Ronan Keating has revealed his regret at turning down Bono’s offer to record 'Sweetest Thing' for Boyzone because he didn't realise it would be such a massive hit.
The Boyzone singer revealed the U2 superstar offered to give the song to the band to record – but they turned it down. Bono went on to release it with U2, which was a global success.
Speaking about turning down Bono, Ronan said on 98fm’s Big Breakfast with Rebecca and Brendan: “We were (in the Sweetest Thing music video). We had a great day shooting with the lads.
“They asked us to be in the video for the Sweetest Thing. Well, actually, if I go back even longer, Bono gave us the song the Sweetest Thing to Boyzone. It was a gift to Boyzone. And we tried it in the studio and afterwards the record company and people, they felt it wasn’t sounding like a Boyzone song, so it was never released.
"So there is a version somewhere of Boyzone singing the Sweetest Thing, which I would love to hear because I’ve never heard it.
“Then the lads went, well if you don’t want it, we’re gonna record it and they did and had a huge hit with it. So big mistake on our part.
“But they very kindly asked us to be in the video and it was just off Merrion Square. We spent the day with them and yeah it was D2.”
The Life Is A Rollercoaster hitmaker also poured cold water on plans for Boyzone to reunite and embark on another tour, saying: “No the boys and I are done.”
However, 44-year-old Ronan reassured fans that he would be touring solo next year.
The father-of-five said: “I’m gonna be playing in Dublin and Belfast January/February next year so I cannot wait to get back on tour like so many others. Gigs are back.
“Some of the festivals didn’t happen this year unfortunately but gigs are coming back slowly. In the UK, it feels like everything is back to normal. I was at Isle of Wight at the weekend, which was mega."
Ronan returned to Dublin after 18 months away because of travel restrictions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He hadn’t seen his father and wanted to celebrate his 80th birthday with him.
“Well, I’ve a brand new album coming out in November. So it’s something special that I was in Dublin shooting and filming for.
“I’m not talking about it just yet but it’s something very exciting and very important to me and I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.
“It was really important. I hadn’t seen my dad and it was his 80th birthday last year.
“I was actually on the Samuel Beckett Bridge filming and someone starting honking the horn at me. I put my head down ‘cause I thought ‘oh no, here we go, someone’s gonna shout at me, say something’… and it was me da! I hadn’t seen him and it was me da on the bridge!
"He says ‘Ronan! What are you doing? Get off the road!’”
