How boyzone got Started! 

I bet you didn't know that Boyzone was Shane's idea! Shane always knew he was going to be successful. He used to watch the 'SMASH HITS' show and as he watched different bands, he thought 'Yeah, I could do that! That's what I want to do.' He was 17 at that time and he was working as a mechanic. He didn't know if he could sing but he still called Louis Walsh and asked to meet him. He met with Louis and asked him if he was interested in managing an Irish Pop band. Louis said it would be great and that they should do it.

Shane knew the other lads from different areas: Mikey through college, Stephen through dancing and Ronan and Stephen had been mates and he knew Keith all his life. He knew Steo liked to sing and dance. He thought Keith was a good looking chap and that he would suit the pop star image. Mikey, he knew was very influenced my music and he was already in a band.

So Keith asked the boyz...and they did have an audition. Since they wanted their band to be the best band in Ireland they wanted to see what other talent was out there. But in the end, there was no one better than them so they kept the band to them five. In the beginning there were other members but those other lads did not fit in so....

They went and sang 'Careless Whispers' because they were told to sing that specific song. Shane did not have to audition, Louis did not a thing about Shane, but it was just one of those things....Shane was in the band.

The name 'boyzone' was chosen because it was nice and simple and easy to remember and Shane feels that the name has brought them luck...and it sure did!

This information I got from reading one of their books. I also read on the net, that Stephen was the only one who had 4 auditions, I don't know if it's true. I also read that Louis was impressed by Ronan's singing. Anyway....some things are meant to be.