Ronan Keating unites Boyzone in tribute to a Brother

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On the last of Ronan Keating’s three solo nights in London, he sang with Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Shane Lynch for the first time since fifth member Stephen Gately died last October.

Gallery: Boyzone at Royal Albert Hall

The quartet have a new album, Brother, set to be No 1 on Sunday. They handled with some dignity the awkward juxtaposition of a tragedy to acknowledge and a product to promote.

At the end of Keating’s set he showed five minutes of a new documentary, to be broadcast in full by ITV2 on 21 March. We saw the group stunned, tearful and confused in the immediate aftermath of Gately’s sudden passing.

It was a risky move to show this clanging mood-changer straight after Keating’s best and brightest hit, Life Is A Rollercoaster, but it would have been stranger still to carry on as normal. Boyzone Phase Two emerged for the encore, rising from a hydraulic platform while Gately was heard singing his final vocals on latest single Gave It All Away, including the line "I will learn to live before I die".

Each member then made a short speech, all broadly positive. "As long as we’re here and you’re here, Stephen’s here too," offered Graham. Duffy concluded that it was time for the mourning to be replaced by celebration.

Fine new song Love Is A Hurricane was followed by lively oldie Picture Of You. No one should have left in tears.

Earlier, Keating had proved himself the capable performer who has stayed near the top of the music business for 16 years. With a rich voice and good looks, he has cultivated a devoted fanbase and knows how to please them.

Cunningly scheduling these dates around Mothering Sunday, he played tracks from last year’s No 1 album, Songs For My Mother. Accordingly there were a few too many cosy ballads but he also has his share of uplifting pop choruses. I Love It When We Do and Lovin’ Each Day both hit the spot.

Sad circumstances mean he has a new gravitas to go with his lightweight music. It should propel him still further towards one of pop’s most enduring careers.

Ronan Keating
Royal Albert Hall
Kensington Gore, London, SW7 2AP