19-01-2010, 12:27
from guardian
![[Image: Stephen-Gately-001.jpg]](http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/About/General/2009/10/11/1255271309059/Stephen-Gately-001.jpg)
Boyzone have announced a new album and single, featuring vocals by the late Stephen Gately. Gave It All Away is the Irish group's first track since the singer's death last October. It will be followed by Brother, the boy-band's first original album in more than 10 years.
Gave It All Away was recorded in the summer of 2009, following Boyzone's sell-out UK tour. It was written by the pop-singer Mika and reportedly opens with a line sung by Gately: "I will learn to live before I die".
The accompanying video is "incredibly raw", explained Ronan Keating. "There's a nice scene of us four 'brothers' sat around a table ... with Stephen's favourite picture hanging up behind us. [Director] Phil [Griffin] just filmed us fly-on-the-wall for that so it's just us as we are." The video shows archive footage of Gately intercut with shots of the band members writing letters to their "other brother". "It's us reminiscing about the good times and the laughter."
Gately, 33, was found dead at his holiday home in Majorca on 10 October 2009. An autopsy found that he had died of natural causes.
"We wanted the footage to be as truthful and honest as possible based on how we were feeling and were reacting during the making of the video on that day," Keating said. However, he and bandmates Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham "didn't want it being too mournful all the way through".
Boyzone were one of the biggest bands of the 1990s, amassing four No 1 albums and 16 consecutive Top 5 singles. The Irish group will release Gave It All Away as a single on 1 March, with Brother to follow a week later.
Boyzone have announced a new album and single, featuring vocals by the late Stephen Gately. Gave It All Away is the Irish group's first track since the singer's death last October. It will be followed by Brother, the boy-band's first original album in more than 10 years.
Gave It All Away was recorded in the summer of 2009, following Boyzone's sell-out UK tour. It was written by the pop-singer Mika and reportedly opens with a line sung by Gately: "I will learn to live before I die".
The accompanying video is "incredibly raw", explained Ronan Keating. "There's a nice scene of us four 'brothers' sat around a table ... with Stephen's favourite picture hanging up behind us. [Director] Phil [Griffin] just filmed us fly-on-the-wall for that so it's just us as we are." The video shows archive footage of Gately intercut with shots of the band members writing letters to their "other brother". "It's us reminiscing about the good times and the laughter."
Gately, 33, was found dead at his holiday home in Majorca on 10 October 2009. An autopsy found that he had died of natural causes.
"We wanted the footage to be as truthful and honest as possible based on how we were feeling and were reacting during the making of the video on that day," Keating said. However, he and bandmates Keith Duffy, Shane Lynch and Mikey Graham "didn't want it being too mournful all the way through".
Boyzone were one of the biggest bands of the 1990s, amassing four No 1 albums and 16 consecutive Top 5 singles. The Irish group will release Gave It All Away as a single on 1 March, with Brother to follow a week later.
