‘Gives me goosebumps', say emotional Boyzone fans as Keith Duffy opens up about on-stage Stephen Gately tribute

The Irish Sun

21-07-2025

FORMER Boyzone star Keith Duffy has revealed the heartfelt tribute he and Brian McFadden pay to their late friend Stephen Gately during every Boyzlife show.
The 50-year-old and his fellow
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Stephen Gately passed away in October 2009
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Keith Duffy revealed the heartfelt tribute he and Brian McFadden pay to Stephen during their Boyzlife gigs
Credit: Instagram
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He said it's a 'beautiful part of the show'
Credit: Getty
was just 33 when he died in Majorca due to a pulmonary oedema or fluid in the lungs as a result of an undiagnosed congenital heart defect.
Keith and former
The pair, who joined forces in 2016 to form Boyzlife, made a promise to remember the late singer before forming their new band.
Keith explained: "Brian and I made a pact when we first got together, that we would try our best to keep Stephen Gately's memories alive within the music business."
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He revealed that they take a moment to remember Stephen during each show.
He added: "So every night we do a little speech about Stephen and we ask the audience to remember their favourite memories of him and we dedicate the song to him and we sing it for him."
The emotional moment comes before the iconic duo perform the Boyzone hit No Matter What.
Keith said: "It's just a beautiful part of the show. Everybody gets out their phones and they light up, we light up whatever venue we are in.
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"What we did in our live show, we got Stephen's performance of A Different Beat, a song that Boyzone had out years ago.
"It's a great performance of Stephen. So we do the vocals that Stephen didn't do and we leave Stephen's vocals on.
Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy from Boyzone and Brian McFadden from Westlife are now shareholders of Chorley FC
"So we have his voice in the show and it's a real hair on the neck moment and everybody lights up their phones."
Explaining why the song means so much to him, he said: "For me, No Matter What - Stephen brought that song to Boyzone."
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Keith went on to explain the story behind the track, which was originally part of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical Whistle Down The Wind.
He said: "Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen were working together and Andrew Lloyd Webber wanted Stephen to perform that song from Whistle Down The Wind and Stephen made it a Boyzone thing.
"So we're very lucky to have been a part of it because it could have just been Stephen.
'BEAUTIFUL'
"So that's the song that we decided that we'd always dedicate to him and it's a beautiful part of the show."
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The Six O'Clock Show shared a clip of the conversation to their Instagram and fans were quick to share their love and support in the comments.
Julie said: "Always get a shiver down my arms. He's always there guys."
Karen wrote: "No matter what will always remind me of Stephen. He had such a beautiful voice. It's such a lovely thing they do to keep his memory alive."
Colette commented: "Beautiful. Miss Steo so much."
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Louise said: "Steo would be so proud of you all, as fans thank you so much for keeping his memory alive, it really means a lot."
Another added: "Different beat is just stunning and gives me goosebumps every time I hear it and especially live. It's a beautiful tribute for him along with No Matter What."