Boyzone stars have spoken out to remember former bandmate Stephen Gately, on the 13th anniversary of his death. Irish pop star Gately died at his holiday home in Majorca in 2009, aged 33, as a result of an undiagnosed heart condition.
Boyzone star and TV presenter Ronan Keating has spoken of his "heavy heart" on the 13th anniversary of Gately’s death. Keating marked the occasion by sharing a collection of photos from their early years on Instagram.
One pictured Boyzone meeting King Charles III – who was Prince of Wales at the time – and others showed them performing on stage or posing during photoshoots.
Speaking to his 460k followers, Keating wrote: "13 years and doesn’t get any easier because I know how much living ya had in ya. Miss ya dude. A heavy heart."
Fellow Boyzone star Keith Duffy wrote: "13 years my guardian Angel! I’ll never meet another living soul who loved me as unconditionally and honestly as my buddy Steo!
"Miss you every single day I had your brothers family with me for a Special moment last night. Keep an eye on me brother."
Bandmate Mikey Graham simply tweeted: "You’re never forgotten stephen. Rest easy friend."
Fellow pop star Peter Andre and BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show host Zoe Ball were also among those who shared messages of support for the group.
Gately, Keating, Duffy, Graham and Shane Lynch rose to fame in the Irish boyband in the 1990s, selling millions of albums and releasing hit singles including Words, A Different Beat and No Matter What.
After Gately’s death, the group continued as a four-piece and released a farewell album, Thank You & Goodnight, in 2018.
It featured a song in tribute to Gately, a reworking of a demo he recorded in 2002 featuring his vocals.
Whilst it's been over a decade since Gately passed, the memory of him is still very much alive for some members of Boyzone especially singer Keith Duffy.
He revealed in an exclusive interview that he still speaks to Stephen - his best friend - every single day.
He revealed: "I have photographs of me and Ste all over my house. He’s a big part of my family still, and will always be a big part of my life."
He added: "I can’t actually believe it’s 13 years since Stephen passed. It’s still hard for me to believe he is no longer with us.
“It’s so tragic. He really was taken too soon. He left a massive hole in my life.
“Stephen was my brother and my best friend. I talk to him all the time. I still feel his presence. He’s on stage with me every time I go on.”
