Mark's Boxer Shorts - April 17, 2003 01:00 PM (GMT)
He's the shy one of the band. The deep thinker with the big voice. But what really goes on inside the mind of Mark Feehily? KISS met the quiet man and discovered he isn't scared to voice his true opinions, rebelling against the Westlife pop puppet image.
What did you get up to last night? Actually I just stayed in my hotel room and watched TV.
Well, that doesn't sound very pop star live. What's the last pop star thing you did? I went to the nightclub Chinawhite in London and I got to skip the queue and got in free.
Do you ever pay anywhere anymore? You do if they don't know you're in a band or whatever. It's a long time since I paid into a club. Getting in free is like a complimentary welcome to the club. I suppose its good for the owners to have people from the music industry in their club.
Name the last celebs house you've been to and tell us what its like... It would be Shane's house in Sligo. He's staying in a really nice house while his new house is being built. I think his parents might move into it when he moves out!
Which celebrity female would you live to ask on a date? I wouldn't mind Angelina Jolie! She's absolutely gorgeous. She seems to be a but more rough and edgy, which is more attractive than being too girlie I think.
Have you ever been asked out but another celebrity? Who? Did you go out? I have actually. Yes I went. On one or two occasions. Who were they? Good question. I'm not telling.
Have you ever been photographed on a date? Yes, once I was photographed with a girl called Lauren. I went to what I thought was a secret Destinys Child gig but it was only a press launch so we left early and got snapped. In general, I wouldn't go somewhere I could be photographed. I don't want it splashed all over the papers. If I'm on a date I like to keep it private, I don't go to some West End nightclub,
You were photographed with Page Three girl Ebony a few years back though... I don't remember being pictured with her, to be honest. At the start of the band I didn't have a clue what I was at! Now I know the business. Back when I was a young fella saying "Wow I can get into THIS club!" and you have glam girls approaching you and it was a real novelty. It quickly wore off with me. People do say I'm a deep person and because that whole lifestyle is so shallow it didn't take me long to realise it wasn't for me.
What's the worst date you've ever been on? The worst date? Probably where I had too much to drink. Although the type of person I would go on a date with wouldn't get annoyed with me for having a drink. I was on a date recently where the person was very in your face and it wasn't enjoyable.
Who's the last person you argued with? Probably myself! Let me see, with on of the lads, Id say. We have arguments constantly usually because we're a bit tired.
What's your idea of a good night out? I still love going on the rip and having a great laugh. I like to have a couple at a friends house, then head to the pub, go on to a club and have a bit of a dance. Then get a takeaway on the way home! In London, when you go out its all guest lists and VIPs and the places are full of poseurs. The only reason I go to those places is that firstly I get in free, I get a table and I get treated very well, but if I wasn't getting all that I wouldn't be going. I find places like that are fake and annoying. I prefer normal pubs but sometimes you just can't go to them because you're getting hassled all the time.
You're often spotted in Lillies Bordello in Dublin, a known celeb haunt... Lillies is different because Dublin is different. It has extra personality that is lacking in London. I feel very much at home in Lillies because its Irish and has a warm atmosphere. I always have a good time, the crowd never intimidates me. Valerie (the manager) always treats us well. In Lillies they understand the position of people in the public eye, they're experts in entertaining. Anyway, when we go there the people are chilled out because Irish people aren't fazed by fame at all. They go out to have a good time. In London some people go out to see who they can see, and see who they can meet.
Do you ever get sick of being famous? I'd be lying if I said no. Sometimes you just don't want to be bothered. I love window shopping, but going down Grafton Street you have to stick on a hat and keep your head down. Id prefer not to have to do that. Some people would lap it up and would love the attention. I don't like being the centre of attention, which sounds weird coz I in a pop band. Id be mortifies if I was walking down Grafton Street and a group of girls noticed me and made a fuss. Id just want to get into a taxi and go back to the hotel or go home! I just want to be normal sometimes.
What's the biggest purchase you've made since earning loads of cash? I always disappoint people with this! Id I want a pair of trainers I can get them without having to save up. In a small country like Ireland if you're gonna be flash, you'll stand out. I bought a jeep for my dad, and I got my brother a scooter. I'm lucky enough to get things when I want them- a new TV or playstation. Sometimes I just don't see the point in buying flash things when I'm never around to use them.
What will you do when Westlife finishes? Myself and Nicky were saying this the other day, what WOULD you do id the band split up? Would you go on holiday or stay at home being depressed? We concluded that we just DONT KNOW! At heart, id love to sing and I would love to think that it would be something to do with that. Not necessarily releasing music but definitely something to do with music, like writing or producing. Usually the reason a band splits is because the members just don't get on anymore, they love energy. I think we still have chemistry and energy and there are no bad vibes. We haven't run ourselves into the ground yet. If it comes down to what we want well definitely, be around for another 3 or 4 years anyway.
What's the album going to sound like? We weren't at all happy with our last album. We were singing songs that we didn't feel comfortable with. Not that we think we are ever going to have cred, I mean we don't want to have control of songwriting or anything but as people we don't feel cheesy, so we don't want to do cheesy music.
But surely when you were recording those songs you knew what you were singing? Why didn't you refuse to record them? Were signed to a very powerful record company and they can talk us into doing thins we don't necessarily believe in. Its very hard to be heard sometimes. WE want to be proud of what were doing and now it needs to change for us to remain proud.
