Stephen had never met Elton before and had only met his partner, David Furnish, once, at the premiere of the film Billy Elliot, for which he recorded the closing song, I Believe. 'Elton and David have been a Godsend to me. They've introduced me to their friends and they consider me to be a friend. It was all very intimidating at first, but I thought, "What have I got to lose?" They've been really supportive of me and they always phone up to see if I'm okay.' 'Elton has a sixth sense if there's something not right with someone and if they have problems. He's really in tune like that. He and David are two of the most generous people I've ever met. They always give a lot of time to everyone they are close to. That's what makes them special- they care about people.'
Which is more than can be said by Stephen of Ronan Keating, who took a break from Boyzone to follow his own solo career, saying that they would all come back together again 18 months later. Unsurprisingly, given the success of Ronan's solo career, this has not happened. 'I haven't seen Ronan for about two years, since the band did the last gig. None of us have seen Ronan,' says Stephen quietly, but curtly. 'He went off- that was in 2000. I saw him once shortly after that. We were really close. As for Boyzone, we never officially split and still haven't.' The band, which formed in 1993 after hundreds of hopefuls answered an ad from pop guru Louis Walsh, clocked up 16 consecutive top five singles. They became household names and were showered with awards for their music- and haircuts- and feted for being scandal free and wholesome. Even Stephen's announcement in 1999 that he was gay and would be moving to Amsterdam to be with his partner Eloy de Jong failed to diminish his popularity with their young fans. Quitting at the top was the last thing on Stephen's mind. 'I don't know what happened. Ronan was supposed to come back. He said, "Let's have a year and a bit to do our own thing." He was doing an album and I was doing mine. We said we'd get back together and do a new tour, a new album, and a new single. We were all waiting for that to happen but it never has. 'Socially, we've felt abandoned, too. There was a time when I was doing The Pepsi Chart Show and he didn't come over to see me when he could have. At the time we were all hurt. But I've got over it now. He's moved on. Boyzone was a stepping stone for him. As it was for all of us, but more so for him.' The other members of Boyzone- Mikey Graham, Shane Lynch and Keith Duffy- have pursued alternative careers. Keith, Stephen's best friend, is currently starring in Coronation Street. Shane is passionate about racing cars and has started a rap band. Mikey is now producing music after launching his first solo single in 2000- oddly at the same time Stephen released his debut solo single, New Beginning. 'I don't know why he did this," says Stephen. 'He knew my release day way before he shored his up- but we're still friends. I don't hold grudges.'
Except one with Ronan, it seems. 'I believe that if you have nothing good to say about anyone then don't say anything. So I won't say anything about Ronan,' and he roars with laughter. Would he like Boyzone to reunite? 'I'd quite like to, but there'd be a lot of things to sort out. I don't think the others would be up for it, I think it's too late- there's too much water under the bridge, although the fanbase is still there. I don't like to cling on to that. I want to move on and be me- Stephen Gately.' This is now happening, thanks to Stephen's starring role as Joseph in the new major West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. During a four week run of the show in Liverpool, Stephen saw many of his fans return to watch him perform and he was deluged with 5,000 letters. 'It was very warming to see so many of them: it was a huge boost. Keith and Shane came to the show and said, "We didn't know you could sing like that." 'Physically, it's less demanding than Boyzone, but vocally it's tougher. I was so nervous on the first night that I drank a whole bottle of Bach's Rescue Remedy to calm me down.' Stephen says he'll be nervous at the London premiere, when Elton, David, and Louis Walsh are expected to be there. 'Unlike Boyzone, I am holding the whole show. I don't like getting things wrong. When I perform Close Every Door you can hear a pin drop in the house. It's so different to having thousands of girls screaming when you sing.' It was the hearts of these millions of girls that Stephen broke when he mad epublic his relationship with Dutch singer Eloy de Jong. Pundits were worried the move would destroy his career- after all, Stephen had hidden his sexuality for six years when he was in the band. He even kept it secret from Louis and his fellow group members until five months after the band was established. When the news came out, all were instantly supportive, and there were flowers from Elton, a letter from Graham Norton, a phone call from George Michael, and tens of thousands of supportive fan letters. It was a test of his resolve and nerve and when it came to promoting his solo career just months later, Stephen had little energy or enthusiasm. Although New Beginning went in at number three in the charts, I Believe recahed number 11 and the album got to number four, he was dropped by his record label Polydor. 'I wasn't surprised or hurt,' says Stephen. 'I didn't push myself forward, but I don't regret it. I'm very proud of the album and the work, but it became a wrench to be away from home. There were many times when I'd get a flight from London to Amsterdam at 7pm, see Eloy and have to be up at the crack of dawn to get back to London. It was like that for a year. I also had to have a kidney stone removed. I wasn't looking after myself because I was too busy. I had to stop and take care of myself. 'My heart wasn't in the promotion, so I didn't give my record a chance. The record company wanted me to do so much work and I wasn't up for doing it. And what I did wasn't good quality. You have to be happy, and doing all the promoting wasn't making me happy. Having number one hits is not everything. I'm just glad I came out as I am much happier now. It was such a relief and I suddenly had this great sense of freedom.' After Boyzone, Stephen sold his mansion in County Wicklow, Ireland, and moved into Eloy's £1 million lakeside home on the outskirts of Amsterdam. 'I'd had six hard years or more on the road with Boyzone, so I needed to let my brain think and not just run with it. After joining the band at 17, I had to grow up very quickly. I needed the time for me- to do simple things. I had a lot of time off. People kept saying, "Aren't you bored?" But I wasn't. And I know I'll do it again after being in Joseph- but not for as long this time.' Although Stephen was pleased to settle down, his happiness in Holland was not to last, as he and Eloy split up- and Stephen hit his lowest ebb. Quite why they separated is hard to decipher, as Stephen now claims they are both still very close and that he would 'give his last penny' to Eloy. 'Elton and David always ring and ask, "Have you heard from Eloy this week?" They are very caring,' he says. Stephen insists that the split was a mutual decision- the demands of his solo career made it hard on the relationship. Whatever the reasons, Stephen returned to his family home in Dublin. As the fourth of five children, he has always been described by his sister Michelle as the rock of the family- the one with all the drive and ambition. He did, after all, practise his autograph at the age of 13 in anticipation of fame. His family had never seen him so lifeless before. He stayed near home until the phone call from Elton helped pull him out of his mini exile. First he lived with his sister Michelle and her two children for a month, while he bought his own flat in Dublin and renovated it. 'It was good for me to do up the flat because it took my mind off things. I got quite down, but there was lots happening,' says Stephen, a little defensively. Then, as if to justify it, 'It's good that you have emotions and let them out. It would have been weird if I hadn't. I needed to go through a period of introspection, do nothing and be supported by my friends and family. 'Keith kept saying, "Come and see me and the kids". Shane and Mikey kept in touch- even Ronan rang me after the split with Eloy. I've got nothing but admiration for these friends because they helped me through, and I made some new ones- including Lulu, Sting's daughter and the Pet Shop Boys. Elton and David are a real laugh. Elton rang me up and asked me to perform in his charity show at London's Old Vic, with Kevin Spacey, Sting, and Lulu. It was a great opportunity; so many things have come out of that first phone call.' But where was Louis- who has stayed managing Ronan and Westlife, as well as becoming a star himself as a judge on Popstars: the Rivals- when the chips were down? 'I haven't spoken to him an awful lot,' admits Stephen, 'but we have bumped into each other. I will always be thankful to Louis because I wouldn't be here today without him. I don't feel that he dumped me or Boyzone. I could call him up tomorrow if I needed to. He's getting people to come along to Joseph.' Despite his wealth, you can't help thinking that Stephen's poor background must have made him worry about money and what the future holds. 'I came from nothing and I know what it's like to have nothing. I remember my mum crying when she didn't have enough money to send me on a school trip. I have something put aside for when I'm older and have helped my family.' Before taking on the role of Joseph, Stephen turned down five other offers of musicals because he felt they weren't right for him. For his role as Joseph, though, he has been prepared to lose two stone and go to the gym six days a week to get fit. 'I don't want to work unless I enjoy doing it. I'm a very different person today. I probably wouldn't want to be in a band again unless it's the same band, because it takes a lot away from you. It was always in my mind that Boyzone had to end some time. I don't regret it. We had some fantastic times and we had some not so good times. But I'm happier now.' Joseph and the Amazing Tecnicolour Dreamcoat previews at the New London Theatre, Drury Lane, London, from February 13, tel: 0870 890 0141.
