level 6
By Amanda Evans, 31/10/2009
GRIEF-STRICKEN Boyzone have spoken publicly for the first time about Stephen Gately's death - and how they went to pieces when they chose his coffin.
With sorrow etched on their faces, Ronan Keating, Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch described the journey to bring their bandmate's body home, and their night with him before the funeral.
And they revealed that in the weeks before his sudden death in Majorca last month, 33-year-old Stephen recorded vocals on two tracks - which will be included in Boyzone's new album.
Ronan said: "To turn up on the Friday night at the funeral home was the hardest thing I think I've ever had to do in my life. And I think all the lads feel the same, I know they do.
"When I walked into the funeral home I just crumbled, as we all did. I fell to pieces. It was there that I realised he was gone, really gone and that was very hard for all of us."
In an interview being broadcast on Sky News today, Keith described the flight back to Ireland with Stephen's coffin. He said: "There was something about the five of us being together on that plane. It didn't seem so bad because we were together."
Mikey added: "As they brought Stephen off the plane, I think that particular moment we more than ever understood just how much of a fantastic bond we have and the strength we were able to give each other."
The men spent the night before Stephen's funeral with the coffin at St Laurence O'Toole's church in Dublin, where the service was held.
Ronan recalled: "All of us are so happy that we did it. It was our last real night together as a five-piece, and it felt like that - it felt like we were quiet.
"We lay on the floor to the left of the coffin in our sleeping bags and we cried and we laughed and we could hear him telling us jokes and answering back, what he would say back.
"We didn't get much sleep - a little bit but that's not what it was about - it was just about spending time with Steo and we knew Steo well. He didn't like the dark, he didn't like being on his own.
"The next day people said, 'What was it like? Were you scared?' but it was a beautiful amazing experience to be there with Steo that night."
The band said Stephen was the happiest he had ever been in the months before his death, when they were starting to think about a new album.
Ronan said: "He was just so excited about the album, he was loving it, was loving the songs, loving the idea of making this record and looking forward.
"We have a couple of songs with Stephen's vocal on it, so that's a saving grace. Thank God we have that, that's very important to all of us and we know the fans would really appreciate that too, so we think that's what we're going to do."
Meanwhile Shane explained their Christian faith had helped them cope, saying: "What we don't understand right now will be revealed to us in time, there is a bigger picture.
"Whether I like it or not it's not my decision whether somebody lives or dies . . . I loved Steo to bits."
WATCH the interview on Sky News programmes today.
2010年01月22日 13点01分
