is A Rollercoaster
week
of 07.04.02
"Not
deterred by the lack of facial hair to practice on, we set about
shaving the small amount of fine, blond fuzz on our arms. when Mam
discovered what we'd been up to she was furious. 'that'll grow ten
times thicker and you'll turn into hairy little monkeys,' she said
sternly."
"I
was horrified. Suddenly I had these awful dark visions of becoming
Ronan the ugly little monster. Suddenly I started bawling. "
"No
on will like me if I'm a monkey, I thought."
p.
36 – Life
Is A Rollercoaster, Ronan at the age of four.
week
of 01.04.02
“All
the members of our family except Ciaran, ended up with shortened
names. Linda became Lil, Gerard was Ger, Gary became Gar. When I came
along, Mam told the others, ‘Don’t shorten his name. His name is
Ronan, and you’re not to shorten his name.’ But of course, I
became Ro. Later on, Mam decided that she wanted to be addressed as
‘Mum”, which must have sounded a bit posher.”
p. 27 – Life
Is A Rollercoaster
